Happy 56th Birthday, mom!

Yesterday in church we sang, "Dearest Children, God is Near You", a hymn I have heard and sung many times from my youth. Several of the phrases stood out to me as being qualities that my mom has embodied and used in her careful nurturing of me. "Cherish virtue! Cherish virtue! God will bless the pure in heart." My mom has always demonstrated unwavering faith and love of goodness and righteousness. She has shown me what it means to study and ponder the words of the prophets and strive to implement them in daily life. Her efforts to encourage righteous living in her daughters have been consistent and reliable. "Children, God delights to teach you By his Holy Spirit's voice. Quickly heed its holy promptings. Day by day you'll then rejoice." My mom has striven to live after the manner of happiness and to teach that way to her children and grandchildren. She has overcome much adversity to accomplish this, and it is a treasured gift that she has given us. As we have honored and magnified her desires in this thing, our current lives are blessed with a kind of joy unimaginable to her in her young years. It is an honor and privilege to stand on her shoulders in this thing! "And delights to own and bless you." It is so much fun to see my mom delighting in her righteous posterity...all 28 of us and counting! Children are never easy and certainly not convenient, but my mom's faithful perseverance in obeying this commandment is causing a legacy to her that will only be added upon through the generations. "Oh, prove faithful To your God and Zion's cause." Thanks, mom, for your great example of being true! I honor you and hope this coming year adds to your joy and prosperity! With lots of love! - Cameron