Thanks!

Just wanted to say thank you to all who participated in the Father's Day festivities last week!  It was fun!  We're using today to catch up on our conference quotes (I alway mean to post these during the week.  Then I never do.).  See you again next Sunday (hooray for the Fourth of July!)!

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"In the end, the central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ—faith that They exist; faith in the Father’s plan for our immortality and eternal life; faith in the Atonement and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which animates this plan of happiness; faith to make the gospel of Jesus Christ our way of life; and faith to come to know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom [He has] sent” (John 17:3)."  Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture,"  April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Never in history has a people been blessed with such a quantity of holy writ. And not only that, but every man, woman, and child may possess and study his or her own personal copy of these sacred texts, most in his or her own language. ...Surely with this blessing the Lord is telling us that our need for constant recourse to the scriptures is greater than in any previous time. May we feast continuously on the words of Christ that will tell us all things we should do (see 2 Nephi 32:3)."  Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture,"  April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Study the scriptures carefully, deliberately. Ponder and pray over them. Scriptures are revelation, and they will bring added revelation." Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture,"  April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Because they expound the doctrine of Christ, the scriptures are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, whose role it is to bear witness of the Father and the Son (see 3 Nephi 11:32). Therefore, being in the scriptures is one way we receive the Holy Ghost." Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture,"  April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Many today would dispute with Alma about the seriousness of immorality. Others would argue that it’s all relative or that God’s love is permissive. If there is a God, they say, He excuses all sins and misdeeds because of His love for us—there is no need for repentance. Or at most, a simple confession will do. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior.  But a God of love does not leave us to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10; see also Helaman 13:38)." Elder D. Todd Christofferson, "The Blessing of Scripture,"  April 2010

Come, Listen to a Prophet's Voice

"Parents must bring light and truth into their homes by one family prayer, one scripture study session, one family home evening, one book read aloud, one song, and one family meal at a time. They know that the influence of righteous, conscientious, persistent, daily parenting is among the most powerful and sustaining forces for good in the world."  Elder L. Tom Perry, "Mothers Teaching Children in the Home," April 2010

For Father's Day

"As a child, my father would take me for walks in the late afternoon. He would point out things along the way: a bird’s nest hidden in a tree, a bee amid the flowers that would create sweet honey. The wonders of the earth came to my attention without hurry. We’d taste a new strawberry, pick a pea pod and delight at the yummy little round ‘balls’ inside. 'Walk in my shadow. I’ll be your shade,' he might say. How good it was to be a child, exploring, learning the natural miracles of the changing seasons and mysteries of life. Sometimes, early in the morning, he would gather us all up in our PJ’s and coats to drive through white fairylands of snow. Ah, sweet memories. I see the same thing happening as the father of MY children and grandchildren takes a little hand to explore and investigate...

Again, I watch the influence of a great man casting a large, comforting shadow across the heat of the day.

I remember with glistening eyes, and treasure the lasting influence of a FATHER."  -DeAnna Packer

(from Vicky Deursch)

 

(From Anna Frost)

    

(From Brenda Haertel)

(From Brenda Haertel)

(From Suzy Wirth)

 

(From DeAnna Packer)

(Book of Mormon stories; from Lori)

(From Jacque Elkington)

"Fatherhood is to be captured in so many instances. There’s the calm moments of napping together or reading together. There’s the special moments of watching your child achieve something for the first time(or couple times). There’s the energetic moments of playing together, running together, teasing & tickling. And then there’s moments like this where the father gets to introduce his child to something new in this world and you have a sweet moment of love and learning."  -Megan Hansen

(From Megan Hansen) 

"My husband was nervous to be a father, because he didn't have the first clue with what to do with a baby. But as soon as our little guy was here, it was like he'd always been one."  -Mara Hinton

(From Mara Hinton, picture by Alycia Hinton, puzzlepiecephotography.com)

(From Jeanine Crane)

 

(From Lori)

(From Heather Bigler)

"When [my husband] moved up to Washington from Utah three weeks before my due date we were aware of the possibility that the baby might be born with us in separate states. ...A day after Paul arrived at our new house [in Washington], Rhett was born. [Paul] managed to fly with our older son back to Utah later that day and you could tell from seeing them together that it was worth the trip." -Vicky Deursch

 

(From Vicky Deursch)

Certainly, Dads are special.

And aren't they the most fun?! 

(From DeAnna Packer)

"I love this picture because it epitomizes what our daddy does for our family- brings optimism and cheerfulness to every situation." -Katie Lewis

(From Lori)

(From Jeanine Crane)

(From Anna Frost)

(From Gail Pidduck)

(From Amy Fitzgibbons.  Yes, those are twins!)

(From Jeanine Crane)

 

(From Anna Frost)

(From Heather Bigler)

And let's not forget grandpas!

"I used to see Grandpa Packer (not pictured) take a toddler quietly from a room full of people visiting. Then I'd notice in the other room a chubby hand with a cookie and a smile. Grandpa's are good people." -DeAnna W. Packer

(From Lucinda Truman)

(From DeAnna Packer)

(From Lori)

(From Gail Pidduck)

(From Gail Pidduck)

"After a LONG day and many failed nap attempts, Grandbill was the one to lull these girls to sleep. He was mostly sleeping, but I love that little wry smile my dad has on." -CJ Carter

(From Lucinda Truman)

Some dads are in our homes (and hearts!) daily. 

"I'm so glad when Daddy comes home!"

(From CJ Carter)

(From CJ Carter)

(From Jeanine Crane)

(From Lori)

(From Amy Pincock)

Other dads live in our memories.

(From Gail Pidduck)

(From Jeanine Crane)

(From DeAnna Packer)

(from Jeanine Crane)

"[My dad] was always a farmer and his harvest was always bountiful whatever he tended, a garden, a flock, or a family."  -Lucinda Truman (painting by Gail Pidduck)

**************************************************************************

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:11 

****************************************************************************

Happy Father's Day!

Movie Night

These aren't exactly Fatherhood films.  But both are true stories about religious, inspiring men.  So we thought them appropriate to recommend both on this blog and for this weekend:

I read once that A Man for all Seasons, based on a successful play about the life of Sir Thomas More, almost wasn't produced in film because it was a “period piece about a moral issue, without even a love story."  Turns out it is both timeless and a love story - on various levels.  We watched it again last week and liked it as much as ever. 

 

And if you can survive the soundtrack, The Scarlet and the Black is a moving film about the life of Monsignor O'Flahrety, an Irish priest who saved around 4,000 Allied soldiers and Jews in Rome during World War II.    

 

Any other recommendations for this Father's Day weekend?
Otherwise, we'll see you Sunday with some photos!  We've loved the submissions and can't wait to share them ( if you still want to send a picture, please do!)! 

The Father in Him

My friend Emily (of Bloom fame) posted this poem years ago.  I loved it.  You will too.

At the Church Christmas Party
--Carol Lynn Pearson

My little Johnny, who was three,
Climbed with lights in his eyes onto Santa’s knee.
“And what would you like this year, my boy?
If I can I’ll bring your favorite toy.”

Johnny didn’t even need time to think.
“I want a dolly,” he said, “that will eat and drink.”
Twelve parents, at least, turned and looked at me
And a big man said suspiciously,

“Next year he’ll want a dress or two.”
I replied, “It’s the father in him coming through.”
“Well, that’s not what some folks say.
A kid’s character’s built by the way he’ll play.”

My little Johnny, who was three,
Climbed with lights in his eyes from Santa’s knee.
And the big man grinned as he watched his son
Ask Santa Claus for a tank and a gun.

Regarding Providing

"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."

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

I mentioned this devotional address a couple of Sundays ago.
(Here's the transcript link if you prefer to read). 
It's such a great talk and seems relevant to a Father's role.

(Thanks to those who sent pictures!  We're still collecting until Friday!  wesandlori@gmail.com!)