Andrew's talk at Stake Conference Priesthood Leadership Session

Andrew was asked to give a talk to the men at the Priesthood Leadership meeting:

I would like to share with you my perspective as a Youth how I have been taught how to serve from my Young mens leaders. I have been blessed to have had such good leaders that have taught me how and why they serve. Being in Young mens I have heard many lessons on service and charity: however, what speaks to me louder than their words is their examples. By their examples of showing genuine love to our quorum, it shows me what I want to strive to do in my own life.

            One example that stands out to me is when our teachers quorum went on our weeklong campout. Kevin Callahan and Mike Allred prepared for this outing months prior to it ordering throwing knives, grocery shopping, and making sure we were prepared camp. I was amazed to see how much effort they put into it even though they knew they were risking their lives taking me and a dozen other teachers up on Boulder Mountain with sharp objects in our possession.

My scout leaders had put in a lot of time and effort and it turned out to be a fun and successful scout camp.

President Uchtdorf told this story about when he was a young man in last conference.   ……………………………           

Like President Uchtdorf said, I think it is important to understand why we get called to do service.  Not only is service obeying the lords first commandment of loving out neighbors, but it makes you feel good while doing it. Some of the more meaningfull service projects I have done with my quorums are ones that weren’t necessarily planned, but ones that the boys saw someone in need and we all agreed that we should help out whoever was in need.

            As you look for opportunities for your quorums to do service, don’t be afraid to let us as young men get out of our comfort zones. During last fall’s general conference, President Eyring shared a story about this:……………………….

 (Being asked as a young teacher to go with the Bishop to fulfill an assignment)

 

I think that by showing the youth how to serve by example, allowing them to lead out on their own to find opportunities for service, and letting us get out of our comfort zones, you will get a unified quorum that wants to serve.

            On top of being an example of serving to your young men’s groups, I think it is very important that you are an example of service to your families and your sons. I hear my priest quorum leaders: brother Luekenga, brother Clark, and brother West telling about their sons playing sports and all the time they donate to help them and support them. They are an example of how I should serve my family. 

            My dad is also a great example of giving service. Last weekend me and my dad were helping the deacons and teachers quorums with their camp outs. We got back Saturday and decided to go boating at the lake. We loaded up and drove by our neighbor who was landscaping his front yard. I saw that he could use help but kept quiet because I wanted to go to the lake, but then my dad said "the lake can wait boys,  we better help!”  So  my dad turned the truck around and we stopped and helped dig holes for our neighbors plants he was putting in. I look back now and am grateful that we could help out our neighbor and still be able to go to the lake.