MARCI VON SAVOY
The family unit is perpetually attacked by same-sex marriages, abortion and divorce, but one Sandy family not only built a protective “fortress of love,” to surround all 14 members, but they shared their blueprint for this fortress with Pope John Paul II during their sojourn to Rome.
The Goodmans: Claudia and Steven, both 48 are the parents of 12 musically and vocally talented children, ages 8 to 24. After being asked to sing for the United Nations Habitat II Conference in Istanbul last June by United Families International (UFI), a pro-family lobbying group, the Goodmans were invited by the Pope to sing at the Food Summit Conference in mid-November.
Julianne, the fifth oldest, a freshmen, elementary education major said the Habitat II document was anti-family and potentially-harmful to small nations dependent on UN funds. The document, she said was already written and ready to be voted on. The Goodmans sang pro-family songs, written by Kenneth Cope, on the floor of the UN General Assembly.
Steve said that most people from UFI participated in the conference in lobbying form and that the Goodmans were the only performing group. He said that arts and music engender sensitivity in people.
Claudia said the entire Habitat II document was overturned and became pro-family.
“The other nations of the world call it the miracle of Istanbul,” Claudia said. “Those who were pro-family were a catalyst that went out and helped the other nations understand what was really going on here with these feminists and what they were trying to do … it (Habitat II) was supposed to determine how we were supposed to live in the 21st century and the feminists were trying to eliminate the word family from the whole document.”
The Goodmans sang “I Am a Child of God” in Italian for the Pope. Pope John Paul showed his appreciation for the Goodman family’s message when he kissed all the younger Goodman children and shook the families’ hands.
“I think he agreed with the song we were singing because he nodded his head,” said 10-year-old LeAnne.
During their visits to both Turkey and Italy, the Goodmans received an unaccustomed amount of media attention. In Istanbul they were guests on a television broadcast that reached 10 million people in Turkey. In Italy they were interviewed on “Uno Matino” (One Morning).
Twenty-three-year-old Melissa, the second oldest, was just finishing her mission in Rome and met her family there at the end. On the Italian broadcast, still with her missionary tag on, she served as an interpreter for her family. Melissa said already the missions in Italy are seeing the results of their family’s interview.
“I got a letter from a friend from up north in Italy, and a lot of people in his city had seen the TV show and had asked about the tag and asked if it was the same tag he was wearing,” Melissa said.
The Goodmans did not proclaim that they were LDS.
“It always came out that we were Mormons. We never said anything, because we found that it was to our advantage; they would fall in love with the family, and then they would find out, oh, by the way, they were Mormons,” Claudia said.
Claudia said their formula they shared with the broadcasts for maintaining their cohesive team is nothing new to members of the church. They engage in daily family prayer and scripture study and FHE, or what they translate as a weekly family activity for those uncultured to the LDS acronyms.
“We feel like if people do those three things in their families, whether they’re members of the church or not, then they can be open to the inspiration of the Lord, and he can give them the inspiration to find greater truth,” Claudia said.
Claudia said while in Turkey and Italy her family was able to talk with other pro-family organizations and religions.
“The Muslims and all religions that we had contact with were really excited about the points we had made,” Claudia said.
Melissa said in the past the families in Italy were very strong, but that the same things that deteriorate the family in the U.S. are breaking down the family all over the world.
“Very few people are getting married; very few people are having children,” Melissa said.
Claudia said the Goodmans were just an ordinary family and that is why they were loved by so many people in Italy and Turkey. She also said she recognizes that not every family can have 12 children.
“The number of children is not a measure of success. It’s what you do with them or what you do with your life to serve other people,” Claudia said.
Steve said the Goodmans are not necessarily a performing group that is also a family, but a family that performs.
“In truth we’re raising a family and using music as a vehicle,” Steve said. For the Goodmans, music is a means of interacting together. Steve recommends all families find activities they enjoy and can do together.
“You should always love each other; I really love all my brothers and sisters a lot,” said eight-year-old, Aimee.
The Goodmans CD, “Fortress of Love,” will be released in January and features songs about the family, all written by Cope, including “Papa Come Home,” a plea for fathers to return to their families.
