By Julie B. Beck
Relief Society General President
Julie B. Beck, "Teaching the Doctrine of the Family", Liahona, March 2011, 32–37
From a broadcast address given to seminary and institute of religion teachers on August 4, 2009.
As I meet with young single adults around the world, I ask them, "Why does the First Presidency care so much about you and provide so many resources for you?" These are some of the answers I get: "We are future Church leaders." "We need training so we can stay strong." "Our testimonies are strengthened in our seminary and institute classes." "We need to meet other great Latter-day Saint youth." "We are the hope of the future." I have rarely heard, "So I will someday be a better father or a better mother." Their responses are generally about self, because this is the time of life they are in.
Nevertheless, parents, teachers, and leaders of youth need to teach the rising generation the doctrine of the family. It is essential to help them achieve eternal life (see Moses 1:39). They need to know that the theology of the family is based on the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement. They need to understand the threats to the family so they will know what they are fighting against and can prepare. They need to understand clearly that the fulness of the gospel is realized in temple ordinances and covenants.