Who's your role model?

Just received my weekly e-mail from my Missionary Man - Elder Hillary. What a man - love him so much. I've read his e-mails so many times I've worn out my computer screen I swear. His requests are so simple - that everyone knows he loves them, and how he appreciates the letters from everyone. Today his request was for his Joseph Smith ring. I'm taking the 'curse of the giver' off of it and sending it to him - he said "I want it to remind me of my role model, Joseph Smith." The ring is a reproduction of the ring that Joseph Smith used to illustrate the eternal nature of man and which he wore to his martydom. It appears on his hand in several paintings done in his lifetime. Ryan's journey in life has been very lonely, too frequently. He found solace in the teachings of the gospel and of the Prophet Joseph. Mandy asked me this weekend about genetic traits vs socialized traits (or something like that), and we talked about it for a while. But since then I have thought about it nonstop. I just want to thank my kids for grasping all they can about the gospel. Their courage to 'stand for something' proves that they will not 'fall for anything' as the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley quoted. I'm sure that genetically they are pretty loaded in the wonderful department - but our family has spent a lifetime obtaining traits from the gospel that assures unbroken promises from Heavenly Father if we do our part. I need to say that with the opening of the new Draper Temple - many eyes have been opened, many hearts touched, and many lives have been changed. I have hoped that many questions would be asked, answered, and many goals could be set - to make sure that you love your family enough to want to be with them forever and not just for this lifetime. I wanted to share the testimony of President Hinkley - he, just like those before him and President Monson today echo the message of the Book of Mormon.

So I add my testimony to President Hinckley's, and add that this is the reason I sent my son Matt to Taiwan for 2 years and Ryan going to Mexico for 2 years. The reason that my son-in-laws served, Mike in Chile, and Ryan M in Texas and my brother Eric in Argentina, and his son Brandon to Canada. 6 of the best gave 2 years of their lives to share this word. Are you listening to their message? If you have, what are you doing about what you know? I would invite all of my friends to visit the new Draper Temple - you can get information at wwwld.org/reservations. I'll even come and pick you up.... be right back, gotta go mail a ring...