Sunday, February 22, 2009

How grateful I am for my expriences

Dad and I had a wonderful experience this weekend. He has tried to create an atmosphere with his councils where the Stake Presidents, Mission President and Temple President and their wives can get to know each other more intimately. Last month we went to Lubbock and his council there, consisting of those mentioned above all met in the Temple for an Endowment session and then that evening we went to the Mission President's home for a dinner and time to just visit and get to know each other. It turned out to be a wonderful experience. This weekend he did pretty much the same thing with his two New Mexico councils consisting of Farmington, Kirtland, Bloomfield, Durango, Gallup, Grants, and then all the ABQ Stakes, Sanata Fe, Los Lunas, Stakes. We met for a 3:00pm endowment session, then the Temple President arranged for the Cafeteria to fix a dinner where it was served in a special room in the temple. The Stake Presidents after the dinner had the opportunity to ask the Temple President any questions about the temple they wanted. Most of the questions were regarding policy, etc. The wives also had opportunities to ask questions. There was wonderful sacred feeling there. After that we all went over to the Mission President home and President Anderson and Sister Anderson were able to take time to tell the Stake Presidents and their wives about income, outgo, transfers, and dad told about the assigning of missionaries and how some missionaries assigned to their Stakes were there to learn from their Bishops, them, or other Priesthood Leaders. When you have been immersed in missionary work like our family has sometime you forget that others have know idea about the workings of a mission. They seemed to really enjoy learning and hearing the testimonies of the power of missionary work. It was a wonderful, spiritual day and evening. It was great for me to get to know the Stake Presidents and their wives also since dad spend much time and training with them. Today I got up and left at 6:30 am to drive home so that I could be at our church because I am teaching the Teachings for our Time in Relief Society. I debated whether to get a subsitute but for some reason I felt I needed to teach. Probably because last month I had a sub while we were in Washington and next month it will be the week of Moab. Any way, the spirit also was very strong in R.S. today. The sisters shared tender feelings and thoughts and even though I only was able to give one fourth of what I prepared from his talk, we learned and shared our testimonies of the importance of Sacrament Meeting and the Sacrament. If you have not read Elder Oaks address from last conference please read it, it is powerful and sweet. If any of you are interested in my thoughts and outline I would be glad to send it to you. In his talk he tells us that Sacrament meeting is the most important meeting in the church. I have a testimoy of that and his talk gives us ideas how we can make it a sacred meeting- even with children. One sister asked me to share an experience having small children and going to sacrament meeting. I told them that I know how hard it can be. That dad had never sat with us since Chanel was one year old. Later I started thinking it was before that because he was Ward Cleck before he was put in the Bishopbric and back then they sat on the stand and told notes of the meeting. So I guess in reality he has never consistently sat with me and children, (except a few months after our mission). I told of how hard it was, some times I was exhausted, frustrated, frazzled, but then I bore testimony that I knew that our family was blessed deeply for attending our Sacrament meetings regularly and through that experience I knew that Heavenly Father knew of me and my struggles at times, but that he accepted my efforts to be there and that it assured me of a knowledge of his love for me. I know each of you are in the time of your lives when Sacrament meeting may seem more of a battle than a spiritual feast, but I just want you to know that Heavenly Father will bless you for your consistent devotion, this I have a testimony of!

2 comments:

Brittani said...

I wish I had not missed the lesson, I guess Sacrament is not the only meeting that can seem like a battle. It is good to be reminded that we will be blessed and hopefully our kids will appreciate our efforts some day. We are smack dab in the middle of that stage, but I am always glad I am there.

Chanel said...

I am so glad that you have been able to spend so much time with Dad! What a nice change. For the first time in my LIFE I enjoy sacrament. I was still struggling with Rodney getting there, but I finally convinced him that it is the most peaceful hour of the week. He has started going and I think he now would agree. I LOVE that my kids are old enough to just cuddle with me as the silently listen to the talks. I am amazed at all they take from it. They are sponges. I get a whole hour where they wrap up in my arm and want me to love on them. It really is peaceful.