Moving

Posted in: What's the Buzz

After 8 years of 2-bedroom apartment dwelling (it’s a long story) my wife and I have purchased a condominium. And you know what moving means: Address changes for everything, (I hope I remember all the places I need to contact), new neighbors, grocery stores, restaurants, parks. In other words, a new neighborhood. And of course, it means joining a new ward. 

I’ve been a member of my ward for 8 years. For the last 4 years I’ve served as counselor to two Bishops. Called smack dab in the middle of the Covid lockdown, I often conducted Sacrament meeting alone at that time due to lockdown protocols and an oft-traveling Bishop. Baptism by fire, indeed! But I loved every moment of it. As I do my calling now, far from the pandemic conditions that greeted me upon my call date, and after much blood, sweat and tears expended in my ward, I am faced with moving on. How in the world can I leave all these people I’ve served and served with, interviewed, taught, called to callings, set apart and given blessings, exhorted to clean the building, asked to speak, ordained to the Priesthood, planned with, attended with, cried with, laughed with, broke bread (and ice cream!) with, and loved? And will always love? 

I can leave because the Church will be true in my new ward. Like it is in all 24,277 wards on the planet.

In our Latter-day Saint-world of experience, we always seem to find similitudes of the Savior’s life in ours. Christ did all these same things with and for the people he loved. And He too had to leave them. Well, if He can, I can!

I understand the program: The work goes on. The Kingdom does not need me; I do need it. God is no respecter of persons. God does not need us, but we need God. To God, we are everything as He attempts to persuade us to use our agency to accept His gift of eternal life. Considering all of this in juxtaposition of leaving behind loved ones is like examining a pebble while contemplating the creation of the universe. Time to exercise some of that faith I’ve been hearing so much about.

So … I will dive into my new ward. Get to know and love its people. Let the ward leadership know that I am ready, willing and able to serve however they need me to do so. Like I did with my current ward. Which turned into a calling in the Bishopric. Hmm … perhaps I’ll just keep my mouth shut and sit in the very back row during Sacrament meeting! Nah… I’m all in on this Gospel thing, no matter where I live or what ward I attend.

Thanks for reading.

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