Two Experiences

These post two weeks I've had the blessing and opportunity to have two amazing, faith building experiences.

The first was a Stake training meeting for the three auxiliaries (Relief Society, Young women's, and Primary). As I'm our primary secretary, I was fortunate enough to attend. The amazing part of this meeting was the three main guests there to speak to us: Linda K. Burton, General Relief Society president; Niell F. Marriott, General Young Women 2nd counselor; and Cheryl A. Esplin, General Primary 2nd counselor. It was just our stake, I don't know how we were so fortunate to get to have them come to speak to us. Elder Payne of the Quorum of the Seventy was there presiding. We started out together, with Elder Payne and Sister Burton sharing their testimonies. When Sister Burton began to speak, I just had such a strong feeling of the truthfulness of the gospel and this work. Then, the majority of the time we were split into our separate auxiliaries with our respective representative leading the training. Sister Esplin focused on four principles to help us serve in the Church: be spiritually prepared, council together, minister, and teach the Gospel. The whole experience was not only helpful for my calling, but for me personally as I interact with those around me.

The second experience was just yesterday in church. It was our ward's Primary Program. I wasn't needed to actively help when actually running the program, so I was able to just sit and enjoy the whole thing (and Ann really enjoyed the constant change with speakers and songs, so I didn't have to do much to keep her occupied). There was something special with this program, and I give credit to our primary president for doing such an amazing job with getting parts written for the program and organizing it all. There was so much doctrine packed into that 40 minutes: We are children of God, prayer, families can be together forever, Jesus lived and died for us and was then resurrected, Joseph Smith restored the gospel under divine direction, we can live with our Father in Heaven once again. The children did a spectacular job saying their parts. Some of the older kids shared personal stories and testimony about the various topics covered. I could hardly hold back tears almost the entire time, especially during the songs. The Spirit was so strong in that meeting.

I am so grateful to be a member of this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.