Randy & Heather Thompson

The Family is of God

Before this earth we lived with our Father in Heaven. Under his direction the earth was created as a means to help us progress and eventually become like him.

The kids at church sing one of my new favorite songs, the first verse reads:
Our Father has a family. It’s me!
It’s you, all others too: we are His children.
He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,
To live and learn here in families.
God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—
This is how He shares His love, for the family is of God.

Everyday of my life I can recognize the guiding hand of a loving Heavenly Father. I testify that he wants to help us; he knows what is best for us. One of his greatest blessings in my life is mi familia, who I am happy to share with you today.

Randy Jay & Heather Lee Hirschi Thompson

Kids: Mykell, Jacob, Hannah, Abby, Joseph, Ty

Married: Dec. 21, 1991

Story:

My parents are both hard-workers. They don’t just care about getting the job done, but also about doing it right; and taking the time to teach us to do it right.

Growing up, my dad was particularly meticulous in teaching us to keep a clean room. He would threaten to get the Gunny Man (a potato gunny sack), at which point we would cry “No Dad, not the Gunny Man!” and hide under our beds wailing. He would then calmly walk through our rooms and pick up any shoes or toys that were lying around and place them in the sack. We would have to pay him or do chores to earn our stuff back; otherwise he literally threw it away after about a week.

Looking back I think this story is hilarious. And after serving a mission, and helping with many a garage sale and many a house cleaning, I testify that every family needs a Gunny Man. It not only helped us learn to keep our rooms clean, but also to appreciate the belongings we had; and in the end to respect ourselves and others.

So here's to my parents. Who love God and others, are outstanding citizens, and lead a happy home. I hope to be like them one day.