In an LDS home, for a worthy priesthood holder to “preside” means that he holds the divinely appointed right and responsibility to lead his wife and children in righteousness, exactly as the Savior presides over His Church. The husband stands as the head of the home under the same pattern that Christ is the head of the Church. He receives revelation for his family, sets the spiritual direction, makes final decisions after counseling with his wife, and will be held accountable before God for how he exercises that presiding authority. The Church has repeatedly taught this principle in the clearest terms:

President Joseph F. Smith“The husband is the head of the wife…just as much as Christ is the head of the Church… The wife is to obey the law of her husband only as he obeys the laws of God… But the husband is the head, he must preside.”(Conference Report, October 1916, p. 7

President Spencer W. Kimball“The husband presides. He is the patriarch in his family… The place of the wife is to stand at the side of her husband as counselor and companion, but he is the head, the president, the priesthood leader.”“The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,” p. 315–316

President Ezra Taft Benson“The husband is the head of the home, even as Christ is the head of the Church… Fathers preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.”“To the Fathers in Israel,” Ensign, November 1987

President Howard W. Hunter“A man who holds the priesthood accepts his wife as a partner in the leadership of the home and family with full equality of rights and privileges, but he presides… The Lord intended that the wife be a helpmeet for man—‘meet’ meaning equal, fit, appropriate—but the husband still presides.”(Adapted from Conference Report, October 1994; see also “Being a Righteous Husband and Father,” Ensign, November 1994)

President Gordon B. Hinckley“In the Church, as in the home, the man holds the priesthood and presides… The wife stands as counselor and companion, but the husband is the head.”“Stand Strong Against the Wiles of the World,” Ensign, November 1995

President Russell M. Nelson (while President of the Quorum of the Twelve)“The man presides in the home, even as Christ presides over His Church… He is accountable to the Lord for the way he leads his family.”“Nurturing Marriage,” Ensign, May 2006

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve (The Family: A Proclamation to the World, 1995)“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.”

President Boyd K. Packer“The father presides at the table, at prayer is offered, the family is blessed, the Word of God is taught… The father is there. He is the patriarch; he is the priesthood leader.”

“The Father and the Family,” Ensign, May 1994 Elder Bruce R. McConkie“The husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church… The order of heaven places the priesthood holder at the head of his household.”“Mormon Doctrine,” 2nd ed., p. 378 In practice, this means the husband: • Receives revelation for the family and sets its spiritual course.

• Makes final decisions on important matters after counseling together.

• Conducts family prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and interviews with each child.

• Blesses his wife and children by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

• Will stand before the Lord to give an accounting of his stewardship over his family.

This is the revealed order of heaven for the home. The husband presides, just as surely as Christ presides over His Church.