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| Craig Kirby Betita Palma |
When he was ten I quoted for him lines from the poem ‘Sir Galahad’ by Alfred Lord Tennyson:
My strength is as the strength of ten
Because my heart is pure.” (lines 3–4, Sir Galahad, Wikipedia)
This Sabbath Day, June 4, 2017 is a very memorable day for my grandson CRAIG KIRBY BETITA PALMA relevant to a highly significant uncalculated event in his personal history when he was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of a Deacon, after having been proven worthy of the calling, right on his twelfth birthday celebration. He now holds the ‘power and authority delegated by God to man to act in His name for the salvation of his children’. He now is endowed with power and authority which stems from the omnipotent, all-powerful and supreme source. However, such spiritual power and strength can only be attained and exercised as did Sir Galahad in the poem when his “heart is pure.”
This day is for me very special because of the honor and privilege of ordaining him to the Holy Priesthood and for the family as he is the first in the third generation to have been ordained to the Holy Priesthood. While we only have one in the second generation to hold the Priesthood, in the third generation we are expecting five with Craig Kirby as the first being the eldest among our five grandsons.
Weeks prior to his interview for priesthood conferral and ordination, I asked him as to whom he would want for his ordination. He affirmed that I should be the one, although I observed that there seemed to be feelings of regret as he expressed his inner desire for his father to do the ordinance for him. As I ordained him, I blessed him to honor his parents in righteousness no matter the circumstances as it is a commandment from God that his “days may be long upon the land (Exodus 20:12).”
My strength is as the strength of ten
Because my heart is pure.” (lines 3–4, Sir Galahad, Wikipedia)
This Sabbath Day, June 4, 2017 is a very memorable day for my grandson CRAIG KIRBY BETITA PALMA relevant to a highly significant uncalculated event in his personal history when he was conferred the Aaronic Priesthood and ordained to the office of a Deacon, after having been proven worthy of the calling, right on his twelfth birthday celebration. He now holds the ‘power and authority delegated by God to man to act in His name for the salvation of his children’. He now is endowed with power and authority which stems from the omnipotent, all-powerful and supreme source. However, such spiritual power and strength can only be attained and exercised as did Sir Galahad in the poem when his “heart is pure.”
This day is for me very special because of the honor and privilege of ordaining him to the Holy Priesthood and for the family as he is the first in the third generation to have been ordained to the Holy Priesthood. While we only have one in the second generation to hold the Priesthood, in the third generation we are expecting five with Craig Kirby as the first being the eldest among our five grandsons.
Weeks prior to his interview for priesthood conferral and ordination, I asked him as to whom he would want for his ordination. He affirmed that I should be the one, although I observed that there seemed to be feelings of regret as he expressed his inner desire for his father to do the ordinance for him. As I ordained him, I blessed him to honor his parents in righteousness no matter the circumstances as it is a commandment from God that his “days may be long upon the land (Exodus 20:12).”
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| The first and third generation Priesthood Holders |
As he now embarks in this most sacred work in all the world he needs to constantly be aware of the transcendent power bestowed upon him. He ought to be reminded of the requirement to be clean in thought and action and for him to do nothing that would obstruct the full exercise of the power and authority of God. He must understand that the priesthood is the greatest power that will lead him to victory in his daily battle with good and evil. It will be the power that he would need in his upward journey to success both in his secular as well as in his spiritual growth and development.
From this day and onwards, he will be performing the duties of which he had been called upon to do as a deacon. He will be doing Priesthood responsibilities in the Lord’s behalf. He will be part of the hands of the Lord on earth. As he soon will participate in the sacred ordinance of the Sacrament and will be passing the emblems to church members, he will develop greater respect of his priesthood as he remembers that the first to pass the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was the Savior Jesus Christ himself.
In years that follow, and as he continues to honor his priesthood and live in righteousness to be worthy of the subsequent advancement to the different offices in the Aaronic Priesthood and eventually to the higher priesthood, he surely will grow in knowledge that caring for others is the very essence of priesthood responsibility. It is the power to bless, to heal, and to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel. The priesthood will prepare him best to be the man that Heavenly Father wants him to be---to serve a full-time mission; to be a good husband and a righteous father and patriarch of his future family.
From this day and onwards, he will be performing the duties of which he had been called upon to do as a deacon. He will be doing Priesthood responsibilities in the Lord’s behalf. He will be part of the hands of the Lord on earth. As he soon will participate in the sacred ordinance of the Sacrament and will be passing the emblems to church members, he will develop greater respect of his priesthood as he remembers that the first to pass the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper was the Savior Jesus Christ himself.
In years that follow, and as he continues to honor his priesthood and live in righteousness to be worthy of the subsequent advancement to the different offices in the Aaronic Priesthood and eventually to the higher priesthood, he surely will grow in knowledge that caring for others is the very essence of priesthood responsibility. It is the power to bless, to heal, and to administer the saving ordinances of the gospel. The priesthood will prepare him best to be the man that Heavenly Father wants him to be---to serve a full-time mission; to be a good husband and a righteous father and patriarch of his future family.
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| Three generations-father, son and grandson |
As a boy and now a young man he had always shown a character that is most acceptable. He may have his own bad moods, frets and disappointments as most young men do, yet I observed him to be generally sober. On our way home after our general priesthood meeting which he now attended for the first time, he told me: “Grandpa, I will try my best to work it out that I may be worthy to be called as president of the Deacon’s Quorum next year.” Well, as his paternal substitute for the moment, I knew he is a goal oriented young man. When he once told me that he will make it to the top three in his class, he did his best and eventually was ranked first. It will not be surprising then if he will, in time, be called to preside over the Deacons in the branch. I am most confident that he will be true to his priesthood covenants as he continues to comprehend the character of God and understands better his relationship to the Almighty.
As a grandfather, ordaining my grandson to the Holy Priesthood was such an honor and a sacred privilege and a lifetime personal fulfillment. I am hopeful that, through his being worthy of the guidance of the Holy Ghost and the pure intelligence that it provides to expand his mind and enlighten his understanding, which gift he had been bestowed upon, from him and the rest of my grandchildren will multiply righteous generations of my posterity. I and my wife may not have enough time to witness our increasing descendants, yet it is my earnest yearnings, that like Craig Kirby, the rest of my grandsons and those yet to be born will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
To my beloved grandson Craig Kirby, to many it may have been coincidental that your conferral and ordination to the Holy Priesthood exactly happened on your twelfth birthday, but I believed it was God’s way of telling you that you need to always remember your priesthood covenant, like remembering your birthdays, as you move forward in your eternal journey. May you have the needed physical health and vigor to do your daily activities and preform your priesthood duties. It is our hope that you will continue to have a deep motivation to study the scriptures and review your priesthood covenants as you look forward to your priesthood advancements. May you continue to honor the priesthood that you hold and be always worthy of its power.
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY TWELFTH BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
As a grandfather, ordaining my grandson to the Holy Priesthood was such an honor and a sacred privilege and a lifetime personal fulfillment. I am hopeful that, through his being worthy of the guidance of the Holy Ghost and the pure intelligence that it provides to expand his mind and enlighten his understanding, which gift he had been bestowed upon, from him and the rest of my grandchildren will multiply righteous generations of my posterity. I and my wife may not have enough time to witness our increasing descendants, yet it is my earnest yearnings, that like Craig Kirby, the rest of my grandsons and those yet to be born will be ordained to the Holy Priesthood.
To my beloved grandson Craig Kirby, to many it may have been coincidental that your conferral and ordination to the Holy Priesthood exactly happened on your twelfth birthday, but I believed it was God’s way of telling you that you need to always remember your priesthood covenant, like remembering your birthdays, as you move forward in your eternal journey. May you have the needed physical health and vigor to do your daily activities and preform your priesthood duties. It is our hope that you will continue to have a deep motivation to study the scriptures and review your priesthood covenants as you look forward to your priesthood advancements. May you continue to honor the priesthood that you hold and be always worthy of its power.
HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY TWELFTH BIRTHDAY! WE LOVE YOU VERY MUCH.
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