I have been thinking a lot about the Church’s recent announcement about expanding the youth’s responsibilities in the temples.

[Editor’s note: Priests in the Aaronic Priesthood will now perform baptisms for the dead and act as witnesses for the baptisms.  Young women who have limited-use (non-endowed) temple recommends can perform the matronly roles in assisting with temple baptisms.]

Of course, my first thought was about my three teenagers. They have been very involved in temple and family history work since our temple was dedicated this year. But with this change, all of the sudden my 17-year-old son seemed more priestly. And the two others seemed to straighten up a little when they heard it. I read this gem in Ether yesterday, and I am sure it is connected somehow: “We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men.” I think our youngsters are finding great power in small-looking things.

-from FoJG JRL-in-AZ

This week in Sunday School we talked about the life of Christ. It was a remarkable lesson, as any discussion of His life should be. In the course of our discussion, we read two of my favorite passages of scripture: Alma 7:10-13 and Mosiah 3:5-8. As we talked about everything that the Savior did for us during His life, a thought occurred to me that has come to me before but is worth repeating. We often talk of Jesus’ sacrifice at Gethsemane and Golgotha – He voluntarily suffered and died for us. But His sacrifice was and is far greater than His death. He faced choices every day, just like we do – how to spend His time, how to react to individuals (some hostile, some curious, some penitent, etc.), what to say, how to respond to temptation and disappointment and pain. The list goes on forever. All the choices that we make, and more, were presented to Him. And He chose to exercise His agency in each of those choices to live a stainless, perfect life. Now THAT is a sacrifice. Far greater than dying for something – living for it first.

-Guest post from Friend of the JG JRL-in-AZ