Brian & Nellene Stevens Family

We celebrated Brian's first Father's Day yesterday! It was a really special day. It was so nice to be able to do a few little things to show Brian how much we love and appreciate him.

The best part was that Brian was asked to speak in church and share his thoughts about becoming father. It was a beautiful talk. I and a lot of other people cried through most of it. With Brian's permission I have included the talk below.

Samuel is lucky to have such a terrific Daddy and I am so thnakful to have married such a wonderful man!! We love you dear!

Becoming a Father – Learning Of Our Father In Heaven

Introduction

I’m grateful for the opportunity to speak today. First off I want to wish all the Fathers and future Father’s a Happy Father’s Day. I was asked to speak on my becoming a Father recently and what that felt like in relation to our Heavenly Father. I know that many of my feelings mirror those of fathers here today when a child is born. I’m so grateful for Nellene and my son Samuel in my life. I’m grateful for Samuels safe arrival to our home and for the opportunity I have to be a father.

Experience

When Nellene and I found out that we were expecting our baby last year it was a beautiful Sabbath morning. I remember that we sat and talked for a long time that morning. Just talking together about our babies potential and mainly looking forward to receiving our little baby into our arms. We were both mentally prepared to become expectant, but when that moment came our little family entered a new realm. While we sat and talked we mentioned some of the trials that we and our baby would face in this life but we could sense the immeasurable joy and happiness that comes with having our own children.

The next huge moment for me in the pregnancy came in November when we went for an ultrasound. As we sat waiting for the technician to get things ready we were excited and held hands waiting for our first views of our baby. The first views we got of our baby was of the abdomen. We saw the heart pumping and then his arms, hands and little legs. I felt very excited and joyful when we found out that we had been given a little boy. Immediately I saw the life of our little boy race through my mind. I saw the experiences he would have at school and in our family; I saw the time that he would receive the ordinance of Baptism, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, receive the Aaronic Priesthood and become a Deacon. I saw his progression in the priesthood offices up to the time he would receive the Melchizedek Priesthood, enter the Temple, serving and returning from a mission and beginning his own life as a young husband and Father.

As I came back down from this little vision of our baby’s life we saw his beautiful face. He had huge cheeks and many other identifiable family features. We were both ecstatic as we left our Doctors office.

Nellene was a beautiful pregnant mother and had a new peace in her as she was proud of her baby boy and all he meant to us. As the time to deliver drew near we prepared ourselves mentally for the trial before us.

Then the day that we had dreamed of for a long time finally arrived. We awoke early in the morning and Nellene knew this was the day. We made our way to the hospital and made preparations to deliver our baby boy. The day was one of the most painful for Nellene and me. It was wrenching to see Nellene in labor. We got help off and on throughout the day from the hospital personel. Then the hour of delivery came late in the evening. We soon experienced one of the most joyful moments of our life. We saw the doctor with Samuel in his arms and a second later his beautiful cries were heard throughout the delivery room. Nellene and I started to get emotional as the moment touched us tremendously. We were so excited to see Samuel that our life halted in time as we gloried in this moment. Soon we were holding him in our arms and loving him with our kisses and soft touches.

A profound feeling of becoming overcome by the spirit hit me and I felt the pride of becoming a father. I saw Nellene and her countenance as she looked into the gaze of our beautiful little boy. Though there was deep joy there was also a lot of responsibility at hand. One of the most touching moments of those first hours with Samuel came early the next morning. As I held him I saw his eyes flicker and for the first time I saw him take his initial views of this world with his mortal eyes. His eyes were a dark amber color with a glassy look to the surface of them. He looked so tender and precious and I felt intently that Samuel was a direct gift from God to Nellene and myself.

Later that night Psalms 127:3 kept passing through my mind:

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord.

God’s greatest joys are found in His family. Whether it’s the family that we currently have or will have in the future we all take part in the great Plan of Happiness for God’s children.

Purpose

Bishop Boughton has often said that “of all the names we could call God in prayer he asks us to call Him Father.”

This teaches us reverence for Our Father In Heaven for all that we receive in this life comes from him. This includes our sustenance, clothing, housing, work, health, and our families. Along with Jesus Christ Our Father In Heaven also provides for us our immortality and eternal life.

There are many ways in this life in which we can take part in the plan of salvation. By becoming parents we along with God take part in the creation aspect of the great plan of salvation. From Abraham chapter 3 we learn that there was a great council in heaven where our Heavenly Father taught his children. He taught us about our opportunity to come to earth and our potential road to return to him and receive all he has. Of the primary desire of Jesus Christ in relation to the plan of salvation he said to

Moses in the book of Moses 1:39:

For behold this is my work and my glory – to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

The plan of salvation is centered around Jesus Christ’s role in bringing us all back to Heavenly Father and our eternal potential. Our potential was so great that Heavenly Father sent our eldest and most advanced brother Jesus Christ to provide the perfect example and bridge to allow us to reach our potential.

2 Corinthians 3:18

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

We are changed by the Spirit of the Lord as we learn of Him and grow to be more like Him. Fathers are called to lead in our earthly families. There are several integral roles that Fathers have which fulfill the plan of salvation for God’s children. I’ll just mention 4 today

Protection and Love

A righteous father protects his children with his time and presence in their social, educational, and spiritual activities and responsibilities. Tender expressions of love and affection toward children are as much the responsibility of the father as the mother. Tell your children you love them.

Providing Every Needful Thing

Fathers are called to provide physically for their families. President Hunter said: We urge you to do all in your power to allow your wife to remain in the home, caring for the children while you provide for the family the best you can.

Lead In Church Participation

A man who holds the priesthood leads his family in Church participation so they will know the gospel and be under the protection of the covenants and ordinances. Together with your wife, you determine the spiritual climate of your home. Your first obligation is to get your own spiritual life in order through regular scripture study and daily prayer. Secure and honor your priesthood and temple covenants; encourage your family to do the same.

Teach Your Children the Gospel

Take seriously your responsibility to teach the gospel to your family through regular family home evening, family prayer, devotional and scripture reading time, and other teaching moments. As patriarch in the home, exercise your priesthood through performing the appropriate ordinances for your family and by giving blessings to your wife and children. Next to your own salvation, brethren, there is nothing so important to you as the salvation of your wife and children.

As a new Father I feel like I am still learning to do some of these things. I strive to do better each and every day for the benefit of our family. I’m eternally grateful to my own father who took the time to read scriptures with me and my siblings when I was younger. Not only was this the way in which I learned to read it was the avenue through which the foundation of my personal testimony was gained. Along with help from my Mom, my Dad led our family in scripture study and gospel discussions each morning. My Dad also lead us in family prayer by kneeling down together and asking one of the children to pray.

My Dad holds a tender place in my heart.

Our Father in Heaven is focused on us as his eternal children. I pray that as a young father that I can put into practice those things that will provide the spiritual and life nourishment that my family will need. Fathers are called with a high calling to lead in the family. I’m eternally grateful for wife Nellene in my life – she is such a good example of unselfish love and devotion. I learn much from her in being a parent in this life.

Our Father In Heaven gave his only begotten son to be the central figure of the plan of salvation. Jesus Christ is the perfect example of being a righteous father. He learned from his earthly and Heavenly Father, as we also learn from ours.

Two songs that have taught me so much recently and throughout my life about being a father and a son say:

I am a child of God, and he has sent me here,

Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear.

I am a child of God, and so my needs are great;

Help me to understand his words before it grows too late

I am a child of God. Rich blessings are in store;

If I but learn to do his will I’ll live with him once more.

Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.

Teach me all that I must do to live with him some-day.

I know my Father lives and loves me too. The Spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true, and tells me it is true.

He sent me here to earth, by faith to live his plan. The spirit whispers this to me and tells me that I can, and tells me that I can.

Today let us honor our fathers for their sacred role in the great plan of salvation.

I testify that Jesus Christ is our Savior – He set the perfect example for us and died that we may gain our immortality and eternal life. He is our spiritual Father.

Through the spirit teaching me through Samuel I have gained a stronger testimony of God the Father. He loves us and wants us to return to Him and reach our potential.

I testify of these things -