Extraordinary

Today began as most Sundays do at my house - a flurry of activity, as everyone showers and eats and gets ready for church.  It was pretty ordinary.  As we got to church, however, we could immediately tell that today's services were going to be anything but ordinary.  Usually, we can park pretty close to front door.  But not today.  There was not one parking space available.  People were parking on the streets and along the edges of the parking lot.  We had never, since moving to our new building, seen so many cars.  We had arrived early, hoping to get our usual comfortable pew, toward the middle of the chapel.  We were shocked when we went inside and discovered that not only would we be sitting in the overflow area, we would be sitting in the back of the overflow area.  We asked a neighbor why there were so many more people than usual and learned that it was a double missionary farewell.  Before Sacrament Meeting even started, it was standing room only.  People were in the hallways, waiting to find a place to sit.  Chairs were taken from classrooms, and instead of the usual neat rows, people were sitting wherever they could find space.  I had never seen anything like it.

As we sang the Sacrament hymn, I watched as the priests prepared the Sacrament.  They kept nervously looking over the congregation.  I could tell that they were concerned that there wouldn't be enough bread and water.  The young deacons each took their trays and began to reverently, and a little anxiously, pass the bread to each row.  There was some confusion as to which deacon would serve which part of the chapel, but this was quickly ironed out and both the bread and water were served without any hitches.  It was actually quite impressive.

Now, when the multitude had all eaten and drunk, behold, they were filled with the Spirit; and they did cry out with one voice, and gave glory to Jesus...(3 Nephi 20:9)

What a blessing the Sacrament is.  There was a little bit of commotion prior to the Sacrament being blessed and passed, but as soon as the hymn had been sung and the first prayer said, the reverence among the congregation was evident.  The spirit was almost tangible as the young men finished passing and returned to sit with their families.

The talks given by these two young elders, just getting ready to leave on their missions, were awesome.  The spirit they brought with them was felt throughout the chapel.  These young men were excited to serve the Lord, to do their part in the building up of the Kingdom of God.

And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. (3 Nephi 20:13)

Elder Wilkes and Elder Carlisle will be serving the Lord.  They will be assisting in the gathering of those remnants who are scattered upon the face of the earth.  And they, just like the young men who blessed and passed the Sacrament today, are examples to all those around them. 

I'm so grateful that today was not just an ordinary Sunday.  I was blessed by the extraordinary spirit that comes from worthy young men fulfilling their priesthood duties.

©Darrell Wyatt

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 19

Click here to read what I read today: 3 Nephi 20