--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The family is not just the basic unit of…" description: "\"The family is not just the basic unit of society; it is the basic unit of eternity.\" — M. Russell Ballard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/m-russell-ballard-3129_eternity_the-family-is-not-just-the-basic-unit-of_622366.png" --- # The family is not just the basic unit of society; it is… ![“The family is not just the basic unit of society; it is the basic unit of eternity.” quote by M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/m-russell-ballard-3129_eternity_the-family-is-not-just-the-basic-unit-of_622366.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/m-russell-ballard-3129_eternity_the-family-is-not-just-the-basic-unit-of_622366.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b9/m-russell-ballard-3129_eternity_the-family-is-not-just-the-basic-unit-of_622366.png) > “The family is not just the basic unit of society; it is the basic unit of eternity.” [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The family serves as both the foundational social structure and the eternal spiritual core for individuals. **In simple terms:** Family is the core of society and eternity. Key Takeaway Cherish and strengthen family bonds. Themes family eternity spirituality community Mood reverent hopeful reflective Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - marriage counseling - intergenerational support - faith teaching Key Concepts LDS doctrine social cohesion Questions to Reflect On - How does your family influence your sense of purpose? - What responsibilities arise from viewing family as eternal? A Different Perspective May overlook non‑family relationships and broader social networks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-just/) [Society](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society/) [Society Basic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/society-basic-3002190/) [Unit Eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unit-eternity-5033653/) [Units](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/units/) ## Related quotes > [We have always understood that the foundations of the family, as an eternal unit, were laid even before this earth was created! Society without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/we-have-always-understood-that-the-foundations-of-the-family-as-an/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [The family is the most basic unit of government. As the first community to which a person is attached and the first authority under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/the-family-is-the-most-basic-unit-of-government-as-the-first/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) > [The goal is a society in which the basic social unit is you and your television set. If the kid next door is hungry,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-goal-is-a-society-in-which-the-basic-social-unit-is-you-and-your/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The family is the most important unit in time and in eternity and, as such, transcends every other interest in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/the-family-is-the-most-important-unit-in-time-and-in-eternity-and-as/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [I've been brought up in a family that just loves football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-coady/i-ve-been-brought-up-in-a-family-that-just-loves-football/) [Conor Coady](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-coady/) > [Everyone in our family just kind of leans on my mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-berry/everyone-in-our-family-just-kind-of-leans-on-my-mum/) [Matt Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-berry/) > [If I'm not an All-Star, maybe the next-best thing to it is to be a part of that weekend, take my family there and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-conley-jr/if-i-m-not-an-all-star-maybe-the-next-best-thing-to-it-is-to-be-a/) [Mike Conley Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-conley-jr/) > [Having three brothers in the league has been real fun for the whole family, and we're just trying to keep it going.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gronkowski/having-three-brothers-in-the-league-has-been-real-fun-for-the-whole/) [Chris Gronkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gronkowski/) > [No one is a stranger in this world... we all belong to one family¦ just we never got opportunity to meet yet¦](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brijesh-singh/no-one-is-a-stranger-in-this-world-we-all-belong-to-one-family-just/) [brijesh singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brijesh-singh/) > [What's so beautiful about Miami is that we support each other. We're just one big family, not just the entertainers, just everyone in general.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-khaled/what-s-so-beautiful-about-miami-is-that-we-support-each-other-we-re/) [DJ Khaled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-khaled/) > [“Nobody tells anyone anything in my family. You just know. You learn to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/nobody-tells-anyone-anything-in-my-family-you-just-know-you-learn-to/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [I think there's an interest surrounding our family; it's not just Miley, but it's Noah and me and Billy Ray and Branid and Trace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tish-cyrus/i-think-there-s-an-interest-surrounding-our-family-it-s-not-just/) [Tish Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tish-cyrus/) > [Family is not just a word. It's who you are, where you came from and where you will always belong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/family-is-not-just-a-word-it-s-who-you-are-where-you-came-from-and/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [Growing up in my family, it was just a little bit chaotic. It was a little bit damaged, and I saw that and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-morgan/growing-up-in-my-family-it-was-just-a-little-bit-chaotic-it-was-a/) [Liv Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-morgan/) > [In the hierarchy of the family, I'm just above the dog. But I like it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-voigt/in-the-hierarchy-of-the-family-i-m-just-above-the-dog-but-i-like-it/) [Jens Voigt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-voigt/) ## More by M. Russell Ballard > [One who lays claim to special privilege through the priesthood doesn't understand the nature of his authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/one-who-lays-claim-to-special-privilege-through-the-priesthood-doesn/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [When it comes right down to it, people are quite similar. We may come from different backgrounds, cultures, and economic circumstances, and our attitudes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/when-it-comes-right-down-to-it-people-are-quite-similar-we-may-come/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [It is the parents duty to intervene when they see wrong choices being made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/it-is-the-parents-duty-to-intervene-when-they-see-wrong-choices-being/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [The central activity of leadership is teaching - first by example, second by precept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/the-central-activity-of-leadership-is-teaching-first-by-example/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [When the Spirit is present, people are not offended when you share your feelings about the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/when-the-spirit-is-present-people-are-not-offended-when-you-share/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Be involved; be informed. Try to be understanding and tolerant and to appreciate diversity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/be-involved-be-informed-try-to-be-understanding-and-tolerant-and-to/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Because we love the Lord, we should be spiritually sensitive to moments when the powerful and important truths of the gospel can be shared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/because-we-love-the-lord-we-should-be-spiritually-sensitive-to/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Learning the lessons of the past allows you to walk boldly in the light without running the risk of stumbling in the darkness. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/learning-the-lessons-of-the-past-allows-you-to-walk-boldly-in-the/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Sometimes we go so focused on bringing people to the meetinghouse that we forget we are supposed to be bringing them to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/sometimes-we-go-so-focused-on-bringing-people-to-the-meetinghouse/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Be involved; be informed. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and involvement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/be-involved-be-informed-make-meaningful-contributions-to-society/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [ And fathers, . . . listen to \[your returned missionary sons\], and connect with them in regular, focused conversation. Talk with them in depth… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/and-fathers-listen-to-your-returned-missionary-sons-and-connect-with/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [All the marvels of nature are glimpses of His divine power and expressions of His love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/all-the-marvels-of-nature-are-glimpses-of-his-divine-power-and/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Many council leaders and members will be surprised to discover how much more focused their work will become when they examine it through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/many-council-leaders-and-members-will-be-surprised-to-discover-how/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [All of us must come to an honest, open self-examination, an awareness within as to who and what we want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/all-of-us-must-come-to-an-honest-open-self-examination-an-awareness/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) > [Remember that our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, know you best and love you the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-russell-ballard/remember-that-our-heavenly-father-and-our-savior-jesus-christ-know/) [M. Russell Ballard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) [Explore all 139 M. Russell Ballard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-russell-ballard/) ## More Eternity quotes > [“I believe in forever, and that’s what you and I are. We define eternity. This may sound cheesy, but you make me go there.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-mchugh/i-believe-in-forever-and-that-s-what-you-and-i-are-we-define-eternity/) [Gail McHugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-mchugh/) > [“Please not yet. Those are the three eternal words. Please not yet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-macdonald/please-not-yet-those-are-the-three-eternal-words-please-not-yet/) [John D. MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-macdonald/) > [Peace is the first thing the angels sang. Peace is the mark of the children of God. Peace is the nurse of love. Peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-leo-i/peace-is-the-first-thing-the-angels-sang-peace-is-the-mark-of-the/) [Pope Leo I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-leo-i/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [If I have a system it is limited to a recognition of what Kierkegaard called 'the infinite qualitative distinction' between time and eternity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-barth/if-i-have-a-system-it-is-limited-to-a-recognition-of-what-kierkegaard/) [Karl Barth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-barth/) > [Only alone can you go into eternity. Only alone can you feel the transcendental light. It is not a shared experience because if it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/only-alone-can-you-go-into-eternity-only-alone-can-you-feel-the/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [The religion of art, like the religion of politics, was born from the ruins of Christianity. Art inherited from the old religion the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/the-religion-of-art-like-the-religion-of-politics-was-born-from-the/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [I think we all have a core that's ecstatic, that knows and that looks up in wonder. We all know that there are marvelous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-barks/i-think-we-all-have-a-core-that-s-ecstatic-that-knows-and-that-looks/) [Coleman Barks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-barks/) > [One of our great allies at present is the Church itself. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean the Church as we see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/one-of-our-great-allies-at-present-is-the-church-itself-do-not/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Heaven? Floating about with everyone you ever knew for eternity? Me family does me 'ed in after one day at xmas, I'd rather be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-pilkington/heaven-floating-about-with-everyone-you-ever-knew-for-eternity-me/) [Karl Pilkington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-pilkington/) > [What does the future, that half of time, matter to the man who is infatuated with eternity?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-m-cioran/what-does-the-future-that-half-of-time-matter-to-the-man-who-is/) [Emile M. Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-m-cioran/) > [You and I are both life. There's just the experience of every moment. We like to call them moments. There isn't really such a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/you-and-i-are-both-life-there-s-just-the-experience-of-every-moment/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/) [Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/) > [You may have some friends that come and go, but having a friend like God will last forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyssa-tillmon/you-may-have-some-friends-that-come-and-go-but-having-a-friend-like/) [Alyssa Tillmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyssa-tillmon/) > [There, in the center of that silence was not eternity but the death of time and a loneliness so profound the word itself had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/there-in-the-center-of-that-silence-was-not-eternity-but-the-death-of/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) [Browse all 3,482 Eternity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eternity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The family is not just the basic unit of society; it is the basic unit of eternity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "M. 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