Primary Program

 

Our ward had it’s annual Primary Program on Sunday.  All the kids in the ward between the ages of 4 and 11 sing all the songs they’ve learned that year and they have several of them give talks and lots more give little speaking parts.  Abby had a speaking part and did great, she has such a great memory – she had it down in no time.  Ben didn’t have a speaking part, but sang his heart out and loved to make eye contact with us to make sure we were watching.  Whenever he caught our eye, he beamed from ear to ear.  So cute. 

Nate was asked to speak last year and said, no thanks.  This year, my friend, Buffy, is the primary president and asked me if I thought he would speak this year.  I told her I had no idea, but that I’d ask him.  He happened to be at her house playing with her son that day and she mentioned it to him and he agreed.  I was a little surprised but so glad.  She brought me a paper with his topic and I didn’t really even look at it, just filed it away.  That was sometime in the Summer. 

A few months later, as the program date approached I knew we needed to work on it so I pulled out the paper with his assigned topic.  Tears filled my eyes as I read:  “Receiving a blessing  and the power of the Priesthood in your life”.  Just a week or two before that was when Nate received a blessing from my Dad and Brennan after our California trip.  Before the blessing my Dad asked Nate if he had faith in Jesus and that he needed to in order for it to help him.  In the blessing he was told that this would be a foundational moment for his faith and testimony.  I immediately called Buffy to tell her how inspired she was and thanked her for this opportunity for Nate to really ponder and share his experience with a priesthood blessing.  Here is the talk he wrote.  (I helped him put the events in order etc., but these are his words):

October 29, 2012

Power of the Priesthood

by Nate Wright

My name is Nate Wright. I have been asked to speak about receiving a blessing and the power of the priesthood in my life. I went on a trip this Summer, to California. I got very sick for 5 days during our trip. We didn't know what was wrong, we went to the doctor and figured out that I had gotten heat exhaustion. I missed out on a lot of things.

I was still sick when it was time to leave. We drove 5 hours to my Grandma's house in St. George. We stayed there for two nights, and I was finally starting to do a little better and eat a little. Then we we drove back to our house for 5 hours. We thought I was better, but in the car I started feeling sick again.

My Mom and Dad were worried and thought about taking me to the hospital. We finally got home. I was happy to be home, but I still felt sick. My Grandpa came over to help my Dad give me a blessing. My Dad asked my Grandpa to give me the blessing. My Grandpa told me I had to have faith in Jesus and that the blessing would help me. Grandpa and my Dad put their hands on my head and blessed me that I would be healed. I felt better right after that. I thought about how the doctor couldn't help me, but the priesthood did.

I know that the Priesthood can bless us and I am grateful for my Dad and my Grandpa being willing to share it with me. That blessing helped me know that Heavenly Father and Jesus really love me. When I have the Priesthood someday I am excited to help others like they helped me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Nate is our child whose actions we never attempt to predict.  Brennan and I were so nervous as we sat and wondered if Nate would really stand up and give his talk.  He did.  He stood tall and read loudly and clearly his sweet words of faith.  Brennan, Me, Anna, my Mom and Dad all sat and listened with total gratitude and tender emotion as we watched this beautiful boy touch us all.  There were a couple of years he wouldn’t even go on the stand to sing with the other kids in past primary programs.  How much he has grown and gained in just 9 years.  We love him so much and are so grateful for his progress, and for the reminder that these children are not just ours.  Heavenly Father is loving them and creating opportunities for each one of them, all of us.

One more thing, every time we put Joshy to bed for a nap or bedtime we sing “I Am A Child of God” and “I Love to See The Temple” .  He loves those songs.  During the program the primary kids started singing “I am a Child of God”.  Josh was lying on the floor as they began singing, but after the first three notes of that song, he shot up and with a huge (he says “fuge”) grin on his face he looked at me and said, “MOM, They’re singing my song!!!!”  He was so thrilled that the whole primary would pay tribute to him like that