Call to Action!

     When I was thirteen, my parents got divorced. My dad had been unfaithful to my mom and he walked out on her, my siblings, and I. As a result, my siblings and I had joined together to help support my mom and keep our house in order. Seeing my father leave was very hard for me, but I learned many important lessons as a result. One of the most important lessons was from I read a book series when I was younger called the Republic Commando series. The main character, Kal, had a rough childhood and his personal philosophy was: "Nobody cares who your father was, only the father you'll be." It may seem like a backwards concept, but to me it was exactly what I needed to hear. Kal's philosophy helped me to realize that my father's choices do not determine the kind of person that I'm going to be. I've decided that I want to be the best husband and father I can be, one who is faithful to his family and completely involved in their lives. 

     President Joseph F. Smith's talk "The Fullness of the Priesthood". He talked about the responsibilities of priesthood holders and what it means to hold the priesthood. I loved reading this talk because it helped me to better understand what I can do to better honor the priesthood. President Smith explained that one of the main responsibilities of the priesthood was to lead and strengthen families. My favorite quote was "you possess the power and authority of Almighty God, and you hold in your hands the power to save and exalt yourselves and your loved ones." I loved this quote and I saw it as a call to action to all fathers who hold the priesthood.
     The priesthood is the power of God given to men for the salvation of His children. Fathers are responsible to look out for and care for those who reside in their homes. I love how President Smith said priesthood holders hold the power to save their family members. If a priesthood holder is obedient and strives to be righteous, then the power of the priesthood will become greater. The priesthood is used to bless and strengthen others; its power is used to be used a conduit to help people draw closer to their Heavenly Father. If a father honors his priesthood, then he will help his wife and children to be closer to the Lord and his home will be filled with the Spirit.
      "Nobody cares who your father was, only the father you'll be." When I think of this phrase, I think of the kind of person I want to be. I want to be a righteous priesthood holder and help my family stay close to the Lord. While it may be overwhelming to think that I will contribute to my family's salvation, but at the same time, I feel happy and inspired. To know the role I will play will help me to know what to do to be the best priesthood holder, husband, and father I can be.