The Circle of Life and Other Thoughts on Priesthood Examples

Here is the talk I gave at my farewell. Enjoy!

A few weeks ago, I approached Brother Rovig and asked him what he wanted me to speak on today. I wanted to get started on a talk right away and write something impressive that would make all of you feel like coming to hear me speak was worth the drive. Then, two weeks ago, I went to my best friend’s farewell where he remarked that the only reason we have missionaries talk before they go out is to have something to compare with when they get back. For that reason, this is the talk I have prepared to give today.

Throughout my life, I’ve had various role models and people I look up to. The lengthy list has been comprised of celebrities, philanthropists, Teachers, extended family members, Church leaders, and countless others. I realized that I look up to and desire to emulate these people because they are experts in their fields. They are the amazing fathers, bishops, teachers, and people who give endlessly to those surrounding them. I doubt I will grow up to be in the same caliber as any of my quote, unquote “heroes”, but each of them has taught me something about the priesthood either to bring me to the point I am in my life or to help me in the future.

When I was little, Mufasa was my idol. I watched “The Lion King” at least once a day. It has always been my favorite Disney classic and I still use it as a fall-back when I can’t find anything better to watch. I’m assuming most of you know this epic story so I won’t go into that but the thing I loved most about “The Lion King” was the unconditional love in Simba’s family unit. You know that moment when Rafiki lifts Simba up on Pride Rock and all the elephants cheer and “The Circle of Life” is playing in the background? The one that makes you want to stand on your roof and hold your dog in the air with the sun setting dramatically behind you? That was the moment that always meant the most to me. That’s the moment I said to myself everyday as a child that I would be an amazing father; that when I had kids, they would always feel honored and special. I have no plans to hang my children off of balconies for paparazzi or raise them high in the air for others to remark about. However this moment of pride made me commit to myself that I would raise my children up symbolically and let them know that I would always be behind them. It made me commit that I would give them every opportunity I could to excel and that when they are scared or alone I’ll be there for them always; though I may not appear in the stars or speak from the heavens like King Mufasa.

The Proclamation to the World tells us “…fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness …” We know that “presiding in righteousness” would include honoring the priesthood with which the fathers of this church have been entrusted. This instruction is carried deeper in a talk by James E. Faust called, “Fathers, Mothers, Marriage”. He says, “Honoring the priesthood means following the example of Christ and seeking to emulate His example of fatherhood. It means constant concern and caring for one’s own flesh and blood. The man who holds the priesthood is to honor it by eternally cherishing, with absolute fidelity, his wife and the mother of his children. He is to extend lifelong care and concern for his children and their children.”

As life went on, my days of playground wishes and Crayola dreams were quickly fading. The time came when I had to forsake my crayons for pens, my television viewing for brushing up on my literature, and my nursery games for primary lessons. Luckily, I had amazing teachers in all capacities to make these transitions easier.

My mind was quickly developing and my heroes transformed from fictional characters to the people who were making a notable impact in my life; my teachers. About teachers, Elder M. Russell Ballard said in talk titled “Teach the Children”, “True teachers and leaders see children as they may become. They see the valiant missionary who will one day share his testimony with the world and later become a righteous father who honors his priesthood. The inspired teacher sees pure and beautiful mothers and future presidents of the Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary, even though today they may be girls who giggle and chatter on the back row in the classroom. Sometimes people say, ‘Well, boys will be boys!’ Not so—boys will be men, and almost before we know it”.

I am so grateful that I have had teachers who have taken this outlook and seen the potential in me. Two instances stand out in my mind in particular. In the second grade, I was blessed with a truly amazing teacher. She related to students extremely well and I felt as though I related to her. She taught me so much about numbers and words, but nothing could compare what she taught me about myself. One day, I was talking about how excited I was for my upcoming baptism. My teacher, who is not a member of our church, asked me on the way to recess what exactly my baptism would entail. I told her I would be dunked completely underwater and made clean so I could then get the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a constant companion and instructor. This experience was special to me because until I related it to someone else, I didn’t realize I understood the gravity of the upcoming events. This was the first missionary experience I recall having and I will cherish it always.

The other experience took place in a primary class. In typical Cody fashion, I was engaged in a volume-battle with the teacher. While she tried to communicate scriptures about prayer, I had a funny story that needed to be told immediately. Frustrated with my attitude and the following I was gathering, she threw her hands in the air and sarcastically said, “Cody, would you like to teach the lesson?” “Sure,” I replied confidently. Later that day, my teacher conveyed the story to my grandma who, needless to say, was less than impressed. As my grandma offered her most sincere apology, my teacher told her, “No. Don’t worry about it! He did a good job and it sure is nice to have all his energy channeled someplace useful!”

She could have easily asked my family to put me in another class, sit me down and have a talk about reverence, or quit bringing me to primary all together. She could have asked the bishop for a new calling. But she didn’t. She used this experience to let me grow as a person. Proverbs 22: 6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”. These small moments in my childhood taught me the way I should go. Because of them, I will not depart from it.

Weeks and months came and went and suddenly the only thing anyone ever noticed about me was how unusually tall I was. Not much has changed. “You’re growing so fast,” people would say as they casually dismissed me. While this was obviously not the attention I deserved, I usually let it slide because now everyone was so infatuated with Tyson and his uncanny ability to make animal noises on command. I was approaching deacon age and this caused yet another shift in my idolization toward my quorum leaders and other priesthood holders.

Tyson was about 2 at the time and he and I were on very different sleeping patterns. I was in bed by 8:30 every night and he was in bed somewhere between the hours of when he felt like it and when he couldn’t stand anymore. Because I was always in bed before him, every night he would usher me off to bed saying, “Have a good sleep, Code”. This was just what he said to let people know he wanted them to have a good night.

One evening, Tyson was extremely sick. He could not stop throwing up. My mom called a couple men from the ward to come over and give Tyson a blessing. In the blessing, they blessed him that he would have a good sleep. This phrase was a manifestation to my family that God was watching over us. That he was mindful of Tyson’s needs and that He was using the worthy possessors of His priesthood to carry out His will.

There’s no way these men could have know how much those infantile words would mean to my family. There is no way they would have known that is what Tyson always said and it’s certainly not a phrase you would normally hear an educated adult say. They did know, however, how to exercise their priesthood in accordance with the will of the Lord. In a talk titled “Inspired to Bless” by Eric J. Greenhalgh, he related a story of when he was a missionary in Honolulu and his companion asked him for a blessing. He said, “I cannot remember the words I spoke, but I was the instrument through which Heavenly Father spoke to one of His sons who needed wisdom”. Stories and experiences like this one and Tyson’s blessing are incredible witnesses of the power of the priesthood and get me excited about one day being able to use my priesthood to bless my family and others in need.

A couple years ago, when I was 17, I had an unforgettable opportunity to exercise this priesthood. Tyson had just turned eight years old and it was time for him to get baptized. We decided that I would baptize him and our dad would confirm him. This was incredible for me because baptism is such an important ordinance in our church. In John 3:5, we read, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God”. As Tyson and I entered the baptismal font together, I was overwhelmed with feelings of nostalgia. I was taken back to my own baptism nine years earlier. I thought about my uncle, Chad and what an amazing experience it was to have him baptize me. My uncles Mike and Chad have always been two people I admire very highly. They are great husbands and fathers, the epitome of what James E. Faust said about priesthood holders in the talk I mentioned earlier. They have both served missions and given me loads of advice and scores of help in preparation for my own mission.

Today I’m trading in the Today Show for morning scripture study, sunglasses for a bike helmet, and my cell phone for a pen and paper. Much has changed since I was the little toe-head boy obsessed with “The Lion King”. I think back on all the experiences I’ve had and people I have known in my life and the ways they have shaped me. I know with all that I have experienced, only God could have planned the steps I’ve taken that led me to where I am today. I’d be extremely ungrateful if I stood here today and neglected to thank my Father in Heaven for giving me all He has; most especially my family. I am so grateful that I have been blessed with a mother and father who love me unconditionally and for my grandma who has always inspired me and helped me to do better. I have been raised by the most incredible people one could ask for and owe all that I have and all that I am to them.

Speaking one final time about “The Lion King”, I’d like to make quick reference to my other favorite part. Simba and Rafiki are standing at the edge of a pond where Rafiki said he would show Mufasa to Simba. Admiring the reflections cast in the water, Rafiki tells Simba to look deep into the pool. “You see,” he says, “He lives in you.” It is my prayer that throughout my mission and the rest of my life, the light of Christ will shine in me. I pray that people will recognize it and that they will want to hear the amazing message I have to deliver.

I know this gospel is true. I can’t wait to share it with the people of my mission and see lives change. I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God as was Joseph Smith and I know that he restored Christ’s church to the Earth for us today. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and that it is true. I’m incredibly grateful for all of you for being here today to show your love and support for me. I’m especially grateful for the members of this ward who have always extended a hand of love and friendship. For the teachers and leaders I’ve had in this ward, for our wonderful bishop and for the example each of you is to me, I’m extremely grateful. Finally, I need to tell my family how much they mean to me. Without the support of my aunts and uncles, cousins and everyone else, there is no way I could be doing this. I love all of you very much and thank you for everything. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.