"Men are what their mothers made them"
--- Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Essayist; 1803 - 1882)
I'm very fortunate to have been raised in a loving home. My parents are great examples to me of kindness, hard work, love, selflessness, humor, and togetherness. Their example inspires me to be a better version of myself. And that's the way it should be in the home. We may all come from different kinds of families, but the principles that are taught in the home should be all of our responsibilities. By strengthening the family, we strengthen the world.
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STRIPLING WARRIORS
I remember reading the story of the Stripling Warriors from the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ as a little kid. It probably wasn't until I was in High School that I learned what the word, Stripling means. The etymology of the word is unknown but Stripling means, "A Young Man".
For those unfamiliar with the story, in the Book of Mormon, there is a people who make a covenant with God to never to take up their weapons of war again after they are converted. They bury their weapons to show their commitment. But there is another wicked people who want to kill them. In order to keep their parents from breaking their covenant of peace, their sons who did not make the covenant themselves promise to take up arms in defense of their homeland and their families. They are youth of faith numbering 2,000 strong and led by a righteous leader named Helaman. They are extremely blessed because of their faith and righteous cause and, despite being wounded, none of the two thousand young warriors are killed.
MOTHER AND SON
Ramses was only a year or two older than Elder Mullins and me at age 22. He was a college student working a part-time job and somehow he still managed to find time to meet with us and go to the gym. Let me tell you, his arms looked like they belonged on a Stripling Warrior. He took the initiative when it came to the Book of Mormon; every time we came back he’d give us an awesome summary of everything he'd read in remarkable detail. Especially compared to other guys his age, his work ethic, moral straightness, and commitment to keep his word was beyond admirable. I always saw noticeable bags under his eyes but he somehow managed to get everything done.
This is what the Book of Mormon says about the Stripling Warriors:
"They were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him." (Alma 53:20-21)
"Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it." (Alma 56:47-48)
Ramses' mom’s name was Anabel. She was okay with us teaching her son because he was old enough to make his own decisions but we didn’t see her around much for one reason or another, at least in the beginning.
At length, Ramses was baptized and confirmed the following day in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, January 17, 2016 (See "Baptism by Immersion", "Confirmation", and "Sabbath Day Observance"). Ever adamant to bring entire families into the gospel, we invited Anabel to the confirmation and she came! What's more, she seemed to like church! It was such a catalytic thing coming to church, helping them know what to expect and meeting other church members (See "Hermanas de las Chamoyadas"). It was even more ideal to bring people to see baptisms and confirmations to get them excited about their own. It certainly worked in her case. We invited her to sit in on the lesson when we went back to follow up with R.S. Seeing the positive change in her son’s life struck a spark in her.
Elder Mullins and I started teaching Anabel. The first lesson was generic and brief because she was still uncertain how committed she was to us. We gave her her own copy of the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ to read which instantly evoked many immediate questions as to what it was and what our purpose as missionaries was. She made the lesson longer which was great for us! We explained everything. Her eyes were fixed on everything we had to say. I could see the cogs turning as she processed it all with deep interest. Her curiosity led to questions, which led to answers, which led to conversion. She was just as bright as Ramses!
A few weeks later, Ramses received the Aaronic Priesthood allowing him to perform ordinances such as the sacrament and baptisms (See "Priesthood"). He wasn’t sure he could take off work to attend his mom’s baptism but God’s hand was in it so by some miracle he came. Elder Mullins and I took the opportunity to show him how to baptize and invited him to baptize his mom. Looking back on it, I am sure that Ramses was terrified at what we were recommending he do! I know I would have been! It was on the spot, and he’d never baptized anyone before and the only baptism he’d seen was his own. I was torn between having him baptize or someone else doing it but we knew it would be special for him to baptize his own mom and to exercise his newly received priesthood. After some instruction, Ramses agreed and did it like a champ. Ramses got to baptize his mom on Friday, February 19, 2016! What an awesome blessing for both of them!
Anabel was such a strength to the ward. She quickly took on church responsibilities and made herself at home in the ward. She opened up. I knew from the moment I met her that she already had a lot of light in her, but now it came out all the more.
THE FATHER
We inquired about her husband. The only time we saw him was when he came to R.S.'s confirmation with Anabel. His name was Sebastian and appropriately worked as a fisherman since when I hear “Sebastian” I think of the Little Mermaid. He worked in the Gulf which is was why we hardly saw him. We were relentlessly persistent until he come home one evening.
We’d already learned he had a thing for coffee from his son and wife. He was a loving fatherly type. He was a tall strong healthy man with a celebrity smile and a short brown beard. He was the kind of guy you just felt good around. When we invited him to give up coffee, he smiled lovingly but wasn’t entirely taken.
After a little more kind persistence, he agreed he'd start giving it up little by little. The spirit compelled me to say some bold things before I even knew what I was happening (See "A Still, Small Voice"). I shot immediately back half laughing, “No. The commandment is to completely give up coffee. The sooner you commit to letting it go entirely, the easier it will be. Start by getting rid of any coffee you have in your house, and you will have no problem giving it up if you are committed today”. He looked at me kindly yet surprised at the conviction that came out of my scrawny body, paused and stared at us for a moment, then smiling, almost laughing, agreed to never drink coffee again. I think Ramses and Anabel were both a bit surprised.
We still hardly got to meet with him because of his demanding job but that first impression did it for me. This was a real man. A family man. True to his word. One with character. He had the same light that both his wife and son did. I’m grateful for the influence of righteous fathers as well as righteous mothers.
It wasn’t until I was transferred that I heard about him again. Sebastian was baptized and joined the church! I'm exceedingly grateful for the gospel and a loving father in heaven that brings families together for the eternities. The family is central to God's Plan of Happiness and that's to the Atonement of Jesus Christ and the covenants we make with God, we can be with our families forever. A past prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints --- David O. McKay taught:
"Nothing can take the place of home in rearing and teaching children, and no worldly success can compensate for failure in the home. The poorest shack in which love prevails over a united family is of greater value to God and future humanity that any other riches. In such a home God can work miracles and will work miracles.”
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