by David Bay, High Councilor

Lots of times we learn things from those who have gone before us, including our ancestors. Sometimes though, we can learn from those who come after us, even our family members, our descendants. Recently I’ve learned some lessons from some of my grandsons. Two of them are serving as missionaries, and the other is pushing to perfect his sports skills in basketball.

Dylan, who is now serving his mission, chose to focus on the temple in the months after receiving his mission call and before starting his MTC training. He became an ordinance worker in the temple. We tend to think of ordinance workers as being from the older side of church membership instead of being 18-year-old servants of God. He had all the authority to administer those sacred ordinances that the other ordinance workers do. In participating in the temple ordinances, he began to understand more completely the importance of temple ordinances and the covenants that we make with our Heavenly Father. When he shares the gospel with others as a missionary, his vision and understanding of temple covenants will help him teach them how to follow and stay on the covenant path.

Jake, Dylan’s twin brother who is also serving a mission right now, ran into some major health issues and had to return home for a month to get proper medical care. I was impressed that even though he was at home, he tried to do everything he could to maintain the habits and standards of a missionary. He took opportunities to spend time proselyting with the local full-time missionaries to the level that his health would allow. He is excited for his upcoming return to his full-time field of labor.

I wish I had the determination and perseverance to improve my life at the level that my 15-year-old grandson, Porter, does. Porter decided years ago that he would do his best to excel in basketball. When he was as young as ten-years-old he made every effort to spend every free minute developing his ballhandling skills and ability to accurately shoot baskets. He continues almost daily to make improvements on his basic skills. In addition to his personal workouts of sprints and weight training, he has participated in basketball clinics, jump training to push his ability to jump higher and he puts a focus on improving his performance every day. Recently, his coach canceled the practice for the night, and he complained that he wasn’t going to get the physical workout or the practice that he intended for that day. He runs long distances in addition to sprints to develop his stamina.

However, not all his efforts work out. Porter decided that he would increase his hand and arm strength by milking the family cow by hand instead of using the milking machine as they usually do. He was successful in milking by hand, but the milk cow was very clear that she preferred to be milked by the machine.

I’m sure that you can find, as I have done, people around us who can help set an example and be role models for us in those things that we would like to accomplish.

New Year’s is a time of reflection and a time to look at goals and directions for the upcoming year. What is it that you would like to accomplish? More importantly, what things need to change in your world and your life for you to accomplish your goals? Who are role models that you can look to for examples of how to make those changes?

As we go forward with the upcoming year and beyond to the coming of Jesus Christ, we need to use our unique talents and abilities to accomplish the unique work and missions that we can do. As we put forth our efforts God will magnify our efforts with the miracles that President Nelson has told us to expect.