My Mother, DeAnn

Lovely.

DeAnn Kempton Lee. This classy (yet sassy) lady just so happens to be my mother. I am proud of it! She is caring, loving, tender, funny, pretty, nurturing, helpful, and maybe even a little crazy! But that's why I love her so much. She is MY mother and she is there for ME. Time and time again through the best and worst of times my mother has been there for me. While influencing me to do what is right she trusts me with making my own decisions and allowing me to suffer the consequences, whatever they may be. She builds me up but is not afraid to correct me when I am making a mistake. She buoys me up when I am feeling low and cheers me on when I am finding success. My mother is the greatest.

What I love most about my mother is her wonderful example. She is a true mentor. Not only does she 'say' what to do but she 'shows' what to do. I had the wonderful privilege to be taught every week day by my mother in seminary (an early morning religious class) for three of my four years in high school. It was there that my mother led a classroom of teenagers by expounding the scriptures and bearing fierce testimony. However, this is not something that my mother was able to do on a whim! She would feed and prepare herself spiritually as she studied and prayed.

However, these words of mine would not be complete without making mention of someone else. My mother would not be the woman that she is today without the support and love of my father, Dave. He is the supreme example in my eyes of how to be a husband. It is obvious that my father loves my mother by the way he treats her; the way he holds her hand; the way he talks about her; when he buys her flowers; and even the way he looks at her. He is completely supportive, compassionate, and patient. Because of my father I know what kind of man and husband I need to be. My father epitomizes Elaine S. Dalton's teachings to "love [your children's] mother". What a good egg!

My childhood is full of loving memories of both my mother and my father. They are quite the pair (best parents ever). Our loving Heavenly Father provided us with families to help us in this crazy world. Families are the most important social unit in society and they are to be led, together, by both the father and the mother. I have sweet recollections of hearing my father read his scriptures out loud and looking into my parents room to see them kneeling together in prayer. Together they are whole. "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:11).

Happy!

I owe all that I am to my wonderful mother (and father). My love for them is eternally deep. I am forever indebted. This Mother's Day show your appreciation to your mothers. Give her a call. Write her a note. Give her a hug. Love her. She'll appreciate it!

Pops

So, I have decided to write a blog about my Pops...

Pops cereal.

No...not this kind of Pops.

Pops Mensah-Bonsu of the NBA

No...not Pops Mensah-Bonsu either.

THIS guy:

My Dad, Dave Lee.

There he is. This is my Pops. My daddy. My example. My friend. He is sweet like Pops cereal (Big Bear loves the honey) and he is ALMOST as good as Pops Mensah-Bonsu in basketball - just shy of the prime age of 59 I might add!

Fathers Day is a very important day of the year. It is also one that gets overlooked FAR too often. I love my dad so much and he has helped me in every facet of my life by simple example. He is a stud. I honor and respect him. The Bible teaches that we must "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long in upon the land which the Lord thy god giveth thee" (Exodus 20:12). I know that as I have honored my father I have been given strength and I have been aided beyond my capacity to understand.

As I think back on my youth I am able to remember the lessons that I learned. I did not learn these lessons through someone yelling at me, hitting me, or even TELLING me what to do. I learned these lessons through someone SHOWING me what to do. ‎Clarence Budington Kelland said, "My father didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." My father is  my example. He is my guiding light. It is through reminiscing that I have been able to understand the full magnitude of his influence in my life. Here is an example...when I was attending seminary (a scripture study class before school) the teacher (who happened to be my mother) asked the class this question: Who in your lives is a great example of humility? I sat and pondered that thought for about fifteen seconds and my own father's face came to my mind. I had not previously categorized him as a humble person but when I took the time to think about it, it became obvious to me. My father is extremely hard working, he does a lot of good at work, home, and within his church callings, but he doesn't brag about any of it (except for maybe his ability to shoot his handguns particularly well). He goes about his work because it is his duty. He has an obligation to work hard and he does so with perfect balance. Never have I felt that my father neglected me. Through his humility he SHOWED me how to work hard, to be a great family man, and to be a true disciple of Christ - all at the same time. I am forever indebted to my father for that.

One thing that my father has SHOWN me is the importance of being a good husband. My father loves my mother. I have seen that from the tender years of my youth and it is something that I will never forget. He treats her with respect, honor, compassion, and kindness. He treats her like a queen. "Nevertheless neither is that man without the woman, neither the woman without theman, in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 11:11). "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else" (Doctrine and Covenants 42:22). I have never seen a better living example of one who emulates these two scriptures than my own father. I have learned to be a good husband because of his example.

Some of you who know my father know that he has a love of the TV show, 24. Some might even say that he IS Jack Bauer.

"We're running out of time!" -  Jack Bauer

Now... 24 is a great show and Jack Bauer is a good model for courage, bravery, and awesomeness...but Jack Bauer is not who my father strives to be more like. My father looks to our perfect example. Our Heavenly Father. My earthly father is my guide through my times of struggle. He helps me in all that he is able. He is there for me when I succeed. He is there for me when I fall. As I struggled at home, my father listened to and helped me whether that was on the phone or while playing pool. As I struggle on my mission when I am "about my Father's business" (Luke 2:49) my father writes me letters much like Mormon did to his son, Moroni, at the end of the Book of Mormon to buoy me up and strengthen me. He loves me as our Heavenly Father loves all of His children.

I would like to challenge every single one of you out there to ponder about your father and what good things he has shown you by example. Then...thank him for all that he has done. He will love it! So dad...thank you. I love you so much and you have no idea what kind of effect you have had on your children and everyone else around you. I love you. You are my guide throughout my youth (Jeremiah 3:4).You are my Pops!

Some of us may not be able to personally thank our earthly fathers for what they have done. But we can ALWAYS thank our Heavenly Father through prayer. Heavenly Father will always be there for us. When we turn to him we are strengthened more than we can imagine. Blessings await the thankful.

Thank you, Daddy. Happy Fathers Day!

Be Thou An Example

One of my favorite scriptures is found in the New Testament in Paul's first epistle to Timothy. It reads, "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in fath, in purity" (1 Timothy 3: 12). There are many things that stick out to me from this simple verse but the overwhelming principle taught within is that we must be great examples to others.


Fathers must be great examples to their sons.

Before we can be a great example we must humble ourselves and remember our youth. This is the FIRST thing that we must do. Children are perfect and pure. They do no wrong. "Becometh as a child, submissive, meek humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (Mosiah 3: 19). Whenever I read scriptures I think about my nieces and nephews and how perfect they are. I love them so much and I see innocence in their eyes and purity in their actions. It is pretty crazy to think that we all were that innocent and pure once. But I know that if we humble ourselves and apply the same innocence and light that we had in our youth then we will be so much better off! We will come closer to our brother Jesus Christ and we will be able to live with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. Our Savior and Redeemer taught, "Whosever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18: 4). Children are fantastic examples. To look up to them is to look up to Heaven.

My nieces and nephews L to R: Kaiya, Ben, Isabel, Scarlett, Jake, and Sarah. Perfect!

As I reflect back...I realize how big of an effect certain people have had in my life. In good and bad ways. Some of these people know the effect that they have made on me but many of them probably do not have a clue. This also means that, unbeknownst to me, I have been an example to other people. I hope that I have left a positive impact on others but I know that I have made mistakes in my life as well. BUT it truly is up to us what kind of legacy we want to leave behind.

I draw much strength from the people in my life. My dad is extremely humble and hardworking. My mother is loving and compassionate. My brothers and sisters are simply hysterical while being wise at the same time. My closest friends (you know who you are!) are loyal and dedicated. Certain church leaders throughout my life are knowledgeable and are full of charity. My mission companions have been diligent and obedient. It is my hope that I can have a portion of the good qualities that these great people have. I thank them for their great examples.


Awesome brothers and sisters! L to R: Michelle, Alicia, Brett, me, Scott, Laurel

Now, there is only One person that we can ALWAYS turn to. He is always there for us and He is Our Perfect Example that we lean on and learn from. I am talking about our brother Jesus Christ. Christ's ultimate example was His Father. "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise" (John 5: 19). The qualities and attributes that Christ showed in His life make up the exact template that we should strive to emulate. Of course we will fall short of Jesus Christ's perfect example but He will carry, lift, inspire, direct, and help us every step of the way. We must look to Him in every aspect of our lives. Remember Paul's words to Timothy: "Be thou an example...in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." Jesus Christ is the One who inspired Paul to write these words. Let Jesus Christ inspire us to be kind to one another. Let Him direct us to help those in need. Let Him lift us in our times of struggle. Let Him be our ultimate example.

I know that as we look to Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, we will in turn be good examples to those around us. Thus, we all will come closer to Heaven.