Teach Ye Diligently

So, I haven't made a post on this blog for a while.  Most of the posts from my account have been made by Melissa as I'm sure you have noticed.  I decided I am going to try and make a post every week, one week here and one on my own blog.  I'm net very good at writing and keeping everyone up to date, but there is something that i wanted to post about.  That is a book I read recently by Elder Boyd K. Packer.  The book is Teach Ye Diligently.  It's probably not the book you would think about me reading considering what has happened.  There have been a few other books that i have read that talk about dealing with the loss of a child, but i found this one to be extra inspiring.  I think it's because it reminded my of my little girl as I read it.

 I purchased this book for a class while I was going to school at BYU-Idaho.  I read a few of the sections out of it, but I must admit that I didn't read every assignment.  At work I have a little bit of down time that allows me to get some reading done.  As I was considering what to read I saw Teach Ye Diligently sitting on the bookshelf.  I had always planned on reading it, but had never gotten around to it.  This time as I saw it, it stood out a little more than usual.




While I found it very illuminating from a teachers standpoint, I would like to talk about how the book really reminded me of Ethne and inspired me to be more like her.  From this book I could really feel of Elder Packer's love for children.  It seemed to me that he is quite an example of Christ-like love towards children.  As I read the book I really came to the realization of how similar Christ-like love and child-like love are.  I thought about Ethne and the never ending supply of love she has for our family, particularly her brother Edward, and it taught me more about how I need to be more patient and loving I need to be with others, particularly my family.

As I think of Ethne's example of love I am constantly reminded of what I ready last January (before the accident) out of Teachings of the Presidents: George Albert Smith that seems to have prepared me for the accident and has been a reminder of what I need to do moving forward in my life.  In the second chapter titled "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself" has the following statement:

“I do not have an enemy that I know of, and there is no one in the world that I have any enmity towards. All men and all women are my Father’s children, and I have sought during my life to observe the wise direction of the Redeemer of mankind—to love my neighbor as myself. … You will never know how much I love you. I have not words to express it. And I want to feel that way toward every son and every daughter of my Heavenly Father.”

 - Pres. George Albert Smith  

I feel that that is the type of love that Ethne had, and still has.  I have been able to continue to feel that love.  It comes  to me in certain moments  as I reflect back on moments when I wasn't the best dad.  While wishing I had done certain things better as her father, I am always reminded of her love for me and am able to feel of that love.  It seems like the more unworthy I feel I am of her love, the more it fills me.  That, combined with the love of the Savior, holds me at those moments when I feel the most alone and imperfect.  Elder Packer's book, helped me understand more of that child-like/Christ-like love I feel.

I just want to finish by recommending this book to everyone, even if you have no interest in teaching you should read it.  We are all teachers in one way or another.  Besides the lessons it teaches us about teaching, it is a profound book that can inspire you in many aspects of your life.  Thanks.

Lawrence Stone