Tough as FLINT.....

            Recently, on our trip to Nauvoo, I thought a lot about flint.  Yes, that’s right – FLINT.  I have a pioneer ancestor named William Flint.  He joined the church in New York in 1847, presided over a branch of the church there, and then started for the Rocky Mountains in May 1848.  He helped drive Mary Fielding Smith’s cattle, then turned back and helped other saints emigrating before he arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in September 1848.  William Flint is my Great-Great-Great Grandpa. 
                Even though William Flint never lived in Nauvoo, I thought of him a lot when we were there.  He was a pioneer just like the others who sacrificed much so that I could live the gospel and have so many of the blessings I enjoy today.  While going on a wagon ride in Nauvoo, the missionary giving the tour pointed out a certain tree and said “That tree is as tough as flint!  You can hardly drive a nail through that bark, it is so tough!”  I love the comparison that flint is tough and sturdy.
                As I shared this thought with Brock, he also immediately reminded me of another important attribute of flint.  When hit with steel, flint creates a spark that can then lead to fire.  I think that’s a pretty vital and necessary thing that one little bar of flint can do!  That little spark provides warmth and light that can grow into a fire of immeasureable size!
                When I was talking to my mom about these attributes of flint, she said “Isn’t there a scripture about flint, too?”  Indeed, there is!  It’s found in Isaiah 50:7:
                “For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore
                       have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”
Of course, we still don’t know the details of this baby’s life, or what exactly his mission and purpose is  here on earth.  But finally, we do know his name – Flint William Blaser. Since my maiden name is Williams, we knew we wanted to use William as a middle name.  It just so happened to be a funny coincidence that William is also my Great-Great-Great Grandpa Flint’s first name!
                We feel that Flint is the perfect name for this baby!  He is going to have to be tough as flint to make it through the rough start that he is sure to have.  We have been promised through sacred priesthood blessings that the Lord knows how to save EACH of our children and that this baby is part of the way He is going to do that.  We feel that he will be a spark of light and fire to keep our children strong in the gospel and that somehow, he will help them remember the importance of the Savior and their family when it gets harder for them to live the gospel.  And the scripture in Isaiah that mentions flint is a perfect scripture for this time in our lives!  I know that the Lord IS helping us and we will not be confounded, no matter what craziness happens when this baby is born.  I will set my face like a flint – firmly focused on the Savior, not looking anywhere else for the support that I need, and I will not be ashamed of the Lord or the path He has asked me to walk. 

                Flint William Blaser – it feels nice to say that!