Men and Fathers
Motherhood is clearly a holy work but it cannot be accomplished without fathers. 1 Corinthians 11:11 tells us "...neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." Husband and wife have the sacred opportunity not only to love and care for one another but to bring children into the world to cherish and protect. We've spent a fair amount of time focusing on mothers. Now let's talk about their counterpart.
Chapter 13 of the text reminds us that "to father a child is more than a biological act or fulfillment of a social role. To father a child is to accept a divine calling, moral stewardship, and a lasting commitment across generations." President Ezra Taft Benson adds that a father's calling is "an eternal calling from which [he is] never released."
Fatherhood ultimately links past generations to future generations through cultivating relationships and growth, preserving healthy values and traditions, and establishing new ones according to the needs and wants of the family. Chapter 13 of Successful Marriage and Families focuses on five fundamental principles of fathering, each of which if followed, will accomplish greatness.
To Preside
To Partner
To Be Present
To Provide
To Protect
...
Closing: Parenting is no easy task and mothers and fathers should recognize that at some point in their journey, they will fail. As the text tells us. "that is part of being mortal in a fallen world. No mother or father is good enough to care perfectly for God's children." So what can we do to overcome our imperfections? We can acknowledge this fact and recognize that just as our children are brought to earth to learn and grow, so are we. If we are striving to better ourselves - to change our natures and hearts to be more aligned with Heaven, then our efforts can be enhanced and the skills we may still lack can be compensated for through the grace of Christ. "...we can receive His image by humbly bringing our tattered, weak selves to Him for healing. In that place of dependence, we will feel His transforming mercy bless us to become more like Him in our parenting."
In all aspects of life but especially the raising of God's precious children, we need the Atonement. What a tender gift we can utilize both for ourselves and the betterment of our families.
Fatherhood ultimately links past generations to future generations through cultivating relationships and growth, preserving healthy values and traditions, and establishing new ones according to the needs and wants of the family. Chapter 13 of Successful Marriage and Families focuses on five fundamental principles of fathering, each of which if followed, will accomplish greatness.
To Preside
To Partner
To Be Present
To Provide
To Protect
...
Closing: Parenting is no easy task and mothers and fathers should recognize that at some point in their journey, they will fail. As the text tells us. "that is part of being mortal in a fallen world. No mother or father is good enough to care perfectly for God's children." So what can we do to overcome our imperfections? We can acknowledge this fact and recognize that just as our children are brought to earth to learn and grow, so are we. If we are striving to better ourselves - to change our natures and hearts to be more aligned with Heaven, then our efforts can be enhanced and the skills we may still lack can be compensated for through the grace of Christ. "...we can receive His image by humbly bringing our tattered, weak selves to Him for healing. In that place of dependence, we will feel His transforming mercy bless us to become more like Him in our parenting."
In all aspects of life but especially the raising of God's precious children, we need the Atonement. What a tender gift we can utilize both for ourselves and the betterment of our families.
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