It was such a nice break to go to church today, after all of that hustle and bustle of trying to get everything done and make everything perfect. It was great to see neighbors and to again speak of the Savior. Our ward has a tradition in which, on the last Sunday of the year, the families of missionaries out in the field get to speak and give an update on their missionary. Today we were blessed to hear from the families of eight elders who are out in the mission field. The newest missionary has been out for only eleven days, and the longest serving will be coming home next week. Each had written a letter to the ward. Some of them talked of specific experiences that they have had thus far in their missions, and others just talked of their love for the Savior and their gratitude for the ability to serve Him. Every one of them, though, spoke specifically of their love for the ward family that they felt had contributed in their successful missions. They talked of leaders who had helped them to mature into the men they now are. One even thanked his piano teacher, a ward member, and said that her instruction had proved to be very useful in the mission field.
As these ward members were speaking, I glanced around the chapel and realized that someday, those words may be coming from my sons. There were people in that chapel who are definitely playing a large role in the growth of my kids. Everyone, from their primary teachers to the Bishopric to the youth leaders, will touch my kids lives in a positive way. And my kids will have a, hopefully, positive influence on other kids around them. They have many friends in the ward who will grow alongside them and provide a shoulder to lean on when times get tough, as they inevitably do during those growing years. It's just so comforting to belong to a ward family.
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| ©Darrell Wyatt |
I'm still reading in Mormon, and I have to say, I absolute love his writing style. He's so descriptive. There was one phrase that really stood out to me during today's reading. He's talking about the wickedness of the people and how we, the readers of the Book of Mormon will feel upon learning of this wickedness.
...they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus. (Mormon 5:11)
Clasped in the arms of Jesus. That perfectly describes how I felt at church today. I felt like all of the stresses of this busy week just melted away, and that I was clasped in His arms. Being in a place where everyone knows me and we can all come together with one purpose, to worship Him, is such a blessing. It's a blessing that I hope that everyone at one point in their lives can partake of - to feel that wonderful sense of belonging. To feel the warmth of being clasped in the arms of Jesus.
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