Home teaching blessings — 1985 to 1992
I have many fond memories of experiences we had during the seven years we lived in the Willow Creek 6th Ward, but none is more gratifying than the opportunity I had to home teach the 3 members of a sweet family during those years. This family consisted of a widowed mother and 2 young sons. They had not had home teachers in their home for over 10 months at the time I was assigned to them. Our early visits were inauspicious, with the mother saying very little and the 2 boys running wild. Once they could see and sense that I was determined to come every month and really take an interest in the family, the situation improved. It was a joy to watch the two boys mature and develop over the many years that I home taught them, and I was delighted and privileged to baptized the youngest boy and confer the Aaronic Priesthood upon both both boys when they turned twelve. The older boy has turned out to be a very sensitive and caring young man and he has developed a simple yet sincere testimony of the gospel. I have gained much more from this family than they have gained from me and my companions, but this 7 year period of service to this family was a rewarding and testimony-building experience. I make no claim of being a successful or diligent home teacher, but the 4 things that made a difference with this family were: 1) my companion and I came every month without fail 2) we always brought and delivered a spiritual message 3) we recognized their birthdays and special holidays and 4) I went out of my way on Sundays to greet them and shake their hands. I was delighted in July of 1997 to be invited to the missionary farewell of the older boy as he left for his mission in Santiago, Chile. What a handsome, righteous young man he was, and my heart swelled with joy to hear him bear his testimony to the truthfulness of the Gospel.
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