Beach Haven

We found this document among our stuff recently. It was written by Jacob Beach. There is no date one it, but clearly this is from when he and Emily were still in school together. 

"Oh no, Mr. Bolander mixed it up!" I sighed as I read the room's list. Open house is when we found out that he mixed up the rooms. Emily was going to be in my room, and I was in her room. Inside the school we got papers signed and fixed, junk like lunch, and so on. We finally found Mr. Bolander and got it settled out. He finally got it right. I hated that I was Emily for a day!! It stank on ice!! I even heard a few kids snicker at me. That's what I can remember of returning.

Our grandson Aiden gave his first sacrament talk in church this past Sunday. His mom, Kyra, shared with me his nervousness. She wrote the talk, but he did a terrific job speaking. Here is the text that Aiden shared with the congregation:

Today I have been asked to talk about “How can I as an Aaronic priesthood holder stay on the covenant path.” The covenant path is the covenants we make through life such as baptism, and receiving the priesthood. There are things we do in life in order to be worthy of those covenants. Some things are having faith and keeping the commandments.

President Eyring told a story in his talk “Legacy of Encouragement” that talked about faith. “As my mother told me when I complained of how hard something was, ‘Oh, Hal, of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be. Life is a test.’ She could say that calmly, even with a smile, because she knew two things. Regardless of the struggle, what would matter most would be to arrive at home to be with her Heavenly Father. And she knew she could do it through faith in her Savior.”

President Eyring’s mother knew it was important to have faith and keep trying to stay on the covenant path. The biggest thing is we need to have faith. Faith is believing in something that you can’t see. We need to have faith in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father to help through this test of life to help us better keep our promises to them. Along with faith you need hope. “And again, my beloved brethren, I would speak unto you concerning hope. How is it that ye can attain unto faith, save ye shall have hope? And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope. And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.”

We have all the information to have faith and hope in keeping our covenants. We need again to have and use that faith to keep the commandments knowing the Lord wants us to keep our covenants and come unto Him. As a priesthood holder it is important to have faith in the Lord so I can help those around me. I have a responsibility to be an example and strive to be like Christ each and every day. If I don’t do these things then I will not have the Spirit to help others. It is important to be meek and willing to listen to others as I learn to be a better priesthood holder. This means it is good to put others before ourselves and serve others. This helps us have faith and work each and every day and stay on the covenant path.

With faith and hope also comes a love to help others. As we serve others we remember to do those things each day to be a better person and come unto Christ thus staying on the covenant path. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.”

In all things we do each day it can bring us closer to Christ and work to stay on the covenant path. We have this guide in keeping the commandments. Elder Eyring says in his talk, “The commandments and covenants He offers you are not tests to control you. They are a gift to lift you toward receiving all the gifts of God and returning home to your Heavenly Father and the Lord, who loves you. Jesus Christ paid the price of our sins. We may claim that blessing of eternal life if we will have faith in Him enough to repent and become like a child, pure and ready to receive the greatest of all the gifts of God.”
​
I know Jesus Christ loves me and wants us to come unto Him. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.