Several weeks ago we began to hear about a reunion at the
home of Elder and Sister Zwick. Just
before we left Puerto Rico there was a crisis in the mission and the Zwick’s
were sent down to help get things back on track. We were only there 3-4 days with them before
we finished our mission. In that short
time, however, we felt as though we had been reunited with long-lost
friends. It is amazing how the
fellowship among the Saints will do that.
The reunion was planned for the Friday before Easter. Since General Conference was also on Easter
weekend this year, that created some conflicts.
We decided to go, however, and it was the right decision. The drive to Salt Lake is always long and
boring. Sometimes Gaye and I talk a lot,
and we use that time to resolve communication snags that have arisen in our
relationship. We have learned that those
issues do not resolve themselves, so having opportunities to work through them
is always a good thing.
For me the best part of the reunion was seeing the missionaries,
old
and young,
whom we had grown to love while in the Caribbean.
There were many who could not come, and there
are even a few still out there who have not completed their missions. We will see them next year. Sister Zwick had arranged a nice meal,
followed by a short devotional. Sister
Dew was also in attendance, and it was fun and uplifting to get to know her a
little bit. She has written a couple of
biographies of Church presidents, as well as served in the General Relief
Society Presidency. She is CEO of Deseret
Book and she travels the world on assignment from Church leaders. Her example is a light for all of us. I asked if I could take her photo and she
said I could, so here is a photo of three lovely women. There is a glow about them, don’t you think?
I have been trying to think of why this was such a
heart-warming, fulfilling event. We
don’t get to go to the home of a General Authority very often. In fact, just physically meeting one is a
rare occurrence these days. When I was a
deacon there was a GA, often even one of the Twelve, present at our quarterly
stake conference. We would go up after
the meeting and shake the visitor’s hand.
As the Church has grown those leaders are spread out more, however, and
even the bi-annual stake conferences don’t have GA visitors very often
now. I have learned that they are simply
ordinary people, like you and me, who have been given extraordinary
assignments. Most of them set a great example
for the rest of us of how we should magnify our own callings. Whether we serve as the hand, the eye, the
head, or the little toe of the body of the Church, the thing that will make the
biggest difference will be how we serve.
Paul fittingly described it in 1 Cor 12.
It is a beautiful concept.
We drove immediately back home, arriving just after
midnight. All our kids except the Alaska
contingent were here for Conference and Easter.
It is one of our favorite family times.
When lived in Alaska we were blessed to receive a broadcast of one of
the sessions, but it would come at 0700 on Sunday morning. Our little kids didn’t like to get up that
early. We would often try to have friends or neighbors over to share the Gospel
message with them. There were no
recording devices then, so Gaye started making cinnamon rolls for the
occasion. We would have orange juice
with the rolls as we watched the broadcast.
The circumstances have changed, but the tradition has continued. So this Easter morning we had cinnamon rolls
and orange juice as we watched the Choir broadcast and then the first Sunday
session. This year Gaye made the best
cinnamon rolls I have ever tasted!
Just a brief mention of some things I learned from this
year’s conference. There has been a lot
of commotion the past several months about same-gender marriage and the rights
of LGBT people. There has also been a
big noise by some inside and some outside the Church about ordaining
women. There have been some high profile
defections and church discipline actions when a couple of “members” have gotten
way out of line. In conference this year
there were even some rude members who stood and shouted their disagreement when
the church officers were presented for sustaining vote. The instructions were given to raise their
hands, which is what all who sustain the leaders did, but they decided to stand
and shout. President Uchtdorf recognized
their dissention, and he instructed them to contact their stake presidents for
further review and action. We don’t
contend with those who disagree with us.
God never argues with Satan, either.
It was very like the Sonya Johnson affair of several years ago
when the Equal Rights Amendment (a title of pure propaganda value) was a big
issue. D&C 121, especially verse
33, “As well might man stretch forth his
puny arm…” tells the truth. Members might kick against the pricks and
fight against God, but in the end, those who do so will be the ones who are
hurt. Gamaliel offered some advice to
the Sanhedrin when the social opinions differed from the actions of Church
leaders. In Acts 5:39 he basically made
this statement: Either this Church is
led by inspired men of God, and therefore by God himself, or it is not. If God is in charge, then we will do best to
get in line with what he tells us to do.
If God is not in charge, there is no hope and we might as well do what
Peggy Lee said in her song “Is That All There Is?”—let’s break out the booze
and have a ball.
I choose to believe that God is in charge. I have learned that I am not smarter than God
is. He knows what is best, even for
me. I think we need to stop trying to
persuade God to do things our way and just accept his wisdom. Happiness lies in being obedient. There is no other way.
