"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."
(The Family: A Proclamation to the World)
A father is to PRESIDE over his family. This means he should be the spiritual leader in his family. He should teach his family the gospel. He should take them to church, and make sure that they are learning the gospel. He should be an example to them through the way that he lives his life, treats others, and treats their mother. He should teach them to have values and respect for others.
A father should be a PARTNER. He should work closely with the mother of his children to raise, and teach them. They should help each other and make decisions together. He should show his children how to be a good partner through his example. He should be a partner to his child by teaching them, and helping them to reach their full potential.
A father should be PRESENT. He should spend time with his children. They should have a close relationship, and he should be available to his children, both physically and emotionally. He should be there in their activities. His children should know that he is always available to them.
A father should PROVIDE. A father should do his best to take care of the physical needs of his family. He should work to provide them with the necessities, but he should also provide them with opportunities to learn and grow.
A father should PROTECT. A father should teach his children about dangers, and why they should avoid them. Like a mother, he should do everything in his power to protect his children. A father should teach his children right from wrong, and try to protect them from making bad choices. A father should also be an example to help protect his children from making bad choices that could hurt them, such as drinking or drugs.
Some ways that I have witnessed my own father, my father-in-law, and my husband be good fathers are:
1. Spend time with your children. I have been blessed with a father that took time to spend with our family. We would play in the backyard, watch sports on TV, or go on vacations. I always felt that I was important to him, because he seemed to like spending time with me. My husband is the same way. He can be found playing sports with my kids, coaching their teams, taking them for treats, or just sitting and listening to them. My children know that he enjoys their company.
2. Attend their activities. My dad came to everything. Sporting events, choir concerts, dance recitals, and piano recitals. He was there when we spoke in church. He was there when I received a scholarship. He came to numerous events that my siblings and I were in. My husband makes it a point to come to everything that our children participate in. If he cannot be there, my kids know that he has asked me to make sure to get it on video. He will take the time to watch the video with them later.
3. Be the priesthood authority in the home. I always knew that I could go to my dad for a priesthood blessing. There was never a worry that he wouldn't be worthy, or would deny me the blessing. My children are now blessed to have that in our home. I am blessed with a husband that is happy to give blessings. He leads us in family prayer every night, and in our Come Follow Me study. He has been able to baptize all of our children that have been old enough to be baptized. He has been able to give three of my sons the priesthood. He has gone with me to the temple, and has been able to take three of our children to perform baptisms for the dead. He is an example of a priesthood holder, as he takes our family to church each week, and performs his ministering duties.
4. Love your children. My dad showed his love through actions. He wasn't much for expressing it through words. My husband both shows and tells my children that he loves them. He pays attention to them. He tells them he loves them every night as he helps to tuck them into bed. He gives hugs and kisses, and he comforts them when they are upset.
5. Love their mother. One of the best ways that a man can be a good father, is by loving his children's mother. By loving their mother, he can be an example of how to have a good relationship. He can teach his children to be good husbands and fathers by the things that he does.
"A father's calling is eternal and its importance transcends time."
--Ezra Taft Benson
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