Fathers and Sons Campout
Over 80 fathers and sons attended the annual Father and Sons Campout event hosted by the Hurst Texas Stake Young Men's program. Located on the scenic grounds of the Hills and Hollows Scout Camp in Denton, Texas, the event commemorates the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, on May15th, 1829. This is an important event in the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, restoring proper priesthood authority, first from John the Baptist and later from Peter, James, and John, who were ordained by Jesus Christ.
Celebrating the Priesthood as Fathers and Sons
The Campout is an opportunity to build rapport, camaraderie, teamwork and family bonding. On Friday evening, May 13th, 2022, fathers and their sons were treated to Dutch-oven peach, apple and blueberry cobblers cooked over the campfire flames. Ice cream was also served. The group attended a presentation on the Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by Shawn Heaton, Stake Young Men President, with concluding remarks from President Robert Collins, 2nd Counselor of the Hurst Stake Presidency.
Everyone gathers together to watch a presentation on the Restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood.
“I brought my 11-year-old son to the Father and Sons campout. We've been attending every year since he was 3,” said James Horton, First Counselor Bedford 1st Ward Bishopric. “Our favorite parts were the delicious cobbler and ice cream after the night-time devotional as well as the knife and axe throwing activity that occurred [Saturday] morning.”
The campers spent the night, and the next morning enjoyed a hungry man’s feast of breakfast burritos, eggs, sausage, and pancakes. After this hearty meal, the fathers and sons participated in various activities, including sack races, tomahawks/knives target throwing and egg toss.
Saturday morning knife throwing.
“A funny thing happened during the egg toss. Our egg was very hardy and wouldn't break even when we failed to catch it,” said Horton. “The same thing happened to us the previous year and allowed us to get pretty far away from each other before our egg finally broke. We enjoyed having the one-on-one father and son bonding time as well as getting to see other members of the Stake.”
When Can Men First Receive the Priesthood?
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today, worthy male members may receive the Aaronic Priesthood the January of the year they turn 12. They receive numerous opportunities to participate in priesthood responsibilities such as sharing the gospel, assisting their Bishop and giving service. As they worthily fulfill their duties, they act in the name of the Lord to help others receive the blessings of the gospel.
The Purpose of the Aaronic Priesthood
Elder Robert B. Harbertson, formerly of the Second Quorum of the Seventy (a general governing body of the Church), has said, through the Aaronic Priesthood, “it helps [young men] to live better lives, to be clean in thoughts and actions, to show more love and respect to our parents and family members, to keep our bodies free from drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and other harmful substances. This power strengthens a young man and helps him to keep his mind and body clean and to have the courage to say no.” (What’s so Great About the Aaronic Priesthood)
So, what does the Aaronic Priesthood mean to every young man in the Church? Elder Stephen D. Naduald of the Seventy said, “It means the priesthood to prepare—to start doing priesthood work of a particular kind—the kind of work, the kind of experience that will help a young man fulfill the vision that our Heavenly Father has for [him.]”
The priesthood is the power and authority of God, given to man to act in His name. It is conferred upon worthy male members of the Church.
Article by Debby Adair, Stake Reporter
Photos by Shawn Heaton, Stake Young Men’s President and President Robert Collins, 2nd Counselor of the Hurst Stake Presidency.