FIRST PRESIDENCY MESSAGE
Our Father, Our Mentor
Second
Counselor in the First Presidency
Have you ever opened a box of parts, pulled out the assembly
instructions, and thought, “This doesn’t make any sense at all”?
Sometimes,
despite our best intentions and inner confidence, we pull out a part and ask,
“What is that for?” or “How does that fit?”
Our
frustration grows as we look at the box and notice a disclaimer that says,
“Assembly required—ages 8 and up.” Because we still don’t have a clue, this
does not boost our confidence or our self-esteem.
Sometimes
we have a similar experience with the gospel. As we look at some part of it, we
may scratch our heads and wonder what that part is for. Or as we examine
another part, we may realize that even after trying hard to fully understand,
we just can’t figure out why that part was included.
Our Heavenly Father Is Our Mentor
Fortunately,
our Heavenly Father has given us wonderful instructions for structuring our
lives and putting together our best selves. Those instructions work regardless
of our age or circumstance. He has given us the gospel and the Church ofJesus
Christ. He has given us the plan of redemption, the plan of
salvation, even the plan of happiness. He has not left us alone with all the
uncertainties or challenges of life, saying, “Here you go. Good luck. Figure it
out.”
If we will only be patient and look with a humble heart and an
open mind, we will find that God has given us many tools to better understand
His comprehensive instructions for our happiness in life:
·
He has given us the priceless gift of the Holy
Ghost, which has the potential to be our personal, heavenly tutor as
we study the word of God and attempt to bring our thoughts and actions into
alignment with His word.
·
He has given us 24/7 access to Him through prayers of faith and
supplications of real intent.
·
He has given us modern-day apostles and prophets, who reveal the
word of God in our day and have the authority to bind or seal on earth and in
heaven.
·
He has restored His Church—an organization of believers who work
together to help one another as they work out their salvation with fear,
trembling, and unparalleled joy.1
·
He has given us the holy scriptures—His written word to us.
·
He has given myriad tools of modern technology to help us in our
walk of discipleship. Many of these marvelous instruments can be found at LDS.org.
Why has
our Heavenly Father given us so much help? Because He loves us. And because, as
He said of Himself, “This is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”2
In other words, Heavenly Father is our God, and God is a mentor
to us.
Our Father in Heaven knows His children’s needs better than
anyone else. It is His work and glory to help us at every turn, giving us
marvelous temporal and spiritual resources to help us on our path to return to
Him.
Every Father Is a Mentor
In some parts of the world, fathers are honored by families and
society in the month of June. It is always good to honor and respect our
parents. Fathers do many good things for their families and have many admirable
attributes. Two of the most important roles fathers have in the lives of their
children are those of being a good example and a mentor. Fathers do more than
tell their children what is right or wrong; they do much more than toss a
manual at them and expect them to figure out life for themselves.
Fathers mentor their precious children and show by their good
example the way an honest life is lived. Fathers do not leave their children
alone but rush to their aid, helping them to their feet whenever they stumble.
And sometimes when wisdom suggests, fathers allow their children to struggle,
realizing that this may be the best way for them to learn.
We Are All Mentors
While
earthly fathers do this for their own children, the spirit of mentoring is
something we need to offer all of God’s children, regardless of age, location,
or circumstance. Remember, God’s children are our brothers and sisters; we are
all of the same eternal family.
In this sense, let us all be mentors—eager to reach out and help
one another to become our best selves. Because we are God’s offspring, we do
have the potential to become like Him. Loving God and our fellowmen, keeping
God’s commandments, and following Christ’s example are the straight, narrow,
and joyful path back into the presence of our heavenly parents.
If the God of the universe cares so much about us that He is a
mentor to us, perhaps we too can reach out to our fellowmen, regardless of
their color, race, socioeconomic circumstances, language, or religion. Let us
become inspired mentors and bless the lives of others—not only our own children
but also all of God’s children throughout the world.
Teaching from This Message
You may want to begin by asking those you teach to think of a
moment when Heavenly Father mentored them. You could then ask them to think of
the similarities between that moment and a moment when they felt mentored by
their earthly father. Invite them to write down the similarities in how they
were mentored. You could challenge them to try to emulate the thing they wrote
down in an effort to be a better example to others.
Children
Heavenly
Father’s Help
Because Heavenly Father loves us, He has given us many tools, or
gifts, to help us. Match each gift with its picture below. How can you use
these gifts to bless your life and to bless others?
priesthood
power
love for others
scriptures
prayer
apostles and prophets
“Mentoring
Others”
cji
6/1/16
Awakening
each day in prayer
thanking
and being grateful
to
Heavenly Father for all
thus
being in sacred awe
that he
would mentor each
during
every aspect of life
giving
us an eternal lesson
we too
should be mentors
to our children
and families
to our
friends and neighbors
thus
able to close each day
being
grateful for all in awe!
Copyright © 2016 – cji
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