Father's Day Memories

Father's Day 2008, is an extra special holiday to my eldest son, Triston, who was baptized the Saturday before, but confirmed on Father's Day.

As many of you know, my husband, Shannon, is not LDS. Though many thought I was making a huge mistake and sacrificing too much, with my decision to marry Shannon, I knew then, and still believe today, that the Lord blessed me with him and supported my decision to marry him.

Because of the varied religious backgrounds of family members, and strain that over time comes due to these variances, we discussed every possible detail and set clear guidelines as to how our children would be raised in respect to religion. One of these guidelines was that when any of our children came to the decision to be baptized, regardless of what denomination they chose, they would have to wait until the age of ten to do so, so that their comprehension and understanding might be even greater as to the decision they were making.

Triston leaned very closely towards the LDS church. His small and sensitive spirit was very strong and in tune with the teachings and doctrine at a very young age. As he grew he came to realize that he yearned to be baptized by someone who held the priesthood to do so. Even before the age of eight, he was asking his father for his permission to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. As he we have always been very honest and up front with all of our children about the differences in our religious beliefs and how we had decided to handle it, he knew that he would have to have it.

Shannon kept with our agreement and Triston waited. Though there were times that I worried and extra two years might lessen the children's sensitivity to the spirit and the light of Christ, due to outside influences they find so readily waiting in the world around them, I found that instead it instilled a a stronger faith and testimony to with stand those things around him.

Two months before Triston's 10th birthday he began the discussions with the missionaries in our area. This was quite an experience for many, as we attended them as a family at the home of our good ward friends, Rodney & Misha Egbert.

Both the elders were from Mexico. They had, for the most part, mastered English, but their thick accents made the lessons very interesting, not to mention the exploding egg, a baptism by fire demonstration gone very wrong! (The missionaries were very apologetic and extremely concerned that they may have frightened Triston into believe that receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost might not be a desirable thing, but Triston enjoyed it despite the horrifficness of it all and got a good laugh for several more discussions after that one, when he would ask if they could blow up another egg for him.)

In the end, Triston truly had a testimony and asked to be baptized immediately. He set the date only two days after his last discussion the day of his last discussion. It was a scramble, but everyone made it work.

Triston asked Brother Rodney Jones to baptize him, and on June 14th, 2008. The very next day, Father's Day, he was confirmed at our home ward in Murtaugh and bore his testimony for the first time.

Triston waiting for the big moment to begin!

Triston with Brother Jones, who baptized and confirmed him.

Triston with his dad, Shannon, and the elders who gave him the discussions,
Elder Nava and Elder Niquet.

Our family on Triston's very special day!

The following is the talk I gave at Triston's baptism.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

Two weeks ago, during one of Triston’s discussions, he and I watched a video at the end of that day’s lesson, along with the missionaries, the Jones’, and his brother, sister, and father. It was a short video and in the video the people were talking and interacting with each other, yet we weren’t able hear anything they were actually saying to one another. Instead, we had to figure out what was happening simply by watching them. Now, some might think that it would be boring to watch a video where you couldn’t hear what the people were saying, but it wasn’t, because even though we couldn’t hear them, we could hear the beautiful voice of a woman singing.

As I was sat watching the video with Triston, I realized that I recognized the song. It just so happens that I have a cassette tape at home with that very song on it. One I got many years ago when I was in seminary, but which I hadn’t listened to in a long time. When we got home after the discussion, the first thing I did was go to where we keep our hymn books and all church music to find the tape with that song. When I found it, I put it in the stereo and fast forwarded to that song. After it began to play, I asked Triston if he knew what song it was. After a few seconds he smiled and said “that’s the song we heard when we watched the video at my discussion today.

Now the name of the song we heard that day is My Holy House. Some of you may be familiar with this song but maybe not all of you have heard it, because it isn’t a primary song or one of our church hymns. But it is a beautiful song and the words to the song are special and they are very important. So I am going to share them with you during my talk today, because they have to do with what I’m going to talk about, which is the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead, but unlike our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, he doesn’t have a body. He is just a personage of spirit. But he is very important. Through Him we gain a testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ, of his work, and the work of his servants upon the earth. He is the convincing witness that helps us to know that the gospel is true.

The Holy Ghost can be manifested to us while we’re on the earth in two different ways; through the power of the Holy Ghost and through the gift of the Holy Ghost. BUT it’s very important to understand that the power of the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost are different.

The power of the Holy Ghost can be manifested upon someone, which means they can feel it and be influence by it before they get baptized. When that happens the Holy Ghost helps us to know the gospel is true and helps us to gain a testimony of Jesus, which then gives us the desire to be baptized. But when one doesn’t act upon it, and receive baptism, the power of the Holy Ghost will leave us. Though the power of the Holy Ghost can influence us, his influence can’t constantly stay with us unless we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

When we act upon the influence of the Holy Ghost and we are baptized properly by someone with the power and authority of the Priesthood, then after we are baptized and when we are confirmed, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. The gift of the Holy Ghost gives us the right to have the Holy Ghost with us, as a constant companion, when we live worthily. (What it means to live worthily? To choose the right and to repent when we do something wrong so that we can be forgiven and be worthy again.)

When we are worthy, we will always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost with us, and we will feel His influence even more powerfully than we did before we were baptized. With the gift of the Holy Ghost you will have that still small voice to help you choose the right. He will guide you on the straight and narrow path, strengthen your faith and testimony, and be a help to you throughout your life.

Now this brings me back to the song I was talking about earlier. The title of the song is My Holy House. What do you think that means? Have you ever heard the saying our body is a temple? What do you think it means? That we need to keep our bodies and our spirits clean and treat them very special; something that we should take very good care of because it’s sacred, just like the temple being built here in Twin Falls. Okay, now I’m going to read the words to the song:

Windows and doors open and close
Keeping out and letting in.
The dark and the light
The wrong and the right
I decide what enters in.
The things that I choose
Determine if I lose
All the light
That’s within my holy house.
********************************************
A shadowy voice speaks at my door
With many dark things to say.
What should I do?
The spirit inside
Tells me I should turn away.
********************************************
A temple of light
With windows clean and bright
Light the soul
That’s within my holy house.
Mine is a house of holiness
It’s up to me to keep it clean.
My own temple full of love and light
Where the spirit stays with me.
********************************************
I begin to see souls in need
Knocking so gently with hearts to feed.
Should I let them into my life?
Is there room enough for love?
Seeking to help, seeking to care
Making a welcome place.
With each kind step love fills the room
Granting the Saviors grace.
********************************************

Triston…. A temple of light
With windows clean and bright
Light the soul
That’s within your holy house.
Your’s is a house of holiness
It’s up to you to keep it clean.
Your own temple full of love and light
Where the spirit stays with you.

You are making the choice to choose those things that your Heavenly Father wants most for you and that will enable you to return to Him again. Yes, you will have many trials throughout your life, some big and some small, but because you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost when you are confirmed tomorrow, He will be there to guide you as you live worthily. Should you stumble from time to time, you will have the opportunity to repent through our Savior’s atonement and once again make your windows bright.

I am so proud of you Triston and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be your earthly mother.

I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.