Whoever we may be male or female, we are all called to serve on the earth. Elder Asay’s talk focuses on the male members and being worthy priesthood holders and the blessings that come from fulfilling that call. A story he related is this…
The son of a very wealthy man was called to serve a full-time mission. He entered the mission field and began his work. At first things went well; however, as he met rejections and as other challenges of finding and teaching surfaced, the young man’s faith wavered.
Mission associates gave encouragement, but it did not seem to help. One day the young man announced to the mission president that he was abandoning his call; he was returning home. The mission president did all within his power to dissuade the missionary. It was to no avail.
When word of the missionary’s decision reached the father, he obtained permission to visit his son in the mission field. In one of many tense conversations, the father said, “My son, I have lived for the day when you would serve a full-time mission. I did so because I love you and I love God. And I know that there is no work more essential than that of teaching truth to the peoples of the world.”
Somewhat sobered by his father’s words, the son meekly replied, “Dad, I didn’t realize that a mission meant so much to you.”
“It means everything to me,” the father declared. Then he added with some emotion, “All my life I have worked and saved with one person in mind: you. And my one goal has been to provide you a decent inheritance.”
“But Dad,” the son interjected, “the work is difficult and I don’t enjoy …”The father didn’t allow him to finish his sentence. Instead he asked, “How can I trust my businesses to your care if you cannot prove yourself by serving the Lord for two short years?”There was an awkward pause as the son pondered the father’s question and studied his anxious countenance. Then with measured words, the father promised, “My son, my only heir, if you will be faithful in this calling and prove yourself worthy in every respect, all that I possess will be yours.” Noticeably touched by these earnest pleadings, the son rose to his feet, embraced his father, and sobbed, “I will stay.”
The son did stay in the mission field; he did serve faithfully from that day forward. And yes, in due time, he received from his father the promised inheritance, even all that his father had to share.
What really made me stop and think….
…the story of the son on a mission and his father coming to talk to him. His son knew he was successful and had worked hard in his life and as soon as his father told him that if he served a full honorary mission he would give him everything. Can you imagine getting everything your earthy father has!
Our Heavenly Father has told us that from the beginning. If we lived faithfully and led a good life then we can receive all that he has. In this story it might have meant that the son got a lot of money or a big house or a lot of other worldly things. But if you think about it in context of Heavenly Father, he is giving us eternal life the greatest gift of all. We are taught not to get caught up in the things of the world for they cannot go with us when we leave this earth. We can take with us the things that we learned and the service that we rendered as well as actions towards others and other non material things.
Sometimes to remember that great blessing is not easy as I go about my day to day activities but what I need to concentrate on doing is leading a life and serving an honorary mission here on earth and my Father will give me everything! In order to reach that I need to make sure that I am living that kind of life and that I am setting that example to others around me.
Where I come from there is not a high population of LDS members, and most don’t want to talk about church, but like the saying goes ‘actions speak louder than words’. Even if I don’t talk to them about the church they need to be able to see the way I live my life and how happy I am because of it. I have had people comment on how much I smile and how happy I am, it is due to a knowledge I have of this life and for the most part what I am supposed to be doing to return to my Father in Heaven!
Other inspiring meassages from D&C 84:
36 For he that receiveth my servants areceiveth me;
37 And he that areceiveth me receiveth my Father;
38 And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s akingdom; therefore ball that my Father hath shall be given unto him.
83 For your aFather, who is in heaven, bknoweth that you have need of all these things.
http://lds.org/ensign/1985/11/the-oath-and-covenant-of-the-priesthood?lang=eng
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