Fathers

"Noble Fatherhood gives us a glimpse of the divine attributes 

of our Father in Heaven" James E Faust 1

Our children can learn the love that their Father in Heaven has for them by the love that their earthly father shows for them. "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love in righteousness."2 The Family: A Proclamation to the World. We can look to the scriptures for examples of what fatherhood is.  Fathers are to preside, which means to lead and direct, not rule over.  How do fathers lead in love in righteousness? In the Book of Mormon, Lehi shows us what a father should be.

Lehi protects his family and leads them to safety. "And it came to pass that that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness." 1 Nephi 1:2.  Fathers can and do receive inspiration to protect their families, just as Lehi did.  Lehi did not wait. He heeded the warnings received in his dream. Lehi presided in righteousness.

Lehi directs his sons to go back and get the plates.  After some time, Sariah begins to complain.  She is worried for the welfare of her sons.  Lehi did not become angry but comforted Sariah. "And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us," 1 Nephi 5:6 Lehi was a comfort to Sariah.

Lehi also had the heartache of wayward sons.  He did not belittle his sons but admonished them.  Laman and Lemuel were angry with Nephi and tied him to the boat for several days.  Lehi pleaded with them to let Nephi go.  He pleaded with love for all his sons.  Fathers plead for the safety and welfare of their children daily through thoughts and prayers, just as Lehi.

Fathers do not give up.  Even as the prodigal son left his father's teachings and home for things of the world, his father did not give up. "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck and kissed him."  Luke 15:20 His father was not passively waiting; he saw him from a great way off.  He was looking for him.  

I am so grateful for my husband and the father of our boys.  He is a loving and playful example of the teachings from the scriptures.  He patiently teaches them and helps them overcome the obstacles that each son faces.  He sacrifices and works incredibly hard, but will also play incredibly hard with our boys. He has been a powerful influence to each of them and will not ever give up on them.

The perfect example of fatherhood is our perfect Father in Heaven.  He loves us perfectly.  He gave His Son for us. He allows us to stumble and He longs for us to seek Him.  He binds up our wounds and heals our hearts.  He has blessed us with earthly fathers who learn to be like Him and love us like He does.

1  Faust, J. E. (2001), April) Them That Honour Me I Will Honour. Ensign

2 The Family: A Proclamation to the World, paragraph 7