Family Gems - 30 October 2009

Fathers Need to Be Strengthened

“In order to strengthen the father in the home, I make two simple suggestions: first, sustain and respect the father in his position; second, give him love, understanding, and some appreciation for his efforts. . . .

“In terms of giving fathers love and understanding, it should be remembered that fathers also have times of insecurity and doubt. Everyone knows fathers make mistakes—especially they themselves. Fathers need all the help they can get; mostly they need love, support, and understanding from their own.”

James E. Faust, “The Father Who Cares,” Liahona, Sept. 2006, 4

Topics: Fatherhood, Melchizedek Priesthood

Family Gems - 16 October 2009

Our Family Is the Focus of Our Greatest Work and Joy

“Brethren and sisters, material possessions and honors of the world do not endure. But your union as wife, husband, and family can. The only duration of family life that satisfies the loftiest longings of the human soul is forever. No sacrifice is too great to have the blessings of an eternal marriage. To qualify, one needs only to deny oneself of ungodliness and honor the ordinances of the temple. By making and keeping sacred temple covenants, we evidence our love for God, for our companion, and our real regard for our posterity—even those yet unborn. Our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity, when we can ‘inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities … powers, dominions … exaltation and glory’ (D&C 132:19).”

Russell M. Nelson, “Set in Order Thy House,” Liahona, Jan. 2002, 82

Topics: Fatherhood, Motherhood

Family Gems - 21 September 2009

Parents Should Cultivate a Spirit of Love in the Home

“Have we cultivated a spirit of love in our homes? Observed President David O. McKay, ‘A true Mormon home is one in which if Christ should chance to enter, he would be pleased to linger and to rest’ (in Conference Report, Oct. 1947, 120).

“What are we doing to ensure that our homes meet this description? Do we ourselves meet it?”

Thomas S. Monson, “Dedication Day,” Liahona, Jan. 2001, 79

Topics: Motherhood, Love, Fatherhood

Daily Gems - 19 May 2009

Role of Husbands in Child Rearing

"What more can a husband do to support his wife, the mother of their children? First, show extra appreciation and give more validation for what your wife does every day. Notice things and say thank you—often. Schedule some evenings together, just the two of you.

"Second, have a regular time to talk with your wife about each child's needs and what you can do to help.

"Third, give your wife a 'day away' now and then. Just take over the household and give your wife a break from her daily responsibilities. Taking over for a while will greatly enhance your appreciation of what your wife does. . . .

"Fourth, come home from work and take an active role with your family. Don't put work, friends, or sports ahead of listening to, playing with, and teaching your children."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 110

Topics: Fatherhood, Motherhood, Children

Daily Gems - 7 May 2009

Using the Priesthood to Bless Others

"Consider how consistently you use your priesthood to bless others. . . .

"If you are divorced, do you provide for the real financial need of the children you have fathered, not just the minimum legal requirement?

"If you are married, are you faithful to your wife mentally as well as physically? Are you loyal to your marriage covenants by never engaging in conversation with another woman that you wouldn't want your wife to overhear? Are you kind and supportive of your own wife and children? Do you assist your wife by doing some of the household chores? Do you lead out in family activities such as scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening, or does your wife fill in the gap your lack of attention leaves in the home? Do you tell her you love her?"

Richard G. Scott, "Honor the Priesthood and Use It Well," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 45

Topics: Serving Others, Fatherhood

Family Gems - 1 May 2009

Brethren Should Maintain Priorities

"As I meet with priesthood leaders, I often ask about the priorities of their various responsibilities. Usually they mention their important Church duties to which they have been called. Too few remember their responsibilities at home. Yet priesthood offices, keys, callings, and quorums are meant to exalt families. (See D&C 23:3.) Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally. So brethren, your foremost priesthood duty is to nurture your marriage--to care for, respect, honor, and love your wife. Be a blessing to her and your children."

Russell M. Nelson, "Nurturing Marriage," Ensign, May 2006, 37

Topics: Parenthood, Fatherhood

Family Gems - 24 April 2009

Fathers Have a Divine Role in Families

“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 (see David Blankenhorn, Fatherless America: Confronting Our Most Urgent Social Problem [1995], introduction, 25–48; David Popenoe, Life without Father [1996], 52–78). A family needs a father to anchor it.”

L. Tom Perry, “Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling,” Liahona, May 2004, 70

Topics: Fatherhood, Family

Family Gems - 13 March 2009

Noble Fatherhood Consists of Divine Attributes

“Brethren, noble fatherhood gives us a glimpse of the divine attributes of our Father in Heaven. A father should be many things. He should magnify his priesthood and be an example of righteousness. In companionship with his wife, he should be the source of stability and strength for the whole family. He should be the protector and the provider and the champion of the members of his family. Much of his love for his children should flow from his example of love, concern, and fidelity for their mother. By his uncompromising example he should instill character into his children.”

James E. Faust, “Them That Honour Me I Will Honour,” Liahona, July 2001, 53–56

Topics: Fatherhood

Daily Gems - 6 January 2009

Formative Time of a Child's Life

"I am impressed by countless mothers who have learned how important it is to focus on the things that can only be done in a particular season of life. If a child lives with parents for 18 or 19 years, that span is only one-fourth of a parent's life. And the most formative time of all, the early years in a child's life, represents less than one-tenth of a parent's normal life. It is crucial to focus on our children for the short time we have them with us and to seek, with the help of the Lord, to teach them all we can before they leave our homes. This eternally important work falls to mothers and fathers as equal partners. I am grateful that today many fathers are more involved in the lives of their children. But I believe that the instincts and the intense nurturing involvement of mothers with their children will always be a major key to their well-being. In the words of the proclamation on the family, 'Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children' (The Family: A Proclamation to the World," Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102)."

M. Russell Ballard, "Daughters of God," Ensign, May 2008, 108-109

Topics: Motherhood, Fatherhood, Teaching

Family Gems - 22 December 2008

Husbands and Wives Lead Families as Coequals

“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. They are coequals’ (in Conference Report, Oct. 1996, 68; or Ensign, Nov. 1996, 49). Since the beginning, God has instructed mankind that marriage should unite husband and wife together in unity (see Gen. 2:24). Therefore, there is not a president or a vice president in a family. 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 are on equal footing. They plan and organize the affairs of the family jointly and unanimously as they move forward.”

L. Tom Perry, “Fatherhood, an Eternal Calling,” Ensign, May 2004, 71

Topics: Fatherhood

Family Gems - 1 December 2008

Husbands Should Honor Their Wives

“As fathers we should have love unbounded for the mothers of our children. We should accord to them the gratitude, respect, and praise that they deserve. Husbands, to keep alive the spirit of romance in your marriage, be considerate and kind in the tender intimacies of your married life. Let your thoughts and actions inspire confidence and trust. Let your words be wholesome and your time together be uplifting. Let nothing in life take priority over your wife—neither work, recreation, nor hobby.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women,” Ensign, May 1999, 39

Topics: Fatherhood

Family Gems - 17 November 2008

Brethren Should Maintain Priorities

“As I meet with priesthood leaders, I often ask about the priorities of their various responsibilities. Usually they mention their important Church duties to which they have been called. Too few remember their responsibilities at home. Yet priesthood offices, keys, callings, and quorums are meant to exalt families (see D&C 23:3). Priesthood authority has been restored so that families can be sealed eternally. So brethren, your foremost priesthood duty is to nurture your marriage—to care for, respect, honor, and love your wife. Be a blessing to her and your children.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, May 2006, 37

Topics: Melchizedek Priesthood, Fatherhood

Family Gems - 14 November 2008

A Father Is Many Things

“Brethren, noble fatherhood gives us a glimpse of the divine attributes of our Father in Heaven. A father should be many things. He should magnify his priesthood and be an example of righteousness. In companionship with his wife, he should be the source of stability and strength for the whole family. He should be the protector and the provider and the champion of the members of his family. Much of his love for his children should flow from his example of love, concern, and fidelity for their mother. By his uncompromising example he should instill character into his children.”

James E. Faust, “ ‘Them That Honour Me I Will Honour,’ ” Ensign, May 2001, 46

Topics: Fatherhood

Family Gems - 31 October 2008

Husbands Direct Righteous Living in the Home

“ ‘Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it’ (Eph. 5:25). With that kind of love, brethren, we will be better husbands and fathers, more loving and spiritual leaders. Happiness at home is most likely to be achieved when practices there are founded upon the teachings of Jesus Christ (see Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102). Ours is the responsibility to ensure that we have family prayer, scripture study, and family home evening. Ours is the responsibility to prepare our children to receive the ordinances of salvation and exaltation and the blessings promised to tithe payers. Ours is the privilege to bestow priesthood blessings of healing, comfort, and direction.”

Russell M. Nelson, “Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women,” Ensign, May 1999, 39-40

Topics: Fatherhood

Family Gems - 23 June 2008

Becoming Examples of Righteousness by Following the Savior

"As we go through life, even through very rough waters, a father's instinctive impulse to cling tightly to his wife or to his children may not be the best way to accomplish his objective. Instead, if he will lovingly cling to the Savior and the iron rod of the gospel, his family will want to cling to him and to the Savior. "This lesson is surely not limited to fathers. Regardless of gender, marital status, or age, individuals can choose to link themselves directly to the Savior, hold fast to the rod of His truth, and lead by the light of that truth. By so doing, they become examples of righteousness to whom others will want to cling."

Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House," Ensign, Nov. 2001, 69

Topics: Fatherhood, Gospel of Jesus Christ, Example

Family Gems - 15 February 2008

Parental Responsibility

“Fathers, not only do you have the right to know the worthiness of your children, you have the responsibility. It is your duty to know how your children are doing with regards to their spiritual well-being and progression. . . . Ask specific questions regarding their worthiness, and refuse to settle for anything less than specific answers.”

M. Russell Ballard, "The Greatest Generation of Missionaries," Ensign, Nov. 2002, 48

Topics: Fatherhood

Family Gems - 28 January 2008

An Inheritance of Prayer

"There is great power in loving, consistent, fervent family prayer. Don't deny your families this blessing. Don't allow the strength that comes from family prayer to slip away from you and your loved ones through neglect.

John H. Groberg, "The Power of Family Prayer," Ensign, May 1982, 52

Topics: Motherhood, Fatherhood

Family Gems - 7 December 2007

Gratitude for Fathers

"Let us reflect gratitude for our fathers.

"Father . . . is ever willing to sacrifice his own comfort for that of his children. Daily he toils to provide the necessities of life, never complaining, ever concerned for the well-being of his family. This love for children, this desire to see them well and happy, is a constant in a time of change."

Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, Feb. 2000, 4

Topics: Gratitude, Fatherhood

Daily Gems - 22 October 2007

Parental Responsibility

“Fathers, not only do you have the right to know the worthiness of your children, you have the

responsibility. It is your duty to know how your children are doing with regards to their spiritual

well-being and progression. . . . Ask specific questions regarding their worthiness, and refuse to

settle for anything less than specific answers.”

M. Russell Ballard, “The Greatest Generation of Missionaries,” Ensign, Nov. 2002, 48

Topics: Fatherhood

Family Gems - 1 October 2007

Gratitude for Fathers

"Let us reflect gratitude for our fathers.

"Father . . . is ever willing to sacrifice his own comfort for that of his children. Daily he toils to provide the necessities of life, never complaining, ever concerned for the well-being of his family. This love for children, this desire to see them well and happy, is a constant in a time of change."

Thomas S. Monson, "An Attitude of Gratitude," Ensign, Feb. 2000, 4

Topics: Fatherhood, Gratitude