April 2023, Week 3

*Today at church, the organ was set to play prelude by itself.  As the meeting was about to begin, I noticed that there wasn't an organist ready to go. Our usual organist had had a baby almost three months ago, and hadn't been back to play yet.  A substitute had been playing for her, but had been asked to cover up to April.  With General Conference and Easter, and with our ward music chairperson moving away, I guess the fact that no one had been asked to play was overlooked.  I caught the eye of the bishopric member (who is in his first month of conducting, since our previous counselor is the husband of the afore-mentioned ward music chairperson who moved away), and I asked if he needed me and he nodded.  So I got to play the hymns, sight unseen.  It went better than expected.

About two weeks ago, I was talking with a friend who used to be a piano teacher.  I asked her if she was taking students, because while I can teach my own children, things are more consistent when I have them take from another teacher.  Unfortunately she is not taking students, but we reflected about our piano experiences, and she said people often say to her that they regret not taking lessons, but no one has told her that they regret learning to play the piano.  I kind of joked that sometimes I regret it, especially since I had my Easter Sunday choir piece looming, along with another song I've been asked to accompany.  But I have thought about that conversation, and I know that I don't regret learning, because it gives me a way to serve that is often really needed.  It also gives me a chance to be vulnerable in front of my peers.  I think this is something that brings people closer and gives them empathy for each other.  It gives me something to work on.  It gives me a goal.  As a stay-at-home mom, I don't have a boss giving me assignments, and the household work is often routine and mindless.  Even though the challenge is often beyond my abilities, I am grateful for the opportunity to try.  And, like for today, I get to play the hymns of Zion, which bring me peace.

It was a delight.

April 2023, Week 2

*It's Easter Sunday!  Gracie and Ben provided the prelude music, I was the organist, and accompanied the choir, which Gracie, Caytie, and Tessa sang in, Benson sang in the Primary music number, and Gracie gave a talk.  (Gracie's talk was awesome.  She focused on how we receive grace through His Atonement.)  All of these things helped us to make our church worship focused on Christ.  It was interesting, though, that for the first time, church was only one hour on Easter, so that we could continue our worship at home with our families.  We have all relied on our time at church to fill our Easter needs, but we were reminded and invited to make it more than that.  At our home, we have been talking each night about things that Jesus experienced during the week before his death and resurrection.  We culminated our discussion in the evening, and watched several of the church videos about those events, like the Last Supper, the experiences in the Garden of Gethsemane, His trials and tortures, His crucifixion, His death, being taken to the tomb, finding the tomb empty, and His visit to Mary.  We plan to read 3 Nephi 11 tomorrow to continue.  He is the Resurrection and the Life.  He who believes in Him, though he were dead, yet shall he live!  I believe.

*Small note on accompanying the choir: I had two weeks to learn the piece, and two practices with the choir.  I did not really feel prepared, though I practiced as often as I could.  I knew I would mess up somewhere; it was just a matter of how bad it would be.  I prayed a lot.  I played it pretty well that morning.  I didn't do as well for the performance.  After the meeting, as I was playing the postlude on the organ, I wasn't feeling great about how I did, but three people came up and hugged me from behind or patted me on the shoulder to wish me a happy Easter and thank me for playing.  I thought they were comforting me for messing up, and it was actually a comfort.  Then when I was done, a few others thanked me for playing.  (I usually don't get so many people acknowledging me when I play.)  I mentioned how I wish I had done better, but they said they didn't notice any of my mistakes.  I am thinking that the Lord magnified my efforts and buffered away the mistakes in people's ears so they didn't really hear them.  I am blessed to have kind and forgiving friends, and to know that my offering is enough.

*I invited my new-member ministering sister to Easter dinner.  She said she wasn't sure if she would come, but that day she said she would.  But then she didn't.  So we had a quiet family dinner together.  I needed it.

It was a delight!

April 2023, Week 1

*Today was General Conference!  Some key themes I heard were: To be like Christ, you need to be a peacemaker; the Holy Week and celebration of the resurrection, including the account of Jesus's visit in 3 Nephi 11, should be an important part of Easter celebrations; develop attributes found in the 13th Article of Faith; and Jesus is ready to provide relief--and we should be, too.  Dive in deep.  Exercise faith in Jesus Christ.  Minister and care as the Savior would.  Love, share, invite.  Trust the council of the living prophet.  Offer the gift of peace to others.  Contention does not bring unity.  End conflicts.  Enter into a covenant relationship with Christ (yoke).  The Savior will use us to accomplish His work.  Following Him is the only way to enduring happiness.

*Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife were sick with Covid, so he wasn't in attendance.  He put a note on social media that he was sorry to not be there, but for the first time since he was called as a General Authority, he was excited to be able to sit on the couch and hold hands with his wife while they watched together.  So sweet. 💓

March 2023, Week 4

*Today in church we had another testimony meeting, since next week is General Conference.  Sweet Gracie bore her testimony, relating it to a calculus concept of the polar axis and coordinates when graphing.  I didn't understand the reference, having never taken calculus, but she described it enough that I understood: when you start along the path, you will find the way.  She is at the beginning of her adulting, with a lot of decisions to make, and she recognizes that when she finds the path, she should stick to it, even if she doesn't see the outcome , and she knows she will find her way.  She is insightful.

*A few days ago I heard of an old friend who left the Church and is praying for the day that it will "catch up."  Sometimes when I hear news like this, along with great sadness, I feel nigglings of "Are you really doing the right thing here?  Is this really truth you are devoting your life to?  Is the 'Church' drifting from the doctrine of Christ?"  I think it is natural and normal to question, and even doubt sometimes.  I don't like to, but it causes me to stop and ponder, and pray, and to recommit.  I sometimes feel, and I did today during our meeting, like the man pleading with Jesus, "Lord, I believe.  Help thou my unbelief!"  I know it.  I live it.  I am committed.  But sometimes I need help with my unbelief.  President Uchdorf reminds me to "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."  That is a very good place to start.

It was a delight!

March 2023, Week 3

*Today in church we had Stake Conference.  I was able to bring my ministering sister with us, who is a fairly new convert and single mom with some tough challenges and perspectives in life.  Her faith is so strong, though.

*Today we heard such uplifting messages.  Our Stake President always has a story from his life that teaches gospel principles powerfully.  Today he shared how when he was young and helping move cattle, and he was sore and tired and wanted to stop, his dad would encourage him to keep on going until they reached the white fence.  "Keep going!  You're almost there!  You can do this!"  He related it to us enduring to the end, and how our Heavenly Father is there, always encouraging us: "Keep going!  You're almost there!  You can do this!"  Elder Tommy Haws from the Seventy was also there.  He talked about how we often give Primary answers, but that they really are THE PRIMARY answers we need in life, but that we often don't take them quite far enough--we miss the mark, because we forget to tie them all the way back to Jesus Christ.  We read the scriptures because they teach us of Christ and how to be like Him.  We pray because we want to talk with Him and have Him as our advocate.  We go to church to take the sacrament and covenant again to take His name upon us.  We go to the temple to make the covenants that will bring our lives as close as they can be to be like Him.  We love because He loved.

It was a delight!

March 2023, Week 2

*Today in church a newish sister spoke about how she came to our ward from California with her son, soon after her son's dad had passed away from cancer, and also soon after she had regained her own testimony of the Church.  She said she felt that she had come right into a new family and mentioned several ways that people had lifted and supported her, including temple trips with friends.  Several months ago, I had made a goal to go to the temple on a regular, calendared basis, and twice I let my Relief Society know through our Facebook page when I was going and invited people along.  She had responded both times I did this, and I was so pleased that she considered me a friend and that our trips to the temple were meaningful to her.  Right after church we set up our next trip together.

It was a delight!

March 2023, Week 1

*Today in church was Fast and Testimony meeting.  I keep thinking that it has been a while since I have borne my testimony in that setting, and I keep thinking of excuses of why I don't need to do it.  It mainly ends up with me deciding that I don't really have anything noteworthy to share.  That's not true, though.  I can always testify of my faith in Jesus Christ.  Thankfully I had the opportunity to do that in my Primary class, as we talked about Jesus calming the storm.  We all wrote different trials that people might have on paper rainclouds that we used to cover a picture of Jesus.  Then we took them off as we suggested ways we could help someone with the trial.  I was able to testify that the Savior has the power to calm the storms in our lives.  He truly brings peace to me.

It was a delight!