The 3 P's of Priesthood Leadership in the Home

President Spencer W. Kimball addressed
priesthood leaders when he said, "Our commitment
to home-centered gospel living
should become the clear message of every
priesthood and auxiliary program, reducing,
when necessary, some of the optional activities
that may detract from proper focus on
the family and the home" (Ensign, May 1978,
101). Here are a few ways you can use your
priesthood in the home and around your
family members as you provide, preside, and
protect.

Provide

Get as much education as possible. Providing
for your family may start long before you
have even considered getting married or
having
children.
Once you've gained the degree(s) necessary
for your field, find an honest job that
allows you to make enough money to provide
for your needs. However, don't overdo
it. Don't get caught working sixty-plus hours
a week if it keeps you away from spending
time with your wife and kids.

Live within your income and put money
aside for savings.
Obtain one year's supply of food, water,
clothing, and fuel. Maintain the food storage
by rotating supplies over time.
Pay tithing and fast offerings.
Work together with your wife to budget
family resources and pay bills.
Teach your children to work, whether
they have part-time jobs or help fold the
laundry. Teaching them to have a good work
ethic while they're young will be highly
influential in their adult lives.

Preside

Be a patriarch in the home. As the head
of the family, you are the one your wife
and children will look to for guidance and
support.
Work together as parents to establish
family rules and discipline. Stay united in
your parenting techniques.

Create a home where the Spirit can dwell.
This means getting rid of distracting, worldly
things and replacing them with uplifting
items that remind your family of the gospel.
Maybe you could hang a picture of Christ
near the door to remind family members
who they represent as they leave the house
each day.

Set an example for your children. Children
are imitative creatures and follow almost
everything their parents do. Put them on the
right course and be a role model when it comes
to being polite and avoiding profanity.
Lead family home evening, family prayer,
scripture study, and family councils on a
regular basis.

Hold formal interviews with your children
monthly. These interviews aren't meant
to be an interrogation; rather, they provide
time for you and your children to discuss
their personal growth and worthiness in a
comfortable setting.

Protect

Be present in your children's social,
educational, and spiritual activities and
responsibilities. This will show your support
for them in the various aspects of their lives.
Teach your children to make wise choices
regarding the media and friendships.
Create a strong, physical shelter and
make necessary repairs to keep your family
safe from weather or other intrusions.

Protect your children from immorality
by encouraging them to wear modest
clothing and warning them about the
dangers of breaking the law of chastity.

Follow the prophet and encourage your
family to do likewise.
Be aware of where your children are, who
they are with, and what they are doing.

Take measures to physically secure your
home, whether that means having deadbolt
locks, a security system, or motion-sensor
lights.
Discuss emergency plans with your family
in regards to fires, tornados, hurricanes,
floods, or earthquakes.

Counsel to Fathers

In his talk, "To the Fathers in Israel" (Ensign,
November 1987, 48), President Ezra Taft
Benson suggested ten specific ways that
fathers could provide spiritual leadership to
their children. He advised dads to:

1. Give father's blessings to your children.
Baptize and confirm your children. Ordain
your sons to the priesthood. These will
become spiritual highlights in the lives of
your children.

2. Personally direct family prayers, daily
scripture reading, and weekly family
home evenings. Your personal involvement
will show your children how
important these activities really are.

3. Whenever possible, attend Church meetings
together as a family. Family worship
under your leadership is vital to your
children's spiritual welfare.

4. Go on daddy-daughter dates and fatherson
outings with your children. As a
family, go on campouts and picnics, to
ball games and recitals, to school programs,
and so forth. Having Dad there
makes all the difference.

5. Build traditions of family vacations and
outings. These memories will be cherished
by your children.

6. Have regular one-on-one visits with your
children. Let them talk about whatever is
on their minds. Teach them gospel principles.
Teach them true values. Tell them
you love them. Personal time with your
children tells them where Dad puts his
priorities.

7. Teach your children to work, and show
them the value of working toward a
worthy goal. Establishing mission funds
and education funds for your children
shows them what Dad considers to be
important.

8. Encourage good music and art and literature
in your homes. Homes that have a
spirit of refinement and beauty will bless
the lives of your children forever.

9. As distances allow, regularly attend the
temple with your wife. Your children will
then better understand the importance
of temple marriage and temple vows and
the eternal family unit.

10. Allow your children to see your joy and
satisfaction in service to the Church. This
can become contagious, so they, too, will
want to serve in the Church and will love
the kingdom.

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Awesome!

arsenio in philippines

It's really nice to have this kind of features for me/us to know of the things are necessary to know about the Church latest ocassion. Thank you and more power in doing the good service.

3 P's of Fatherhood

Roberta in Wichita, KS

I really liked this article and think it should be read each new year. Maybe it would touch someone to become a better husband/father. It should be especially read to the young men prior to a mission or military enlistment or just going out on their own. It is very good.

Nice Refresher

Darrell in Indiana

It is always good to have the core values to review and thereby be strengthened. This article gave me a friendly reminder of those core values pertaining to my Priesthood responsibilities and reminded me of the privilege that it is to be a member of the church. It is also awe inspiring that our Heavenly Father trusts us so deeply to be willing to extend the Priesthood power into our personal lives.

Great!

Romeo in Philippines

Great and Wonderful Lesson

Great Idea!

kenneth in Philippines

we, the priesthood holder must realize these things because this is thy way our father in heaven wants us to be... and obedience brings blessings to our familes...