Our morning started with steady rain, and continued throughout the day. Mom and I had our early morning devotional and prayers to begin our day. We then went to the stake center for a cleaning assignment. The Nauvoo Wards have a hard time making their cleaning assignments, so the senior missionaries have been picking up the slack. I understand that the Nauvoo Stake will hire a service to come into the building each week to do the cleaning. It is sad that the Saints will miss the opportunity for service in their own meeting house.
I had the early shift at the Browning Gun shop and mom had a split shift at the John Taylor home. Those two historical sites are nearly right across the street from each other. With the rain falling most of the day, I could not even break away to say hello! But, we had the car there and mom took it home for her lunch break, and I took it home after my shift. I then returned at 5:00pm to pick her up. Then we had Rendezvous tonight and played for about 80 guests. They were a great audience and mom and I had fun with our parts. Hint: "Having fun" can be interpreted as "we did not miss any of our lines". (That's the language of theater...)
And, tomorrow is our Fast Sunday meetings. The first Sunday of the month gives each of us an opportunity to Fast for two complete meals and donate the amount of money for those two meals to the Fast Offering contributions to the Church. For mom and me, those meals are such a privilege to miss, and make this monthly donation to assist those who have more needs than we do.
Along with fasting, and attending our weekly Sacrament Meeting, I appreciate the thoughts shared with us at General Conference, by Elder David A. Bednar, on the cleansing process made available to us on the Sabbath Day. Our Sacrament observance makes our Sabbath Day a Holy Day..., an opportunity to renew sacred covenants and remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Here is a summary of Elder Bednar's talk from the Church website;
Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
As members of the Lord’s restored Church, we are blessed both by our initial cleansing from sin associated with baptism and by the potential for an ongoing cleansing from sin made possible through the companionship and power of the Holy Ghost. …
… The act of partaking
of the sacrament, in and of itself, does not remit sins. But as we
prepare conscientiously and participate in this holy ordinance with a
broken heart and a contrite spirit, then the promise is that we may always have the Spirit of the Lord to be with us. And by the sanctifying power of the Holy Ghost as our constant companion, we can always retain a remission of our sins. …
The ordinances of
baptism by immersion, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy
Ghost, and the sacrament are not isolated and discrete events; rather,
they are elements in an interrelated and additive pattern of redemptive
progress. Each successive ordinance elevates and enlarges our spiritual
purpose, desire, and performance. …
… I promise and
testify we will be blessed with increased faith in the Savior and
greater spiritual assurance as we seek to always retain a remission of
our sins and, ultimately, to stand spotless before the Lord at the last
day.
Mom and I are both very thankful for the opportunity afforded us to attend Sacrament Meeting, and our other meetings, and renew these marvelous and sacred promises that we have made to our Heavenly Father. We have been blessed so abundantly to be here on this mission and to be able to be tutored and taught the precious principles of the Gospel as observed by the early Nauvoo Saints. We are looking forward to sharing what we have learned with our precious family and friends back home!
What a blessing the sabbath is❤️ Love you!
ReplyDeleteWe love following you two. We are like you, just so grateful to be part of this missionary force. We think and speak of you often. Sounds like while we were away the kids were playing and put us in two separate wards. We will miss that association with you. Love you both
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