Divinely Designed Gender Roles

Divinely Designed Gender Roles Our Father and Mother in Heaven created their spirit children in their own image, male and female, for a divine purpose; to create bodies for their spirit children when they came to earth, and provide them with the support of a father and a mother and a family to help them grow and develop successfully in mortality, so they could return to Him when their mortal probation was finished. Each gender has specific roles and abilities to accomplish divine purposes within marriage and the family. Though each gender is different from the other, they compliment and support each other. Both masculine and feminine characteristics and influences are important to provide a more complete support system for raising well rounded, strong and healthy children and stable families.

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. Both genders and roles are equally important in God's plan for His children.

The father's most important work is to lead and protect their family and provide for their financial needs, so the mother can do her most important work; that of giving birth to, and nurturing their children. When children come into the family, both the father and the mother are to love them, teach them gospel truths and the laws of God, and be examples of righteous living.

The father and mother must be one in purpose. Their goal should be to prepare all members of the family to return to our Heavenly Father. They should be united as they work toward this goal. A husband's wife or "helpmeet" is his most important companion, partner, and counselor. Husband and wife should counsel together on all matters that affect the family and home. The mother is an equal partner and counselor to her husband. If there is no father in the home, the mother presides over the family.

Though God has created men to be fathers and women to be mothers with their specific and different masculine and feminine roles, sometimes disability, death or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. When possible and needed, extended families should lend support.