The Restoration of the Priesthood/ Sunday lesson brought to you on Monday

When I was a teenager, I would often travel with my dad throughout New York on his church assignments. I loved being able to see my friends, and I always loved being with my dad. On one occasion, we were driving past the exit for the Restoration of the Priesthood. He wanted to stop, but I wanted to get home. I believe my exact response was, "Dad, I just want to go home. I'm a girl, the priesthood has nothing to do with me." My dad kept on driving. But of course, the restoration of the priesthood has everything to do with me, and it means everything to me. I have been blessed by the priesthood at every stage of my life, and will be continued to be blessed by it.

In April 1829, Oliver Cowdery came to help Joseph Smith with the translation of the Book of Mormon. While they were translating 3 Nephi, Joseph and Oliver realized that they needed to be baptized. The two went into the woods to pray. In answer to their prayer, John the Baptist Appear to them. He laid his hands on their heads and said, "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness.

In Sunday School, we talked about what it means to have the Ministring of Angels. Elder Oaks gave a beautiful talk about what it means to have Angels with us. It is part of having the spirit always with us.

Two of my favorite quotes:

What does it mean that the Aaronic Priesthood holds “the key of the ministering of angels” and of the “gospel of repentance and of baptism, and the remission of sins”? The meaning is found in the ordinance of baptism and in the sacrament. Baptism is for the remission of sins, and the sacrament is a renewal of the covenants and blessings of baptism. Both should be preceded by repentance. When we keep the covenants made in these ordinances, we are promised that we will always have His Spirit to be with us. The ministering of angels is one of the manifestations of that Spirit.

But the ministering of angels can also be unseen. Angelic messages can be delivered by a voice or merely by thoughts or feelings communicated to the mind. President John Taylor described “the action of the angels, or messengers of God, upon our minds, so that the heart can conceive … revelations from the eternal world” (Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1987], 31).

I often take the blessing of the gospel for granted because it has always been a part of my life. Sometimes, the Lord allows me to see how I have been blessed by the gospel. Whether it is recognizing the angels that helped me through difficult times, or seeing how my choices brought safety and peace to my family. It's a remarkable gift, and those gifts are made possible because of the restoration of the priesthood.

Some of the responses from our Sunday School class of how the Priesthood blesses their lives: healing, ordinance, ability to make and keep covenants with God, and having the spirit in their lives. One of the most tender, was from a father, explaining what a great blessing it has been to baptize his children, give them father's blessings, ordain them to the priesthood. I love how the Lord connects our families both through the priesthood ordinances, and by fathers being able to perform those ordinances.

Happy Birthday Dad!

On his mission--giving himself a discussion!

72 and still looks great!

Some famous quotes by my dad:

Before driving to a concert with my 2 older brothers and one older sister his words of wisdom, "Now, no talking! And I'm serious!" Well, we thought that was so funny, that we broke out in laughter, and haven't stopped laughing yet.
Talking about people that are difficult: "People will be people."
When he was a Branch President: "People who are willing to walk to Missouri tomorrow aren't willing to be scoutmaster today."
During my wedding ceremony, my dad's back had gone out, and sitting was very painful for him, so he stood in the sealing room until the actual ceremony began. When the sealer asked him if he wanted to sit, he replied, "No I'll just stand."
After pushing my son on the swing for an hour, "That was wonderful, just wonderful!"
When my oldest son was about a year old, "He's just a regular boy, just a regular boy."

Top 10 list

1. Honest
2. Loving
3. Sure and Steady
   
4. Proud of his kids and grandkids
5. Greatest Pole Vaulter (In his days it was with metal poles and saw dust pits)
6. A man without guile
7. Hard Worker
8. Positive
9. Great Researcher
10. Willing to serve others, always!

Some of my favorite memories:

1. When I was in half day kindergarten, my dad stayed home with me in the mornings. We watched price is right together, everyday! We planted the garden, raspberries, and did all sorts of things together. It was heaven!
2. The Merrie-Miss Daddy daughter date. We danced the night away! What fun!
   
3. We worked at the same University, even the same department, and for a short time shared an office together. It was fun walking around campus with him--he would always introduce me to his colleagues with so much pride. Thanks dad!
4. After I had my oldest son, we would do a quick babysitting exchange. He would watch Luke during my first class, and office hour. Then I would pick up Luke from the house, and bring him to his office so he could watch him while I taught my second class. Isn't that amazing!
5. Watching him play the Editor while he was on his mission in Nauvoo. I never thought of him as an actor because he always is just himself--never hides who he is, but he was wonderful in the play.
6. One time on the phone, I said, "I love you dad." No response, he later called me up to tell me that he loved me. I broke down in tears!
7. Going to all the church history sites along the Susquehanna River. It was really neat to walk down to the river to see where the Priesthood was restored. A great day, one of the best!

It's really hard to describe my dad to people unless you have met him. He is such a mixture of honesty without finesse, that you just love him. Thank you Mom for making him a better dad. I do know that you bought the beautiful corsage for the daddy daughter dance, had him call me back to say, "I love you!", and the most important--I wouldn't have ever had the opportunity to work with my dad if you hadn't gotten dad to talk to Leo about my teaching position.

The only flaw my dad has, is you can't buy gifts for him. One year I really tried to buy him the perfect gift, and he had always bought himself the present before I gave it to him. For his birthday, I bought him an electric toothbrush, and then I walk into the bathroom to find a brand new one plugged in. Christmas that same year--I wanted to buy him some "extras" for his new canoe, and I went in the local canoe store. At the store, the owner proceeded to tell me that he had already bought everything. The final straw, I had gathered money from all my brothers and sisters to buy him a laser printer for his retirement. (This was only six months after the electric toothbrush incident.) I had just bought the printer, and was about to deliver it to him, and I walked into his garage, and there was the exact, yes exact printer we had bought for him. Frustrated---yes! I should have known he would beat me to the punch because as a child he would often say, "Have you bought me a present yet?" My answer would be no. Then he would hand me a new pair of winter gloves he had bought for himself, and say, "Why don't you wrap these up for me."

Anyways, since I can't buy you any gifts---Thanks for being my Dad, & Happy Birthday!

By the way, it's also my half birthday. I always thought that was so cool, to have my half birthday on my dad's birthday!