"Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. I promise you that if you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to you, each other, your children, your grand-children and others throughout the generations. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events." --President Spencer W. Kimball

July 20, 2015

Makai & his Priesthood Power!


I really can't believe how fast time is flying by.  How fast my kids are growing and old they are getting.  I feel like we just started a new year and here we are, already in July.  Today was a very special day for our little family because our oldest son Makai received his Priesthood.  He's been waiting for a long time to be able to pass the sacrament and to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead, and a few days ago, on the 16th of July, he turned 12.  He graduated from Primary and is now in youth....a young man!  Even though he was so excited to turn 12 and gain all those responsibilities, I was a little bit sad.  I look at him and he's all grown up now.  He's not a little kid anymore, he's mature and older and wiser.  He was so excited on his birthday and he kept making comments to me like "in just 6 years I'm going to be going on my mission".....6 years is such a short time.....all I could do was cry.  Don't get me wrong, I'm happy....I'm just sad that he's growing so fast.

Makai is such a good kid.  He's genuinely a really good kid.  He has a huge heart and a really big spirit.  He's my biggest helper at home and does everything for me, his Dad and his siblings.  He's a hard worker and does our pu'is all day long without complaining.  I can always count on my Makai to help me when I need help, and one thing that I love so much about him, is that even though he's getting older, he always makes it a point to give me hugs and kisses when I come or go...every single time!  I really hope he never grows out of that stage!

Today, like I said, was a very special day!  Not only did he receive his advancement certificate in sacrament meeting to advance to Young Men, but he was given the priesthood and ordained a member of the Deacon quorum.  We invited just our immediate families to come and share this special moment with us and after sacrament, during the priesthood hour, Ova gave him his blessing.  It was so special.  The words that Ova spoke were so special and so powerful.  The blessing, counsel and advice he got through the power of the priesthood from the circle of men who had their hands on his head was amazing!  I couldn't help but to sit there an cry as I listened to the words of the prayer.  I hope Makai will always remember the counsel and the promises that were given today!

This makes me think of a Relief Society lesson that was given a couple weeks ago by our Relief Society president, Teli Vea.  She shared with us the talk given by President Monson in the Priesthood session of the last general conference, titled "The Priesthood - A Sacred Gift".  What a powerful talk!  In the opening of the talk, Pres. Monson says "Let us take most seriously the callings, the responsibilities, and the duties which come with the priesthood we hold."  He goes on to share some experiences from his childhood, when he had just received the Aaronic Priesthood.  One part in particular stood out to me when he was talking about the ministering of angels.  When Pres Monson received the Aaronic Priesthood, he was asked the question "Brother Monson, you hold the Aaronic Priesthood.  Have you ever had angels minister to you?"  Pres. Monson replied that he had not, then he was instructed to read the 13th section of D&C, which reads "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..."  What a powerful lesson to be learned.  The Priesthood is real, it is the literal power of God on the Earth.....and now my son has that power!  I hope he understands the great blessing and responsibility he has now as a Priesthood holder, and I hope he will always remember this counsel that Pres. Monson was given when he was a 12 year old boy.....that because of the Aaronic Priesthood that he holds, he is entitled to the ministering of angels.  He can call upon the heavens and have the angels come and minister, help, teach, touch the hearts of those that need it.  He also taught that as boys/men honor their Priesthood and live their lives so that they are worthy at all times, the blessings of the Priesthood will flow through them.

I can speak as a wife and a mother of the importance of the Priesthood.  I don't hold the Priesthood myself, that is saved for the men in the church, but I do receive all the blessings of the Priesthood.  Through Ova, my life is blessed.  It is Heavenly Father's plan for families to be together forever.  That can only happen through the sealing power of the Priesthood.  Man cannot be exalted to the highest glory without the woman, nor the woman without the man.  We need each other!  I notice the blessings in my life because of the worthy Priesthood holders that surround me.  I'm grateful everyday for the blessings of the Priesthood.  I'm grateful to have a husband who honors his Priesthood and has been an excellent example of faith and truth to our son.  Makai is growing, he is getting older and he is now a Priesthood holder.  I hope he will always know and understand how important that calling and responsibility is and how much it can bless not only him, not only us as his family, but his future family and posterity as well!