In his talk on "The Family: A Proclamation to the World", Boyd K. Packer said:

"We know in the church from the doctrines that have been revealed to us that we had a premortal existence...In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize his or her divine destiny as an heir of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated behond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally. The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God's commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." He continues: "You'll note as we go through this that declarations such as this are challenged. The world wants to change it. We will not. We cannot. When you remember who we are, and why we are, remember that we have this pattern and we will follow it."