Lesson 20 Teacher Material

The Sacred Responsibilities of Fathers

Heavenly Father has appointed to His sons the sacred responsibility to protect their families. In this lesson, students will explain ways men can fulfill this responsibility. They will discuss how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ perfectly exemplify the role fathers have to protect their families. Students will also ponder and plan how they can rely on help from heaven as they share this sacred responsibility with their spouses.

Note: Men’s responsibilities to preside over and provide for their families were discussed in previous lessons.

Suggestions for Teaching

God is the perfect example of fatherhood.

As part of the devotional for this lesson, consider singing the hymn “O My Father” (Hymns, no. 292) or another hymn related to our Heavenly Father.

You might begin the lesson by displaying a picture of a father with his family and asking the men in the class the following question:

• What thoughts, feelings, or worries do you have about being a father?

Then ask the class:

• What do you think are some of the greatest challenges to being a righteous father in our day? (Consider inviting students to review President Linda K. Burton’s statement in section 1 of the preparation material.)

• What differences are there between how some people view fatherhood and how God views fatherhood?

Remind students that while studying the preparation material, they learned that Heavenly Father is the perfect example of righteous fatherhood (see Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s statement in section 1 of the preparation material).

Improving Our Teaching and Learning

Emphasize the examples of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. The Savior instructed His disciples to be as He is (see 3 Nephi 27:27). Look for ways to emphasize His and Heavenly Father’s perfect examples as you discuss truths in class.

Explain that we can learn principles of righteous fatherhood from studying the example of Jesus Christ as well. Review John 10:11–15 together, and discuss what students learned about righteous fatherhood from the Savior’s role as our Good Shepherd.

• What might men need to “lay down” (verse 15), or give up, to fulfill their sacred responsibilities as fathers? (Consider sharing the following statement by Elder Christofferson as part of the discussion: “Let us [men] lay aside the exaggerated notions of individualism and autonomy in today’s culture and think first of the happiness and well-being of others” [“Fathers,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 96].)

To help students identify more principles of fatherhood from the examples of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, arrange students into small groups and assign a leader for each group. Invite students to talk about their assignment in the “Record Your Thoughts” activity in section 1 of the preparation material as part of their discussion.

After sufficient time, ask a few students to share with the class the principles they discussed in their group. You might invite a student to act as a scribe and list these principles on the board.

Fathers have a sacred responsibility to protect their families.

Invite students to work in the same small groups for the following activity. Give half of the group leaders a copy of “Group Handout A” and the other half a copy of “Group Handout B.” Invite students to follow the instructions on the handouts.

Group Handout A—The Protective Influence of a Loving and Fully Present Father

The Eternal Family Teacher Material—Lesson 20

Invite a group member to read aloud the statement by President M. Russell Ballard in section 2 of the preparation material. Then ask your group:

• What are some ways a father can fulfill his sacred responsibility to protect his family?

Share the following statement by Elder D. Todd Christofferson with your group: “Fathers are unique and irreplaceable” (“Fathers,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 93). Then ask your group:

• In what ways are fathers “unique and irreplaceable”? (You might suggest that your group refer to the teachings in section 2 of the preparation material as they discuss this question.)

• In what ways have you been blessed and protected by the love and involvement of a righteous father or father figure in your life?

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Group Handout A—The Protective Influence of a Loving and Fully Present Father

Group Handout B—Protecting Families through Divine Revelation and Priesthood Power

The Eternal Family Teacher Material—Lesson 20

Review together Matthew 2:13–15, looking for how Joseph protected Mary and Jesus.

• What can we learn from this account about where fathers can receive help to guide and protect their families? How can revelation help fathers in our day?

Invite a group member to read aloud the statements by President Boyd K. Packer and President Russell M. Nelson in section 3 of the preparation material. Then ask your group:

• What stands out to you in these statements, and why?

• In what ways have you been protected by the divine revelation or priesthood power of a righteous father or father figure in your life?

© 2022 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.

Group Handout B—Protecting Families through Divine Revelation and Priesthood Power

After sufficient time, invite one student whose group studied “Group Handout A” and one student whose group studied “Group Handout B” to share with the class what they learned from their discussions. To add to students’ learning, consider sharing an example of how you have been blessed and protected by the love, involvement, divine revelation, or priesthood power of a righteous father or father figure in your life. (Or you could share an example from the life of Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Stevenson’s father received a warning from the Spirit that protected Elder Stevenson from a snake when he was a young boy [see Robert D. Hales, “Elder Gary E. Stevenson: An Understanding Heart,” Ensign, June 2016, 26].)

You may want to explain that as equal partners in marriage, wives and mothers share in the responsibility to protect their families. Husbands and wives should work and counsel together as they fulfill this sacred duty.

Give students time to ponder the following questions and record any impressions they receive (you may want to display the questions):

• What can you do now to better love and protect your family and others?

• How can you support men in your life in being worthy protectors of their families and others?

• How can the Lord help you in these efforts?

To conclude the lesson, you or a student could testify of the importance of fathers and their need to follow the examples of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in fulfilling their sacred responsibilities in the family.

For Next Time

Consider encouraging students to think of their current or future children as they study the preparation material for the next class. You might also ask students to remember times in their childhood when they felt loved, needed to be disciplined, or learned to serve others.