A Vote of Confidence

The Lord instructed us in the Doctrine and Covenants, “And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also” (D&C 84:106).  This was the subject of President Eyring’s talk in the Priesthood session of conference, and he encouraged the Melchizedek Priesthood holders to see to lift the younger generation to help them to become strong.  He told several stories about how he had been the recipient of that kind of nurturing from leaders when he was young, and I was impressed by the fact that I already recognized some of the stories.  He told visits he did with his Bishop when he was a priest and inexperienced.  What he learned from the Bishop clearly made a huge impact on him—for he told the same story in October 2013 and in October 2011.  Of one of the visits to two girls in a difficult family situation he recounted the Bishop’s words that “Those children will never forget that we came to them.”  Clearly Elder Eyring also never forgot that experience—surely it made a far bigger impression on him than his Bishop ever could have imagined.  He also told a story of how President Hinckley once asked him late at night in a hotel room in Japan to help him review a book being produced by the Church.  Again that experience and the confidence that President Hinckley placed in him must have made a big impression because he told that story in the October 2011 conference as well.  The message for us it seems is that we never know how much we might be able to impact others for good if we will place trust in them and give them responsibility.  That is at least one way we “edify” them and make them strong. 

                One story in the scriptures that comes to mind relating to this principle is the encounter between Ammaron and Mormon.  Ammaron was the keeper of the sacred records and was a righteous man (4 Nephi 1:47-49).  He came to Mormon when Mormon was only 10 years old and said, “I perceive that thou art a sober child, and art quick to observe.  Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people” (Mormon 1:2-3).  Mormon was instructed to take responsibility for the records and to write his own record upon them.  This was no trivial thing to ask a 10-year-old, but Mormon certainly fulfilled his responsibility and became the prophet the Lord needed.  Was Mormon just inherently a really righteous boy and so Ammaron came to him, or did Mormon become good because Ammaron placed such a heavy responsibility and trust on him?  I think the answer is probably both, and surely being tutored by Ammaron and being given such a serious task by him made a big impact on Mormon’s whole life.

                This principle of helping others by putting trust in them surely applies to raising children as well.  I think I’m learning that I need to be way less worried about things getting done the right way and be more concerned about giving my children responsibility and opportunities for success.  They want to do more tasks themselves like pouring their own milk in the cereal even when they can barely lift the jug.  I have a tendency to want to make sure they do things correctly by controlling things, when I know that it is far more important for them to learn to do things for themselves (even if that does mean milk on the floor and shoes on the wrong feet).  They need my vote of confidence in their abilities--just like that bishop gave to President Eyring--far more than anything else I might do for them.