A wonderful young man — 1996
We had a real thrill in our Priest Quorum during January and February of 1996. A 17 year-old young man moved in with a family in our ward because of divorce and unpleasant circumstances in his own home. Following the divorce, his parents moved away from Utah, but this good young man chose to stay in Provo to complete high school. He had not been active in the Church for several years, but he did hold the office of Deacon. When the father in the home alerted us that this young man was living with them and that he was Priest-age, we (the adult and youth leaders of the Priests Quorum) went to the home to visit with with this young man. He was very quiet, retiring, and reserved, but we could feel of his great spirit. We invited him to attend Mutual and Priesthood meetings, and assured him that we wouldn’t rest until he came. We called him every week, I sent several letters to him, and he began to attend both on Sundays and Wednesdays. I asked him to set a goal to be ordained a Priest before the school year ended, and he accepted that challenge. Towards the middle of February, I suggested to the Bishop that he interview this good young man as a further way to encourage him along the priesthood path and, lo and behold, the Bishop approved him for advancement in the Aaronic Priesthood and ordination to the office of Priest! This new young friend was presented to the congregation on February 25th, and ordained that morning by the father in the home where he was living. It was a heartwarming and gratifying experience for me to participate in the ordination and see this young man’s radiant smile afterwards. How true it is that “…by small and simple things shall great things be brought to pass.”
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