Many years ago, I had a sacred experience in a priesthood meeting in Newport Beach. Our extended family trip is to Newport every year. We have gone there every summer for the last fifteen years. One of the family expectations we have if we are away for travel on a Sunday is that we attend every Sunday meeting. My kids did not always appreciate this growing up. Somehow, they felt like a vacation was also a vacation from any meeting outside of sacrament meeting.

On this particular Sunday, there were at least 200 visitors to this Newport Beach ward. After sacrament, nearly every visiting family cleared out and left the building. During the third hour in priesthood, there were only two visiting families left consisting of our family and one other, and this only seemed to add to my children’s frustrations. Then something beautiful happened.

A good bishop stood up for introductions during the priesthood opening exercises. He called on myself and another brother to introduce our sons. After we did this the bishop stood and said something simple that I have never forgotten. He said to me and the other father, “I want you to know that your families will be blessed for staying.” I was grateful he had spoken those words for the benefit of my children. I have never forgotten his words.

I will tell you now looking back many years later, I have seen the blessings he was talking about. I have seen it in watching my family. I have seen it in watching my children. I have seen it in watching my sons serve missions. I have seen it in levels of faithfulness. I have seen it in an approach to the Sabbath that is powerful in my children. I have observed a loving God bless my family with a multiplicity of blessings for treating our meetings and the Sabbath more reverently.