I know that God lives; Impressions from church today.
For those who may read and are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, let me explain before beginning.
Each Sunday we have the most important meeting of the week. We call it Sacrament meeting. During this meeting, we receive the bread and water as symbols of Christ, to call us to repentance, and to rededicate ourselves to Him each week. Following this ordinance of Sacrament, meetings are usually talks given by selected members of the congregation. As there is no paid clergy at the local level, any one may be selected. They are given specific topics, but how they approach them is up to them,
Usually the first Sunday of each month is designated as "Fast Sunday". Members fast for two meals, and the money that they would have spent on those two meals is to be given to the church for support of the needy. We also gain spiritual strength by fasting, as it teaches us to master our physical bodies, On Fast Sunday, instead of assigned talks, the Sacrament meeting is opened up for members who feel inspired to bear testimony of Christ. These meetings can be very powerful spiritually.
Okay, so, today, during the testimony portion of the meeting, several youth got up to bear testimony of Christ, framed by their experience they had attending a Youth Conference in Nauvoo, IL. Many historic events of the LDS church occurred there, and it is a very spiritual place. (not to mention great historic information) I loved to hear them bear testimony, to hear them receive a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. My thoughts turned another direction, however, on a much more personal level.
So many times as youth, we can feel God's presence. We are so sure of the truth of what we are taught. We know that He lives! We know that He knows us! We know that the gospel is true! And then...
No, this is not another path of "if only I...." I could have done better as a parent, but my point is that when life isn't what we expected, and it doesn't go according to plan, things may not seem so clear cut. Those things we thought we knew now may be blurry. Or maybe we just reject them all together. Perhaps we see people trying to live the gospel, and failing, and instead of seeing them as people who are struggling, we see.... hypocrites. We see them professing one thing, but seeming to live otherwise.
It is hard to see someone that you love, and that you thought really got it, go a different path. The sorrow for each one that goes astray is unique to each, as is the pain. As a parent, I can only begin to glimpse the pain that the Father feels when we fail Him in our weakness. But God will not force us on the right path. If we turn to it, He will lead us back. My prayer tonight is that my sons and daughters know that I love them, regardless of their path. I try so hard to not judge, but accepting things that seem contrary to what I believe is difficult. My failing, not theirs.
What I felt for each of these youth today was a love for them. I pray that now that they feel this light within them that they nurture and strengthen it. And when times seem dark, that they remember the light, and as important, they are surrounded by people that will love them unconditionally, as the Savior does.
Regardless of how far we stray, the Light of Christ will always burn. And that when times seem darkest, if we look, it will be visible. If we turn to that light, it will never lead us astray.
Each Sunday we have the most important meeting of the week. We call it Sacrament meeting. During this meeting, we receive the bread and water as symbols of Christ, to call us to repentance, and to rededicate ourselves to Him each week. Following this ordinance of Sacrament, meetings are usually talks given by selected members of the congregation. As there is no paid clergy at the local level, any one may be selected. They are given specific topics, but how they approach them is up to them,
Usually the first Sunday of each month is designated as "Fast Sunday". Members fast for two meals, and the money that they would have spent on those two meals is to be given to the church for support of the needy. We also gain spiritual strength by fasting, as it teaches us to master our physical bodies, On Fast Sunday, instead of assigned talks, the Sacrament meeting is opened up for members who feel inspired to bear testimony of Christ. These meetings can be very powerful spiritually.
Okay, so, today, during the testimony portion of the meeting, several youth got up to bear testimony of Christ, framed by their experience they had attending a Youth Conference in Nauvoo, IL. Many historic events of the LDS church occurred there, and it is a very spiritual place. (not to mention great historic information) I loved to hear them bear testimony, to hear them receive a witness of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. My thoughts turned another direction, however, on a much more personal level.
So many times as youth, we can feel God's presence. We are so sure of the truth of what we are taught. We know that He lives! We know that He knows us! We know that the gospel is true! And then...
No, this is not another path of "if only I...." I could have done better as a parent, but my point is that when life isn't what we expected, and it doesn't go according to plan, things may not seem so clear cut. Those things we thought we knew now may be blurry. Or maybe we just reject them all together. Perhaps we see people trying to live the gospel, and failing, and instead of seeing them as people who are struggling, we see.... hypocrites. We see them professing one thing, but seeming to live otherwise.
It is hard to see someone that you love, and that you thought really got it, go a different path. The sorrow for each one that goes astray is unique to each, as is the pain. As a parent, I can only begin to glimpse the pain that the Father feels when we fail Him in our weakness. But God will not force us on the right path. If we turn to it, He will lead us back. My prayer tonight is that my sons and daughters know that I love them, regardless of their path. I try so hard to not judge, but accepting things that seem contrary to what I believe is difficult. My failing, not theirs.
What I felt for each of these youth today was a love for them. I pray that now that they feel this light within them that they nurture and strengthen it. And when times seem dark, that they remember the light, and as important, they are surrounded by people that will love them unconditionally, as the Savior does.
Regardless of how far we stray, the Light of Christ will always burn. And that when times seem darkest, if we look, it will be visible. If we turn to that light, it will never lead us astray.
Comments
Post a Comment