Andy Speaks Up

In the early 90’s Dad and Mom came to Flagstaff for a visit and went to church with us. During the priesthood segment of the block of meetings, as a bishopric member, I was busy with the Aaronic priesthood, so dad went to the High Priests group meeting without me. Sometime later Jeff Platt our former Bishop, and then a High Council member, shared with me some of what happened during the High Priests Group discussion. They were discussing the principle of keeping the Sabbath day holy. According to Bishop Platt, during the bulk of the discussion one brother spoke up and said something like, "If you have attended your meetings, finished your assignments and taken care of your family then it would not be a sin to turn on the tv and watch a football game". "During the bulk of the meeting, your father was quiet but attentive. After the turning on the game comment, he clicked his tongue took a breath and looking around the room as if to offer a challenge to an opposing view. he said "It is a sin!"". The effect, after a brief silence, was a positive turn in the discussion with the group relating many other positive things which could be participated in. Brother Platt, who was amused while relating the incident, went on to acknowledge the respect he had for my father, a man who would speak up for what he believed even among those he did not know. I had been known for being a bit of a hardliner at church so I suppose no one there was surprised the father of Brother Hancock would speak up amidst brothers of another ward. Dale related another story showing how Dad would speak up when he felt it was helpful to do so. This shows, in this case, how expressing expectations, and I believe following spiritual promptings, can help lift someone from mediocre to exemplary. Dad and Mom were visiting Dale and Lynn in their home in Sandy Utah while their children were still small. While there, a brother, who was a bit shy, and unsure of himself, came to visit as a Home Teacher. He spent some time with the family and they had a nice social visit, but no prayer was offered and no gospel message was shared. At the end of the visit Dad took a little time. Dad offered appreciation for the brother and his time to visit the family. He went on to express something like, "My kids, need a gospel message brought into their home, and they need your prayers. When you come to visit, please bring a gospel message and offer a prayer so the Spirit of the Lord will come with you. My kids need you to be a faithful Home Teacher". Dale said after that little talk, this shy brother became the best Home Teacher his family had ever had.