Last Sunday our congregation had a special visitor, one of the twelve Apostles. Just like when Christ organized his church on the earth, His church brought back on the earth has Special Witnesses of Christ, called Apostles (http://mormon.org/restoration/). The most recently called Apostle, Elder Neil L. Andersen, came to our meeting to speak.
Usually when this happens it's to make a big announcement or get us to prepare for something in the near future. Zak and I were thinking they'd split our stake (group of congregations) or urge us to prepare our food storage for an impending disaster. He spoke of Christ our families. "Our children need to know, the things that are unseen are far more important than those that are seen." We need to gain testimonies of Him and teach those we love.
Another speaker was President Clark, the current president of BYU-Idaho. I loved what he shared about our relationship with the Savior, "I call you to repentance, not because you've done anything incredibly wrong, but because it will allow us to draw closer to God." He also warned against letting the natural man pop up and ruin our relationships: be humble, forgive.
Since two wards, or congregations, were meeting at the same time, and they were broadcasting the meeting to the other church buildings in our stake, we had to get there early. We arrived about 45 minutes before the meeting started, and already the benches were filled, and the chairs were going quickly. We managed to get cushioned chairs they'd brought from the women's Relief Society room, and waited for the meeting to begin.
This Apostle of the Lord walked around the room, and welcomed individuals. He came near us and waved, and then shook our hands. What a happy, loving man he is. I'm grateful I got to meet one of the many servants of the Lord.
Usually when this happens it's to make a big announcement or get us to prepare for something in the near future. Zak and I were thinking they'd split our stake (group of congregations) or urge us to prepare our food storage for an impending disaster. He spoke of Christ our families. "Our children need to know, the things that are unseen are far more important than those that are seen." We need to gain testimonies of Him and teach those we love.
Another speaker was President Clark, the current president of BYU-Idaho. I loved what he shared about our relationship with the Savior, "I call you to repentance, not because you've done anything incredibly wrong, but because it will allow us to draw closer to God." He also warned against letting the natural man pop up and ruin our relationships: be humble, forgive.Since two wards, or congregations, were meeting at the same time, and they were broadcasting the meeting to the other church buildings in our stake, we had to get there early. We arrived about 45 minutes before the meeting started, and already the benches were filled, and the chairs were going quickly. We managed to get cushioned chairs they'd brought from the women's Relief Society room, and waited for the meeting to begin.
This Apostle of the Lord walked around the room, and welcomed individuals. He came near us and waved, and then shook our hands. What a happy, loving man he is. I'm grateful I got to meet one of the many servants of the Lord.
