In his book ‘Memorable Stories With a Message’, Boyd K. Packer said: “Practice grows into self-discipline, which is really the “only” kind of discipline. The discipline that comes from within is that which makes a young person decide that he wants to be free to play the piano and play it well. Therefore he is willing to pay the price. Then he can be free from supervision, from pressure, from whatever forms of persuasion parents use.
In our family I have a key that I use, a kind of fatherly key. With my children I know when it is time to lift supervision. As I meet young people around the Church, they are always saying, “When will my parents ever think I have enough maturity to act for myself?” I know when with my family. I have employed this key. I know that they are ready for full freedom in any field of endeavor the very minute they stop resenting supervision,. At that moment I can back off, let them go alone, and really just be there to respond if they come for help.
When I was president of he New England Mission, the Tabernacle Choir was to sing at the world’s fair in Montreal. The choir had one day unscheduled and suggested a concert in New England. One of the industrial leaders there asked for the privilege of sponsoring the concert.
Brother Condie and Brother Stewart came to Boston to discuss this matter. We met at the Boston airport and then drove to Attleboro, Massachusetts. Along the way Mr. Yeager asked about the concert. He said, ” I would like to have a reception for the choir members. I could have it either at my home or at my club.” He wanted to invite his friends who were, of course, the prominent people of New England—indeed of the nation. He talked of this, and then he asked about serving alcoholic beverages.
In answering, Brother Stewart said, “Well, Mr. Yeager, since it is your home and you are the host, I suppose you could do just as you want to do.”
“That isn’t what I had in mind,” this wonderful man said. I don’t want to do what I want to do. I want to do what you want me to do.”
Somewhere in that spirit is the key to freedom. We should put ourselves in a position before our Father in Heaven and say, individually, “I do not want to do what I want to do. I want to do what thou wouldst have me do.” Suddenly, like any father, the Lord could say, “Well, there is one more of my children almost free from the need of constant supervision.” ~ From ‘Memorable Stories with a Message’, Boyd K. Packer, Deseret Book, 2000, p.123-24
(Elder Packer, deceased, was a much beloved and respected member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since the early 1970’s and also President of that Quorum for many more years.)
