Elder L. Tom Perry
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
It is becoming increasingly evident that Satan is working overtime to enslave the souls of men. His main target is the fundamental unit of society — the family.
"It appears to me that the crosshairs of Satan's scope are centered on husbands and fathers. Today the media, for example, have been relentless in their attacks — ridiculing and demeaning husbands, fathers and their God-given roles." Yet there are many great role models of fathers in the scriptures to counter such portrayals.
A family needs a father to anchor it. Increased youth violence and crime, greater poverty and economic insecurity, and the numbers of children failing in school all offer clear evidence that homes lack the positive influence of fathers.
"Surely we have learned by now, from the experience over centuries, that the basic family provides the most stable and secure foundation for society and is fundamental to the preparation of young people for their future responsibilities. We should have learned by now that alternate lifestyles of family formations have not worked and never will work."
A father's role is to be a leader, teacher and temporal provider.
Fathers and mothers must search their souls to be certain they are following the Lord's direction in building eternal families.
"Since the beginning, God has instructed mankind that a marriage should unite husband and wife together in unity . . . . The couple works together eternally for the good of their family."
