--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We could be like a father determined to…" description: "\"We could be like a father determined to provide everything for his family. He devotes every energy to that end and succeeds; only then does he discover..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg" --- # We could be like a father determined to provide everything… ![“We could be like a father determined to provide everything for his family. He devotes every energy to that end and succeeds; only then does he discover that what they needed most, to be together as a family, has been neglected. And he reaps sorrow in place of contentment.” quote by Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg) > “We could be like a father determined to provide everything for his family. He devotes every energy to that end and succeeds; only then does he discover that what they needed most, to be together as a family, has been neglected. And he reaps sorrow in place of contentment.” [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A father’s relentless provision can blind him to the true need for family unity, leading to emptiness. **In simple terms:** Providing everything may miss family togetherness. Key Takeaway Balance provision with presence. Themes family priorities fulfillment Mood reflective somber Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - parenting - marriage - career focus - community service Key Concepts self‑sacrifice misplaced effort emotional neglect Questions to Reflect On - What does true family fulfillment look like? - How can you prioritize presence over provision? A Different Perspective Success without connection feels hollow. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Contentment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) [Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/determined/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family Devotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-devotes-993721/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Father Determined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father-determined-993720/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Like Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-father/) [Needed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needed/) [Neglected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neglected/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Provide Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/provide-family-266248/) [Reap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reap/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) [Succeed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/succeed/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) ## Related quotes > [The reason I fight is to provide for my family, and I cannot risk having that taken away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-whittaker/the-reason-i-fight-is-to-provide-for-my-family-and-i-cannot-risk/) [Robert Whittaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-whittaker/) > [I was determined to become a footballer, not only because I loved the game but so I could provide for my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naby-keita/i-was-determined-to-become-a-footballer-not-only-because-i-loved-the/) [Naby Keita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naby-keita/) > [Baseball was just the avenue that the Lord used so I can provide for my family,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariano-rivera/baseball-was-just-the-avenue-that-the-lord-used-so-i-can-provide-for/) [Mariano Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariano-rivera/) > [My fuel for my fire is to be able to provide for my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-ferguson/my-fuel-for-my-fire-is-to-be-able-to-provide-for-my-family/) [Tony Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-ferguson/) > [How should we provide for our families? Financially, spatially (be near them), emotionally, morally, spiritually. ...I don't have what it takes to provide for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-farrar/how-should-we-provide-for-our-families-financially-spatially-be-near/) [Steve Farrar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-farrar/) > [When I was about 12 years old, I knew I had to take the game more seriously if I wanted to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-jennings/when-i-was-about-12-years-old-i-knew-i-had-to-take-the-game-more/) [Brandon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-jennings/) > [You want to provide for your family, of course, but you also want them to come along on the journey with you. I haven't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-easton/you-want-to-provide-for-your-family-of-course-but-you-also-want-them/) [Michael Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-easton/) > [What keeps me going or keeps me wanting to do more music is just knowing that I can provide for my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amine/what-keeps-me-going-or-keeps-me-wanting-to-do-more-music-is-just/) [Amine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amine/) > [I've been able to make a lot of money and live a lifestyle that I never dreamed of. And I've been able to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt-jr/i-ve-been-able-to-make-a-lot-of-money-and-live-a-lifestyle-that-i/) [Dale Earnhardt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt-jr/) > [I'm a farm boy. I would rather live in that time when you had to provide for your family. I don't know. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-fimmel/i-m-a-farm-boy-i-would-rather-live-in-that-time-when-you-had-to/) [Travis Fimmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-fimmel/) > [Football has set me up to provide for my family, it has allowed me a better opportunity to do things in my life that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marquise-goodwin/football-has-set-me-up-to-provide-for-my-family-it-has-allowed-me-a/) [Marquise Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marquise-goodwin/) > [“What I would say to people right now is that you can’t count on anything that you don’t do yourself,” Jim said. “If your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-maharidge/what-i-would-say-to-people-right-now-is-that-you-can-t-count-on/) [Dale Maharidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-maharidge/) > [No matter how much money I ever get, I'm going to want to provide for my family and never have to go back to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludacris/no-matter-how-much-money-i-ever-get-i-m-going-to-want-to-provide-for/) [Ludacris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludacris/) > [I've been able to provide for my family, move out of Harlem and travel the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-east/i-ve-been-able-to-provide-for-my-family-move-out-of-harlem-and-travel/) [Dave East](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-east/) > [Let's provide family leave that is paid and access to affordable, high-quality childcare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/let-s-provide-family-leave-that-is-paid-and-access-to-affordable-high/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) ## More by Boyd K. Packer > [Faith is the power, obedience the sacrifice, love the means, Christ the reason.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/faith-is-the-power-obedience-the-sacrifice-love-the-means-christ-the/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/dispute-not-because-ye-see-not-for-ye-receive-no-witness-until-after/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Take hold of your life and order yourself to be valiant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/take-hold-of-your-life-and-order-yourself-to-be-valiant/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [“I often ask the Lord for direction from Him. I will not, however, willingly accept promptings from any unworthy source. I refuse them. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/i-often-ask-the-lord-for-direction-from-him-i-will-not-however/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Happily ever after never happens in the second act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/happily-ever-after-never-happens-in-the-second-act/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Inherent in the ordination to be bishop is both the right and the obligation to be directed by inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/inherent-in-the-ordination-to-be-bishop-is-both-the-right-and-the/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [You ought to know that the Lord loves you. He will make that known to you, and it will be a very private and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/you-ought-to-know-that-the-lord-loves-you-he-will-make-that-known-to/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [“The gift of the Holy Ghost operates equally with men, women, and even little children. It is within this wondrous gift and power that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost-operates-equally-with-men-women-and-even/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Do you realize how marvelous it is that you can call upon the Atonement? The Lord effected the Atonement for our sakes. And there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/do-you-realize-how-marvelous-it-is-that-you-can-call-upon-the/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [Those who choose, conduct, present, and accompany the music may influence the spirit of reverence ... more than a speaker does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/those-who-choose-conduct-present-and-accompany-the-music-may/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [I know that God is our Father. He introduced His Son, Jesus Christ, to Joseph Smith. I declare to you that I know that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/i-know-that-god-is-our-father-he-introduced-his-son-jesus-christ-to/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [The answer is the same for everyone: we must, and we can, resist temptations of any kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/the-answer-is-the-same-for-everyone-we-must-and-we-can-resist/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [No teaching is equal, more spiritually rewarding, or more exalting than that of a mother teaching her children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/no-teaching-is-equal-more-spiritually-rewarding-or-more-exalting-than/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [There are spiritual and physical laws to obey if we are to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/there-are-spiritual-and-physical-laws-to-obey-if-we-are-to-be-happy/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) > [“Don't worry about politics or people. You just please the Lord. He has little trouble with His servants' being too strong. Most of His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/don-t-worry-about-politics-or-people-you-just-please-the-lord-he-has/) [Boyd K. Packer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) [Explore all 203 Boyd K. Packer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/) ## More Contentment quotes > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I may not have everything I want in life but I have all I will ever need to make my life complete, my family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-may-not-have-everything-i-want-in-life-but-i-have-all-i-will-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you can find as much happiness at the bottom of the ladder of success as you can at the top, then you understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-krause/if-you-can-find-as-much-happiness-at-the-bottom-of-the-ladder-of/) [Tom Krause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-krause/) > [There are two sorts of content; one is connected with exertion, the other with habits of indolence. The first is a virtue; the other,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-edgeworth/there-are-two-sorts-of-content-one-is-connected-with-exertion-the/) [Maria Edgeworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-edgeworth/) > [“When we perform at our highest level of potential, we are content. Because we have given I best in what we enjoy doing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/when-we-perform-at-our-highest-level-of-potential-we-are-content/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe, but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gissing/money-is-made-at-christmas-out-of-holly-and-mistletoe-but-who-save/) [George Gissing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gissing/) > [My crown is in my heart, not on my head; not decked with diamonds and Indian stones, nor to be seen: my crown is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/my-crown-is-in-my-heart-not-on-my-head-not-decked-with-diamonds-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Most of us are not content with our lot because we want a lot more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianette-carbito/most-of-us-are-not-content-with-our-lot-because-we-want-a-lot-more/) [Marianette Carbito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianette-carbito/) > [Pleasure simply brings more craving, but the problem is that we try to get contentment through pleasure. True contentment can only come through service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/pleasure-simply-brings-more-craving-but-the-problem-is-that-we-try-to/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Every human always wants more. We're never satisfied. True happiness doesn't come until we're fully satisfied with what we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-human-always-wants-more-we-re-never-satisfied-true-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I was so nearly happy. There remained only a tiny something, something unexplained and inexplicable that buzzed in my ear when the lights were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-rooney/i-was-so-nearly-happy-there-remained-only-a-tiny-something-something/) [Jennie Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-rooney/) > [I know well, Monsieur, how much you have to endure in your present duty, and I ask Our Lord to strengthen you in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vincent-de-paul/i-know-well-monsieur-how-much-you-have-to-endure-in-your-present-duty/) [Vincent de Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vincent-de-paul/) > [One often learns more from ten days of agony than ten years of contentment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merle-shain/one-often-learns-more-from-ten-days-of-agony-than-ten-years-of/) [Merle Shain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merle-shain/) > [Stop complaining and start accepting, everything happens for a reason, you may not notice the importance of the things that you have now, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hemantsmarty/stop-complaining-and-start-accepting-everything-happens-for-a-reason/) [Hemantsmarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hemantsmarty/) > [True intimacy is the experience of real acceptance and authentic vulnerability without feeling the need to apologize or fear rejection. The freedom to just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-blake-michiels/true-intimacy-is-the-experience-of-real-acceptance-and-authentic/) [Jordan Blake Michiels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-blake-michiels/) [Browse all 1,355 Contentment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contentment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We could be like a father determined to provide everything for his family. He devotes every energy to that end and succeeds; only then does he discover that what they needed most, to be together as a family, has been neglected. And he reaps sorrow in place of contentment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Boyd K. Packer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to-provide-everything-for-his/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Contentment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to-provide-everything-for-his/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1c/boyd-k-packer-1854_contentment_we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to_2493891.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We could be like a father determined to provide everything for his family. He devotes every energy to that…” — Boyd K. Packer", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Boyd K. Packer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-k-packer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We could be like a father...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to-provide-everything-for-his/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-k-packer/we-could-be-like-a-father-determined-to-provide-everything-for-his/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```