We didn’t get the longest night sleep because we didn’t get to bed until somewhere between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m., And we had church at 10:00 a little ways down the highway, gratefully not far. But I think we probably woke up somewhere around 9ish? I don’t remember for sure.
It was Fast Sunday, so I didn’t eat breakfast. I spent most of my time stretching on a walkway by the bathrooms of the rest area as I was waiting for my mom to get ready.
Once we were both set to go, we headed down to the little town of Boulder, Montana. They had a little branch (That’s the name of the size of congregation, a branch is smaller than a ward, which is another term for a congregation.).
Anyway, It’s always a little awkward for me going to a different congregation where I don’t know anybody, and especially so when I know I’m going to draw attention to myself being in jeans in a polo shirt instead of a shirt and tie. I don’t really like drawing attention to myself in those kinds of situations, but hey, when I left on my trip, I wasn’t expecting to be going to church again. But here I am. I’ve been going to church since I went back to Utah, and So there I was in Boulder, Montana.
Being that it was fast Sunday (members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints have one day a month [the first Sunday of the month, generally], when many voluntarily fast from food and water and donate the money they would have spent on the food they would have eaten to those in need.
Anyway, it was a little tiny branch, maybe 40 people, but it was still quite a full sacrament testimony meeting (on fast Sundays in the Church of Jesus Christ latter-day saints, that Sunday when everyone is fasting, after the ordinance of the sacrament, they also, instead of having regular sermons, have a testimony meeting where anyone who wants to can get up and share their testimony of what they believe or feel that they know to be true).
After the sacrament meeting, this particular Sunday rotation was being split off into priested and released society classes. I don’t really want to explain that, because I’m tired, and it’s late, so if you’re not familiar with what that is, Google will be a good friend. 🙃
So I went to the priesthood class, and it was… Phenomenal. I felt the spirit for the first time in a good while. It was an awesome priesthood meeting. The comments from the other brethren were just so wonderful, there are desires for living just good and wonderful lives were obvious, and their dedication and determination and sincerity was out on their sleeves. It was just so… Wonderful. 🙂
I miss that. I think I mentioned that even during the last couple of years or so that I haven’t been an active member of my church, when gospel topics come up, I still had that same passion, even though I wasn’t a part of it anymore and sometimes didn’t consider myself a part of it anymore.
Such a great experience. 😊
After church, my mom and I stayed on the church grounds, and we watched I think an entire session of general conference that we had missed having spent time with family who are not members of the church, and feeling like it was more important to be present with those family members than to watch the conference immediately when it came out.
So we were playing catch up a little bit, and I think we watched one whole session well picnicking in the grass of the little tiny church building.
Good stuff.
We spent nearly the entire day there on the church grounds, because after conference stuff come away wanted to make sure that we had reception for the mission call opening for one of my nephews. So after tuning into the zoom mission call opening, my Mom and I headed down the road to a campground that I had found earlier in the day looking online. The reviews said that the campground was free and that it was a great campground, aside from the fact that it was right next to the highway.
Given that we use noise makers to drown out background noise, it doesn’t really matter how close to the highway we are, so we had it on over.
I was in a super duper gospel excitement mode. That probably doesn’t make any sense, but my brain isn’t working very well right now. I had a good little gospel conversation with my mom, and then I had a little gospel conversation with my friend Cory, and I just… Did a bit of thinking.
Lots on my mind to think about and work through. I think I did some stretching before bed, and then I crashed for the night.
I’m probably missing stuff, but it was a really good day. I really really good day.
Lift the world.
~ stephen
Lift the World 