1. The family is the basic institution of society. It furnishes self-maintenance, self-perpetuation, & self-gratification.

a. Source of security, identity, fellowship, and love.

b. Vehicle for transmitting the arts and science of civilization and cultural perpetuation. It is the master civilizer - 913. Should be the center of all educational efforts - 931.

2. It is a holistic creation of diverse beings and personalities. It is the product, at times, of antagonistic co-operation.

a. Men and women are not only biologically different they are mentally and emotionally dissimilar. They are two distinct varieties of the same species - 938. Complete understanding is impossible. Each have areas of superiority and specific rights which are related to these unique qualities.

b. Equality does not mean sameness. Men tend to have superior physical power but woman are shrewd managers of men. Women seem to have superior spiritual capacities but men usually act as leaders in social religious functions.

c. The family demonstrates the basic universe reality of unity without uniformity, of common ideals and goals amid diverse physical, mental, and personality orientation.

d. Being mutually dependent on co-operative living makes the family the greatest educational experience possible for mankind.

3. The procreation, training, and education of children - of unique universe citizens for eternity - is the greatest privilege and the most important responsibility of mortal existence.

a. It is so important that adequate parental experience is a requirement on the mansion worlds for spiritual progression.

b. The family is the human institution which comes closest to paralleling the conditions and dynamics of the Kingdom of God. The extended family is the ideal social goal of the planet and the culminating achievement of the universe.

4. For all of these basic reasons, the family is the crowning glory of man's long evolutionary struggle - 913.

a. It is man's most exalted institution - 929.

b. Family life, therefore, stimulates the highest potentials for human growth and development.

c. The values by which a family lives shapes its ethics and religion and determines its behavior.

5. Because of the complex, multi-faceted value affirming and shaping social structures, policies, and behaviors in family life, the authors of the Urantia Book point out that each family develops its own small cult.

6. Values and religion are received unconsciously by children. Early childhood family and group experiences are extremely important.

a. Parental attitudes and behavior imprint in our lives permanently.

Memory of my mother's teaching me to pray at bedtime by repeating after her.

Memory of my father's scripture reading at breakfast and especially the sincerity of his prayers and how he reacted to stress and tragedy. His talk to us children just before his death.

b. Group experience at an early age establishes cultural identity. Church, for me, was an extended family imprinting.

7. Children taken to church after they can understand have missed the most impressionable age for cultural influence. From 2 to 4 they establish an identity with group singing, prayer, and worship.

8. Parents need to realize the great importance and potential of the social, educational, and religious aspects of family functions and observances. The customs, rituals, and traditions evolved and established in each family have a powerful effect on both parents and children.

a. Jesus establishing family worship and family conferences.

b. Jewish and Mormon religious ceremonies in the home.

c. Reading books and conducting discussions.

d. Work and play projects - doing things together.

9. Experience in the family establishes our self-concepts, our attitude toward others, and our basic relationships with God. All of these attitudes may change as we mature but our initial family experiences are foundation stones of timeless significance.

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