Sunday & The Spirit

I didn't sleep well last night & I woke up with a head ache today. I didn't feel well enough to go to Church, but I wanted to go. I prayed & asked for my headache to go away, or at least calm down enough, so that I could go to Church. Wow, what a blessing it was that I went. Today was phenomenal. I am so glad that I didn't let my head ache stop me from going to Church & I am glad I thought to pray & ask Heavenly Father to help me - which He did.

It's Fast Sunday, which means we get to hear all of the wonderful testimonies of the members of our Ward Family. What a wonderful experience that was today. It's great every month, but for some reason it was much more powerful today. People's testimonies were so strong, powerful, & uplifting. The Spirit was so strong in our Chapel. It was contagious, more and more people kept getting up and bearing deep heartfelt testimonies. Quite a few little children got up & bore their testimonies. Those are the best. Little kids are so pure & sweet - I love hearing from them. The Spirit was so strong & I felt wonderful.

After Sacrament Meeting, as I was on my way to class, a Sister in my ward [who I do not know very well] came up to me & told me how she had been worried about me the last couple of weeks thinking I was very sick or something, because she hadn't seen me at Church. Then she told me how her husband had pointed out that I have been here, my hair is just darker now.  We both laughed and I said to her, "Well thanks for being concerned about me. I didn't even know you knew who I was." And then she started to cry. She said, "Oh yes I do know who you are. I am so grateful for you. I talk about you all of the time when I teach my Sunday School class." I was in shock. I had no idea what I could have ever done to make her notice me; to make her be grateful for me. She proceeded to tell me a story from over a year ago [right after our ward boundaries switched & I didn't know anyone], when I had helped her. She had been having a very hard day & was to teach Sunday School for the first time & it was on the anniversary of one her son's death. My calling was in the Primary at the time & one of her sons, a then 5 year old, was in the class that sat behind mine in Sharing Time.  He was begging her to stay with him, telling her that the other kids were mean to him & that he couldn't bear to be there alone. She kept telling him that she had to leave, to go teach her class. I turned around and asked if she would like me to sit with him. She said yes, and I did, & that was that. I had no idea she was having a hard day. I had no idea I was doing something that would help her & make her notice me forever. I just saw a sad little boy & a mother who needed to go, so I helped.  She cried some more and thanked me. I thanked her for telling me & told her I had no idea that I had helped her so much, but I am so grateful that I did.  It was such a wonderful experience. It reminded me to always be on my best behavior, to always try to do what Jesus would do, to be kind to everyone, because you never know who you may be helping or who may be watching you.

Then I went to Sunday School & it was wonderful! It was on The Atonement & it was a great lesson. [Reese taught & I am aware that I can be a little biased, but it truly was wonderful.] We talked about Physical & Spiritual death and how to overcome them. We talked about how Jesus was the only one who could have made that sacrifice for us. We talked about how lucky we are. The lesson is very great. I highly recommend that everyone take some time & read it today. It got me thinking about one of my very favorite hymns. I Stand All Amazed. I love that song so very much. It brings tears to my eyes every time we sing it. When I am having a hard day, or struggling with something I will find myself singing it. [Which is only done in private because my voice is not a public voice.]

Then to Young Women's - the lesson was on Learning to Share the Gospel & it was great! It was so fun to get the girls thinking about ways they can share the Gospel & list some reasons why they don't. The answers for not sharing the Gospel were: Fear, feeling like they lack the knowledge, & not wanting to offend people. Great reasons. I think we all feel some, if not all, of those feelings at one point or another. I have a nonmember friend that I am very close with & I know that I have felt those things at some point. I have prayed & asked for help to get over those fears so that I may share the Gospel. And guess what? Heavenly Father did help me. He answered my prayers & helped me to share the Gospel with my friend [and many others]. Something that Dawna [our YW president & the teacher today] kept bringing up was "If not from me, then from whom?" If we don't teach people, bear our testimonies, & lead our friends to the Gospel then who will? Which made me think of a story Chris shared with us in his email last month. It's so powerful & strong. It really can help us overcome all the fears we have about sharing the gospel. Here it is:

"My story begins many thousands of years ago in the pre-earth life where we dwelt with our Father in Heaven. As we dwelt there we had many close associates and friends. One whom I was very close to was named Paul. Paul and I participated in many of our pre-earth experiences together. We played, attended classes and learned the things our Father wanted us to hear.

On one occasion one of our brothers came and told us that Father wanted all of us to meet together for a special meeting. We were told that he had something that he wanted us to consider. This excited Paul and me very much because we knew that whenever Father talked to us, he would tell us things that would make us very happy. We could always feel how much He loved us when He spoke to us.
We waited with great anticipation for the time of the meeting. The time finally came, and we went and listened as our Father told us that he was pleased with the progress that we, his children, had made as spirits. He desired that we have the opportunity to obtain the joy and happiness that he has received. In order for us to receive that joy and happiness, He was going to create an earth for us to dwell upon and allow us to gain a physical body like He had.
Paul and I looked at each other and smiled; we had heard of this before and wanted it very much. We were also given the opportunity to choose between two plans. After discussing these two plans, Paul and I decided that we were going to follow our elder brother, Jehovah. We felt that His plan was best and that we would gain the most from it. We also had great trust, admiration, and love for our elder brother, who was so much like our Father. We left the meeting very happy and elated and very pleased with our decision and experience in this grand council.
We both had to wait some time until we were able to come to the earth, but this gave us an opportunity to prepare. At long last the moment I had waited for for an eternity came, and I received my assignment. As I opened the letter I thought of the many places and situations to which I could be assigned. Then I read, “you are to go to earth to be the son of John Barrett and Marie Haws, who are living in Hooper, Utah. They are active members of the Church and have been married in the temple.” Wow! Nothing could have been better, and the first thing I wanted to do was tell Paul. I began to look everywhere for him. I could not find him, and none of my brothers or sisters knew where he was.
Finally I found him. He was all alone, sitting with his head in his hands. In my excitement, I ran to him and exclaimed, “Paul, Paul, I received my assignment!” There was something bothering him, but I was not paying attention to that for this was my greatest moment. I said, “I am going to earth to live in Hooper, Utah, near the headquarters of the Church and my parents are members and have been married in the temple. I am entering an eternal family!” Then I came to the realization that even though Paul was trying, he was not sharing my excitement. I sat down and said, “What's the matter, aren't you happy for me?” Then with a tear in his eye, he said, “Greg, I am so happy for you. I received my assignment also. I, too, am going to the earth to live.” He bowed his head and paused, then he said, “My parents aren't members of the Church. They probably don't even know what a temple is.” Then he looked up and with power he said, “Greg you will go down and grow up with the blessing of the gospel. You will have the church. I will not have the guidance of the gospel or the blessings of the gospel. When we get down there, find me. Please find me and explain to me the gospel because I know that if I have the opportunity to hear the gospel, I will accept it. If only I have the opportunity to hear it. So please, Greg, find me.”
Those words, “find me” have rung loud and clear in my ears ever since. Sometimes it has been a still, small voice; while at other times it has been so audible that I would think that there was someone standing behind me.
In May of 1973 I found Paul. What he had said before was true. He did accept the gospel when he heard it, and on May 26, 1973, I baptized Paul. The joy that I felt is beyond my ability to express. Paul came up out of the water and was physically moved by his experience. He took hold of me and expressed his happiness and gratitude. I felt as though I had fulfilled a promise that I had made to him many years before.
Those two words, “find me,” have been a source of motivation to me on my mission. Even though I have found some, the words are still ringing loud and clear. I am striving to answer the call. I am sure this is what the Lord had reference to in Section 18 of the Doctrine and Covenants, when He said, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people and bring save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father.”

Elder Greg W. Haws
Alabama-Florida Mission
August 1973 "

That story is so powerful. When I think of it I am reminded that I need to be a better member missionary. I need to share my testimony. I need to find my brothers and sisters from the pre-existence & tell them of my testimony & the Gospel. I need to erase my fear! Because, "If not from me, then from whom?"

I am so glad that I went to Church today! I am glad I overcame my head ache & attended all 3 of my meetings. What a blessing to be able to go to Church & come home feeling the way I feel today! I wish everyday could be like this.