Whom do I serve?
Do I serve my self interest?
Do I serve my wife and family?
Do I serve my parents and siblings?
Do I serve my nation?
Do I serve God?
Whom do I serve?
My father has a carving, or had one that I grew up with, which was set on top of the range in our kitchen, that has since stayed in my mind. It is a piece of Joshua 24:14-15
"AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE WE WILL SERVE THE LORD" is what I remember it reading, capital letters and all.
Recently among my friends there has been some discussion about what principles/laws/etc we should be looking to to guide/govern ourselves. Many documents have been written, revised, and proposed. Each time I think of becoming engaged in the conversation I have received confirmation from the Lord that I should not become involved. As I pondered on this answer to not be involved I have continued to refine my questing to the Lord. As of last night I learned that I should not be involved in a group effort to develop or author governing principles for any group. Following a patriarchal priesthood as in the days of Adam, as in the days of the Fathers, it is my responsibility to establish governing principles for my family. These principles are based on my understanding of the scriptures and my personal revelation. In the case of a family where the mother is the principle spiritual leader it would be a matriarchal priesthood, but that is a different conversation all together but for me it suffices to say that in a union of husband and wife both patriarchal and matriarchal priesthoods must be equally weighted.
As it is my responsibility to put together the governing principles for myself and in part for my family the authoring of such a document or family creed is not something I will leave to a group of others, no matter how well meaning, to do.
Because of His instruction, I will not participate in a group effort to author such a document because like Joshua I will chose this day whom I will serve, I will not force my decision upon another, I will not require signatures of ratification for our covenant, I will chose and those of my family will chose and in so doing will establish the principles upon which my house will serve and to whom such service will be given.
Whom do I serve?
...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
