To: Members of the Church Throughout the World
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
All about us we see evidence of
the corrosive elements targeted to injure our youth. We
compliment most warmly those of our young people who choose to
follow the way of the Lord and the program of the Church. We
are pleased to note that faith is increasing among our youth, for
which we are deeply grateful.
Unfortunately, there are some
who fall into the adversary's net and drift into inactivity and
trouble. We are deeply concerned with these.
We call upon parents to devote
their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children
in gospel principles which will keep them close to the
Church. The home is the basis of a righteous life, and no
other instrumentality can take its place or fulfill its essential
functions in carrying forward this God-given responsibility.
We counsel parents and children
to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening,
gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family
activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or
activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the
divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can
adequately perform.
We urge bishops and other Church
officers to do all they can to assist parents in seeing that they
have time and help, where needed, as they nurture their families
and bring them up in the way of the Lord. Wherever possible,
Sunday meetings, other than those under the three-hour schedule
and perhaps council meetings on early Sunday mornings or firesides
later in the evening, should be avoided so that parents may be
with their children. As we strengthen families, we will
strengthen the entire Church.
Faithfully your brethren,
/signed/
Gordon B. Hinckley
Thomas S. Monson
James E. Faust
________________________
The First Presidency