What I Should Have Said

THE SPIRIT TEACHES

The following is taken from the Mormon Channel Interview by David McConkie, Part 1, and Episode 3, Teaching, No Greater Call.   He talks with Julie B. Beck, & Joseph Fielding McConkie (1941-2013).  This is only a very small part of the interview.  Sis. Beck is the former Relief Society General President; Joseph McConkie was the author of many books as well as a temple sealer and taught religion at BYU for many years.

Bro. Joseph McConkie gave a quote by his mentor, Robert J. Matthews (1926 – 2009) educator, scholar, Temple President and former Dean of Religion at BYU who usually said, before giving a talk or lesson, “My prayer is that what you will hear is what I should have said.”  Now relate that very important statement to the two following stories:

Sis. Beck:  My Grandfather was a Hamblin, descended from pioneer people.  He grew up out on the plains of Wyoming & had little chance for education and experience in his life.  (Still), he understood and taught the Gospel…he had the understanding but he did not have the vocabulary.  One day he saw my mother, who was about 14, climbing a tree wearing her brother’s overalls.  She was not being feminine, acting feminine or being attractive to any boy.

My grandfather called her out of the tree and pointed his finger at her and said, “Daughter, I have a shotgun handy for any feller who comes a callin’ who ain’t a Mormon.”  That might sound a little drastic in our day but my mother said, “Immediately the Spirit poured into my soul and I heard a message that resonated in my heart that said, I’m going to get married in the Temple.”  Did my Grandfather say that to her?  No, he didn’t say that, but as a father he taught her and she received that message and that expression from her father never left.”

Bro. Joseph McConkie:  “I don’t know at what age I decided that I was going on a mission.  I was just a little dumb kid running around the neighborhood.  But I was smart enough to know what was going on where I lived and I discovered that my neighborhood buddies were getting an allowance and I was not.  So I said, “Mother, I should be getting an allowance.” And she said, “You’re right.”

So, she went in and brought me out a nickel.  Then I went out to show my buddies and she called me back and said, “No, no, I’ll give you two nickels, one for you and one for your mission. From now on we will save half of everything you earn for your mission.”  Now, when did I decide that I was going on a mission?  When I got that first nickel.”

Our first teaching should begin at home; everything else is just a reminder.  Think again of Bro. Matthew’s previous statement. “My prayer is that what you will hear is what I should have said.”