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| Mission Family - Sis. Aukuso (Gran), Sis Botts (Mom) and Sis Adams (Daughter) |
We did so much tracting this week! It was pretty awesome! I can successfully say that I LOVE TRACTING! Who would'a thought? Freaking not me! That's who!
But anyway! It has been good!
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| Sis Botts and Sis Adams |
We got to go to the 'Work of Salvation' fireside last night! I really missed attending those while I was down in the valley! We had two people who came to it with us. It was so great! I really felt the Spirit there!
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| Meeting friends at the fireside |
It's weird... I think my mind just went blank as to what to say in this email.
A couple things I had on my mind.
First of all... I did something stupid this week and played flag football when I knew I shouldn't have... I'm ashamed. And as a result I lost one of my rings and hurt for like 3 days straight. Seriously!! I knew I shouldn't have done it. So so stupid! This is what happens when you are disobedient! SO DUMB!!
Secondly... we have been sharing messages on the Sacrament with all the active members that we come in contact with. It's been really great! We only started to do it this week but it's been so good.
I though about the symbolism of the Sacrament.
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| Symbols of the Sacrament |
Then I thought of how different the story would have gone in the Bible if, when the Saviour returned
Don't these excuses all sound quite familiar? And what does the Saviour say?
He says "Couldst not thou watch one hour?" Can we not watch one hour?
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| Couldst thou not watch one hour? |
So... this is my invitation to all of you.... Prepare yourselves for the Sacrament each week by repenting daily, and then not to just watch with Him for one hour... but for one hour and 10 minutes, by arriving 10 minutes early to the chapel and sitting in reverence, listening to the prelude music as you prepare to participate in this sacred ordinance.
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| Prepare to participate |
Furthermore, I would invite you to recognise the sacredness of the chapel, and to treat it with respect and reverence. Keep your conversations for outside, so that all who are in the chapel can feel the Spirit and reverence themselves. That means sitting quietly when you get there but also saving your conversation for outside once the Sacrament is over... Respect those who are about to start their sacred meeting once yours is over.
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| Reverence |
Well... I guess I just wanted to talk about that today a lot more than I wanted to regale you with exciting war stories of a mission...
We tracted in below zero temperatures, my knuckles cracked and bled, and I could not be any happier. Not a single person let us in... but I could not be any happier!
Correction... ok... there's one pretty hilarious story. One person did let us in.
So we're tracting and there's an hour left before our dinner appointment... This one dude answers but it's over an intercom... He is rude and tells us to go away. I am polite and prepare to leave... A familiar face opens the door. He is a member. They let us in. His poor wife looks shocked at our arrival. We come to realise... that we have now discovered where our dinner appointment for the evening is... because we tracted into them. First they thought we were joking but we really did have no idea that we were supposed to have dinner there... We were gonna just look up their address just before it was time to go to dinner! Ha... so we left... did some more work and came back at the right time! AWKWARD!!!! I was so mortified! But it was pretty funny!! I still laugh when I think about it! hahaha
Anyhoo... that's me for the day!
So be obedient because disobedience is so so so dumb!!!
I love you all! I hope you have a wonderful week!
Byeeeee!!
Thank you for your powerful message on the Sacrament, and being there for longer than the hour and being vigilant and diligent. I really appreciate your insight. Spot on.
ReplyDeleteThe Last Sacrament Cup
ReplyDeleteBy Catherine Arveseth
It was just before the new year, and we were visiting a ward in St. George, Utah, with our five little children—a ward that had no Primary or youth program because it was composed mostly of retired couples. No 12-year-old deacons bumped elbows on the front row; it was the high priests who were preparing to bless and pass the sacrament.
Normally, the ward would have gently filled the padded seats of the chapel, but on this holiday weekend the overflow divider was pushed wide, and we, with a number of other families, were nestled onto metal folding chairs that stretched to the back of the cultural hall.
The meeting progressed as usual, and I watched as a dozen older gentlemen carried trays of bread, then water, through the bursting rows. They were making great effort to manage the unusually large crowd. Their faces were kind. Some had rounded shoulders and bent spines. They whispered directions to each other. One wore cowboy boots. One winked at a little girl in front of us.
My daughters and I took the last cups of water from our tray and handed it to my husband, Doug, who passed the empty tray to the brother standing at the end of our row.
The bishop stood at the pulpit to assess the situation. When he asked who had not received the water, a few pockets of people, including Doug, raised their hands. So the brethren returned to the sacrament table, offered a second prayer on the new water, and delivered it to the waiting members.
Our row was last to receive the water this time, and I noticed that Doug offered the couple next to him the two remaining cups. The tray was empty, and it appeared to me that Doug was the only one in the congregation who hadn’t had the water. I wondered what he would do. Would he let it go? not worry about it this week?
Assuming that everyone had now received the water, those who were passing the sacrament partook of the water themselves, using all the remaining cups. But the bishop asked one more time if anyone had not received the water, and Doug raised his hand. He was, as I suspected, the only one. He looked at me and we smiled, conscious of the craned necks and curious eyes.
The brethren returned to the table for a third prayer on the water. And suddenly, as I heard that phrase “to bless and sanctify this water to the souls of all those who drink of it” (D&C 20:79), a realization crept into my heart—an understanding so keen it pried me clear open and God’s Spirit swept in. It was a reverence I hadn’t felt in too long.
They were praying over one cup. For one person. One soul.
The sacrament mattered. Even for one. Just as the Atonement mattered. For one.
For everyone.
Hundreds of members waited for the “amen.” Dozens watched as the last cup was delivered to my husband, and he put it to his lips, and drank.
I had to look away, my eyes were so wet.
I looked up in time to see these sweet men in suits cover the trays with white linen. Just as Christ’s body, broken for us, was covered. Just as His Atonement covers us. All of us.
You and I are indisputably tied to Christ’s suffering. All our sins, grief, hurts, and losses are held in the drops of His blood. He said He has “graven [us] upon the palms of [His] hands” (Isaiah 49:16).
The emotion of watching Doug take the last sacrament cup changed me, changed my understanding of the Atonement.
Our Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel, broke not just bread, but body and soul. For me. For you. As if we were the only ones who mattered.
Sister Botts, your insight into the Sacrament touched me deeply. Thank you for living close to the Spirit so that your understanding can be quickened so that you can share how you feel about this sacred ordinance. We love you ! ! ! !
ReplyDeleteThank you for this amazing look into the sacrament. It touched my heart and understanding. We love you...keep up the good work.
ReplyDelete