Priesthood models

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood Session of the October 2001 Conference. 

I liked this reflection from from Elder Keith K. Hilbig about things he'd learned from other Priesthood holders. I know my sons have learned so much from their quorum leaders and bishops and other men too! But I was struck by the way Elder Hilbig talks about his Home Teaching companion. I really miss this dynamic in the church for my boys. When I was growing up, my brothers had great Home Teaching companions, older men, that went with them faithfully every month. But even though my boys have always had ministering companions assigned (also older men), they have never actually been taken out ministering! (Well—maybe twice. Out of all of them.) I can't really blame the men too much, because I know Sam has had other boys assigned to him in the past and hasn't gone with them either—it's hard to coordinate schedules with a teenage boy, especially a reluctant one! And it's even hard to get your own boys to go with you sometimes. So I understand the difficulty.

Still, I wish, wish, wish, that some older priesthood holder would just square his shoulders and DO it!  Take my boys to go minister! Keep asking them and don't give up until it happens! What a blessing and an example that would be. I know Sam and I could and should facilitate service for our own children. But there is something really cool about having someone else in the ward take on that role and be that kind of example.

Anyway, here is Elder Hilbig:

I was able to learn the importance of priesthood service not only by observing my grandfather, father, and brother magnify their callings but also from the brethren in my ward who were priesthood models to me. 

As a newly ordained teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood, my first home teaching companion was Henry Wilkening, a high priest nearly 60 years my senior. He was a German immigrant, a shoemaker by trade, small in stature, but an energetic and faithful shepherd to the families assigned to us. I trotted behind him (for he seemed to walk and to climb stairs much faster than I could) during our monthly visits, which took us into sobering environments new to my sheltered experience. He expected me to present part of each lesson and to make all the appointments, but mostly I listened and watched as he aided brothers and sisters with various spiritual and social, economic and emotional needs previously unknown to me as a 14-year-old. 

I began to realize how much good could be done by a single faithful priesthood bearer. I watched Brother Wilkening forging a strong priesthood link for himself through his loving service to those families in need—and to me in my youth. 

The many priesthood men I observed while growing up taught me that providing priesthood service to others is not dependent upon a particular title or specific calling or formal position in the kingdom. Rather the opportunity arises from and is inherent within the fact that one has received the priesthood of God.

Other posts in this series:

Sacrifice—by Rozy