Thanks-Day 9

Today I am grateful for:

Prophets and Apostles

We had the wonderful opportunity to listen to Elder Holland speak to our stake yesterday. In an effort to visit the ever-growing number of stakes in our church the brethren are trying different options. We already had our stake conference but Elder Holland just came when he could and we were glad to accommodate him. He, as always, gave a wonderful talk and was very humorous. He spoke about president's Hinckley's enthusiasm and dedication to the work. Elder Holland said that even at 97 years old President Hinckley never quit. He was conducting the temple meeting the Thursday before he died (he died Sunday). He joked that President Hinckley wouldn't know what to do if you sent him to Palm Springs, if you gave him a golf club he would think it was to beat missionaries with.
Elder Holland said that generally they don't make bets in the quorum of the twelve but if he were living on the edge he would likely make a "gentlemanly wager" that President Hinckley already had a place secure for him in heaven. So why does he do it? Why at 97 years old is he still giving it is all instead of retiring? It's for us. Because they can not rest (President Monson too) until we are all safely home. So we can all have the blessings that they know and hear and feel. Then he talked about the dedication other authorities and leaders show daily. Then he told the youth that with all the hours of work that are labored in their behalf that it would not be too much to ask for a return. He proposed that we should be giving a decade of our life as tithing to the Lord. From the ages of 12 to 22 the youth are the most vulnerable and that is when they need to be the most dedicated. There should be no maybe on the question of serving a mission. Their should be no maybe on whether or not to be married in the temple. "When you reject the gift you reject the giver." The ages 12-22 is the period of greatest loss in the church. He said that it used to be that the girls retention rate was always 20% better, but not now. It is one of the "sad equalizations" we have created in gender roles. Elder Holland says there is no reference to wards or stakes in heaven. The only thing we know for sure exists in heaven is families so we need to practice living here like we'll live in heaven. We need to practice now how a family should function, we need to be sealed and have a father who leads in priesthood. Then pleading with the youth again Elder Holland says, "having come to faith, we want it for you. Before heaven is home, before families are forever. We want your tithing in life blood today. We've been your age and you haven't been ours." He encouraged us to strive for a "millennial household." We can't control when the Savior comes and the millennium begins, but we can create that in our homes.

It was a great experience to hear and see him and feel his love and dedication. It helped me feel more motivated to try harder and do more in my own home to make my home a "millennial household", make us a forever family, and try to teach my children to pay their tithing in every way. I am grateful for our beloved prophet and for the brethren!