I taught a class on Sunday on the topic "Building things that last for eternity". It centered on Brigham Young's vision for the SLC Temple, but I didn't want to focus there too much because I was really captured by that idea of building for eternity.
Do we spend our time building things that last?
Our families, our marriages, our own lives. These are the things that last.
I told them about my Mom. Just as the early saints planted the right footings for the Temple, strong and immovable, so my Mom planted our foundation. She took us to Church in conditions that were sad. She told us we'd serve missions. She drove us to Seminary. She told us stories from the Scriptures. Was it more than that? If so I don't recall. But that was enough.
I concluded by holding up the program and asking: what does it take to send someone on a mission? How many hours? How many people? How much encouragement? How many invitations?
But these are the things that last forever, and they are hard won but important.