Blessings for Talmage

These past two Sundays have been significant milestones for our family, and very sweet. Last Saturday Talmage met with the Bishop and he asked me to come in too. He talked to Talmage about their common interest in ancient history and fantasy books, he specifically mentioned a series called the Apprentice.
Bishop: Getting the priesthood is kind of like becoming an apprentice and can you guess who would be the Master?
Talmage: The Pope?
Bishop:uh.....Let me back up here...
Then he asked Talmage some questions.
Bishop: Are you honest?
Talmage: Well, sometimes I lie. But I try to be honest.
Bishop: Are you kind to your brothers?
Talmage: Most of the time we fight a lot. But sometimes we are friends.
Bishop: Talmage, I really appreciate your honest answers!

The next day on Sunday the Bishop introduced Talmage during sacrament meeting and the ward sustained him to receive the priesthood. After the meeting we met in the Bishops office. Present were our family, Mike, Sam and Jenny Pulsipher, Pam and Cap Cresap, Talmage's Young Men's President Harland Hayes and our home teacher (pie maker) and second counselor in the bishopric, Matt Asay.

The bishop asked me to bear my testimony about the priesthood. I told Talmage that I thought it is a very wonderful thing that Heavenly Father would give His priesthood power to Talmage, even though he was only 12, so that he could learn to do the Lord's work on earth and serve from a young age. I told him that the priesthood is an actual power and that he would feel the spirit confirm that to him and that he would know it was true-- just like he felt the spirit when he visited the Brigham City Temple last year.

Then the bishop asked Harland Hayes to bear his testimony. Harland told Talmage that he was very happy to have Talmage in the Young Men's organization. He told Talmage that he was impressed when they had their Stake Youth activity that week that Talmage had stated that his holy place was the temple and that he'd felt the Jesus Christ's spirit as he visited the temple. Harland told him that they would be going to the temple once a month as a group to do baptisms and confirmations.

Then Clint ordained Talamge to the priesthood and to the office of a Deacon. He gave him a wonderful blessing specifically blessing him to reach out with that sensitivity that he has to others and bless those who are in need. He also blessed him that he would be able to overcome some of his challenges. There was a very sweet feeling in the room and Talmage gave everyone in the circle a hug. He was especially excited to have his cousin Sam there, because he looks up to him so much. He wanted the bishop and the others to know that Sam was a "really cool guy." Matt Asay then said, "The Deacons quorum is about to get a lot more interesting!"

Then we went home and had way too much delicious food. Cap smoked corn beef and ribs and made potato salad. I made fruit salad and Cara and brought roasted garlic. Cap and Pam came just for Talmage's ordination and spent a few days visiting and making plans to move to the Lehi area later this year!

During the week Talmage went to his Kishindo Karate class and learned that his Sensei is a Bishop. His Sensei told Talmage that in his ward there were only two deacons. Talmage said that he was really grateful to be able to serve the sacrament because there are not many people who can do that. On Friday I worked with Talmage for several hours on his Faith in God requirements. As part of that he recorded his experience of receiving the priesthood and we recorded his testimony. Talmage told me, as far as a testimony, Mom, I think I already one hundred percent have one. And he's not just naive about it. His best friend Isabella was raised in the Pagan religion and doesn't believe in God. She states her beliefs and Talmage replies, "Well I definitely believe in God!" He loves to study other religions as well, especially ancient religions. But Talmage states, "I believe that Joseph Smith restored Jesus Christ's church. And I believe in this church!"

So today was the day that Talmage got to pass the sacrament for the first time. Clint was working, but he came to the church in his blue camoflauge uniform in time for sacrament. Talmage was sitting nervously on the front bench with the four other deacons, looking about a foot shorter than any of them. His feet still don't touch the ground. This is a boy with severe ADHD and Aspergers, who last week was kicking his brothers, returning punches and occasionally yelling, only a few benches back from where he was sitting now. This is a boy whose medication often wears off about the time of sacrament meeting and often can be bouncing off the benches. But there he was sitting there with a serious, intent look on his face. As they passed the sacrament the other boys kindly pointed him the right direction. When he had both trays of water in his hand they looked so heavy that they might break his 60-pound frame. He came to our row and whispered, "Hurry Jack! These are really heavy!" He did a wonderful job and was so intent the whole time. When the deacons finished their job they returned to the front and stood in a line and Talmage bent over and saw that the other boys were folding their hands in front of them. He did the same! Wow! Years of social skills classes and I've never till this day seen him model a peers' behaivor. The Bishop stood and excused them and Talmage let out an audible sigh that you could hear at the back of the chapel. He came back to his seat and asked in a whisper, "Did I do a good job?" just as several people were leaning over the bench to tell him that he had. President Jackson of the Stake Presidency stood to speak and the first thing he said was, "Talmage, you did a good job!" And tears were shed. For those in our congregation who know Talmage, we had all just witnessed a miracle of the Priesthood in action.