Flying Lesson No. Seven

Family is Our Most Important Formation

Formation Flying ‑ Aircraft flying in formation during combat operations are better able to defend themselves and accomplish their mission. Wingmen follow the lead aircraft. Therefore, the lead  pilot must be skilled in every aspect of flying and navigation. He or she must be steady and completely reliable, predictable, and consistent in order to safely accomplish the mission.

The wingmen must also be very skilled and have complete confidence and trust in the lead pilot. The wingmen's responsibility is to warn of danger from any source and to be on lookout for attack from any direction so that the formation can complete its mission and return to home base.

Finger Tip Formation ‑ Look at the back of your hand with the fingers extended.  Your finger nails represent air planes flying in the finger tip formation. The middle finger represents the lead pilot whose call sign is 1. The index finger is a wingman whose call sign is 2. The ring finger is a wingman whose call sign is 3. And the little finger is a wingman whose call sign is 4. Some of you have been to an air show and have seen the Air Force Thunderbirds fly in finger tip formation. Most of us have seen pictures of the wing tip formation where wing tips are only about three feet apart. It is very impressive.

Lesson for Life ‑ During our lives we fly in many formations. The family is the most important formation.  Parents lead the family formation and the children are the wingmen. The Proclamation on the Family best defines the role and responsibilities of parents in the family formation. The responsibility of children in the family formation is clearly set forth by the First Presidency in the booklet For the Strength of Youth.  On the section on the Family, children are counseled, "Honor your parents by showing love and respect for them and by being obedient."

Another important formation is your friends. Good friends can be a great blessing and help to us and bring much happiness. On the other hand, we all know examples of where friends have lead others down the wrong path into serious trouble,  both spiritually and temporally. Be a leader and influence for good with your friends. If your formation of  friends are going in the wrong direction and you can't change their course then break out and leave that formation. Be a leader and help your friends stay on the right course."

Testimony about the Importance of Family- We are so blessed to have such a wonderful loving family. When we leave this life we can only take with us the knowledge we have gained, the character we have developed, and our eternal family. Everything else stays behind and is of no value to us then. It is my testimony that the fundamental unit of the kingdom of God both on earth and in heaven is the eternal family. The family provides the greatest joy and opportunity both now and in eternity.