Going back to Jackson
Okay, not Jackson a city, it would be a street.
Today I went to church in a building that I hadn't attended in years. On Jackson in Gladstone, or KC, whichever. It was the Platte Woods Ward, of the Platte City Missouri Stake, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The occasion was that my grandson, Paul, was participating in his first Primary Program, and I wanted to be there to see it. Of course my friends who are Latter Day Saints know what all that means, but for those that don't, let me explain.
Primary is where children from 3-11 attend various classes, and learn gospel principles in a format appropriate to their age. For those old timers in the church we knew it as Jr. Sunday School. Once a year, the Primary puts together a program for a Sacrament Meeting. This program includes many songs, scripture quotations, and personal experiences, all blended throughout. It is very trying for those that have to put it together, in particular the adult at the pulpit. They have the hardest job of all; ensuring that each part is said in the order it is supposed to, even if the child suddenly gets very shy when standing in front of the Congregation. What they emphasized this year was being a child of God. Paul stayed on the riser the whole time, but when it came time to do his part, he became very shy. He was awesome!
Any way, the point I wanted to make was attending this building brought back memories like crazy. When they asked visitors to introduce themselves, I stood and named myself, my wife, and mom, and pointed out that I was a charter member of the Ward when it was created. That I had met in that building on Jackson, when we met in the Golden Oaks School that was there before. That school building had the most beautiful oak beams in the gym, that when we used it as our chapel, they designed the color of the room around them. I wonder what happened to them? I hope that they didn't just destroy them when the new church building was complete and they demolished the school.
As it turned out, another charter member of the ward was there. My favorite seminary teacher, and best one of all time, Cathy. Another point for those that don't know; Seminary is a study class which high school kids attend BEFORE going to school. Cathy has told me she remembers me sleeping in the back of class. She was surprised that I actually learned stuff that she taught.
See? Memory lane, one right after another.
Other than Cathy, (who was just visiting, and not a current member of that Congregation) I didn't see anyone from the old ward.
One other thing about the old days, I believe that I was the first missionary sent from the Platte Woods Ward, way back in 1983. I was sent to the Spain Seville Mission for a period of 18 months.
While most of the christian world is familiar with mission trips, perhaps not the process for Latter Day Saints.
Young men, young women, and senior couples or sisters submit paperwork through their local Bishop. That paperwork is evaluated in Salt Lake, and after careful prayer and consideration, a mission call is issued. The person sending in the paperwork has no idea where they will be called to serve or when. Today they receive a text or email with a link to the portal where they can access their call on line, rather than wait weeks for the letter. Did I mention that they have to pay for the trip themselves? Young men serve for two years, young women for eighteen months, and senior missionaries vary between a year and eighteen months. They can call home on Christmas and Mother's day. They have one day a week when they are allowed to write emails, and do other tasks, cleaning, laundry, etc.
Probably most have found this boring, but it was truly a gift to be able to have those memories come over me, while enjoying church with my son's family. It was a good day. And memories rekindled and built that will be cherished.
oh, and remember the old days when we could refer to us church members as LDS, or Mormons?
Today I went to church in a building that I hadn't attended in years. On Jackson in Gladstone, or KC, whichever. It was the Platte Woods Ward, of the Platte City Missouri Stake, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The occasion was that my grandson, Paul, was participating in his first Primary Program, and I wanted to be there to see it. Of course my friends who are Latter Day Saints know what all that means, but for those that don't, let me explain.
Primary is where children from 3-11 attend various classes, and learn gospel principles in a format appropriate to their age. For those old timers in the church we knew it as Jr. Sunday School. Once a year, the Primary puts together a program for a Sacrament Meeting. This program includes many songs, scripture quotations, and personal experiences, all blended throughout. It is very trying for those that have to put it together, in particular the adult at the pulpit. They have the hardest job of all; ensuring that each part is said in the order it is supposed to, even if the child suddenly gets very shy when standing in front of the Congregation. What they emphasized this year was being a child of God. Paul stayed on the riser the whole time, but when it came time to do his part, he became very shy. He was awesome!
Any way, the point I wanted to make was attending this building brought back memories like crazy. When they asked visitors to introduce themselves, I stood and named myself, my wife, and mom, and pointed out that I was a charter member of the Ward when it was created. That I had met in that building on Jackson, when we met in the Golden Oaks School that was there before. That school building had the most beautiful oak beams in the gym, that when we used it as our chapel, they designed the color of the room around them. I wonder what happened to them? I hope that they didn't just destroy them when the new church building was complete and they demolished the school.
As it turned out, another charter member of the ward was there. My favorite seminary teacher, and best one of all time, Cathy. Another point for those that don't know; Seminary is a study class which high school kids attend BEFORE going to school. Cathy has told me she remembers me sleeping in the back of class. She was surprised that I actually learned stuff that she taught.
See? Memory lane, one right after another.
Other than Cathy, (who was just visiting, and not a current member of that Congregation) I didn't see anyone from the old ward.
One other thing about the old days, I believe that I was the first missionary sent from the Platte Woods Ward, way back in 1983. I was sent to the Spain Seville Mission for a period of 18 months.
While most of the christian world is familiar with mission trips, perhaps not the process for Latter Day Saints.
Young men, young women, and senior couples or sisters submit paperwork through their local Bishop. That paperwork is evaluated in Salt Lake, and after careful prayer and consideration, a mission call is issued. The person sending in the paperwork has no idea where they will be called to serve or when. Today they receive a text or email with a link to the portal where they can access their call on line, rather than wait weeks for the letter. Did I mention that they have to pay for the trip themselves? Young men serve for two years, young women for eighteen months, and senior missionaries vary between a year and eighteen months. They can call home on Christmas and Mother's day. They have one day a week when they are allowed to write emails, and do other tasks, cleaning, laundry, etc.
Probably most have found this boring, but it was truly a gift to be able to have those memories come over me, while enjoying church with my son's family. It was a good day. And memories rekindled and built that will be cherished.
oh, and remember the old days when we could refer to us church members as LDS, or Mormons?
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