In a revelation to Joseph Smith, the Lord directed fathers to bring up their children in light and truth. He rebuked several because of their failure to do so.
Of Section 93, President Ezra Taft Benson said in his April 1981 general conference address: "In this revelation the Lord states that Satan cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.' (D&C 93:39.) Thetradition' of their fathers' refers, of course, to the bad examples and teachings of fathers."We must remember this world is a telestial environment. Our children grow up in this environment. They are constantly exposed to television programs and movie entertainment which depict the most seamy and perverse side of life. They are barraged with slogans and advertising designed to induce them to practices that rob them of spirituality. Even some textbooks and teaching aids used in our public school systems present theory and, in some instances, falsehood as truth.
"Some fathers leave solely to the mother or the school the responsibility of shaping a child's ideas and standards. Too often television and movie screens shape our children's values.
"We should not assume that public schools always reinforce teachings given in the home concerning ethical and moral conduct. We have seen introduced into many school systems false ideas about the theory of man's development from lower forms of life, teachings that there are no absolute moral values, repudiation of all beliefs regarded as supernatural, permissiveness about sexual freedom that gives sanction to immoral behavior and `alternative life-styles' such as lesbianism, homosexuality, and other perverse practices.
"Such teachings not only tend to undermine the faith and morals of our young people, but they deny the existence of God, who gave absolute laws, and the divinity of Jesus Christ. Surely we can see the moral contradiction of some who argue for the preservation of endangered species, but sanction the abortion of unborn humans.
"There is a solution, and it is that the Lord expects great things from the fathers of Israel. Fathers must take time to find out what their children are being taught and then take steps to correct false information and teaching.
"I know fathers who inquire of their children each evening to determine firsthand what their children are being taught in school and what needs to be corrected. Then, if necessary, they instruct them in what the Lord has revealed. This is application of the principle that `light and truth forsake that evil one.' " (D&C 93:37.)
