To the Aaronic Priesthood: Prepareing for the Decade of Decision

My thought on Elder Hales' talk "To the Aaronic Priesthood: Prepareing for the Decade of Decision"

This talk was very timely for me.
Last Sunday my third boy received the Aaronic Priesthood. It is so fun to listen to the blessing they are given at the time of their ordination.
My boys are at scout camp this week or this would be the subject of our FHE tomorrow. I’m going to have to get it in sometime. Maybe my hubby would prepare something.

These young me are truly part of the Royal Army! They have been chosen for a mission at this time. They are to hold the banner high. They are to fight for the God of Love. I love this line:
Remember this: you are a son of God who decided to follow the Savior when it mattered most, and that makes you a great man indeed.

I could continue quoting the talk it is so good.
When I was younger I thought it was a shaft to call it the “lesser” priesthood. I love the term “preparatory” priesthood and Elder Hales nailed it with these words:
The Aaronic Priesthood is the preparatory priesthood, given for this preparatory time in your life. How you bear that priesthood now will prepare you to make the most important decisions in the future. These decisions include receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, going to the temple, serving a mission, getting an education, selecting an occupation, and choosing a companion and being sealed for time and for all eternity in the holy temple. There is a time and season for all of our decisions. Make sure you make decisions in the proper time and season. All of these life-altering decisions will be made in a very busy, relatively short period during your 20s—during what I call the "Decade of Decision."

I like how he called it a “Decade of Decision”. These young men start preparing to get the priesthood when they are 11 (or they should be) and they come home from their mission at 21. If they have walked the chosen path all the while making those decision that have led them to this place in time—ready to make those “BIG” decisions. How wonderful the plan of our Savior.

I like how he called them Aaronic Priesthood BEARERS. What a cool image. I guess I have been thinking about my sister’s pending funeral and the world “bearer” I didn’t look up the definition BUT in both of these applications the word implies carrying something special for someone important. It takes effort and thought to do both.

I love all his “now is the time.”
I know I made up my mind NEVER to question paying tithing. I never was to question the word of wisdom and I was never to question not going to church on Sunday. Those decision had been made when I was younger—much younger and now there is no question that those things will be done. I did decide to go on a mission and it took one handsome devil and a LOT of prayer to make me change that decision (smile). The Lord of course told me that I didn’t change the decision, just that my time table and his weren’t in sync (well, that wasn’t the first nor last time our time tables didn’t match up).

In a talk Pres. Hinckley gave a few years back he talked about how 3 inches makes a difference. When a train leaves a yard in utah and the 3 inch gap in the track was bridged the train, which was headed for NYC is now in Miami. 3 inches seems so very small but 1000’s of miles is totally different. Elder Hales gives a similar description with fighter planes. WOW who knew! I didn’t.

I love his last thoughts. “BE THERE!”

WHAT a talk. Full of doctrine and guidance for all, not just for our young men, but our young women, families, and especially for ourselves.

Can’t wait to share this with my boys!

(from another post)

Something else to think about is how we as parents and those being served by these young men respect them even though they may be younger than we. I remember my mother holding FHE without my father (he was a long haul truck driver) and starting the meeting by turning over the time to a young boy, who had just turned 12. I still remember her voice as she said, “Today we are going to be taught by God through one of his newest holders of His power.” That really got my brother’s attention. I don’t recall the lesson, but I just remember my brother’s shoulder being a bit more square.
I also remember how my mom made sure that I didn’t flirt with the AP as they performed their duties. She was a great teacher—and I know why I had five boys.
The “village’s” comments and action or reactions to my sons means the world to me—at least if they are positive. I try NEVER to talk down about how the YM treat my kids and try very hard to discourage them. This ward has proven very hard as there are two boys (brothers) who from the moment my boys walked into church rode them and boy do the ride them hard. I see the way they treat my boys—who don’t take it lying down—and it kills me. The other day was a water balloon fight with the deacons and teachers. My two boys (one a teacher and one a deacon) did NOTHING but fill up balloons the whole night. When the older one, Kray, stopped one of the brothers pelted him and told him to get back at his job. Instead of making a scene my son dutifully filled them up. Jason, my younger son, saw Kray almost in tears (you always know what will bring tears to your sibling’s eyes) and came to help him.
I see the way his older brother treats Kray as well. Kray is small in stature—both sides of the family are late bloomers—and therefore he will rub it in Kray’s face. “Short stuff” (that is the tamest comment) and other not nice stuff. Thankfully Kray lets it go and comes home and spills. It is so hard to separate the boy and is foibles and the man and the priesthood when he can be so mean one minute and the next begging for your help on his Eagle project or blessing the bread. It truly is a difficult situation—BUT, that is why we are here to learn. That is why I think homeschooling gives me the edge in helping Kray overcome this difficult situation. (the younger of the two brother and Kray will be the only Priests when Kray turns 16 in December and it will stay that way for about 11 months!) Kray can’t just let this slide, he has to learn to deal with it and deal with it properly.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

I was voicing my displeasure to the YW president about this young man—but not in so many words—she had no idea what I was talking about and she made a few comments about how wonderful my kids were and how cool it was on Sunday to see 6 young men dressed in white shirts passing the sacrament and three of them were clean cut and had pressed white shirts (those were my three). Her son has been watching them since he just turned 12 yesterday and will be passing along with them next week. I didn’t think anyone noticed my boys. I told her to tell my boys because they need to know that even though they aren’t in the “in” crowd they are in with the “right’ crowd!

Well, I’ve been up since 4 this morning and I’m wiped!