One of my assignments this week for my Family 300 class was to write a paper on a transitional character. A transitional character is best described by this quote:
“A transitional character is one who, in a single generation, changes the entire course of a lineage. The changes might be for good or ill, but the most noteworthy examples are those individuals who grow up in an abusive, emotionally destructive environment and who somehow find a way to metabolize the poison and refuse to pass it on to their children. They break the mold. They refute the observation that abused children become abusive parents, that the children of alcoholics become alcoholic adults, that “the sins of the fathers are visited upon the heads of the children to the third and fourth generation.” Their contribution to humanity is to filter the destructiveness out of their own lineage so that the generations downstream will have a supportive foundation upon which to build productive lives.” - Carlfred Broderick (1992). Marriage and the Family. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.
This assignment touched very close to home for me because this story is my story
A transitional character I found in the scriptures is Samuel from the Old Testament found in 1 Samuel. Hannah had prayed to have a son and promised that if the Lord would grant her petition, than she would give her son to the priest Eli, to serve in the tabernacle. Hannah followed through with her promise and when Samuel was old enough she brought Samuel to Eli at the doors of the tabernacle. Hannah visited yearly when she came to offer the year sacrifice and brought a coat each year to Samuel. Eli had sons who were very wicked and the Lord had lost some of his trust in Eli because he would not stop the wicked acts of his sons. One night the Lord called to Samuel, he thought it was Eli calling but came to find out it was the Lord calling him. Samuel answered “Here Am I” From that day forward Samuel was a great prophet and served the Lord of Israel all the days of his life. His influence was felt by many and the priesthood was preserved because of his obedience.
This story has great meaning to me personally because my story is very similar. My father was not living a righteous life when he was younger, he had some demons from his own childhood to face and conquer. My father prayed to have a child and also told the Lord that he would turn his life to Him if he could also have a child. I was born and my father kept his promise. He went through the steps of repentance and has served the Lord ever since. My father is the most Christlike man I know. He is the most selfless and forgiving man I know. He has taught me by example what it means to be a covenant keeper. My father’s commitment to the gospel and breaking the chain of addiction and abuse he suffered in his own childhood has made a difference in my life, but also in the lives of his own parents, brothers and sisters. He has never given up on them, and many of them have followed his example and have turned their hearts and lives to the gospel and sought the healing that the atonement can bring.
When I think about what it means to be a transitional character, I think of someone who is able to break the chain of poor behavior and start a new chain. I think of someone who works hard to turn away from what they grew up seeing others in their lives do. They want to make a difference for good, they want to change the negative atmosphere they lived in and make it better. Transitional characters can often do this while still staying close to the family members that were once toxic.
They can, by example and love show that a different path can be taken. Transitional characters can be Savior’s on Mount Zion. They can change generations and those who’s lived they touch will be forever grateful. I know that I am. I am grateful for my father’s choice to change and for the Savior’s sacrifice that allowed him to do so.
