Equal Partners

     The Proclamation to the World: The Family says  “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.”  God has given both males and females essential roles.  Being a mother and father are divine and ultimate callings.

     When parenting it is important for both mother and father to be united and work together.  One cannot be above the other.  If one parent acts above the other than there cannot be happiness and peace in the home.  Gordon B. Hinckley said “ In the marriage companionship there is neither inferiority nor superiority. The woman does not walk ahead of the man; neither does the man walk ahead of the woman. They walk side by side as a son and daughter of God on an eternal journey.”  Gordon B. Hinckley also said “Marriage in its truest form, is a partnership of equals, with neither exercising dominion over the other, but, rather, with each encouraging and assisting the other in whatever responsibilities and aspirations he or she might have.”

     Although marriage is a partnership both mother and father both have their own roles.  A father’s have the duty to preside over their families in love and righteousness and to provide and protect their families.  Mothers are to nurture their children.  These roles are important and cannot be reversed. Each role is different in its own way but the complement each other, like a pair of hands.  Each hand can do things individually.  However, alone they cannot accomplish what they can do together like using a shovel.  The roles work together to accomplish great and important things.

     Sometimes I feel like being a mother is an impossible job and the hardest thing in the world.  No matter how hard being a mom can be, I could not fathom playing the role my husband does.  He takes on the responsibility of providing and protecting for us.  That is a really big responsibility, something I could not do.  The role I play is something he probably couldn’t do either.  Together we make it work, our partnership is strengthened by each other’s sacrifices and strengths.