Sermoncitos, a family tradition
Fatherhood
A hundred years ago, puberty was only one or two years, after which children became adults and assumed responsibility for their own families and homes. Now there is a worldwide trend for children to stay dependent upon their parents well past their teen years, sometimes not assuming adult responsibility until their 30s. Part of this phenomenon are those who do not even make an effort at raising their own children, because they don’t think of themselves as mature and don’t want to grow up and act like parents. So, what is mature fatherhood? President Harold B. Lee taught, “The most important of the Lord’s work that you will ever do will be the work you do within the walls of your own home.” A father...blesses his children (Genesis 27; 3 Nephi 20:25).
...comforts (John 14:16) and loves (14:21).
...passes judgment (John 8:16).
...helps us recognize the Spirit of God (Joseph Smith History 1:48-50).
...presides over a family (Numbers 1:2) and an extended family (1:4,16)
...does things together as a family, such as work projects, outings, and decision making.
A father...passes on the blessings of the priesthood to his children (D&C 84:14-16; Abraham 1:2-4)
...builds a house of worship (1 Kings 8:20)
...has family prayer every night and morning (3 Nephi 18:21)
...teaches devotion and obedience to God (1 Kings 8:57,58)
A father...worries and rejoices in his children (1 Nephi 5:1)
...loves and teaches his adult children and their families (Exodus 18:4-8; 1 Nephi 15)
...guides and advises his adult children (Exodus 18:14-24)
...lives the Gospel as an example to his children (1 Nephi 16:8)
...desires that his children have joy (1 Nephi 8:12)
...loves his wayward children (Luke 15:11-32)
...learns to be kind, patient, long-suffering, and charitable.
A father ...prays mightily for his people (1 Nephi 1:5)
...attends church meeting regularly
...reads and studies the Gospel (1 Nephi 1:14)
...teaches his children his knowledge and his language (1 Nephi 1:1-2; Mosiah 1:2)
...teaches his children to search the scriptures (Mosiah 1:7)
...teaches children the gospel by meeting together as a family at least once a week to study gospel principles..
...shares inspiration and spiritual knowledge (1 Nephi 15)
...writes for the benefit of his children (1 Nephi 15:16; Mosiah 1:4,5)
...passes knowledge through the records he keeps for his posterity (Abraham 1:31)
...keeps a family history and gathers family genealogy
...preserves his heritage and lineage for his children (1 Nephi 5:14-16)
...prophecies concerning his seed (1 Nephi 5:17)
...bears his testimony (Mosiah 1:6)