“47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

Such valiant mothers! But we are left to wonder about their fathers.

The Fathers of the Stripling Warriors Provided for Their Sons

When we read in the same chapter verse 27, however, we see the big role the fathers of the stripling warriors played.

“27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.”

We can see that the stripling warriors received great support from their Dads. I can’t  imagine how it must have felt for these fathers to see their teenage sons go into battle. The parents of these young men had made a covenant with God never again to take up weapons of war. So seeing their sons going to war to do their duties in defending their families and their liberty must have been scary, but at the same time something they must have been very proud of. Sending provisions is the next best thing they could have done to support their sons. The fathers of the stripling warriors provided for their sons not just to feed them or give them what material things they needed, but they brought provisions to give their sons moral support and to boost their morale. It must have been their way of saying, “I am here for you, my son. I am rooting for you! Hurrah!”

The Effect of Their Fathers’ Support

Because these young men were provided for, they must have been well fed and in good spirits. However, this was not the only outcome of their fathers’ support.

“29 And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.”

Their enemies, upon seeing that they were getting support, felt rattled. They saw their strength, not just in numbers or physical force, but they also saw their backing and they were shaken. It created a psychological threat that made the Lamanites think they were facing an even more formidable opponent. This may or may not have been a part of Helaman’s strategy, with some sort of a psychological warfare, but it is natural to think that if someone is well provided for, he will not be easily destroyed.

The Essence of the Father’s Role to Provide for His Family

The fathers of the stripling warriors, through their efforts to provide for their boys, proved that the role of fathers as providers goes beyond just taking care of the physical needs of the family. It creates a protective shield. It paints an image of strength for their wife and children. The family is more secure. Children have increased self-confidence because they have a sense of identity belonging to a good family. This, in turn, radiates to the people around them. People more easily see the family as a strong unit because the father is a good provider. Such a family is less susceptible to insecurity, bullying, shaming, etc. People respect them when they see a father who is able to provide, not just physical support, but emotional and moral support as well.

As we celebrate fathers, may we learn from the fathers of the stripling warriors. They may not be a popular lesson from the epic story of the mighty 2000, but their influence and their effort can’t be overlooked. They were a crucial part of the victory of Helaman’s “little sons” and a paragon for all fathers to emulate.

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Times Were Tough

At that time, my father had just graduated from college and my mother was working as a teacher. With 2 kids and one on the way, my father could hardly make ends meet with his salary as a casual government employee. I can vividly remember my parents eating salted fish so they could buy milk for me and my little brother. I can imagine how much they must have sacrificed just so we could be provided with the basic things we needed. As a father, it must have been hard for him to see his family have so little. I am sure that all he wanted was to provide a good life for us.

My Father’s Desire to Have His Family Forever

My father wanted a good life for us, but, more importantly, he held dear the promise of the Lord that his family could be with him for time and for all eternity. When he found out that a temple was going to be built in Manila, he made all the preparations needed to be able to bring his family there. It would also be his first time to be in the temple because the temple had been so far away during his Missionary Training that he had not been able to go and get his personal endowment. During his mission, he used to imagine what it would be like to go to the temple, so it was an exciting time for him preparing to go to the temple with us, but it was daunting as well. After evaluating his and my mother’s income, they discovered that there would not be enough to pay for both our fare and our board and lodging.

His Decision to Sell His Little Possessions

At that time, my father only owned a few things that he had bought previously. He had a little TV for our entertainment and he owned a watch that he’d had for years. He also had a scientific calculator from his years studying to be an electrical engineer. These were the only things of value that he possessed. We had no land and no house. He just rented a small room to house his small family. The TV and the watch were sold first but the scientific calculator was a hard thing for him to give up because it would be very useful in his future career. But, judging from the sale of the TV and watch, the scientific calculator had to go to raise the funds needed for travel to Manila.

Then Miracles Happened

When finally my father was able to buy tickets for the four of us, he could only afford the lowest form of accommodation. It was not comfortable. My mother was pregnant with their 3rd child and morning sickness plagued her. The journey to Manila took 3 days and after the first day of travel, my mother was already weak with morning sickness and seasickness. But then, as my father was out getting food for us, he met a missionary couple who offered us better accommodation. They sponsored an upgrade for us, and soon my mother felt a lot better. My father considered it to be a miracle because if she had continued to get weaker, he was afraid they would not have been able to continue the journey. When we were sealed, my mother felt the little baby in her womb kick as if to say, “Hurray!” The journey home was smooth sailing, without any discomfort and my father was empowered with a feeling of assurance that he had done the right thing in his efforts to provide for, protect and preside over his family.

We have now been sealed as a family for 35 years and it has blessed my parents’ lives and our lives as well. What my father sacrificed so we could be sealed was a strong testimony of his love for my mother and for his love for us. He taught us the difference between things that are of temporary value and things that have eternal significance. He was able to buy another TV and another watch and another scientific calculator but he said, “if I lose my family forever, that would be a great loss – something I can never replace.”

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Growing up with a father who took seriously his role in my life and seeing how my husband handles our five girls, I have seen other important roles that fathers fill in the lives of their daughters.

Cheerleader

A peptalk coming from a father can mean so much to his daughter. To have someone you love believe in you and the things you are capable of doing is really something powerful. When fathers constantly reinforce the good in their daughters, they create a strong and confident young woman. We often attribute this role to mothers, but fathers who show up at their daughters’ dance recitals or recognition ceremonies make a big difference in the self-esteem of their little girls.

Fashion Consultant

Men usually don’t talk about fashion as much as women do. Nevertheless, a father who has a say in what his daughter wears can influence the way she dresses for the rest of her life. The way a woman clothes herself says a lot about how she respects her God-given body. Nobody understands this better than a father who makes sure that his daughter dresses appropriately. When fathers help their daughters understand, given their unique perspective as males, that she is more beautiful when she is modest, she will not conform to the vulgar fads of her time. She will know how to dress the way a daughter of God would dress.

Love Expert

Fathers are husband figures for most daughters. Because it is impossible to clone them, daughters often look for someone who is as close to their fathers as possible to become their partners in life. This happens even if they are not consciously aware of it. It is an influence that a girl feels as she grows up in the loving care of her father. The tips and advice that come from a father with regards to dating and courtship are crucial in the selection of their future spouses. And the way they treat their daughters will influence how they expect men to treat them as well. For girls, what they know about men largely depend upon how they see their fathers.

Financial Adviser

As the provider of the family, a father can influence how girls see money. Ideally, women take care of the home, but that does not mean that women do not need to know how to handle money. On the contrary, managing a home means being an expert in budgeting. A father who teaches his daughter how money works will give her a better financial IQ. Fathers have strong moral authority to do so being the ones who provide money for the household. So when a father gives advise on the wise use of money, a daughter will be more likely to take it to heart. And this is much more so, if she can see frugality and money consciousness in his example of earning a livable income and paying tithes honestly, to mention a few.

The influence of a father is not just something seen in the major roles that he plays in the lives of his daughters. It is in the little details of her life that a father makes a lasting impression in the heart of his little girl. They say that if you want to give her everything, give her your time. Indeed it is true that the moments a father spends with his daughter, however simple, will mean the world to her. Eventually, it will determine the woman she will become.

The post 4 Quiet But Influential Roles of a Father of Girls appeared first on morefaith.ph.

It was a song to my parents, asking them to “lead me” and to “guide me” in this life so I can live with my Heavenly Father again someday. And whenever I hear my kids sing it, I am reminded that it is my responsibility to teach them correct principles so they can return to their Eternal Father someday. The best father I could learn from is Heavenly Father and the only way to learn from Him is to draw closer to Him. Fatherhood helped me do that.

Fatherhood helped me understand Heavenly Father’s love for all His children

When I think about Heavenly Father sacrificing His Only Begotten Son to save all His children, I cannot comprehend how hard it must have been for Him. But fatherhood gave me a little glimpse of that feeling— of being willing to sacrifice something for my children’s welfare. Fatherhood taught me that there is no sacrifice too great, and no obstacle too hard that a father cannot do or surpass for his child.

My children’s joys also became my joys, and their sorrows my sorrows. My prayers became more focused on my best desires for them. I became more selfless and giving. My life became less about me and more about my children.

Having experienced this, I came to know how much Heavenly Father loves me, and all His children, and how much He’s willing to sacrifice to see His children come home again. My heart is continually filled with an overwhelming, almost unfathomable, love for my children. And if I feel this way now, how much more can an Eternal Father feel for all His spirit sons and daughters on both sides of the veil.

Knowing how much He loves me has helped me to come to know Him better. I am more comfortable seeking His counsel when I struggle as a father, because I know that He understands perfectly what I am going through.

Fatherhood taught me to be patient like Him

When I was still single, I thought I was already a very patient person. But when I became a father, I realized that my patience was not quite as developed as I thought yet. I guess fatherhood introduces men to our unrealized potential, and challenges us to grow.

Fatherhood is a journey of endless  patience—when the kids throw a tantrum, when they insist on what they want, when they purposefully spill their milk on the floor, when they refuse to listen, when they begin to grow up and think that they don’t need your guidance because they’ve got it all figured out, etc. These experiences have, and continue, to shape my life, and I cannot help but think about the extent of Heavenly Father’s patience towards all His children. He has many children and a good portion of them disobey Him. Some even believe He doesn’t exist. But He loves them anyway. His patience towards all His children is the perfect example for every father to follow.

So whenever I scrunch my forehead over spilled milk or a tantrum, I can think of how Heavenly Father would react to such a situation. Constantly reminding myself how patient He is as a father helps me to re-pattern my fatherhood style to His—the One who never gives up on His children no matter how stubborn they can be. Having Him as a role model draws me closer to Him as I still seek inspiration on how to become a father like Him.

Fatherhood gave me a glimpse of how much He’s willing to forgive

When my children make mistakes, they ask forgiveness by saying, “Sorry, Daddy.” Sometimes, I forgive them right away, but oftentimes, I first ask them what they did wrong and why they did it. I then try to teach them the lesson behind their action, and why it was wrong. After this type of conversation, everything feels great again. Through these countless conversations I have had with my children, I have come to understand more clearly how much Heavenly Father is willing to forgive His children when they ask for sincere forgiveness, no matter how great the mistakes they have made.

Knowing how much he’s willing to forgive has drawn me closer to Him as I have asked forgiveness for mistakes I have made and the times I have fallen short of being the father He wants me to become.

Out of all the blessings I have received from fatherhood, the greatest is coming closer to Him as I have come to better understand the extent of His love and patience for all His children, and his willingness to forgive those come back to His fold.

The post How Fatherhood Helped me Come Closer to Heavenly Father appeared first on morefaith.ph.

What does fatherhood mean to you?

Hiligaynon: “Fatherhood is a noble profession, indi pwede mag-stop or mag-give up. Until eternity ang ini nga calling.”

Bisaya: “Ang fatherhood isa ka dako nga trust nga ginhatag sa Dios para sa paglambo sa iya ginharian diri sa kalibutan. Isa ni ka paagi nga maging parehas kita sa iya.”

Ilokano: “Narigat ngem naragsak ti agbalin nga ama.”

Ybanag: “Pagayaya anna mulammugang.”

Tagalog: Oportunidad na maramdaman kung paano magmahal ng walang hanggan.”

English: “It is a gift to nurture God’s children here on earth.”

What’s the role of God in your journey as a father?

Hiligaynon: “He molds me. He lets me experience how to provide for my child. Parehas sang gusto niya sa mga anak niya good gifts ang ihatag niya.”

Bisaya: “Ang Dios ang pinaka-Amahan natong tanan. Siya ang akoang ultimate example sa pagiging tatay. Mao ng ginasasunod ko ang mga ebanghelyo sa akoang pag-train sa akoang anak kay mao man na ang pattern sa Dios. Ang pagpadako sa anak kailangan pud og ginatawag na Christlike attributes og ang isa sa pinakaimportante sa tanan ang giya sa Balaan nga Espiritu.”

Ilokano: “Ti Dios ket gayyem ku nga agtartarabay kanyak aldaw aldaw tapnu mapadakkel ku a nasayaat ti ubing ku.”

Ybanag: “Yayya y mangivuvvu ta gracia ta familya nu egga pakkurkurangak ku.”

Tagalog: “Ang Panginoon ang nagbibigay lakas sa akin na maging mapagpasensiya at mapagmahal kahit minsan hindi sumusunod ang aking mga anak.”

English: “God is the guiding hand in all my decisions as a father.”

What’s the most fulfilling part of fatherhood?

Hiligaynon: “I couldn’t say right now because my kid just turned one this year. Siguro ang makita ko na healthy siya, wala lang sakit. Baskan wala kwarta ah. It’s a long way to go to fulfill my part. Damu pa guidance sa akon bata.”

Bisaya: “Ang kalipay nga ginadala sa amoang anak sa akong pamilya uban sa akong asawa.”

Ilokano: “Makita a naragsak dagiti ubing uray nu aru ti pagkurkurangan ti panagbiyag.”

Ybanag: “Y masingak ku nga ziminakal y ana ku nga maganassing ta Diyos.”

Tagalog: “Makita ang mga anak kong marunong magdasal at nanalig sa Panginoon.”

English: “My kids growing as good citizens.”

What are some of the challenges you’ve encountered being a father?

Hiligaynon: “My main challenge now is being far from home and my family.”

Bisaya: “Daghan challenges, mahibal-an ran a ninyo kung maging tatay na pud mo.”

Ilokano: “Nu agsakit ti ubing ku ket haan ku maited ti kasapulan da.”

Ybanag: “Y karigatan nga experyensa y aggaleg ku ta ammagiskwela ta ana ku ta awan tu ginigiyammu.”

Tagalog: “Pinakamasakit kapag nakikita kong nasasaktan ang mga anak ko

English: “When kids don’t open up to you because they are scared you might get angry.”

Any advice to future fathers?

Hiligaynon: “Be prepared. That means study diligently. Finish your education para may ubra nga nami kaupod ang pamilya. Kau budlay kung malayo sa pamilya. Ginahabal ko ini kay layo ko sa akon family budlay situation.”

Bisaya: “Salig lang sa Dios, tabangan man ta Niya na maging maayong tatay sama sa Iya.

Ilokano: “Kanayon nga ay-ayaten ti asawa ken annak uray nu narigat ti biyag.”

Ybanag: “Maprepara kamu ta panole nu ta mappange nga familya nu.”

Tagalog: “Huwag kayong matakot sa responsibilidad. Ito ang pinaka-fulfilling sa lahat.”

English: “Do everything out of love.”

Describe fatherhood in 1 word.

Hiligaynon: “Calling.”

Bisaya: “Paghigugma.”

Ilokano: “Napigsa.”

Ybanag: “Pammakakwa.”

Tagalog: “Kasiyahan.”

English: “Noblest.”

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