4 D's for dads

http://utahvalley360.com/2014/06/15/7-tender-lessons-book-mormon-fathers/

1. Be dependable.
Being a dad is a big responsibility and you are torn in many different ways. Your wife is your highest responsibility. Then your children. I learned that early when you would defend mom when I was on one of my teenage kicks. You always defender her now that I have my own husband, I would hope he would do that do. Next the church needs you to be dependable. There are certain people in this world that only you can help them learn about the gospel. That means you always have to be ready to serve and teach them or you might miss a big opportunity to teach them the gospel. I am sure the Lord will provide another way or person to introduce them to the gospel, but it would have strengthened the both of you if you had chosen to share. Next you have to be dependable in your job. Who knows when one day, that job is all you will have to make a living. That means helping your children out if they ever needed it. :) Good thing I'm smart with money though! :) So be dependable.

Dad's comments:

There is nothing more important than being more dependable to the Lord. The Lord and Heavenly Father are the most dependable beings we know. He will not let us down so we need to be dependable to Him. Part of the judgement will be how dependable we were in all that we did, so be dependable to the Lord, family, and self, and everything else will fall in place.

2. Be a delegator, Because you have so much on your plate, you need to learn when enough is enough for you, and when to say no at times. Delegating jobs out to family members helps release that stress. I remember when you would ask me to do the dishes, you would always offer to do the pans. I hated that part, so I would always take your help and get to work on the dishes right away. I always remember those times when I now have to do the dishes in my own home. I love doing the pans. I learned how to work hard from you. Saturdays were filled with cutting the grass, chopping down crazy vines, and burning them in a pile. Those are some of my favorite memories. So be a delegator.

Dad's comments:

 You are more like your mom. You both know how to delegate things to other people and how to get others involved with doing the right thing for others. This is a lesson I have not learned yet. I try to do it all myself. A thought just came to my mind (Inspiration): We need to delegate our sins to the one that can only forgive. I think that's how I got myself in so much trouble. I did not delegate my sins to the Lord faster. If we delegate the small sins then we will not have bigger sins that get bottled up inside and that darken our spirit and weakens our soul. So delegate all of your sins so you can stay clean and free of the consequence of sin, and how I DO know that.

 3. Be decisive, righteously decisive. Being a father means you have to make tough decisions. I remember on Valentine's Day the year I would turn 14. I had a school boyfriend and he had asked to meet me at the school dance. The family rule was that there was no going to dances until 14, because that's when the church allowed us to go. But I would be turning 14 in a mere matter of a month and I really wanted to go. When I asked you over and over, you finally said, "Jenny we have taught you what you need to know to make a good decision." My mom and dad then encouraged me to go pray about it in my room and make a decision. Well I knew the answer. I didn't need to pray about it. I knelt to pray and even though I asked if it was okay, I almost hear a "Duh, you know the answer. You can wait until the next dance. What are you doing having a boyfriend at this age anyway." But I told you and mom that I felt good about it anyway.Now look at me, I am still feeling guilt about that decision almost 15 years later. It was a dance that I gave up a bit of my honesty up for it. Not worth it! There are tough decisions we all make in life and it shows who we are as a person when we know what the correct choice is, and choose it instead of a more desirable, temporary path (at the time). There's not much I can do about that dance now, nit I do remember how I felt when I chose the wrong path even though nothing horrible happened. I felt horrible. So be decisive.

Dad's comments:

When we are decisive we do exactly what we need to do, so we need to be decisive about the gospel and ourselves. Righteous decisiveness means that we make decisions based on righteous ideas of righteous examples. The Lord never wavers in his decisiveness. Thanks to his decisiveness we are all able to repent of our sin and return to live with Heavenly Father. Most of your life you have been very decisive about how your life would go. You are a great example to me.

 4. Be dedicated. In all that you do, in all that you say, and even in all that you think be dedicated to the Lord. He really knows our true heart and can help us through whatever mess we're in. But if we are first dedicated to him, we keep ourselves out of alot of those messes. Be dedicated to your family, Don't let someone wedge into that special relationship that is eternal. Because we are an eternal family, Satan is trying to crack us in every way possible, so let's be prepared and armed. Be dedicated to yourself. You know who you really are as a person and make sure you stay true yo that person. Dedication means you are committed. We need to be dedicated in all that we do. If we are dedicated we show a great commitment in what we do. We also need to be committed or dedicated to good causes, with the Lord being at the top of the list. Our dedication to the gospel shows the Lord how much we love him and our Father. After that all other things will be done with Him in mind.