I know that I already talked about fathers, but this topic has been really interesting to me recently. Fatherhood is coming to my life earlier than I would probably want. I'm single currently, but in the coming years I could be a husband and father. This blog is going to be a little different from my others. I will be quoting a General Conference talk given by President Howard W. Hunter, who was the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This talk was addressed to an audience of men of the church and is on the topic of being a righteous husband and father. No matter your religious affiliation, being a good, wholesome, loving father and husband is something most men desire. Of course, there are outliers, but most men are striving to become better husbands and fathers.
The first thing that I want to quote from President Hunter is this line: "It is not good for man nor for woman to be alone. Man is not complete without woman." This is an interesting principle when you compare it to society today. Today there is a lot of independence, meaning that "I don't need anyone." I am happy by myself. " Which is totally fine, but in some aspects, having a person of the opposite sex will help you be even happier.
Fathers and husbands are not complete without their wives and children. Men take a lot of pride in their families and will do anything for them to provide for and protect them. Some men don't, though. They don't provide, protect, and love; they leave or they don't care for the family. Some men will be unfaithful and leave the family and wife. President Hunter said, "A husband is to love his wife with all his heart and cleave unto her and none else." This is a key principle because without unity and love, the family will fall apart, especially given how the world is today. Husbands need to be faithful to their wives and do anything to avoid the temptation to break their sacred agreement with marriage. Men aren't complete with their wives and children, and some men self-sabatgoe, leaving a family broken and hurt. President Hunter quoted Spencer W. Kimball. President Kimball said "The words none else eliminate everyone and everything. The spouse then becomes pre-eminent in the life of the husband or wife and neither social life nor occupational life nor political life nor any other interest nor person nor thing shall ever take precedence over the companion spouse"
Being faithful to your wife isn't just cheating on her; it involves pornography and other activities. President Hunter said, "Be faithful in your marriage covenants in thought, word, and deed. Pornography, flirtations, and unwholesome fantasies erode one’s character and strike at the foundation of a happy marriage." Pornography can ruin any family and can put a wedge between husband and wife. This also affects the kids as they see and feel what is happening, which can have a long-term negative impact.
Sorry for all the rambling! Being a righteous and loving father and husband is crucial to having a successful marriage and raising your children to become amazing adults. President Hunter has some other really great things in that talk! Here is the link!
Being a Righteous Husband and Father (churchofjesuschrist.org)
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