June 01, 2008 The Heart of Fathering By Steve Dennis (LDS Life,
June 2008) The idea for a special day to honor fathers began in
Spokane, Washington in 1909 as Sonora Smart Dodd was listening
to a Mother's Day sermon. Having been raised by her father,
after her mother died, Sonora wanted to acknowledge his selfless
sacrifice and courage. Sonora's father was born in June, so she
chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in 1910. The
observance of Father's Day grew and in1972, President Richard
Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's
Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. Nearly a century
later, fatherhood has become both something to celebrate and a
significant social concern. Today more than perhaps at any other
time in history there are many absent fathers. Nearly one third
of children in United States are born to an unwed mother where
often there is little commitment or involvement on the part of
the father. Research has shown that fatherless children are more
likely to drop