The concept of a united family that lives and perpetuates beyond the grave is at the core of Latter-day Saint doctrine. Hence, the Church supports initiatives that promote and strengthen the sanctity of the family.
As the country observes the 28th National Family Week on 21-27 September 2020, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will join with the National Committee on the Filipino Family (NCFF) and all partner government agencies and civil society groups in the celebration of the family.
Moreover, the Church encourages all its stakes (dioceses), districts (small dioceses) and missions to join in the celebration.
The theme set by the NCFF is “Tungo sa Maginhawa, Matatag, at Panatag na Pamilyang Pilipino” [To a Homely, Strong, and Peaceful Filipino Family].
In line with the national theme, the Church will observe the event with the theme #BFF: Building Forever Families. It’s a play around the popular acronym #BFF, which means, Best Friends Forever, but will have new definitions to express Latter-day Saint sentiments regarding the family.
For this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic has brought a unique challenge in the annual observance, the Church will bring its family advocacy online by broadcasting a series of shows live on its Facebook page, starting from 21 to 27 September. The shows will feature local Latter-day Saint families and will tackle special-themed activities. The Church invites all members and friends to watch the shows, which will be aired at 6:00 pm.
The #BFF activities and dates are as follow:
- Monday, 21 September: Better Families through FHE
This will feature a member of the Philippines Area Presidency holding a family home evening along with a local LDS family who bonds through food.
- Tuesday, 22 September: Bonding Families through Fitness
Catch Eric “Eruption” and Rona Tai as they talk about fitness and body positivity to promote physical and mental wellness.
- Wednesday, 23 September: Bolstering Family Finance
Latter-day Saint Salve Duplito and her children will talk about the basics of financial management to help families improve their finances.
- Thursday, 24 September: Beginning a Family Farm
One of the keys to self-sufficiency is learning how to grow one’s own food. Carlo Aguilar and his Children will be sharing tips on how to start urban gardening.
- Friday, 25 September: Bridging Families through Family History
FamilySearch’s commitment to helping people connect with their ancestors is rooted in the belief that families are meant to be central in our lives. This show will teach people, especially the youth, on how to start creating family trees.
- Saturday, 26 September: Birth of a New Family Favorite
Watch the pilot episode of #HearHim Live, a musical show that will feature young, Latter-day Saint artists from different parts of the country.
- Sunday, 27 September: Boosting the Family’s Faith
Watch the online Area Presidency Devotional that will feature messages that center around the family as well as to boost faith to remain spiritually resilient in this unique yet challenging time.
Furthermore, the Church invites people of all faiths to culminate the National Family week by observing Kainang Pamilya Mahalaga day or Family Mealtime Importance Day, which is held every 4th Monday of September of every year in accordance to Proclamation 326. Sharing at least one meal as a family once day can help bolster family relationships.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints joins communities and echo the invitation found in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” which states, “We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.”
About National Family Week
The National Family Week has been observed annually since 1992 after the signing of Proclamation 60, which declared every last week of September of every year as Family Week. This declaration is in accordance to the Philippines Constitution, which affirms that “the state recognizes the Filipino family as the foundation of the nation.” The Church remains at the forefront since 1992 in supporting this proclamation.