WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY

This Sunday has been a glorious day for me.  It all started with our Sacrament Meeting (worship service) when Mackenzie Halliday, a teenaged girl in our congregation, got up and shared her experiences in going to EFY (Especially For Youth) this summer in Palmyra, New York.  She shared her gratefulness for being able to spend several days in the Sacred Grove, where Joseph Smith had his vision of God and Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ.  She studied the scriptures there and prayed mightily for a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as a testimony of the restoration of the gospel through the prophet, Joseph, and the Book of Mormon.  She grew in faith and testimony and you could feel the Spirit through her.

Next Brother Paul Dickamore and Sister Ilene Dickamore shared their experiences while serving in the Bishopric of the Young Single Adult ward for the past 3 years.  The focus of their comments were on service to God and magnifying our church callings.  I cannot remember the last time I was blessed to listen to two more spiritual, insightful, and well articulated testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next I got to listen as my sweet husband, Gary, taught our Sunday School lesson.  The long and the short of his lesson was how we can prepare spiritually to fight against Satan and the temptations we encounter in this world, and how we can fortify ourselves spiritually to make it through the challenges we all face.  He works so very hard on all of his lessons and I am so proud of him.  I was uplifted by his message.

Last, but not least, my dear friend and sister, Cori Connors, gave our lesson in Relief Society.  It can be a challenge to teach doctrines which we have all been taught over and over again, and today was no different, as she was teaching about the Word of Wisdom ( a health code our church members ascribe to). As always, Cori brought a breath of fresh air as we discussed the ideas in our lesson.

By the time I left church I felt as though my very spirit was near to bursting.  I had been abundantly blessed by the testimonies shared and the expansion of my knowledge and personal testimony.  I sort of floated back home when our meetings were over.  How lucky I am to live in a place where I can worship what and how I choose.  How lucky to live in a neighborhood surrounded by such grounded, giving, and loving people.  I am so greatly blessed.