Changes

I look forward to General Conference with both anticipation and anxiety. Whenever there is a major change in among the General Authorities, an upcoming conference fills me with curiosity.

My curiosity was abated last Saturday when Elder Henry B. Eyring was sustained as Second Counselor in the First Presidency and Elder Quinton Cook called to fill the seat in the Quorum of the Twelve vacated by Elder Eyring.

I had, like many members, tried to guess who the Prophet would select as a counselor but as much as I love Elder Eyring, his name had not entered my mind. I had thought that perhaps someone from Latin America of an Asian would fill the apostolic seat but that just goes to show how little regard God has for political correctness.

Once my curiosity had been satisfied, I hunkered down to watch the balance of the proceedings thinking they would be as they had generally been. This was not the case, however.

I spent the next 10 hours of conference alternating from shedding tears of joy, feeling the need to seriously repent, feeling extremely inadequate as a husband, father and priesthood holder and feeling deeply blessed as a member of Christ's only authorized Church. Ultimately, I felt deeply and often the profound effect of the Atonement as the Spirit whispered the confirming truth that I am really a child of a loving Heavenly Father.

This conference for me, was the most powerful one I have witnessed in my memory.

So along with the changes made among the General Authorities, I am making the commitment to change a few things about myself. I think it will be easier to be successful if I publish them here so the few people who read this will offer their encouragement through word and prayer in my behalf.

I Will Be a Better Husband

1. I will spend more time in conversation, prayer, study and recreation with my wife and less time on the computer at home or engrossed in some television show.


2. I will be slower to irritation and quicker to understand the pressures my wife faces in her life and the worries that weigh her down.


3. I will ask my wife's opinion more often concerning decisions I face in my life.


4. I will listen more carefully when she talks to me and try to remember the things that are important to her.


5. I will ask her to pray with me more often.


6. I will support her completely in her Church assignment.

I Will Be a Better Father and Grandfather

1. I will do a better job of contacting my children every week just to let them know how much I love them.


2. I will remember important events in their lives and recognize them in our conversations.


3. I will do a better job of recording my life's history that my children might learn from my mistakes and my triumphs.


4. I will be a peacemaker between my children and other branches on this diverse and interesting family.


5. I will remember my responsibilities as a patriarch to my children and invoke God's blessings where they are deserved and intervention when my children struggle or stray.


6. I will speak to my grandchildren at least twice a month.


7. I will bear my testimony more to my family.

I Will Be a Better Servant of the Lord

1. I will be a dutiful and observant Home Teacher


2. I will prepare my lessons by first asking God to teach me by the Spirit and then follow better, the manual.


3. I will offer more service to my quorum and my ward.


4. I will take the time to learn the names of members of my ward.

I Will Be a Better Employee

1. I will complete my tasks in a more timely manner.


2. I will be exacting in the quality of my work.


3. I will treat those who report to me with greater respect and confidence.

I Will Be a Better Latter-day Saint

1. I will begin working more diligently on my family history.


2. I will, with my wife, attend the temple more regularly.


3. I will find ways to demonstrate my love for my neighbor.


4. I will practice more diligently, personal prayer both morning and night.


5. I will seek ways to share the message of the Gospel with others.


6. I will repent more quickly and fully.

These commitments are real. They may seem too big but they are not and writing them down will help me to remember them more readily.

To start this process, I want to bear my testimony to any and all who may read this.

I know that my Redeemer lives; that He loves me and is keenly interested in my personal happiness; so much so that He gave His life that I might attain it.

I know He restored his Gospel and His Church through the Prophet Joseph Smith and that we have a living prophet today in Gordon B. Hinkley.

I know the priesthood was restored under the hands of John the Baptist and the apostles Peter, James and John to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in 1829.

I know of the power of the Atonement when we repent. I know because I have personally experienced it's power in my life.

I know God's love is infinite and eternal and that His plan for us is designed for our eternal happiness even when we experience terrible trials during our brief sojourn in mortality. I know of God's love because I know that I love my children - even in its mortal deficiency.

I regret the horrible decisions of my past that have injured those I love and pray they will be able to forgive me as the Lord as forgiven me.

I invoke a father's blessing on all my children and their families; that God will grant them power from on high as they seek to love one another and serve one another. I ask God for a special dispensation of patience for those of my children who wander or who struggle with life's curve balls and I plead with Him to grant them the strength to "o'er come."

Finally I want them all to know that I love them. I love Matt, Laura, Alexandra, Jordon, and Maddy. I love Sam, Kathy, Hunter, Hannah, Spencer, Hyrum and the soon-to-be fifth child of that family. I love Erin, Dan, Daniel, Clara and Carolina. I love Mary and admire her desire to serve. I love Will for his strength of purpose in the face of challenges to which I cannot relate. He is my example. I love Deb as deeply as I love all these and more. She is my rock, my shield and my shoulder. She is my friend and lover. I thank God for her.

There are others I love whom I have hurt so badly they want nothing to do with me. I cannot blame them but still I pray for the day they can find joy that comes with forgiveness.

My foundation in the Gospel is firm and my reliance on God is fixed as i seek that broken heart and contrite spirit in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.