One of our sacrament meeting talks this past week referenced Elder Christofferson’s “A Consecrated Life” (from October 2010 conference). As I listened to the talk in church (our speaker focused on Enoch as an example), I thought of other examples. The first that sprang to mind was my own father. He was not a perfect man, but he was a good man, an honest man, a hard working man. My father was a convert to the church in his early thirties. He and my mother had four children (I was the youngest) and were doing their best to rear us in a good way. Dad worked professionally as an engineer, and they were active in their Presbyterian church. When my father heard the gospel, he accepted it as we all did. He had a struggle to give up certain habits that were not consistent with church membership, but he did it. He developed the faith to pay his tithing. And he dedicated himself to service in his new church. During those years of young and growing children, Dad worked... Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for the ‘example’ Category
A consecrated life — an example from the front lines
Significant in Every Way
Acting Mormon
A couple of years ago Kirby Heyborne , an LDS actor known for his work in LDS films such as The R.M, Singles Ward and The Best Two Years, did a beer commercial for Miller Lite. He received some backlash from the LDS community for appearing in the ad. Some called him a “sell out” others questioned his “personal ethics and faith.” In response to the scrutiny, Heyborne said this in an interview with Deseret News’ Mormon Times: “I’m a temple-worthy member that loves his wife and kids, and fulfills his calling at church and does his home teaching. And yet I’m going to play characters that might have moral dilemmas, or do a commercial — or whatever it is –because my job is the way that I provide for my family.” Heyborne also released this parody: Recently a group of 12 LDS women posed for the Hot Mormon Muffins: A Taste of Motherhood calendar. Though Chad Hardy, the calendars creator says that his calendar was “created as a vehicle to create... Read the rest of this entry »
Choose To Be Changed
Jerry Paul Hirst June 13, 1943 – January 11, 2010 I still can’t believe he’s gone. I know he is, but when I see photographs, like this one I took of him at our last visit, I imagine that Paul’s dad, my children’s pappa, and my father-in-law still sits at his desk writing, putters around his kitchen, or [...] All Content Copyright (C) 2007-2009 TJ Hirst. No content may be reproduced without the copyright owner’s express written consent.Choose To Be Changed Read More →
Like Father — Like Son
Subtitle: Making Sure That Future Generations Remember The Lord Sunday, 21 June 2009, is Father’s Day and though my father is no longer with me, I cherish the sweet memories of him and take time to reflect upon the things that he taught me through his example. In doing so, I turn back the pages of time to 24 June 2001, Father’s Day, and the Sacrament talk that I presented to the congregation of the Annapolis Maryland Ward. This morning I would like to take just a few minutes to address the sacred topic of fatherhood and the divine role of fathers in the Plan of Salvation. By virtue of the Priesthood of God and by the power of the Holy Ghost, fathers can and should be the greatest influence for good in the lives of their wives and children. Every father should rise to new levels of leadership and service in his home. Every young man that is not yet a father should prepare himself for this calling in this life and in the eternities. President Ezra Taft Benson once said, “A... Read the rest of this entry »