Elder L. Tom Perry
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As the Proclamation to the World issued in 1995 asserts, righteous priesthood bearers are "by divine design to preside over our families in love and righteousness and are to provide the necessities of life and protection for our families . . . We live in a world that is crying for righteous leadership based on trustworthy principles . . . I believe few of us realize the potential of the priesthood and what a blessing it is."
One of the blessings of the priesthood is the opportunity to associate with others in a quorum where the threefold purposes of the priesthood — education in eternal principals, fraternity with others who hold like views and service — can be accomplished.
The principal of service applies to leadership in the home. "We are under divine command to bring up our children in light and truth. If fathers do not raise their children in light and truth, then the Lord is displeased and condemnation will soon follow . . . We need to teach the concept of building successive generations of members who are temple-married and faithful. We need to teach basic doctrines and understand the relationship between personal spiritual growth and that of the family. We want to make the outcome clear, inviting members to come unto Christ and endure to the end.
"Homes should be an anchor, a safe haven, a place of refuge, a happy place where families dwell together, a place where children are loved and can be loved. In the home, parents should teach their children the great lessons of life. Home should be the center of one's earthly experience, where love and mutual respect are appropriately blended."
