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.
In this statement there are three key roles for fathers, preside, provide, and protect.
We know that each law has blessings attached (D&C 130:20-21, 132:5). While we know that not all obedience bring immediate blessings, we do know there is the reassurance of the spirit when we do what is right. That reassurance can come in many forms, but it must be strong enough to entice us to want to do good with the same level of enticement that Satan is working to get us to do evil. We know this because there is opposition in all things. (2 Nephi 2:11) We have to be able to choose. There has to be an equal choice or, in other words, there has to be enticement for both good and evil so that men have a fair choice.
What happens when a man fills his responsibility to preside, provide, and protect? He will receive spiritual encouragement, confirmation, and blessings. So, what does the adversary try to do? He comes up with counterfeits. What are the the counterfeits? If the adversary can train a young man to get the feeling that he is presiding, providing, and protecting, without actually doing it, then he will be able to convince the young man that there is no need for marriage and family because he feels like he is already doing his duty. This deception is easy to see in the video games we play in the name of entertainment. Without naming any specific pieces of software, we can easily find examples.
Woven into most video games is the element that the person playing the game is in a position of power, authority, dominion, and/or control over the other characters in the game. Video games attempt to replicate the feelings you get when you accomplish something. These type of games typically have you build a city, farm, or create a new alternate reality. Additionally, many games allows the user to help protect a city, save the princess, or fight an attacking foe.
Where does this type of disillusionment lead? Consider this quote by Elder Christofferson.
"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home. We cannot afford to have those who exercise the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God, waste their strength in pornography or spend their lives in cyberspace (ironically being of the world while not being in the world)." (D Todd Christofferson, Brethren We Have Work to Do, Oct 2012 LDS General Conference)
So, what about the young women? The Proclamation states:
Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children.
Is there is a similar battle going on in the minds of our young women. Perhaps this quote will give us some some clues.
"Daughters of God know that it is the nurturing nature of women that can bring everlasting blessings, and they live to cultivate this divine attribute. Surely when a woman reverences motherhood, her children will arise up and call her blessed (see Prov. 31:28). Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity." (The Joy of Womanhood, Margaret D. Nadauld Young Women General President, Oct 2000 LDS General Conference)
Perhaps it is the lure of the good things of the world that is distracting the young women from fulfilling their roles? This quote by Elder Richard G. Scott brings this point home.
Are there so many fascinating, exciting things to do or so many challenges pressing down upon you that it is hard to keep focused on that which is essential? When things of the world crowd in, all too often the wrong things take highest priority. Then it is easy to forget the fundamental purpose of life. Satan has a powerful tool to use against good people. It is distraction. He would have good people fill life with "good things" so there is no room for the essential ones. (Richard G. Scott, "First Things First", April 2001 LDS General Conference)
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