SIMPLY COMING TO CHURCH

In attending Church on Sunday, a number of thoughtful, friendly souls of the Ward family asked. "So, how are you doing?".  Some acknowledged that it must certainly be different.  One of mom’s seminary students, turned around and asked “how is it being back in the trenches?”  It probably was odd for this high school senior to see someone sitting on the second row, in the congregation who has been sitting on the stand essentially his whole life.  Since a few folks had asked about COMING to church, it prompted some thinking, ‘What is different besides not sitting on the stand?”

•    First off, I didn’t look at my calendar before going to bed Saturday night and set my alarm for whatever early morning meeting I had the next day.
•    I didn’t lay out my suit and Sunday clothes in another bedroom the evening before so I would not disturb mom as I got ready the next morning.
•    I didn’t leave particularly early to make sure I was sitting on the stand well before the meeting started.
•    I didn’t walk down the front row of Aaronic Priesthood holders and shake all their hands.
•    I didn’t view all the lovely members and families as they came in the chapel doors and sat down to worship as the reverent prelude music was played.
•    I didn’t get asked if there was any Stake business.
•    I didn’t listen to the announcements with alertness regarding what other announcements might have been made, nor did I focus on the accuracy of those which were made, or the appropriateness of an activity I had not heard of previously.
•    I did get invited to say the opening prayer.
•    I did get invited to bless the sacrament.  (Altho’ before I went up a Priest came and so the invitation was withdrawn.)
•    I didn’t ponder what training might be a good idea in the next leadership meeting based on how the meeting was conducted and business administered.
•    I didn’t follow intently the Sacrament Prayers to verify their exactness.  I did listen and ponder for their application to my own renewing.
•    I didn’t listen to the talks assessing their doctrinal correctness and their giving effectiveness.
•    I didn’t judge the High Council speaker about whether he did a good job covering the assigned topic, nor if he picked hymns that mirrored the theme of the day.
•    I didn’t scan the congregation during the rest hymn pondering who might be good to propose for open positions.
•    I didn’t sit throughout the meeting preparing a virtual 5-10 minute talk in case the main speaker went short and I was asked to “take a few minutes”.
•    I didn’t thank the speakers after the meeting for the quality and content of their talks, but rather, I did express how they had touched me.
•    In the middle hour, I didn’t attend the Gospel Principles Class, or a youth Sunday School class or stick my head in Primary to see how things were going.
•    In the third hour, I didn’t visit the Elder’s Quorum and assess if the lesson was prepared sooner than within the last two hours.  I didn’t meet with the Aaronic Priesthood and evaluate if Quorum Presidents were being trained in conducting priesthood business.  I didn’t visit the Young Women’s class and enjoy wonderful Teaching-In-The-Savior’s-Way.
•    I did sit in High Priest Group Meeting realizing I would be there week after week from now on without thinking if the Group Leadership was doing a good job or if it was about time for a release.
•    I didn’t pull out a little 2 1/2" x 4" yellow card that I always carry in my shirt pocket and make a single note due to a prompting I had about something that might be discussed in a future council meeting nor jot a few ideas on the back of the card for an upcoming talk or lesson idea.
•    I did leave church, heading for home having enjoyed being with my Ward family.
•    I STILL didn't sit with mom, as she had been asked to play the organ so she was up on the stand.