Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. ~Alma 56:47-48
Never has a phrase been so loved when it comes to mothers, but on this Father’s Day it gives me even more understanding of the role of a father. How I revere the roles of both mother and father.
What did their mothers know? What was it that they taught their sons? Why did their sons value liberty over their own lives?
Their mothers knew that the atonement was real. They had publicly witnessed their husbands lay down their weapons of war and lay down their lives to be slaughtered at the hands of their enemies. They saw their husbands in complete peace because of the change that they had experienced through repentance and faith; their husbands feared not death. Why then, would their sons fear death? They didn’t. Their sons had learned to be faithful and not doubting because their parents were faithful and not doubting.
Their mothers taught them, because for many, their fathers were already gone, but it was the testimony of both the living and the dead that taught those young boys.
This Father’s Day, I honor those fathers who day in and day out publicly lay down their weapons of war in honoring their marriage. Who would rather lose their life than break that covenant, not that any life ever need to be lost.
In Christ may we all find hope, love, peace and strength to keep our covenants, teach by example, fulfill our roles as parents and prepare the youth for the ongoing and upcoming battles of life, that their lives may too be spared, that not one will be lost.
I know it. I do not doubt it. The atonement of Christ is real. Fathers are amazing!
Happy Father’s Day!!
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