sebishop4.blogspot.com: 6/1/15

Monday, June 22, 2015

FATHER's Day Talk 2015

FATHERhood: A Universal Age-old Experience

INTRODUCTION: history provides classic examples of strong Father/Child relationships and what virtues successful fathers instilled in their offspring

--EARTH's first recorded father--Adam fathered Cain & Abel-pioneer

--John Adams and John Quincy Adams--fierce patriots

--Martin Luther King JR and SR--force for change

--L Tom Perry & Lee Perry--managers

--presidents George and George W. Bush --leaders

--Football Legends. Archie, Peyton and Eli Manning--strength

--Jerry and Ben Stiller--comedians

--As Latter-Day-Saints, we know of

--alma and his son Alma the younger--endurance

(Mosiah 27:14.)

As any righteous father, he pleaded with the Lord for a change to occur in the life of his son. In answer to his prayers, an angel stood before this young man and said, “Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee that thou mightest be brought to a knowledge of the truth.”

--Moses father-law Jethro-how to -govern and delegate

Then Jethro taught in Exodus 18

“And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.” 3

Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ--sacrifice

The Father and the Savior. In the New Testament we have a glimpse of the Savior’s relationship with the Father. One of the most vivid of these glimpses is in the GETHSEMANE garden just before His betrayal:

“[Jesus] kneeled down, and prayed,

“Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

--Just this past quarter, this congregation welcomed over 8 new babies with their fathers

--My father--long-suffering

My 76- Dad told me yesterday that his MAIN job now is to "Stay Alive". WELL .... For him.... This has proven to be A LOT OF WORK!!! Particularly in the last 6 years.

3 minutes

UNIVERSAL EMOTION: SADNESS and HAPPINESS

TRANSITION

analogy: JOHNSON's Shut-INS

--rocks

--hidden dangers restrict path

--avoid boulders you can see

--suffer consequences of "unseen" rocks by getting bruises to your elbows, shins, hands, other vulnerable exposed body parts

--such a challenging experience

Play in the shallows of the East Fork of the Black River. Shoot through Mother Nature’s hydraulics in the shut-ins. Hike a trail that will show you 1.4 billion years of geologic history.

40 years ago, elder Perry began his cautions and plees to Fathers to take their God-given responsibilities more seriously. In his "epistolic" letters during General Conference to Worldwide audience

L TOM PERRY. "mr HAPPY" reminded me of my Dad

Great authority on this topic

BIO: Marine in ww2--1972 called as apostle--3 children---PUBLISHED A BOOK-- (2011), Family ties: a message for fathers, Deseret Book,

In 2004, when the father of my children was in the thick of things just begun medical career and fathering 3 boys

JUST WEEKS BEFORE HIS DEATH, Elder Perry. 2014. That old enemy of all mankind has found as many devices as he can think of to scatter tares far and wide. The wicked and worldly ways have become so widespread there seems to be no real way of weeding them out. They come by wire and through the Internet. A steward--or FATHER-- managing the field must, with all his or her power, nourish that which is good and make it so strong and beautiful the tares will have no appeal either to the eye or the ear

56 seconds

KEY PHRASES: -God Given Responsibilities

--Cross Hairs of Satan's Scope are centered on husbands and Fathers

--Ridiculing and demeaning God-given role

--aSteward managing his field nourish good

Modern day revelation offered through the counsel of Elder L Tom Perry won't leave Fathers alone IF they humble the natural man and succumb to God's words.

SUMMARIZE these 3 talks offered nearly 40 years apart in PLEES and share personal insight into how the fathers in my lives have done their very best to follow this counsel for almost 50 years

Neither are PERFECT, but each remains committed to God-Given responsibilities

FIRST--

. -to provide peace and security in your home. It is your duty to provide adequately for your family.

PROVIDER of peace/security: in their 20's, Dad and Brad sacrificed time, energy, resources to secure career in the medical field. Therefore providing long-term adequate financial security

SECOND

Fathers give blessings and perform sacred ordinances for their children. These will become spiritual highlights in their lives. *

BRAD: *the culminating efforts of Brad and I were never felt so strong as witnessing our 2 WORTHY sons sitting in the sacred Sealing room of a temple of God and having our Fathers and Grandfathers present to witness the endowment and sealing. **my Dad ALMOST made it to the sealing of my oldest son to Allison, but clearly he was safer in a hospital Room 10 minutes from the Denver Temple!

THIRD

Fathers build family traditions by being involved in helping plan vacation trips and outings that will involve all of the family members. Memories of these special times together will never be forgotten by their children. Help provide having a joyful, happy childhood.

HAPPY, joyful childhood

A. dad-chaperone YC in my youth during the 1980's. Then, local colleges allowed large groups of LDS youth to rent out dorm rooms and use other facilities to host a 3-day youth conference. He was the 50-yr old Dad in his swimsuit sliding down the slip n slide during the evening activities and he was the Dad disciplining his teen for kissing at the dance! NOT ME

B. BRAD--coordinating, organizing, creating Halloween costumes for the kids. He actually picked out fabric and sewed a cape for Legolas one year! Cub Master--he offered an entire lesson COMPLETE with visual aids about BELLY BUTTON LINT TO the intrigued 8-yr-old boys

C. No man is too rich or too poor OR TOO TIRED to play with his children.” after more than 18 hours caring for sick children, I have memories of my nearly comatose husband giving horsy rides to 3 very active sons!!

Fathers hold one-on-one visits with their children and teach them gospel principles.

brad: One on One: reading books to all the children. That meant RE-READING the Harry Potter series to an age-appropriate Jess

Fathers teach sons and daughters the value of work and help them establish worthy goals in their own lives, and provide an opportunity for development.

Value of work and help

DAD: grew up milking cows, baring for pigs and live-stock near A farm in Boise, Idaho FIRST IN OUR HOUSEHOLD UP AND READY TO WORK. FIRST IN HOUSEHOLD READY FOR BED---sometimes at 7 pm!!!

--Supported our higher education efforts by ensuring graduation from college and trade schools

BRAD: example of service to children in need of medical treatment. Spending day and night hours making vital plans and healthcare decisions and even mourning with parents and family in worst case scenarios such as the loss of a child

BRAD: SUNBEAM TEACHERS: SADDEST AND HAPPIEST CALLING IN CHURCH

Fathers set an example of faithful gospel service.

dad: FAITHFUL SERVICE--mission to the BISHOP's STOREHOUSE. service to his family. Back injury from too much heavy lifting resulted in need to have 2 surgeries And the need to resign from the work

PATIENT ADVOCATE in helping manage healthcare communication, visits, follow-up. I've needed to STRONGLY SUGGEST he put nutrition into his body to gain strength

During desperate times, actually feeding him because lifting a spoon or straw to his mouth TO WEAK

MY MOST Vulnerable times when I am brought to my knees in prayer seeking answers to one's physical suffering.

ALL knowing loving and miraculous Heavenly Father provides a way to heal my Dad's body so he can continue to serve.

Physical health has challenged his movements, he is still willing to serve others by helping to teach a nephew and friend value of work.

CONCLUSION:

ACTIONS AND ATTITUDES: that is all we can control. I am going to assume that your presence here today means that you are doing your best as fathers to have your actions align with your beliefs and DESPITE all the worldly pressures Elder Perry cautions against, you are

SUCCEEDING IN BEING YOUR OWN VERY BEST FATHER IN YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

May you add your Fatherhood mark on HISTORY like John Adams--MOSES----President Bush

I HONOR, applaud and reVERE you FATHERS!!!

In his sacred name, AMEN

MY BROTHER: FATHER AND MR MOM