Hna. Gorham was asked to say the closing prayer at the fireside on Tuesday so we went early and sat on the stand, watching 1200 elders fill the auditorium. As a group of elders bounded down the stairs with enthusiasm, Elder Hull leaned over to me and quoted "Walk swiftly and with purpose." Oh missionaries! How I love thee!
Each meeting begins with a prelude of hymns that we all sing together. We sang some of my favorites this Tuesday night-- Come follow me, Count your many blessing. Then the chorister stepped to the mic and said "We do not stand to sing the hymns of Zion, but if an apostle were to walk into the room, we would stand to show our respect." The room erupted in whispers! An apostle!? We continued to sing prelude, and then the whole auditorium rose, and I looked to see walking up to the podium Elder cook and his wife. My companion and I exchanged grins. An apostle of the Lord was speaking to us, and here we were sitting just across the stand from him!
He gave a beautiful sermon on bringing God's sheep into the fold. His wife spoke on using the hymns to help us remember to develop Christlike attributes. And at the end of the meeting, Elder Cook blessed us all that we would see the blessing of our service in our lives, in the lives of those we teach, and in the lives of our families. He blessed us that we would not worry about feeling inadequate, "We all feel inadequate, welcome to your mission-- welcome to life!" The spirit that filled the room was certainly not unfamiliar-- it is the Holy Ghost that I spend every day teaching people about-- that warm feeling of gozo y paz is the witness of the Holy Ghost that Elder Cook is an Apostle of the Lord.
After the devotional our district met for a testimony meeting. I love to listen to the elders and sisters in my district because every one of them recognizes their responsibility to "invite others to come unto Christ" and the Spirit is so strong as we talk together of our own knowledge of God. Elder Watkins, always enthusiastic (as only a 19 year old can be) nearly jumped to his feet with excitement when it was his turn to share. "I just kept thinking how this was an Apostle, just like Peter and James and John in the Bible. Christ called apostles to the earth, and these men are just like that! They have the same priesthood, the same responsibility, it's just so cool!!"
We believe in the same organization that existed in the primitive Church, namely apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists and so forth. This is the work of God! It has always been His work and it always will be His work. Can we not then go on in so great a cause? (sorry can't pull up the scriptures to quote that right!
I love this work, I love the joy of this truth.
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