A Father's Love

I was reading in 3 Nephi 21 when I came across verse 4. It reads, "For it is wisdom in the Father that they should be established in this land, and be set up as a free people by the power of the Father, that these things might come forth from them unto a remnant of your seed, that the covenant of the Father may be fulfilled which he hath covenanted with his people, O house of Israel".

This reminded me of our total need of our Father in Heaven. His power is our all. We cannot be, live, or act without it. We are utterly dependent on this gift he willingly gives us daily. From this train of thought, I thought of John 15:10, which says, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love". Isn't that what we all want? We want to be loved, to feel love, and to abide in the love of someone. Who else better than our Father's love?


We need this love to do anything. In a story recorded by Pauline Richardson, a young boy needs the help of his father to pass the sacrament. It goes as follows, 

"As the sacrament prayer ended, I raised my eyes and looked at the neat and reverent row of deacons receiving their sacrament trays to pass to the congregation. Moments later, my gaze fell on a young man who I knew was passing the sacrament for the first time. It was Andrew. He was dressed nicely in his pressed white shirt and tie. He stood tall with his shoulders pulled back and showed great care as he administered to his assigned rows along one side of the chapel. His father was standing right behind him and was still and reverent.

I watched Andrew carefully hand the tray down the row and then glance up at his father, who nodded with approval. After the tray was passed back to Andrew, a loving smile grew on his father’s face as they advanced down the aisle together with quiet respect, carefully balancing the tray as they slowly stepped forward.

As I watched this father-and-son team pass the sacrament, I remembered that Andrew had been recently diagnosed with a disease called Friedreich’s ataxia. It is a debilitating disease that seriously affects one’s balance, among other things. This diagnosis brings with it a very altered lifestyle. Many typical childhood activities would not be in this young man’s future.

I remembered the sadness I felt when Andrew’s mom, my good friend, found out about her son’s condition. I had prayed I could somehow help her. Ultimately there was little I could do, but I knew she and her husband would rely on Heavenly Father to help them in their time of need.

As I watched Andrew and his father attentively move along the rows, I became overwhelmed with a sweet feeling of peace. I saw this gentle father steady his son’s frail and wavering body against his arm and help him hold the tray. As they moved from row to row, the father continually gave silent nods of approval to reassure his son. Suddenly the imagery was too much for me and I broke into tears."

Imagine that you are the son (or daughter) that needs their father to stand. It would be hard on the father, but I imagine worth every second of seeing their child succeed.