Fathers and Finances

Fathers and Finances

A father is responsible for many things in a family. For many people that includes working, managing finances, and presiding over the home. 

As The Family: A Proclamation To The World states, "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. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed."

Some families are a little different and some roles are given to the mother that may normally be given to a father and some of the father's typical roles may be given to a mother. This was the case in my family since finances were all managed by my mother because she was an accountant and was very good with budgets. My Father focused primarily on working to provide for the family since his work required him to make several trips to Asia every year. So for me not all fathers have to be in charge of finances but all fathers should be involved in some way with the finances of the family.

A major role of the father is to provide, meaning work to get income for the family's needs. It can be a tricky topic especially in 2020. In a patriarch centered household the woman would stop working to raise children while the man continues to work. Lately many women have felt that it should be the other way around because they want to fight for equal rights. While a woman working to support a family is not wrong it can have serious effects on the children. In my not so professional opinion many fathers cannot care for a child the way a mother can. Mothers have a God given gift or a talent that allows them to have the needed compassion and sympathy required to raise a child and teach them. When most people think of a man they think of manly traits like strong or emotionless but that's not always the case. Women just tend to have a better ability to nurture by God's design.

While fathers have some unique roles that are different than a mothers role they still work together. "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations."

Raising children is one of the most important parts of being a father. Having a kid is what makes a man a father after all. Even though a father may work during the weekdays he is still responsible for raising the children and teaching correct values just as much as a mother is. A father will teach a young man how to honor and use the priesthood worthily. He may even teach his children how to drive or make repairs around the house. Any of the skills that the father posses it is his responsibility to teach his children how to use. Even teaching how to use the talents that the children have can be a responsibility for the father.

Fathers have many roles and responsibilities in the family and they can vary widely depending on the family and the circumstances. The most important thing is that a father is present and willing to serve the family in any capacity.