A Gallup poll commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shows most Americans are happy with their own family life but believe the nation's morals are going in the wrong direction.
Of 1,008 American adults polled in October and November, 73 percent said they are happy with their own family life. Another 22 percent are somewhat happy, while 5 percent say they are not happy with their family life.When asked about the world around them, 66 percent believe families in general are not as happy today and 62 percent believe children growing up today have worse circumstances than when the poll respondents were growing up.
The poll was commissioned by the church's governing First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. The purpose was to "assess the state of the American family and identify areas of concern," said Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy and a member of the church's public affairs committee.
"It was motivated, I'm sure, by our deep feelings - doctrinally based feelings - about the importance of the family as the basic unit of our society and our feelings as a church that if there's one way we can make a solid contribution today it is in strengthening families," Elder Jensen said.
The church has an ongoing media campaign anchored by television and radio spots that include messages about family unity. Elder Jensen said the poll results will help the church's public affairs staff keep their material on track. "One of the strong desires we have is to be relevant."
Elder Jensen said he was pleasantly surprised by the poll results showing people feel good about their own lives, but he wasn't surprised their views of others were more negative. "It's a phenomenon pollsters explain," he said. Individuals queried about their feelings tend to be more optimistic about themselves than about others.
Nearly half, 48 percent, said they are optimistic about the future outlook for families in America. Some 76 percent believe America's moral direction today is worse than when they were growing up.
"I think some of the concerns identified, for instance the biggest concern, was a lack of family time," he said. Two-thirds of the people questioned in the survey said their family eats at least one meal together each day; and respondents with families said they spend about four hours together each day.
Asked which of these activities they believe does the most to strengthen the family, based on respondents' first mention, attending church or religious activities together drew 24 percent of the responses, and eating at least one meal together each day drew 22 percent. Praying together was the first response of 18 percent, and having family outings was the first response of 15 percent.
"With our Family Home Evening program and a concept of dinnertime conversations and family prayer and the various sort of institutions of the church that promote family togetherness, we'll use our knowledge and experience in this area and try to share it in appropriate ways," Elder Jensen said. "We'll circulate the results (of the poll) and use them in formulating our own curriculum and outreach to the public generally."
The church may even sponsor an annual symposium on the family, he said.
When read a list of issues that might face families today and asked how serious a problem this was for them personally, having enough money to pay the bills and having enough time to spend with the family were considered very serious problems. Staying in good health is an issue 40 percent said is a very serious problem for them.
Elder Jensen, a father of eight children, said, "Just as a dad and looking at the results of this from that point of view makes me want to reaffirm my commitment to spending quality and quantity time with my family and trying to make these experiences of growing up all of what my father and mother gave me."
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Family Values study
Gallop Family Values study commissioned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Happy with their own family life: 73%
Describe their family as extremely or very close: 79%
Believe family life may not be as happy as when they were growing up: 66%
Believe America's moral direction is worse than when they were children: 76%
Believe life for children is worse than when they were growing up: 62%
Optimistic about the future for families in America: 48%
List having enough money to pay bills as a top concern: 50%
List having enough time to spend with family as a top concern: 46%
Put good health at the top of their wish list: 47%
Put financial security at the top of their wish list: 46%
Believe there is a link between success of families and society: 89%
Believe the family is extremely important in teaching values: 79%
Believe the family is extremely important in educating children: 71%
Believe religion is extremely or very important: 61%
Have scriptures in their households: 90%
Read scriptures at least daily: 21%
Attended religious services in the seven days preceeding the survey interview: 52%
Nationwide poll conducted in October and November of 1008 adults 18 and older. Margin of error: plus or minus 3 percent.