Duties

I am happy to say that I do not have dead guy duty.  I believe Nacho Libre is the appropriate candidate for that particular job.  I did have reason however to reflect this evening on what my duties are as the father in the home.  Following a conversation with my sweet daughter that didn't exactly go smoothly - because I got to be the parent and not the friend - I sought some direction on how to help her understand where I am coming from and why I make the decisions that I make.  I didn't really know where to go on that so I prayed for inspiration.  You know what, it came.  I searched Fathers Duties on the church's website (www.lds.org) and came across a lesson that quoted a talk from President Ezra Taft Benson on the role of father in the home.  What a fantastic talk.  I ended up sharing a Family Home Evening lesson on the very subject and used a portion of the talk.  It was a good reminder to me of what I should be doing and it provided great insight to my kids on what the prophets have instructed fathers to do to lead their families. 

Here is the portion of the talk that I shared:

Mothers play an important role as the heart of the home, but this in no way lessens the equally important role fathers should play, as head of the home, in nurturing, training, and loving their children.

As the patriarch in your home, you have a serious responsibility to assume leadership in working with your children. You must help create a home where the Spirit of the Lord can abide. Your place is to give direction to all family life. You should take an active part in establishing family rules and discipline.

Your homes should be havens of peace and joy for your family. Surely no child should fear his own father—especially a priesthood father. A father’s duty is to make his home a place of happiness and joy. He cannot do this when there is bickering, quarreling, contention, or unrighteous behavior. The powerful effect of righteous fathers in setting an example, disciplining and training, nurturing and loving is vital to the spiritual welfare of his children.

With love in my heart for the fathers in Israel, may I suggest ten specific ways that fathers can give spiritual leadership to their children:

1. Give father’s blessings to your children. Baptize and confirm your children. Ordain your sons to the priesthood. These will become spiritual highlights in the lives of your children.
2. Personally direct family prayers, daily scripture reading, and weekly family home evenings. Your personal involvement will show your children how important these activities really are.
3. Whenever possible, attend Church meetings together as a family. Family worship under your leadership is vital to your children’s spiritual welfare.
4. Go on daddy-daughter dates and father-and-sons’ outings with your children. As a family, go on campouts and picnics, to ball games and recitals, to school programs, and so forth. Having Dad there makes all the difference.
5. Build traditions of family vacations and trips and outings. These memories will never be forgotten by your children.
6. Have regular one-on-one visits with your children. Let them talk about what they would like to. Teach them gospel principles. Teach them true values. Tell them you love them. Personal time with your children tells them where Dad puts his priorities.
7. Teach your children to work, and show them the value of working toward a worthy goal. Establishing mission funds and education funds for your children shows them what Dad considers to be important.
8. Encourage good music and art and literature in your homes. Homes that have a spirit of refinement and beauty will bless the lives of your children forever.
9. As distances allow, regularly attend the temple with your wife. Your children will then better understand the importance of temple marriage and temple vows and the eternal family unit.
10. Have your children see your joy and satisfaction in service to the Church. This can become contagious to them, so they, too, will want to serve in the Church and will love the kingdom

To me that is a wonderful list that outlines clearly those duties that should be a priority in my life.  Some of those things we do a pretty good job with.  Others need a little help.  Anyhow, good reminder.