Of Priesthood and Testimony

I come from a legacy of faith. My ancestors struggled and strove to build up the kingdom of God in these latter days. They served in righteousness and peace, setting an example of charity and obedience to the commandments of god. The blessings of the priesthood have been in their homes for generations, so when I think about my testimony of the priesthood the first thing I think about was the example that had been set for me by my ancestors. My great-grandfather served as Bishop in Idaho for 30 years. My grandfather served for 27 years as Stake President and Stake Patriarch of the San Francisco Stake. My Great-Grandmothers and both grandmothers were Relief Society Presidents. They showed me great examples of charity and love. My mother served in the primary and in the Relief Society for many years. She found joy in playing the piano and organ for almost 50 years in the church. My father is a temple worker, now serves two missions, and finds joy in substituting in the Primary. He tells me amusing stories about his efforts in teaching. He was a scout master and leader for many years. My bothers have followed his footsteps and serve in their local and state scouting councils. They have both achieved the highest honors in scouting. Every one of my father's grandsons who are eligible have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout because of his diligence in taking them to scout camp and working with them. My father came to a spoke at both my sons Eagle court of honors. My father-in law, now 80 serves also as a temple worker. They have honored their priesthood by serving with great diligence. My husband has set a great example in our home of honoring his priesthood by serving diligently in his callings (he currently has 6 callings and doesn't complain). We have weekly Family Home Evenings, Family Prayer, and speak about the gospel often in our home. I can say that because of the examples of the men and women in my life that I am blessed through priesthood power. In D & C 84 the Lord tells the brethren,"33. For whoso is faithful unto the obtaining these two priesthoods of which I have spoken, and the magnifying their calling, are sanctified by the Spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. 34. They become the sons of Moses and of Aaron and the seed of Abraham, and the church and kingdom, and the elect of God."

President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "How beautiful is that home where lives a man of godly manner, who loves those for whose nurture he is responsible, who stands before them as an example of integrity and goodness, who teaches industry and loyalty, not spoiling his children by indulging their every wish, but rather setting before them a pattern of work and service which will underpin their lives forever. How fortunate is the man whose wife radiates a spirit of love, of compassion, of order, of quiet beneficence, whose children show appreciation one for another, who honor and respect their parents, who counsel with them and take counsel from them. Such home life is within the reach of all who have cultivated in their hearts a resolution to do that which will please their Father in Heaven."

My testimony has grown over the years as to the necessity of listening to and following a living prophet. The commandment to have Family Home Evening, scripture study, and prayer was taken seriously. When the prophet asked us to read the Book of Mormon we did so as a family. At first when we were young parents it was a real struggle to have family prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and to even struggle with our toddlers through church. Their attention spans were so short and they were often ready for the next adventure before we were. I remember one tiring day at church after walking my little boy to sleep during Sacrament Meeting, a young mother came to me and said, "I don't know if it is worth going to church. I spend most of my time out in the hall." Yes. I did spend most of my time in the hall yet I felt it was worth it. And every time I searched for the lost shoes and changed the clothes I had carefully set out the night before I was more determined than ever to take my children to church because I knew that was what the Lord expected of me. If my children did not have a righteous example...how could they know how to be righteous? I worried about the imperfections of myself and my husband because to me they were apparent. I knew that I had this fault and my husband had that fault. But nevertheless we were still striving and my hope was my children would overlook those parts of our nature that were so blatantly defective. I keep reminding myself that God gives us imperfections so that we may be humble.

Marion D. Hanks said, "Fathers, priesthood leaders, young men need models. The unspoken sermon is heard most clearly and learned most strongly by those near at hand. It is not through definition or diatribe that young men acquire values. "they do not learn ethical principles; they emulate ethical (or unethical) people. they do not analyze or list attributes they wish to develop; they identify with people who seem to have them." (John Gardner, Self-Renewal, p. 124.) What boys need is not lectures about notions of love, human relationships, or God--but to be exposed to unconditional love, unselfish service, to the reality of God in reverence, and worship, and humble prayer. And that is why they need models of what a man at his best can be. will you young men, as I sit down, hear these words of Moroni: "Condemn [us] not because of [our] imperfection...but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest to you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been." (Mormon 9:31) ---Marion D. Hanks.

When I was a small child living in the San Francisco area, my grandfather set a great example of a priesthood leader. He was blessed in many ways but was never a rich man. In fact I recall that my mother said she rarely saw her father as a child due to the fact that he worked three jobs to support his family. My grandmother told me once to always be grateful for my husband and that I should never complain about his job. I learned that the value of having a righteous priesthood holder in the home is greater than having a large paycheck, home, and material things of this world. The riches of this world will come and go and the riches of eternity will stay.

Jesus Christ said in Matthew 13:19 "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20. But lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal; 21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." My treasure is the gospel of Jesus Christ, the blessings of the priesthood, the temple blessings, and the hope for an eternal family. Through the love of a faithful Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ, my life has been immeasurably blessed through priesthood covenants. I love this gospel, I love my Savior.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KRISTEN!

Your 26 years old today and I would say that they have been 26 very happy years for you. I love you lots and hope you had a good day.

I'm Becoming an Exercise Junky!!!!

For my birthday this year Kerry bought me a gym membership. I was a little afraid at first that I would not use it enough. But soon my spare time was overtaken by the exercise craze. I wondered how a person of MY AGE would every survive if I began to use muscles that had not been used in YEARS. So I began working with a personal trainer. AND the sore muscles began. I started off by doing leg lifts, push ups, planks, and seated rows. The next day I could feel it definitely in my chest, legs, and torso and promptly came down with a cold. No. the cold was not an excuse to quit and solve my sore muscle problem, but it could have been. I was determined to keep swimming through this and ended up at the point of exhaustion so I took a week off work and then went to Utah. The next time I saw my personal trainer I was ready to go. I still had my cough but determined that I would not let that stop me. So she began to work my unused muscles and I discovered aches that I had not had in years. But have been doggedly pushing myself to overcome this by using lots of Tylenol. It worked and I was ready to go to the gym after downing 2 tablets. The best part of this is that yesterday I had an exercise high. Talk about getting a rush from those beautiful brain endorphins. I lifted my weights, did my agonizing push ups and then got on the treadmill. I have a goal to do not one but 2 triathalons this summer. I am trying to be in fantastic mode with my body. The first I will swim and the second is in August and I will do swimming, biking, and running. I am in the mode like the Little Engine that Could...I think I can...I think I can...

Relationships

I was teaching at a high school today and was reading the school newspaper. It had an interesting article about romantic relationships and what constitutes a good relationship and an abusive one. Sometimes I come upon something that is significant and strikes me as an important article that teaches us about how to be a good partner and how not to be a good partner. I realise that sometimes we all need a self assessment to find out what we can do to be more loving in nature. I personally would like to be a more loving person and have great relationships with the people in my life.

In the article it talks about how we should never be afraid to talk about someone about our problems. Although this is geared towards teenagers I think we can all take a good look at how our personal relationships can be improved. In one part of the article the writer asks the reader...How do I know if someone really loves you and treats you right? Here are some of the indicators that tell a person that they are not being treated right:

• They are possessive towards you



• They try to control you by being demanding or bossy



• They call you demeaning names that hurt you



• They lose their temper and anger quickly



• They monitor your social life, try to cut you off from friends and activities and keep you to themselves



• They pressure you sexually



• They blame you for their emotional problems



• They blame you for the way they treat you



• They have a history of bad relationships



• Your friends or family have warned you about them or told you they're worried for you



• You are scared to do certain things because of how they may react



• They "joke" about you in ways that hurt your feelings



• You break up and get back together repeatedly



• They grab you, shove you, or hit your when you upset them or they are stressed



• They break things or take their anger out on inanimate objects when stressed out or upset



• They ask people to watch you and tell you about it to get you to "behave"



• They don't let you have feelings, get mad at you when you're mad or make you feel guilty for being upset



• They tell you you're the abusive one



• They seem too good to be true at first



• They buy you things after a fight to make you forget about it or make you think they're sorry



• They promise to change repeatedly but never actually do



• They blame you for any fights you get into



• They are always right in their mind



• You feel trapped with no way out



• They disrespect other women/men



• They pressure you to change the way you look, clothes, hair, etc



• They accuse you of liking other people frequently



• They threaten suicide if you try to leave them



• They keep you from school or work



• They go through you belongings

After I read this list, I came to the understanding that the behavior that is being described is unrighteous dominion. Years ago I read an article about unrighteous dominion written by Elder H. Burke Peterson called Unrighteous Dominion (Ensign, July 1989). He said, "Exercising unrighteous dominion can follow many patterns. It may be relatively mild when expressed as criticism, anger, or feelings of severe frustration. In more extreme cases unrighteous dominion may be expressed as verbal, physical, or emotional abuse." Elder Peterson goes on to explain that often when people go to others to express their need for help, instead of getting sympathy and understanding "they are told to change their own attitude" and are criticized and condemned for not forgiving others when they themselves had nothing to do with the behavior they are experiencing.

I have experienced this in my own life in which I was criticized and made to feel unrighteous even though I was serving in a calling with all my strength and heart. President Kimball taught that, "Men often do not give women inadequate respect. I often think that our own Latter-Day Saint women are needy because some of us are not as thoughtful and considerate of them as we should be. Our pantries are filled with food but yet our sisters are starved for affection and recognition." (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, 1982, p. 317). This lack of recognition can take a toll on women who are striving to do all they can and suddenly are told that they are inadequate because of criticism.

In D&C 121:41-44 the Lord explains what unrighteous dominion is and how to overcome it. He says, "No power or influence ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, by loved unfeigned: By kindness and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge thy soul without hypocrisy and without guile--reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth an increase in love towards him whom thou hast reproved lest he esteem thee to be thy enemy; That he may know thy faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death." So if we are truly to become saints there is a lot for us to overcome. Practicing our religion is of utmost importance in overcoming the tendency towards unrighteous dominion.