Yes, a good father is important, as I can attest in our family. I was reared with seven brothers and three sisters and parents who loved one another and honored their priesthood covenants. We had a good "family life in the light of the Gospel." Because my parents recorded their positive experiences we have still that record to hopefully transmit to our children.
AndrewKJune 15, 2018
Thank you for this.
Victoria HuishJune 15, 2018
Wow! Powerful argument for fathers!
JeffJune 15, 2018
This is a great treatment, but I do think it places far too much emphasis on the biological connection between parents and children. As a father of both adopted and biological children, I can authoritatively state that the bond is absolutely identical, to the point that I rarely think about the different ways in which each of my children came to me.
I was particularly surprised by the following statement: “The fact that both adults have a biological connection to the child would increase the likelihood that the parents would identify with the child and be willing to sacrifice for that child, and it would reduce the likelihood that either parent would abuse the child.” Here’s why:
About five years ago, our younger daughter’s birthmother informed us she was pregnant again and asked if we wanted to adopt the child. We prayerfully decided to do so, but a month later, she backed out, stating that she was going to marry the father and parent their child together. We were crushed, but hoped the baby would have a good life with his half-sister and biological parents. When he was three months old, his mother rushed him to the hospital, claiming he had become unresponsive after a bath. The doctors quickly realized she was lying, that he had been beaten—by his father, it turned out. The baby remained in the hospital for a month, barely clinging to life, before finally being released into foster care. He is now permanently blind and deaf, his mother has recently been released from prison, and his father is still incarcerated. (The state placed his half-sister with extended family members, for her own safety, and previously placed an older half-brother with another family.)
I know some may claim this an exception to the rule, but I’ve seen things like this happen far too many times. Yes, in a perfect world, every parent would have biological children and every child would be responsibly raised by his or her biological parents. But we do not live in a perfect world—far from it—and you will find it very hard to convince me that adoption—particularly in a temple-sealed family—isn’t every bit as valid as a biological relationship.
Russell C AndersonJune 15, 2018
Maby your title for the artical, with out a fathers influance, would have been better as there would be no human race if there where no fathers and just as sure for no mother.
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Mary Jane FritzenJune 15, 2018
Yes, a good father is important, as I can attest in our family. I was reared with seven brothers and three sisters and parents who loved one another and honored their priesthood covenants. We had a good "family life in the light of the Gospel." Because my parents recorded their positive experiences we have still that record to hopefully transmit to our children.
AndrewKJune 15, 2018
Thank you for this.
Victoria HuishJune 15, 2018
Wow! Powerful argument for fathers!
JeffJune 15, 2018
This is a great treatment, but I do think it places far too much emphasis on the biological connection between parents and children. As a father of both adopted and biological children, I can authoritatively state that the bond is absolutely identical, to the point that I rarely think about the different ways in which each of my children came to me. I was particularly surprised by the following statement: “The fact that both adults have a biological connection to the child would increase the likelihood that the parents would identify with the child and be willing to sacrifice for that child, and it would reduce the likelihood that either parent would abuse the child.” Here’s why: About five years ago, our younger daughter’s birthmother informed us she was pregnant again and asked if we wanted to adopt the child. We prayerfully decided to do so, but a month later, she backed out, stating that she was going to marry the father and parent their child together. We were crushed, but hoped the baby would have a good life with his half-sister and biological parents. When he was three months old, his mother rushed him to the hospital, claiming he had become unresponsive after a bath. The doctors quickly realized she was lying, that he had been beaten—by his father, it turned out. The baby remained in the hospital for a month, barely clinging to life, before finally being released into foster care. He is now permanently blind and deaf, his mother has recently been released from prison, and his father is still incarcerated. (The state placed his half-sister with extended family members, for her own safety, and previously placed an older half-brother with another family.) I know some may claim this an exception to the rule, but I’ve seen things like this happen far too many times. Yes, in a perfect world, every parent would have biological children and every child would be responsibly raised by his or her biological parents. But we do not live in a perfect world—far from it—and you will find it very hard to convince me that adoption—particularly in a temple-sealed family—isn’t every bit as valid as a biological relationship.
Russell C AndersonJune 15, 2018
Maby your title for the artical, with out a fathers influance, would have been better as there would be no human race if there where no fathers and just as sure for no mother.
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