Story told by President Boyd C Matheson
“Many years ago, I was getting ready to go on a tour of England and Ireland and Scotland. It was a brutal, brutal schedule. So before I left, I knew I was not gonna sleep in the same city two nights in a row. For the first 16 days of the tour.
I knew I had no time to do laundry. So, I was doing something that is not my favorite thing to do ironing my shirt.
I had ironed 14 shirts to get me through those first two weeks. As I was doing the ironing, my daughter, Lindsay, who was five years old, kept begging me to help. Daddy, can I help? Can I help? Let me help. Let me help. Any of you who have received help from a five year old know, it is more work than it is help.
I kept putting her off, and I kept saying, Lindsay, Daddy needs to do this. Daddy needs to do this, and she just kept begging and pleading. Then finally, I had this stroke of genius.
I said, Lindsay, I know what you can do to help me. When I get done, ironing this shirt, I’ll put it on the hanger, and if you can just fasten the top button of the shirt, so it will stay on the hangar, that will be such a big help to Daddy. She was thrilled.
I thought I was pretty smart. I got the shirts down, I threw them in my suitcase. I took off to England, landed in London, drove out to Brighton.
The first morning, I’d get up, I’m getting ready to give a seminar, I go to get dressed. I go to put my shirt on, and I discover not only had Lindsay, buttoned the top button, she had buttoned all the buttons.
A little irritated as I was in a hurry, I unbuttoned all the buttons, put my shirt on, buttoned them back up, and went on with my day. Well, the second morning, when I got up to get dressed to my horror, I discovered Lindsay had buttoned every single button on every single shirt and for several days, I was a little irritated every morning as I went through that ritual.
Day 5 as I was going through, and unbuttoning and buttoning my shirt. I found myself thinking. about my Lindsay. Her amazing smile, her great energy and passion.
I realized that those buttons were just Lindsay’s way. to make sure I remembered her when I was far away. When Lindsay went off to college, I actually gave her a necklace with a button on it. Lindsay’s on her own journey right now, and I pray every day. that she will remember that I LOVE her, that the Savior LOVES her”
Today being Father’s Day. Elder Davis and I repeat what we wrote a few months back…
GRATEFUL for men who choose God, who choose family, who choose to be a part of their children’s lives and teach by example and love how to maneuver this ever changing world. We NEED you! Even at 68 we need our Fathers whether here on earth or in Heaven your lessons can guide, inspire and strengthen your family forever.
May we always REMEMBER our Heavenly Father and His plan of Happiness. May we always REMEMBER our Savior, Jesus Christ who makes it possible to be an eternal family.
Thank you, Thank You, Thank you.💙Happy Father’s Day to all Dads to ALL father figures! YOU make our lives better. We love you❣️
❣️Skittles❣️ Elder Scott and Sister Kristy Davis
