Our first lesson of the year was given by Marty Rozeski. She did a wonderful job introducing us to President Ezra Taft Benson and the new manual that we will be using throught the year. It is interesting to note that the introduction to this dear prophet is 33 pages long; much longer than any of the lessons we will cover throughout the year. Please take the time to read about the life and ministry of President Ezra Taft Benson on your own.
As we read about Ezra Taft Benson as a boy growing up on his family's farm, we begin to understand about why he grew to be the amazing man that he was. He was taught at a very young age about the value of work and learned so many life lessons growing up the way he did. Some of these life lessons include:
- The Capacity to work
- Early to bed, early to rise
- Patience
- Being responsible
- Appreciation for creation
- The simplicity of life
- Dicipline
- Labor = Harvest
- Self-reliance
President Benson learned from the example of his parents as well. When his father was surprisingly called to serve a mission, leaving his wife and family of seven children and one on the way behind, he was expected to help run their farm and do more than most 12 year olds could ever imagine. From this experience young Ezra learned about family unity, obedience to the Lord, sacrifice, the strong love that can develop in a marriage, and of course the importance of missionary work. President Benson later said, "My Father knew a greater vision of love. He knew that 'all things shall work together for good to them that love God' (Romans 8:28)...While we missed him greatly during those years, and while his absence brought many challenges to our family, his acceptance proved to be a gift of charity...Yes, there came into our home, as a result of Father's mission, a spirit of missionary work that never left it."
Throughout his life President Benson had to learn how to balance his family life and the life of great service in the church. There are so many examples that we can read about where President Benson is serving in some capacity and he is overcome with love for those he served. Whether it be serving as a scout master, serving as a missionary, or serving in President Eisenhower's cabinet, President Benson always put the Lord's work first. He loved those he served and he always had his family's support as he did so. He teaches us that service equals love and that we always need to obey God's will for us.
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