*Today was a long church day, but that's a good thing. I had an early Stake Council meeting, but was able to make it back in time for my own ward's meeting, where I was a last-minute sub for the organist and for the Sunbeam teacher. Easy, upbeat songs today--I like that. Primary in my ward is always a treat, and then I got to go to the Spanish Branch primary for a visit. I am happy to be remembering the children and their leaders!
*One of the youth speakers has dyslexia, and stumbled a bit giving her talk. After she sat down, she was on the verge of tears, and we could see her feeling worse and worse, even though we were all rooting for her and trying to give her whatever "thumbs-up" expressions we could. She was sitting between our High Counsel speaker and the adult speaker, and the High Counselor grabbed the tissues, and the adult speaker put his arm around her and quietly reassured her, and it was so sweet. I hope that the youth speaker felt of the love of everyone around her.
*Those Sunbeams--what an adventure! I think that if I had time to prepare, or if they had a routine I could jump in and follow, we would be sailing a little smoother. I couldn't get them all to look at me at one time, and there are only four. I thought I had basically taught the lesson to the air, and just let them color for the last 15 minutes. However, when they gave the closing prayers (they all wanted a turn), they each mentioned something from the lesson, and the most detailed list was from the one boy that I was sure was paying the least attention. I was humbled.
It was awesome!
Sunday, April 26, 2015
April 2015, Week 3
*Today it was a little different at church. I had planned to substitute for the Primary pianist, but she ended up not needing me today, so I was not a substitute for anyone! I went to Sacrament Meeting, Sunday School, and Relief Society, and was just a participant. Actually, since I've had a cold all week and have not much of a voice, I mostly just listened. It was...nice, but, I do prefer to be "doing" at church instead of just sitting. Oh--I did give the closing prayer in Relief Society, so that gave me some validation. :)
*Speaking of "doing" at church, our Relief Society secretary was the only one in the presidency there, so she conducted the meeting, led the music, and, since the instructor fell the night before, also taught the lesson. Busy! She told a sweet story of her son. Her own father passed away when she was young, and she has very few memories of him. However, her young son used to cry and tell her how much he missed his grandpa. She would tell him that he didn't even know him, but he would assure her that he did, and that he missed him. "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting..."
It was awesome!
*Speaking of "doing" at church, our Relief Society secretary was the only one in the presidency there, so she conducted the meeting, led the music, and, since the instructor fell the night before, also taught the lesson. Busy! She told a sweet story of her son. Her own father passed away when she was young, and she has very few memories of him. However, her young son used to cry and tell her how much he missed his grandpa. She would tell him that he didn't even know him, but he would assure her that he did, and that he missed him. "Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting..."
It was awesome!
Sunday, April 12, 2015
April 2015, Week 2
*Today at church we heard some great talks about the Restoration. I am realizing now that it is probably because it was April 6th this week, and therefore the anniversary of the Restoration of the Gospel. The sister missionaries serving in our ward both spoke. One of them said something that is really applicable and profound: "You can't expect a thousand dollar answer from a ten cent prayer." I'll be thinking of that one as I pray for a while to come.
*I visited another ward for their Primary, and the theme for the month is...the Restoration of the Gospel! For Junior Primary, their president gathered all the kids together at her feet to tell them "her favorite story." Then she told of Joseph Smith as a boy, and the events leading to and during his prayer in the Sacred Grove. I could feel the Spirit immediately as she began the lesson. When I was a missionary, we did the "old school" discussions, and we shared this story with everyone we taught in the first lesson. At first I was a bit uncomfortable, because it seemed that Joseph Smith was maybe too much too fast, and people were often wary as soon as we brought his name up. Then I noticed that frequently, when we started this part of the lesson, a distraction in the home would happen--the phone would ring, a baby would cry, etc. I thought about it, and realized that the distractions and my first attitude were keeping the Spirit away. When I changed my attitude, and worked to keep that part of the lesson as free from distractions as we could, the Spirit was there full-force. Satan knew that--he tried to stop Joseph that day, and he works to stop missionaries now from telling the story, but he didn't win then, and he won't now. It became my favorite part to teach in any missionary lesson. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith--for the faithful boy, and for the dedicated man.
It was awesome!
*I visited another ward for their Primary, and the theme for the month is...the Restoration of the Gospel! For Junior Primary, their president gathered all the kids together at her feet to tell them "her favorite story." Then she told of Joseph Smith as a boy, and the events leading to and during his prayer in the Sacred Grove. I could feel the Spirit immediately as she began the lesson. When I was a missionary, we did the "old school" discussions, and we shared this story with everyone we taught in the first lesson. At first I was a bit uncomfortable, because it seemed that Joseph Smith was maybe too much too fast, and people were often wary as soon as we brought his name up. Then I noticed that frequently, when we started this part of the lesson, a distraction in the home would happen--the phone would ring, a baby would cry, etc. I thought about it, and realized that the distractions and my first attitude were keeping the Spirit away. When I changed my attitude, and worked to keep that part of the lesson as free from distractions as we could, the Spirit was there full-force. Satan knew that--he tried to stop Joseph that day, and he works to stop missionaries now from telling the story, but he didn't win then, and he won't now. It became my favorite part to teach in any missionary lesson. I am so grateful for Joseph Smith--for the faithful boy, and for the dedicated man.
It was awesome!
April 2015, Week 1
*Today for church we watched General Conference at home. We had my brother-in-law and his wife and their two small children here. This year it was Easter Sunday, too! It is always a blessing to listen to the Prophet and the apostles give their testimonies of the Savior on Easter Sunday. Elder Holland's talk was particularly moving, as usual. I am anxious to watch the talks again, when the house is a little quieter. (I do find that munching on Easter candy during Conference helps me to focus...)
It was awesome!
It was awesome!
March 2015, Week 5
*Today at church, I substituted on the organ. Sometimes while I was playing, I got distracted because I was reading the words, and forgot to read the notes. I love the hymns. I read a quote the other day by Rita Dove that said, "Poetry is language at its most distilled and most powerful." I appreciate how powerful sermons can be taught in a few lines, and the fact that they're accompanied by beautiful music makes it that much easier for them to usher the Spirit right into my soul.
*My almost 14-year old son passed the Sacrament to me up on the stand. He somehow arranges to be the one to pass it to our family almost every Sunday, so it's not unusual to have him hand it to me, but this time, it struck me how grateful and blessed I am to have this boy for my son. He is beginning to take seriously the charge to find his own testimony, and he is already cheerfully explaining and defending his faith on a regular basis to his friends at school.
*I substituted the Sunbeam class today, and wow! There were only three kids, but I got a workout. In between corralling and bathroom trips and rearranging seating and taking a walk around the church to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL spring weather, we did have a sort lesson about Easter. They were most struck with the fact that there were bad men who would kill Jesus. It baffles me, too, but I'm grateful for the outcome of the whole Atonement. I hope they heard me tell them that.
It was awesome!
*My almost 14-year old son passed the Sacrament to me up on the stand. He somehow arranges to be the one to pass it to our family almost every Sunday, so it's not unusual to have him hand it to me, but this time, it struck me how grateful and blessed I am to have this boy for my son. He is beginning to take seriously the charge to find his own testimony, and he is already cheerfully explaining and defending his faith on a regular basis to his friends at school.
*I substituted the Sunbeam class today, and wow! There were only three kids, but I got a workout. In between corralling and bathroom trips and rearranging seating and taking a walk around the church to enjoy the BEAUTIFUL spring weather, we did have a sort lesson about Easter. They were most struck with the fact that there were bad men who would kill Jesus. It baffles me, too, but I'm grateful for the outcome of the whole Atonement. I hope they heard me tell them that.
It was awesome!
Monday, March 23, 2015
March 2015, Week 4
*Today at church, we had some great talks in Sacrament Meeting. The first was given by the 14-year old son of a lady who (along with her two sons) recently moved into our ward after recently joining the church. It sounded as if he had been a member all his life. I don't remember most of his words, but I remember his confidence and how the Spirit touched him. I'm so grateful that my children are growing up with this same opportunity to publicly share their testimonies through giving talks. I'm so grateful that I was able to, as well. It is not something that my natural self would tell me is a good thing for me to do, but every time I do, I realize that my natural self is wrong...again.
*The second and third talks were given by friends of ours. They spoke on finding answers to prayers, and on President Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference, "Lord, is it I?" I enjoyed them. I liked the stories from the talk--the one dandelion in the neighbor's otherwise perfect lawn that bothered the man so much, when he ignored the hundreds of them in his own yard--the reminder to remove the beam from yourself before looking for motes in others. He also asked if we are missing out on blessings because we rationalize, or we are lazy, or we simply choose disobedience. Maybe he didn't talk exactly about these things, but these are what I'm thinking about after the talk, so that's what's important for me, anyway. I should go read it.
It was awesome!
*The second and third talks were given by friends of ours. They spoke on finding answers to prayers, and on President Uchtdorf's talk from General Conference, "Lord, is it I?" I enjoyed them. I liked the stories from the talk--the one dandelion in the neighbor's otherwise perfect lawn that bothered the man so much, when he ignored the hundreds of them in his own yard--the reminder to remove the beam from yourself before looking for motes in others. He also asked if we are missing out on blessings because we rationalize, or we are lazy, or we simply choose disobedience. Maybe he didn't talk exactly about these things, but these are what I'm thinking about after the talk, so that's what's important for me, anyway. I should go read it.
It was awesome!
March 2015, Week 3
*Today in church I spent the second two hours in the best way: as a substitute in the Nursery with my almost 3-year old son. We ate goldfish, played with cars and bubbles, and traced hands to remember that we have a body like Heavenly Father does. There are some super sweet kids in his Nursery class. He's learning how to not scowl at everyone.
*I was thinking about how when people say that there is no calling more important than others in the church, they usually use the examples "from the Prophet (or Stake President or Bishop) all the way down to the Nursery Leaders." I don't care for the "down" part of that expression. There is no "down." You have to be very spiritually secure in order to be a Nursery teacher. Beyond Sacrament Meeting, there is only a five minute simple lesson that completes your spiritual instruction at church. If you want more, you find it on your own at home. I admire those who do it and love it and are fulfilled.
It was awesome!
*I was thinking about how when people say that there is no calling more important than others in the church, they usually use the examples "from the Prophet (or Stake President or Bishop) all the way down to the Nursery Leaders." I don't care for the "down" part of that expression. There is no "down." You have to be very spiritually secure in order to be a Nursery teacher. Beyond Sacrament Meeting, there is only a five minute simple lesson that completes your spiritual instruction at church. If you want more, you find it on your own at home. I admire those who do it and love it and are fulfilled.
It was awesome!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)