Receiving All the Father Has: A Modern Parable

From Elder Carlos E. Asay (1926–1999) of the Seventy, “The Oath and Covenant of the Priesthood,” Ensign, Nov. 1985, 45.

A young man was preparing to serve a mission. His parents agreed to pay for his mission as long as he would keep the mission rules and work hard. He agreed.

After entering the mission field, he found missionary work much harder than he thought it would be. Learning a new language, adjusting to a different culture, and facing rejection discouraged him. His companion and mission president tried to encourage him, but he still felt like giving up.

He told his mission president he wanted to go home. His mission president called the young man’s father and gave him permission to call his son.

The missionary told his father about his discouragement. His father said, “For years your mother and I have looked forward to the day when you would serve a full-time mission. We know how important it is to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ to those who don’t have it.”

The son replied, “Dad, I didn’t realize that a mission meant so much to you.”

“It means everything to me,” the father declared. “All my life I have worked, built up my business, and saved with one person in mind: you. My goal has been to provide you an abundant inheritance.”

“But, Dad,” the son interjected, “that doesn’t change the fact that I don’t enjoy …”

The father interrupted, “How can I trust my business to your care if you can’t prove yourself by serving the Lord for two short years?”

There was a pause as the son pondered the father’s question.

Then the father said, “My son, if you will be faithful in this calling and prove yourself worthy, all that I possess will be yours.”

Touched by this promise, the son courageously told his father, “I will stay.”

The son did stay, and he served faithfully. He followed the mission rules and worked hard. And yes, sometime after his mission, he received from his father the promised inheritance, even all that his father had to share.