One recent evening, just as the work of the day was ending, an 18-year-old young man walked out the back door of his home in his bare feet to sit with his father, who was wrestling with the last weeds in a family garden.

"Listen to this," the young man said. Thumbing through several pages of a book, he quoted a popular Church writer and teacher who described the Savior's great capacity for love of all people, and how people from all walks of life longed for His companionship.

"That's the kind of missionary I want to be," said the young man.

Something about this doctrine resonated with the young man, who wished to amplify the joy of this insight with someone he loved.

The moment was ripe to teach more of the Savior. "Consider two other scriptures," the father said. "Remember Doctrine and Covenants 45 where the Savior assures us that He, as the 'sinless one,' will plead for mercy as our advocate with the Father. Contrast that love with the hostility and hatred of Satan, who is described by John as our 'accuser' (Revelation 12:10).

That momentary conversation capped off a day of many interesting discussions between father and son who had worked side by side caring for the yards of several widowed neighbors.

Such are the thunderous joys of fatherhood.

Sadly, not all relationships are so joyous. Statistics indicate an alarming trend of fathers abdicating their responsibilities.

"As we celebrate Father's Day," wrote a columnist in the June 14, 2008, Wall Street Journal, "we should reflect upon a sad fact: It is now common to meet young people in our big city schools, foster care homes and juvenile centers who do not know their dads. Most of those children have come face-to-face with their father at some point; but most have little regular contact with the man, or have any faith that he loves or cares about them."

Such children feel like "throwaway people," the article continued, quoting Walter D. Myers, a best-selling author of youth literature. "They don't have a father to push them, discipline them, and they give up trying to succeed … they don't see themselves as wanted."

The First Presidency and Quorum of Twelve Apostles have long sounded the cry for better fathers, including the prophetic teachings and admonitions of "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."

"Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives — mothers and fathers — will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. …

"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."

Among the key words chosen by Church leaders to articulate fatherly responsibilities are provide, teach, love and serve.

"When you recognize the importance of teaching your children, you become humble, because at once you realize that this is accomplished by precept and example," said Elder L. Tom Perry during the April 2004 general conference.

"You cannot be one thing and effectively teach another. You must live and study and pray for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. You must purify and organize your life so that your example and leadership reflect the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The constant call is for fathers to assume their responsibilities as patriarchal leaders in their homes. Church leaders repeatedly express their concern about the growing number of homes in the Church in which the influence of a father is hardly felt.

"Fatherhood is leadership, the most important kind of leadership. It has always been so; it always will be so. Father, with the assistance and counsel and encouragement of your eternal companion, you preside in the home. It is not a matter of whether you are most worthy or best qualified, but it is a matter of [divine] appointment," as stated in the Church pamphlet, "Father, Consider Your Ways."

That evening in the family garden, no trumpets blared. No heavenly chorus sang. But in the last rays of the setting sun, the father watched as the young man returned to his studies, book in hand, fortified with added faith.

The father felt heaven's overwhelming approval of a maturing young man following in good footsteps.