The Sacred Responsibilities of Fathers

1
The Sacred Responsibilities of Fathers
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. Proclamation,
7
2
A Context for Concern about Fatherhood in the U.S.

• 35--40 of children do not have a resident
  biological father (25 million)
• About 40 of children without a resident
  biological father have not seen him in a year.
• About 33 of children are born to unwed parents
  about 25 of these parents cohabit.
• About 50 of nonresident fathers have
  responsibilities for 2 or more sets of children
• about 25 of these fathers have
  responsibilities for three or more sets of
  children about 25 of nonresident fathers
  pay no child support the likelihood of paying
  support (and visiting) decrease if they are
  responsible for another set of children.
• Children who live without regular contact with
  their biological father are gt 5 x in poverty gt
  2 x commit crime gt 2 x drop out of school gt 2
  x substance abuse gt 2 x experience abuse gt more
  likely to become pregnant/impregnate as teens
• (for more info see National Center for Fathering,
  www.fathers.com and National Fatherhood
  Initiative, www.fatherhood.org)

3
Preside

• Leadership style implications
• Requirement of presence
• Love is spelled t-i-m-e. National Center
  for Fathering
• 1996 Gallup Pole "Most fathers know what is
  going on in their childrens lives.
• Strongly agree 4.0 Agree 38.7 Disagree
  47.8 Strongly disagree 6.2

4
Provide

• necessities of life ( 7)
• We all eat too much, war too much, and work too
  much. Brigham says if we all work less, wear
  less, eat less,we shall be a great deal wiser,
  healthier,and wealthier people than by taking the
  course we do now. Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion
• physical and spiritual needs ( 6)

5
Protect

• Emphasis over other potential duties
• Multiple meanings
• Sacred covenants and ordinances provide the
  protection of Gods presence and blessings.
  (Text, pg. 69)

6
Fighting Fatherlessness

• What are the obstacles to father involvement?
• How can women (wives, mothers, etc.) encourage
  and support father involvement?
• How can children encourage and support their
  fathers involvement?
• How can others (church, community, employers)
  encourage and support father involvement?