Recently I read a story on uncle Steve Hanson's website
about one of Brent's 3rd great grandfather Hakan (Hogan) Anderson. Grandpa Anderson and his family helped settle Idaho’s
upper Snake River valley. He was a member of the LDS Church and according to
uncle Steve he was an obstinate Swede. When his son Oscar got married to Olena
Emma Margaret Olson, to celebrate the event they had a wedding dance at
Hakan and Cecilia's log cabin home. The church had a rule that there could not
be more than two round dances (slow dances) in an evening but they could have
all the square dances they wanted. I don't know why that was a rule but maybe it
was to avoid from being too close. Their Bishop sent his 1st counselor to
monitor the dance and make sure they followed the rule. Oscar asked his
new bride what kind of dance she wanted to dance and she chose a waltz. The 1st
counselor, Dave Nelson determined that to be the first of the two slow dances.
Hakan didn't count that one and there were two other Waltz dances during the
evening.Brother Nelson reported to the Bishop that the rule was broken. Bishop
Harris and his counselors later visited Hakan. They told him he had broken the
rule and he needed to come to church and ask the ward members to forgive him.
Hakan responded, " I don't think I did anything wrong. Everyone had a
good time. It will be very hard to get up and ask for forgiveness. I
don't think I can go to church." The Bishop told him he needed to do
it because he allowed them in his house to break the rule. Hakan told him he
would think about it. Hakan did not attend church for months after that. He was
in the habit to go to church every Sunday and so he felt badly not going to
Sacrament meeting. One Sunday grandma Cecilia and the rest of the family came
home from church and Hakan had been crying. Hannah (Brent's 2d great
grandmother) recorded to be the first and only time she had ever seen him cry.
Cecilia told him that the situation could not go on like that forever and that
if she were him, she would go to the meeting, get up and ask for
forgiveness. "I don't think you have done anything wrong, but do as the
Bishop wants you to do and you will feel better. Get it over with and you will
feel better: You can go to church again with a clear conscience."
Hakan said that he maybe should go. The next Sunday he went to church and
the Bishop was glad to see him. He asked him if he was willing to ask for
forgiveness and Hakan told him yes. Grandpa was called up to the podium and he
stood up, he was nervous and after a long silence he turned to look at the
Bishop and said "What shall I say? and the Bishop said to tell them you
are sorry for what you did and ask them to forgive you. Hakan then looked at
the congregation and said, "The Bishop told me to tell you folks than I am
sorry for the wrong I did not do." Some members smiled and everything was
fine. From then on he went to his meetings and was happy. Grandma Hannah said
that other members would have left the church, but not father because of his
strong testimony. Whatever came along he was true to the faith."
This story made me think, because just before I read it I was feeling worried about something that had happened. The Sunday before I read this story, July 31st, we had a combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting. This is the message I sent uncle Steve:
"Hi uncle Steve. Thank you so much for sharing the story of
great-grandpa Anderson. I shared it with Brent this morning before he went to
work. We enjoyed reading it. I don't know if you knew that in December Brent
was called as Bishop of our Ward. Our Ward struggles with getting to church on
time. This is something that Brent and his counselors have been very concerned
about and after praying about it they felt inspired to teach the ward about the
importance of the Sacrament. Our Ward starts at 10:30 which I think is the
perfect time, not too early and not too late. We have Sacrament first. Many
members are late and Sacrament meeting is empty. Last Sunday for our combined
Priesthood and RS lesson, the Bishopric taught us about the importance of the
Sacrament and Sacrament meeting. Brent lovingly encouraged the ward to make it
to church on time, I think he did a wonderful job, but still I have been so
worried about the members who might be offended by it. I know they were
inspired and we needed this lesson. I just don't want anyone mad at Brent. This
whole week I have been thinking about it. When I read your article I felt
peace! I think it was written for me. I love what you said that you obey
because you've made a promise and your leaders are almost always right and it's
the way to learn self-mastery that helps put us on the path to become one with
Christ! I love that! When Brent was called as Bishop our Stake President told
us that Brent was not going to please everyone, there will be some who won't
like some things he did or said. Your post made me reflect and look at it in a
different way. I can't stop anyone from being offended and from not being happy
with what our leaders say but I can stop myself from worrying about what they
think of Brent. We all have our free agency. I know Brent is doing his best and
he has my complete support. I hope this all made sense. I just wanted to thank
you! Love you lots, Maria"
Uncle Steve's reply:
"Thank you for this wonderful message. Brent, I am certain,
is an extraordinary bishop and it sounds to me like he is doing exactly the
right thing. One thing I've learned over the decades of serving in leadership
positions--if everyone likes what you're doing, you may not be doing the right
thing. Brent's
responsibility is to please the Lord. It will be up to each member whether or
not they want to do what is pleasing to the Lord. Love you both."
