Brethren, We Have Much Work To Do

We had a guest teacher in Relief Society this week, Sister Becky Peterson.  She was assigned a talk from the October Conference by Elder D. Todd Christofferson that was directed at the men in the Priesthood session.  

Sister Peterson pointed out that the days of Ward Cleaver, Mike Brady, and Father Knows Best are gone.  There are too many shows and commercials where men are portrayed as incompetent.

"Much as been said and written in recent years about the challenges of men and boys.  A sampling of book titles, for example, includes Why There Are No Good Men Left, The Demise of Guys, The End of Men, Why Boys Fail, and Manning Up." 

Christofferson said, "Brethren, it cannot be this way with us.  As men of Priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church.  But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust.  In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting.  We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained.  We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serous about forming families and making a real contribution in this world.  We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home.  We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace (ironically being of the world while not being in the world).  

"Brethren, we have work to do.  Young men, you need to do well in school and then continue your education beyond high school.  Adult men, be worthy models and help the rising generation of boys become men.  Teach them social and other skills; how to participate in a conversation, how to get acquainted and interact with others, how to relate to women and girls, how to serve, how to be active and enjoy recreation, how to pursue hobbies without becoming addicted, how to correct mistakes and make better choices."  

Christofferson went on to say, "Yes, brethren, we have work to do.  Thank you for the sacrifices you make and the good you do."

Sister Peterson compared a husband and wife as two pedals on a bike.  One doesn't work without the other.  Satan is attacking families.  Of course he is attacking men.  Why would he want men to have the Priesthood.  It's the biggest power on earth.  

Sister Peterson went on to give ideas (and some suggestions from Brother Peterson) of how we can support our husbands.  Her suggestions led to a lot of great discussion.  

1.  Express appreciation to your husband.  One sister shared that for 40 years her husband got up and went to work whether he was tired or sick.  It didn't dawn on her until his retirement that this act was heroic.  We expect them to work without giving great thought to it.  Most never complain.

2.  Do not talk negatively about your husband to others.  Encourage positive talk about husbands.  Same with yours sons.  If you can't say something nice don't say anything at all.  Our children take away an opinion of their fathers.  Make sure they take away the positive.  Children will learn how to treat their spouse from us.  We model everything.  

3.  Don't complain when our husbands need to do home teaching or calling.  Be supportive.  

4.  Quit taking him for granted.  Praise your husband specifically in front of the kids.  Cheer him on.  Help him see that they have an essential role to play in society, family and the home.  Remember that the world is not going to tell them.

5.  It's critical that men get that they have an essential role.  Sometimes as women we organize too much.  We need to step back and let them lead.  We can help by providing the environment.  Let them mess up the routine every now and then.  That's the times the kids love and will remember.

6.  Don't keep score.  

7.  We need to talk back.  When we are watching a show that is portraying the father as a bumbling idiot, say that it's not true.  Let your kids know that you don't think of men that way.

Part of our Relief Society theme states, "Sustain the priesthood as the authority of God on earth."