Pristhood Responsibilities

My thoughts on Elder Costa's talk "Priesthood Responsibilities"

I wish I could have been in the audience when this talk was given.
I hope that this post isn't just a bunch of clips from his talk because my copy is almost all high lighted. It is a great talk. I should pull it out for FHE.

"Each of us has a fourfold responsibility. First, we have a responsibility to our families. Second, we have a responsibility to our employers. Third, we have a responsibility to the Lord’s work. Fourth, we have a responsibility to ourselves.” (Pres. Hinckley)

I love this order. Something about it just rings true to my heart. (Maybe because it is TRUE.)

FAMILY:
"It is imperative that you not neglect your families. Nothing you have is more precious." (again Pres. Hinckley)

The primary's theme this year is on the family. It seems like the world is trying to focus on the family as well--just in different ways. I have had a lot of opportunity to read a lot of magazines these past few weeks and it is amazing at the contradictory messages we are getting. I wonder what the nation would be like if every house had family as its first priority and responsibility.

Elder Costa asks us to have these are priorities in our life:
1. daily family prayer
2. daily family scripture study
3. weekly family home evening

I know it is so hard to get these in AND with meaning and purpose. Sometimes I feel like I'm just going through the motions with my kids and they aren't getting anything out of it but a dislike for mom's "religious time." It is so hard to know the impact on your children. I know my mom fought with us kids but it really did work. I still am amazed at her faith and diligence in doing it day after day, week after week when she was fighting against the personalities and the wills she had in us children (and spouse). What a woman. I guess that is why I'm determined to do it too. If only to call upon the blessings I'm racking up by doing it--I have a feeling I'm going to be needing them soon.

"No other activity is more important for our family." talking about Family Home Evening.

My oldest son has started working on Monday nights. I'm so disappointed. I'm so sad. But I understand his desire for money as he is preparing for his own family. He needs the money to pay for college and his mission. I remember being in that same hard spot 25 years ago.

"Mom, if the house burns down, I must save my scriptures!"

I have had two dear friends lose their home to fire and every time I think about it, I think about the things I would miss the most from my house. I would miss my scriptures. I've spent some 20 plus years marking them and adding notes, etc. I now have an iPhone and they have the scriptures on them, but there is something missing--a lot missing. My notes, markings, etc. as well as the physical act of turning a page.

Our family daily scripture study has been very regular in our family. I don't recall when we haven't done it in some form. All of my kids have learned to read via the scriptures. Not that was the only phonics lesson they had, but it was a huge part of it. I love the scriptures and need to spend more personal time in them.

JOB:
"Do not do Church work on his time." President Hinckley said about our employer obligations. Since my employer is my family--this one really isn't a concern for me. ~smile~ But I understand his words.

"...our employment enables us to take care of our family as well as allowing us to be effective servants in the Church."

I remind myself of this often when I feel that my husband is spending way too much time at his job.

LORD'S WORK:
"Priesthood holders have many responsibilities and assignments. We have opportunities to visit, interview, teach, and serve people. It is our sacred responsibility to edify Church members and to help strengthen their faith and testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. We have opportunities to take care of the families whom we serve as home teachers and to teach members to provide for themselves, their families, and the poor and needy in the Lord’s way. Priesthood holders have the responsibility to motivate the youth to prepare to serve honorable full-time missions and to be married in the temple."
"As fathers, we also have the sacred responsibility to set a worthy example for our children to help them to become better parents and leaders in their own homes. Quoting Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve: “May we ask all priesthood leaders, especially you fathers, to help prepare your sons. Prepare them both spiritually and temporally, to look and to act as servants of the Lord.”

AMEN!
I know I take this responsibility seriously and I hope my husband does too. No, I know he does.

"Our example will always speak loudly."
Am I speaking loudly?

OUR SELF:
What is our responsibility to ourselves?
"...to grown spiritually."

I remember talking to my mom about temple covenants when I was a teen. She told me that it is necessary to have them to enter the kingdom of the Lord, and therefore it was important for me to be married in the temple. But then she said something else. (of course I'm paraphrasing) She said, "But remember it matters not how righteous your husband is, he isn't the one who will get you to heaven: YOU WILL." I can't get into the temple on my husband's recommend, or yours or my mom's or anyone else's. It is MY righteousness that will be my ticket to heaven. The ten virgins parable is true. As much as they five wise would have loved to share there are some things in life we can not share with others.