I heard a talk given about two years ago about a seminary teacher who had a student in his class who came to him one day and asked if he would give her a blessing. She had some important decisions to make and she needed the Lord’s guidance. This seminary teacher knew her well and also her family. She came from a home where the father was less active....who didn’t live the way he should. The seminary teacher knew he could give her a blessing but the spirit told him not to.

The seminary teacher told his student, "No, I don’t feel I should give you this blessing. You need to ask your father for the blessings". The student couldn’t believe what she had just heard! Her teacher knew her father, knew he wasn’t worthy and she left mad. However, later that week she decided she was going to ask her father for the blessing. She gathered her courage, and that afternoon she walked into the living room where her father sat in his favorite chair watching a ball game with a beer in his hand. She gathered her courage and said, "Dad, I need you to give me a blessing". Her father stared at her for a moment, didn’t say a word, got up and turned the television off, .....and walked out of the room and left the house. That was a Saturday afternoon. The family did not see their father for the rest of that day and not even the next day. Then in the evening when they had gathered together for their family home evening lesson (the mother always made sure this happened) the door opened and in walked her father with a white shirt and tie on and asked he his daughter if she still wanted that blessing! The room was dead quite!

She later said that he may not have given her the most profound blessing she’d ever heard but the spirit was so strong! That was only the beginning. Her father turned his life around and received his temple blessings. He served many years in the church....as a bishop, as a temple worker and died an honorable man.

As youth, we never know the influence we can have in our homes... whether we come from active or less-active homes. We need to be willing to let the spirit touch the lives of those around us. We never know what one request can do for a person.

I loved this story when I heard it, I hope it will help or give you the inspiration to say the right things. As teachers and leaders we need to be mindful of our roles in the lives of our girls and listen to the spirit. And our youth must always show the honor and respect to their parents that the Lord would have them show. We can help "Turn Hearts to the Family as we follow the example of Nephi in the story of the Broken Bow. Nephi could have been self-righteous and taken over leadership but instead he showed honor and respect to his father when he went to him and asked where he should go hunting. This Seminary teacher was not self-righteous and listened to the spirit which is essential for us to do as leaders of the young women. This young woman also acted as Nephi by showing honor and respect to her father in asking for the blessing.

How Priesthood Holders Magnify Their Callings

Use a magnifying lens to demonstrate the meaning of the word magnify.

- What is magnified when men honor and use their priesthood? (Their lives and service.) Suggest ways that callings in the priesthood can be magnified. If there are Aaronic Priesthood holders in the home, ask them to think of their priesthood duties and how they can magnify their callings. Review Doctrine and Covenants 20:38-67.

- Discuss how honoring his priesthood all the time will prepare a priesthood holder to bless his family when some emergency or special event takes place (see D&C 121:36).

Honoring the Priesthood

- Priesthood leaders have the responsibility to teach, advise, and counsel us as well as to preside over meetings and perform ordinances. We can turn to them for help when we have difficult problems.

- Discuss how home teachers, bishops or branch presidents, stake presidents, and General Authorities fulfill these functions.

M3L13 Index

Lesson Help

Home