Hello good members and friends,
I pray that you are all well and safe. We did have one piece of semi-normality on Saturday. Stella Okey was baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is the newest member of our ward and I recognize her for her choice to serve and follow Jesus Christ. I say semi-normality because it was a very small gathering and as her father, with the restored priesthood of God, baptized, confirmed and gave her the gift of the Holy Ghost. He stood alone with his daughter without the physical support of other priesthood holders. He did not stand spiritually alone, however, as the spirit testified of priesthood strength from the grandfathers from afar. It brought a feeling of peace that only the Spirit can bring.
Once again, this has been a week of significant changes in our lives. I know I have felt the uncertainty of the times. I was asked to work from home and as great as that initially sounded, I have not found it as entertaining as had imagined it. It is hard to not interact with friends and co-workers face to face. I will adjust and it will get better but, I know this may be very familiar to some of our ward family.
The emotions that I feel when isolated at home, do not, cannot compare to the emotions that I feel because we are not able to directly meet together on the sabbath. I miss interacting with you and I miss your goodness, your strength and your love one to another. I miss seeing the youth with their energy, their kindness and the way they make me feel so blessed. After the baptism, I shared a few moments with Bishop Teichert on Saturday morning. We shared our thoughts about serving as bishops in these ever changing times. As we parted, I realized and was taught that only one thing has changed; We do not directly see each other. I do know that you are great people, servants of Christ. You look out for each other. You haven’t stopped being you. You are good, strong and loving. The youth are energetic, kind and thoughtful. I feel this and it lifts me and strengthens me. I call upon the powers of heaven to bless you and I extend a blessing to you, from afar, that you will feel in your heart and, if you don’t feel it in your heart, you will know it in your mind, that your Father in Heaven is with you. He will not leave you isolated or alone. Ponder this prayerfully.
If you feel isolated, please reach out. Reach out to your ministering brothers and sisters, reach out to your quorum, class or society leadership, reach out to me or my counselors. We have a wonderful ward council and they are seeking ways to help us work together throughout these difficult times. I thank them for their goodness.
I have thought a lot this week about some of the sacred hymns. We sing them often and at times like these, they teach us.
“Welcome, welcome Sabbath morning, Now we rest from ev’ry care. Welcome, welcome is thy dawning, Holy Sabbath, day of prayer.”
Let this day be different, let this be a day of rest both physically and mentally. I ask you to rest from ev’ry care! If the sabbath becomes just another day, we will not have rest, we will not have peace, we will be left unfulfilled. “Here our hearts with fond emotion, Seek to learn his holy ways.” From revelation we know that, “this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High;” D&C 59:10. I am grateful for the sabbath and I know how important it is for each of us. Heed the counsel to make this day separate from the rest.
In addition to the honoring the sabbath today, we are fasting. Also by following the direction of the Savior to “fast and pray often” , we are following a prophet of God, divinely appointed, the person who carries the keys of the kingdom. The strength of the saints will be shown forth as we honor and follow the prophet and we honor and follow the Savior. Parents, this is a wonderful opportunity to teach your little ones about fasting. Small children and those with health issues should not fast beyond their abilities. Having the spirit of fasting, for these little ones and those unable to fast, is honorable and satisfactory.
One other hymn that keeps coming to my mind describes some of my thoughts and feelings. “Master the Tempest is Raging”, Hymn # 105. I urge you to read and ponder this beautiful hymn. The tenets taught can and will buoy your spirits, will remind you of things that you know and will ring in harmony with your testimony of our kind and loving Savior, the Lord, Jesus Christ.
Brothers and sisters, my friends, I share with you my testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We celebrate the vision that put the wheels of restoration into motion. We celebrate and honor a humble farm boy who sought comfort in a time of trial. We honor, revere, and bow in humility to the Great Atoner, our Savior, our Advocate and our Friend, Jesus Christ. We celebrate the loving kindness of our divine Father in Heaven and his concern for us, his children. We honor Him, we worship Him and we seek His personal council. God lives. He is teaching us to remember the words of the prophets, to heed their counsel, to go and do that which is righteous in His eyes. Leave the social sites and their speculation, rumors and animosity alone. One cannot hear the still, small voice above the din of these things. “Look to God and live!”. I share this with you with all the kindness and love of a friend and fellow saint and in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Riverdale 7th Ward 