I have a confession to make...I don't look forward to church as much now that I don't get to go to Relief Society. Today will be my first day in my new class (since I've been substituting a different primary class the past 2 weeks) and I'm not really excited about it. I'm sure I'll come to love them, and to enjoy primary because I DO like being in there with the kids, it's just I'm fearing the lack of the boost that Relief Society gives me each week. Perhaps this will teach me to rely on my church notebook even more because I'll have to revisit past meetings to find the thoughts I'm needing for the week (hmmm).
My thoughts today are from an August 2005 Sacrament Meeting when our new RS Presidency spoke.
--Service takes time and effort.
--D&C 64:32-33 Be not weary in well doing...
--We are preparing Zion for the return of the Savior
--We need to fill our spiritual reservoirs daily, to study scriptures, to contemplate, FEEL and wait for answers.
--We must prepare if we wish to serve, and we must serve if we are to be prepared.
--If we magnify our callings, the Lord will helps us recognize what is really important.
--As we serve under the direction of the Lord we come to know Him.
--We must study the Savior's life and come to know Him, understand why He wept.
One sister had only been home from her mission for 3 weeks when she was called into the presidency. She had been in a tiny country called Yap in Micronesia (where?) with her husband. She said the families there had to walk 3 miles to get to church each week, and that they did so even in the pouring rain. (I'm such a chump, our church is around the corner. It's snowing a lot today and I was hoping they'd cancel it because I don't want to go out.)
--When you serve in the church you grow no matter what you do.
--The Lord doesn't really need our time or money, He needs our hearts; our might, mind, and strength will follow.
--Charity is the pure love of Christ. Charity NEVER faileth.
--Be not afraid, only believe.
--This Earth is not our home, we're here to learn and to prove ourselves.
--You are called to represent the Savior no matter what your calling.
--Your call has eternal consequences for you and those you serve. (No pressure, ha)
--The Lord will magnify you in your calling and guide what you say and do.
--Give your best effort and whole heart as you serve.
Remember all that stuff I said at the beginning of this post about not wanting to go to primary or to church today--I'm not deleting it because it's true, though now I feel like a fool. I love to teach in primary, but that doesn't always mean I want to go. I am ALWAYS glad I went though and this is what keeps me going a lot of the times.
**What keeps you going when your mortal self tries to keep you home?**
12 comments:
My calling or any other sense of respoinsibility kleeps me going when I otherwise would invent some reason not too. And Jill, don't feel too bad about feeling like you don't wnat to go to curch. I have that feeling every week (this week was particularly bad though), but find that I feel completely different by the time it's all over.
I was pondering this very question during sacrament meeting today. Whenever I stay home from church (lately, this is every other week as Marc and I have been taking turns staying home with Eva), I find I want to invent reasons to stay home the next week. Why is this? The only thing I can attribute it to is temptation, because as soon as I walked into the door of the chapel I felt the spirit and was so glad I had come. That happens pretty much every time. I am never disappointed that I went to church. So, I guess I just need to fight against that feeling that is no doubt coming from the adversary. And I don't blame you at all for being less excited about going when you don't get to go to Relief Society. I subbed in primary today, and even though I love being in primary, I love being in Relief Society more.
I do NOT relate to this- I have never enjoyed RS! As far as continuing forward, a sense of responsiblity and being accountable to my mother always move me along! (I was SO hoping for a "snow day" today too!!)
I feel the same way much of the time. I love the kids but I miss RS, especially when I meet women in the hall who are still wiping away tears as they come out of the RS room. I feel as if I missed something and I hate feeling that way! I also must admit that it wasn't all that bad staying home today.
I completely agree with Michelle- frighteningly so. I try and stick to Satan, and that is what gets me out the door. "I just think, in your face, I'm going anyway!" that, and I really want to instill a good example of church attendance in Bella. (and Timm for that matter)
Also, I'm immensely comforted to hear you all saying you struggle with this as well. IMMENSELY.
For so long i have had a calling that had a sunday responsiblilty, which has been a life saver for me. i have to be there. and now that i have 9 darling primary kids i would feel so bad letting them down.
also seeing jeff go to chruch every sunday after coming off of working 36 hours and no sleep and not complaning is a huge motivator.
i started taking pictures of my primary handouts and am going to start a smugmug gallery for them along with all my primary ideas.
Oddly enough, my number one excuse to miss church, is also my number one to attend, my kids. It's so funny how with our first child we missed church all the time!! We would make it to sacrament meeting, but then one of us would have to take her home for a nap (I never let her miss a nap!) Once she was a little older (12-18) months my excuse was that all I did was chase her around the halls, it seemed like such a waste to be there! Now my oldest is 4, and what a difference it has made. I don't want to be late to sacrament, and I want her to see that church is the most important thing. My youngest has never been taken home for a nap, and sits through sacrament meeting every week (something I thought was impossible when my oldest was that age)! No matter how much I want to stay home I just can't let my little girl miss a day, or think that it is okay if mommy needs to stay home!
This year and everyother year previous to this, I find it hard to wretch myself out of my warm bed and get going at the unheard of hour of 7 in order to get ready for church. I have profound respect for you women with children, as I just have myself to get ready and sometimes that's a battle in and of its self. My callings have helped to propell me out of bed and the knowledge that I will have a good day once I get up and go and also to set an example for my inactive husband. It's all about having faith. Sometimes and some days it's easier that others, but I know that it is what I want to do, have to do and need to do. I feel to refreshed and needed and loved when I get to church. I fills me for the week ahead.
hummmm.....
Loved everyone's thoughts and take note that we all fall into the 'normal' range. Jill, your book is so pretty and elegant. Don't you just love it now that you just have three initials?
Yes, I do love having 3 initials now. Apparently it's worth the wait not having a middle name all my life.
Post a Comment