“What need have I of wealth or fame?
Give me a son to bear my name.”
Thus must have prayed aged Abraham,
petitioning the great I Am,
as time refused his seed its bloom
in Sarah’s bare infertile womb.

And most men since have shared his dream
to raise a son and find esteem
and pride in what that son achieves.
Each father of a son believes
the world will judge his family’s worth
by what his heir becomes on earth.

A righteous father prays his son
will heed his teachings and become
a son whose virtues can compare
with those of sons who witness bear,
in holy writ, of Him who gave
His only Son the world to save.

A son, obedient and true,
like Isaac, young, but quick to do
his father’s will and take his place
among the symbols of Christ’s grace.
With faith steadfast, he’d be the lamb,
the dove, or sacrificial ram.

A son who in his youth decides,
as Joseph did, that no man hides
behind the weakness of the flesh
to justify licentiousness.
When tempted by his mistress’s bed,
he chose a prison cell instead.

A son who learns, while young, to pray,
to talk with God and not delay
his progress by the Spirit’s aid,
like youthful Nephi, unafraid
of what his peers might say or do.
His was the clearer, broader view.

Like Omner, Himni, and the rest
who left their homeland, safe, to test
the fields that they perceived were white
and suffered sorely that they might
help some to grasp the iron rod
and bring a few souls unto God.

More than a few, their sons became
young men who bore a prophet’s name,
two thousand-sixty faithful ones
whom Helaman would call his sons.
Their mothers taught God’s love was true;
they did not doubt their mothers knew.

A son in whom there is no guile,
who offers twain when asked a mile,
who from his duty never strays,
like Joseph, who in latter days
received his errand from the Lord,
God’s instrument for truth restored.

Mosiah, Lehi, Helaman,
Jacob, Joseph, and Abraham
were blessed with good sons who became
a credit to each father’s name,
because they loved and served the One
who is God’s lone Begotten Son.

My son, the tag you humbly wear,
displays the name you now must bear.
You are His son, and He will guide
you with His Spirit and provide
the strength and wisdom that you seek.
Be obedient, pure, and meek.

Lord in Heaven; Thy will be done;
protect our missionary son.
I give him now into Thy care
as he Thy gospel leaves to share.
I have no need of wealth or fame;
I have a son who bears Thy name.

One of the great moments of my life was when my only son received and accepted a call to serve for two years as a missionary. That he would be worthy and ready to serve was often the subject of my prayers when he was young. Of course, the real blessing comes when, after their service, sons and daughters continue in their life to love and serve God and to keep themselves worthy of the blessings He has prepared for them. The scriptures give us numerous examples of such sons. Their lives of obedience and worthiness teach us that such lives are possible. I appreciate the reassurance that, in a world that rewards men according to the power and advantage they have over others, the Lord counts success as something else: obedience, faith, moral discipline, steadfastness, genuine humility, and the desire to worthily bear His name.