Thoughts on the day

I don't have a theme to roll with here tonight, just going to talk about the day a bit and maybe a title will come. If the title is no longer "thoughts on the day" then you will know that something came to mind.

Serve with the Spirit. It was our first Elders Quorum Presidency meeting this morning. I am ashamed to say that I got there late. I stepped into the shower with plenty of time and then I over-showered. Who has that problem? Seems when I have a lot on my mind the shower is a great place to go. It's the negative ions to be sure. Though the term sounds like a negative it is actually a very positive thing. Negative Ions are produced through the water splashing. It occurs during a rainstorm and is the reason for the cleansing smell that rain brings. Also think about how you feel after a rain storm - negative ions people, they are good. Happens in the shower too. I jumped out of the shower, checked my clock and whoops, it was time to start. What a hoser.

The meeting was great. After being the President on 4 different occasions I am very happy to be a counselor. Not only am I happy to be a counselor but I am really happy to serve with President Fawson. He is going to be a great EQP. Serve with the Spirit is from the Priesthood session of the last conference. It was President Eyrings talk. One of my favorite stories from that talk was the one he shared when President Kimball came to visit his father in the hospital. Rather then retell it in my words I am just going to paste it in. Here it is.

More than once I have heard the words when I walked in the door of a hospital: “I knew you would come.”

We need not worry about knowing the right thing to say or do when we get there. The love of God and the Holy Spirit may be enough. When I was a young man I feared that I would not know what to do or to say to people in great need.

Once I was at the hospital bedside of my father as he seemed near death. I heard a commotion among the nurses in the hallway. Suddenly, President Spencer W. Kimball walked into the room and sat in a chair on the opposite side of the bed from me. I thought to myself, “Now here is my chance to watch and listen to a master at going to those in pain and suffering.” President Kimball said a few words of greeting, asked my father if he had received a priesthood blessing, and then, when Dad said that he had, the prophet sat back in his chair.

I waited for a demonstration of the comforting skills I felt I lacked and so much needed. After perhaps five minutes of watching the two of them simply smiling silently at each other, I saw President Kimball rise and say, “Henry, I think I’ll go before we tire you.”

I thought I had missed the lesson, but it came later. In a quiet moment with Dad after he recovered enough to go home, our conversation turned to the visit by President Kimball. Dad said quietly, “Of all the visits I had, that visit I had from him lifted my spirits the most.”

President Kimball didn’t speak many words of comfort, at least that I could hear, but he went with the Spirit of the Lord as his companion to give the comfort. I realize now that he was demonstrating the lesson President Monson taught: “How does one magnify a calling? Simply by performing the service that pertains to it.”

That is true whether we are called to teach the gospel by the Spirit or go with the Holy Ghost to those with feeble knees and hands that hang down.

This really is a great talk and it hits on so many key things for me. It is our theme as a Presidency and I am grateful for that.

I forgot my Priesthood manual at home so I snuck home to grab it towards the end of Sunday School. Natty was home sick so it gave me a chance to check in on her as well. Wouldn't you know that I caught her doing something I asked her not to do. What a sneaky buggah. She knew it too. As soon as I opened the front door she hit the floor right here by the computer. I didn't even need to look at the monitor to know what she was doing. WEBKINZ. The horror. She happens to be feeling much better now. I think she was milking things just a skosh today.

The Sacrament. Today's lesson in Priesthood (and Relief Society) was on the Sacrament. Brother Kent Barney was the instructor today. I met Kent my second or third Saturday in Cedar when the Elders quorum had a work party. He came and talked with me some and was really a neat guy. He joined the church when he was Priest age and sure has a powerful testimony of the gospel and love for the Savior. I loved his lesson today. I loved the Spirit that was present in the meeting. It was good for me. Something I needed today. I am grateful for good people who are humble followers of Christ. I believe that Ken Barney is one of those. I am teaching next week and am feeling a little pressure having to follow today's lesson.

Christmas Party. We are hosting a Christmas Party here at the house this coming Friday. I just put myself in the position of the pig at breakfast time. One of my favorite President Sweeney quotes had to do with a breakfast of bacon and eggs. For the chicken only a contribution of eggs is required but the pig is committed. I have a few ideas in my head of what we might do. I need to get them down and moving forward. I have Dave the team leader on duty for Santa. I am going to set up a camera to grab some pics of the kids with Santa. Other thoughts - I invited everyone to bring a plate of cookies. I am thinking a cookie exchange and sending everyone home with a variety of cookies. Also thought about having the kids do a little ornament. Need to figure a menu and some games. Probably going to ask Sara about some minute to win it games that are out there and that kids would enjoy. Well, I am a pig so I need to get it figured out quick.

I am grateful for a good day. Love Sunday. It use to be my most difficult day and enduring it was not easy. I am grateful that we made it through the tough times. The Lord has certainly blessed us so that they are much easier days now. I am grateful for that and grateful for Natty, Jack and Andy. I love these wonderful children.