But if you need my vote, it’s there.

Townsends love sports. Arguably better supporters than participants- especially in my case - but enjoy ‘em either way.

Grandpa Wayne, better known to his grandkids and comrades as Chief, seems to be the only one of us to care much about horse racing.

He’s not a betting man, but makes it a point to follow the horses, often picking the underdog to personally support and following him all the way through the Kentucky Derby.

He cuts out pictures and articles from the newspaper he paid one of the grandkids to gather from the mailbox every day and hangs them up on the cupboard. He's so proud of his horse, even if they don't always win the Triple Crown.

I smile at the consideration of whether or not Wayne’s kitchen cupboard newspaper support has any influence on the outcome of those races.

Not terribly likely.

His support has virtually no influence on those horses and races taking place miles and lifestyles away. But there the kitchen cupboard stays, as a decorated reminder of where his support lies.

Makes me wonder what my kitchen cupboards look like these days.

"I’m not ashamed to say that . . . I want to be good.

And I’ve found in my life that it has been critically important that this was established between me and the Lord so that I knew that He knew which way I committed my agency.

I went before Him and said, “I’m not neutral, and you can do with me what you want. If you need my vote, it’s there. I don’t care what you do with me, and you don’t have to take anything from me, because I give it to you—everything, all I own, all I am.”

And that makes the difference."

-Boyd K. Packer

Comparable to the newspapered kitchen cupboard example, President Nelson expressed a similar truth on our displays of devotion to the Lord.

“Was the Church any different because we increased our tithing? Of course not. However, becoming a full-tithe payer changed me. That is when I learned that paying tithing is all about faith, not money.”

And lately, I’ve resolved that it’s this type of Faith in Christ that I want my kitchen cupboards to covered with.

“Believe in miracles. I have seen so many of them come when every other indication would say that hope was lost. Hope is never lost. If those miracles do not come soon or fully or seemingly at all, remember the Savior’s own anguished example: if the bitter cup does not pass, drink it and be strong, trusting in happier days ahead.” -President Jeffrey R. Holland

Perhaps my strength and trust doesn’t seem like much. Maybe my belief is small.

His divine, eternal status as Savior is not dependent upon my strength or trust or belief.

But I need Him.

So if He ever needs my vote, it’ll be there.