Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling ~ Part One

Good Morning or Good Afternoon or Good Evening, 

this post should take four minutes to seven minutes to read from start to finish.

I was going to do a topic focuses on Fathers last week but I decided to do a different topic instead. This week's topic focuses on Fathers.

This post focuses on a April 2004 General Conference talk, and it is called "Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling' by Elder L. Tom Perry. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk. I hope that you would be able to learn something new.

Elder Perry mentioned the following;
"As we take a long, hard look at the world today, it is becoming increasingly evident that Satan is working overtime to enslave the souls of men. His main target is the fundamental unit of society - the family. ... It appears to me that the crosshairs of Satan’s scope are centered on husbands and fathers. Today’s media, for example, have been relentless in their attacks ridiculing and demeaning husbands and fathers in their God-given roles.

Examples from the Scriptures
... Alma the father prayed with much faith that his son would come to a knowledge of the truth a prayer which was answered in a very special way: “And now it came to pass that while he was going about to destroy the church of God, … the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder … ; “ 

And so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them. “Nevertheless he cried again, saying: Alma, arise and stand forth, for why persecutest thou the church of God?

For the Lord hath said: This is my church, and I will establish it; and nothing shall overthrow it, save it is the transgression of my people. “ And again, the angel said: Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to the knowledge of the truth; therefore, for this purpose have I come to convince thee of the power and authority of God, that the prayers of his servants might be answered according to their faith.” When Alma the Younger recovered from this experience, he was a changed man.

The Diminishing Role of Fathers
Satan, in his carefully devised plan to destroy the family, seeks to diminish the role of fathers. Increased youth violence, youth crime, greater poverty and economic insecurity, and the failure of increasing numbers of children in our schools offer clear evidence of lack of a positive influence of fathers in the homes. 

A family needs a father to anchor it. ... This was stated plainly by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”:

... “All human beings male and female are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. …

“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. 

"The heart of a father is the masterpiece
of nature." - Antoine Francois Prevost.

“… By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. 

Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. …"

Father’s Roles
Given such urgent warnings about the future of our Father in Heaven’s children, fathers and mothers must search their souls to be certain they are following the Lord’s direction in building up eternal families. 

Focusing on fathers, what does the Lord expect us to do? Once a family has been established, the father’s roles include the following:

1. The father is the head in his family.
“Fatherhood is leadership, the most important kind of leadership. It has always been so; it always will be so. Father, with the assistance and counsel and encouragement of your eternal companion, you preside in the home. It is not a matter of whether you are most worthy or best qualified, but it is a matter of [divine] appointment.”

... “You preside at the meal table, at family prayer. You preside at family home evening; and as guided by the Spirit of the Lord, you see that your children are taught correct principles. It is your place to give direction relating to all of family life.

“You give father’s blessings. You take an active part in establishing family rules and discipline. As a leader in your home you plan and sacrifice to achieve the blessing of a unified and happy family. To do all of this requires that you live a family-centered life.”

Remember, brethren, that in your role as leader in the family, your wife is your companion. As President Gordon B. Hinckley has taught: “In this Church the man neither walks ahead of his wife nor behind his wife but at her side. ..."

Since the beginning, God has instructed mankind that marriage should unite husband and wife together in unity. ... The couple works together eternally for the good of the family. They are united together in word, in deed, and in action as they lead, guide, and direct their family unit. ... They plan and organize the affairs of the family jointly and unanimously as they move forward."

Stay Tuned until next time.