One of my favorite memories of my dad was when I was eight years old. My parents had just bought me a pony, and that day we were putting on his new saddle. My dad, feeling a moment of pride in his Iowa farm-boy roots, saddled the pony, hopped on and began to gallop across the field. He had only forgotten one thing: ponies like to suck in air when you put on the saddle. When they walk around, they exhale, and you tighten the girth, which keeps the saddle in place during your ride.

We watched as they galloped across the hillside. With each stride, the saddle slipped to the side a bit more until it tipped all the way over and dumped my dad into the grass. I thought it was funny at the time, maybe because I wasn’t the one doing a high speed roll in the turf. But I don’t remember my dad complaining at all. He was showing me the way. That was always his way, leading gently with love and good humor.

Latter-day prophets have identified three primary roles for husbands and fathers. First, the father is the head of the family. Second, the father is a teacher. Third, the father is a temporal provider. The fathers in our lives are an anchor to our souls. When a father presides over his home in love, whether the home is simple or grand, the family inside will blossom and grow.

May we love and support the fathers in our lives. When times are tough, their burdens are increased. Do all you can to lighten those burdens, and to tell your sweetheart, Dad, grandpa, father-in-law or honorary dad how much you appreciate all they do for you.

Happy Fathers Day!

All the best,

Editor@DesertSaintsMagazine.com