Happy Father’s Day! We all have men in our lives we celebrate today—our own fathers, grandfathers, and uncles, as well as bishops, mission presidents, our brothers and brothers-in-law, mission companions, and of course, Mutual hookups. But one oft-forgotten group deserves special remembrance today: YSA FHE Dads.
These loyal young men establish and maintain their FHE families on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, FHE dads are to preside over their FHE families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. This is a responsibility they take seriously.
“It’s not just a calling,” says Grant Young, a 21-year-old FHE Dad. “It’s an opportunity to provide for a family. My FHE wife Laura is amazing and it lets us work together and take care of our kids. We get to influence them in such profound ways and really help them grow.”
“I’m twenty-four,” says Grant’s FHE son Chad. “So I wouldn’t say he’s helping me grow, but he is influencing me to be better. Those FHE games of mafia and spikeball have helped me make friends, so I’m not complaining.”
FHE families like Grant’s are scattered throughout Provo. Most Monday mornings dads like Grant can be found answering texts from their FHE wives—texts like “are you coming to our activity?” “Do you know what our activity is?” and “are you even active in church, because I still haven’t met you yet.” But for every deadbeat FHE dad who has abandoned his FHE wife and kids, there’s dads like Hayden, who put their family first.
“I get asked on a lot of dates,” says Hayden, 22. “I mean, I was an AP on my mission so that’s to be expected, but I always have to tell the girls ‘Monday’s are for my family.’ My FHE family is always going to come first. So maybe that slows down my dating game, but that’s okay. I’ve already got a wife and a family I love.”
This Father’s Day, take some time to thank your FHE dad. Don’t dodge his texts about if you’re coming to the activity. Try to show up, even if it’s lame. Give a dad a chance—it’s preparing him for his future family.