Yesterday about noon, I received a text message from the two missionaries assigned to Jefferson 1st. It said something to the fact that two boys, Tyler, age 10, and Caleb, age 8, were being baptized that evening at 6:00 pm and we were invited. I texted back that we would be there and asked what they wanted us to do to help? They responded, sing and dance. Now Saturday is our P-day and we are usually very busy. To get dressed and drive up to Ogden almost seemed like an inconvenience. Never the less, we did get dressed and go to the baptism. When we got there, we met Tyler and Caleb, two cute boys, and their father. The missionaries had run into their dad one day while out "finding". Dad was a divorced, single dad, who loved his boys immensely. Dad was somewhat inactive. The elders mentioned to him that the boys should be baptized. Over a period of a month, the missionaries were able to help remind dad about the gospel and help them get prepared for baptism. So here it was, their baptism. The bishop came and conducted. His wife played the piano. Their daughter, a returned missionary, gave a talk about the Holy Ghost. There was one other church service missionary, Dick and I, and the missionaries. That's it. No one else was there. The Dad wanted to wait for a little while, I'm sure that he was hoping that someone else would come. No body else did. Dick said the opening prayer, and I the closing. I wondered where everybody else was? Too busy to come? Not interested? Where was the primary representative? The home teacher? Any body else that knew and cared about these two boys? Any other relative? It was very apparent that the dad loved his boys. He committed to becoming active and bringing the boys to church. It was a very lovely service and the Spirit was there in abundance. I thought back to my fleeting thoughts about what an inconvenience it might have been to go to a baptism of someone we hadn't me. I was so grateful that we had made the decision to go. I wondered about how many times we are invited, entreated, to come and be a disciple of Christ and how many times I have just turned it down because it wasn't convenient.
Today in the Davis County Conference that was held, Elder Holland invited us to basically "Step Up" and be doers of the word, not just hearers only. We were encouraged to find something from the past general conference that we had heard, or something from the days talks that we had heard and find out how we can improve and be doers of the word. I have decided that I needed to be a doer of the word, to be a disciple of Christ at all times, and in all places, and "step up" and be a better follower of Christ.
Pres. Uchtdorf, in the same meeting today, talked about bullying. I fear that I am guilty in that as well. Do I look down at others for any reason, and think I am better than they? I have resolved that I will be more loving and kind, to Elder Lund, to my children, grandchildren, other relatives, and to my neighbors. I will try to love everyone for who they are, not judge them, or think or speak unkind words about them. In short, I will demonstrate my love for everyone and not just be a hearer of the word.
This weekend has been a great time for me to reflect about being a better disciple of Christ. It is time for me to Step Up in all that I say and do. I truly love my Heavenly Father, and son, Jesus Christ, and want to truly be their disciple so that I may return again to their presence.
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