Being Steadfast

When I was growing up, home teachers and priesthood leaders regularly visited my mother, Eleonore, a divorced and less-active mother raising two often-disobedient boys. Many in our ward probably viewed their efforts as a lost cause. But even though they saw virtually no progress in nearly a decade of faithful service, they were "steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works" (Mosiah 5:15) toward my family.

When I needed some summer work, I helped Bishop Mingus, one of our home teachers, install an irrigation system on his property. Brother Bray, another of our home teachers, told us stories about trips he took and news from his family. I still have the F-15 fighter jet belt buckle Brother Bray gave me from one of his trips to a museum. He was a quiet man, but I knew he cared.

Their commitment to their priesthood duty changed my life; our early interactions paved the way to my reactivation, my mission, my temple marriage, and now my role as a priesthood holder, father, and husband. Through years of visits, they took me from one path that led to unhappiness and tribulation and gently eased me onto the straight and narrow way that has brought me happiness.

My experiences help me keep an eternal perspective about home teaching families that are struggling. I realize that it might take several years for us to see the fruits of our labors, but that doesn't make our efforts any less urgent. It takes time to prepare people for their reactivation in the Church. It is worth the effort, especially to the one it affects for all eternity—the lost sheep. I rejoice daily for the blessing of being brought back into the fold, in part through loyal home teachers.

Kristian Allee, Michigan, USA