The New Chapter Begins

At the end of my post detailing my thoughts about Ben’s graduation, I mentioned that I didn’t get emotional until the end when I watched him walk through the door into the skybox of the baseball stadium.  As he did so, I realized the first chapter of his mortal story closed, but at the same time, I also recognized new doors would be opening and the next chapter of his life’s story was about to begin.  Today, I had the wonderful opportunity to, in a sense, help in opening the next door for him as he prepares to participate in the next chapter of his life as I conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood upon him and ordained him to the office of an elder.

It was an ordination that almost didn’t take place today.  As I mentioned in my June 1st post, Ben had his missionary/Melchizedek Priesthood interview with President Skinner last Sunday.  As the interview came to a close, Ben asked if he could be ordained today since his Grandpa Metcalfe was in town and Ben wanted him to be a part of the circle.  President Skinner filled out the appropriate paperwork and gave it to Jennifer with instructions to turn the paper over to Brother George who is a member of our ward and is also on the stake high council.  When they arrived at our building, Jen was able to find Brother George and give him the paper.  He told her he would take care of the sustaining and supervise the ordination this Sunday.

Today, President Spencer, the 2nd counsellor in the stake presidency, came to our ward.  He was there to call and set apart the new high priest’s group leader for the ward (since our former leader is now our bishop).  Before sacrament meeting began, I saw Brother George go up to the stand to talk with President Spencer.  Since I was curious if this conversation had anything to do with Ben, I watched very closely as the two men conversed.  During their brief conversation, I was able to lip read President Spencer saying, “We’ll take care of it in quorum meeting.”  Brother George looked a bit puzzled, but he accepted the answer and went to his seat in the pews.  When the business part of the meeting took place and no mention was made of Benjamin receiving the Melchizedek Priesthood, Ben looked at me quizzically, but I mouthed to him the same thing I had seen President Spencer mention to Brother George.  Ben accepted that answer as well.

Since today was fast and testimony meeting, not far into the bearing of testimonies, Ben went to the podium and talked (among other things) about how excited he was over the fact that his mission papers had been sent to Salt Lake City and his upcoming opportunity to be ordained as an elder.  About five minutes later, I was prompted to bear my testimony, so I left the pew and sat down on the stand in the chairs on the opposite side of the podium from where the bishopric and President Spencer were sitting (Bishop Galindo was out of town, so it was the counsellors and President Spencer).  Moments later, the deacon who was the bishop’s messenger for the meeting, brought me a note—it was from Brother Fifita, the 1st counsellor in our bishopric.  The note read: “Has Ben been interviewed by President Skinner?”

I was slightly surprised by this question, but I glanced over to him and nodded yes.  Now that he had my attention, he started asking another question.  Not wanting to have a whispered conversation behind the person bearing his testimony at the podium, I moved over to sit next to President Spencer.  “When was your son interviewed?” I was asked.  “Last week,” I answered.  “And it was for the Melchizedek Priesthood?”  I explained it was for both mission and priesthood and that Jennifer had given the paperwork to Brother George.  I suppose this is the first time (probably the last time) I will endorse texting during sacrament meeting J, but while I was explaining what had happened the week before, President Spencer sent a message to Brother George and the two of them were able to square the situation.

With 20/20 hindsight in play, my best educated guess is that President Spencer was focused on the ordination of the new high priest group leader and when Brother George came to talk to him, his answer was based on that focus.  With everything now worked out, President Spencer told me he would take care of the Ben’s sustaining at the end of the meeting and I went up to bear my testimony.  Before closing hymn and prayer, Ben was sustained and everything was now in place for him to be ordained after the meeting block had ended. J  President Spencer was very good-natured about the situation.  As I'm writing this post, I am reminded of a quote from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with.  That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it.  So should we." (Ensign, May 2013, 94).  In spite of our human weaknesses, the work of the Lord gets accomplished.  I know Ben’s reason for bearing his testimony had nothing to do with this, but because of what he said, the oversight in his ordination process was overcome. J

I know Ben was happy about it, but I was also happy to have my father participating in this ordination.  Three generations of Metcalfe’s involved.  When I was ordained as a high priest nearly 10 years ago, it was a “field promotion” (so to say).  When I was asked if Dad could ordain me, I told the high councilman who had extended the call for me to become an assistant in the high priest's group for our ward that my father lived in Wyoming.  I asked if Dad could ordain me, but I was informed that the ordination needed to take place the next day and it couldn’t wait.  Reluctantly, I asked the stake president at the time to ordain me.  My feeling was that if my earthly father couldn't do it, I would ask my quorum leader to ordain me.  Now, I know that not being able to have my father ordain me didn’t and hasn’t impeded my spiritual progress, nevertheless, it has always been a minor regret.  He had ordained me in every step of my priesthood progression and to not have him there to accomplish this particular step made the ordination a slightly melancholy one for me.  To have Dad as part of the circle for Ben’s ordination was very satisfying to me and I am grateful he was able to participate in lending his strength to the circle.

So, with the combined strength of those in the circle and the added strength of Father in Heaven, Ben now has the Melchizedek Priesthood.  He has the necessary authority to go forth and teach and bless the people of the mission he will be assigned to.  I look forward with anticipation for his call for I know that he will be assigned to the place where his Heavenly Father knows he will be able to do the most good.