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.
Lately I have been working on finishing projects that I have had going for awhile. Last summer I went on a quilt shop hop (the 2nd one of the year) and finished the quilt yesterday. It was fun to design and put together but most of all it is now on the bed, decorating my home. I haven't used gray as a color before but find that it fit quite nicely with the gray iron bed in the guest room. When I put the quilt on it looked like it fit on the bed.
