Last year in April General Conference Russell M. Nelson gave a talk on the Sabbath that we have heard quoted from over and over again as we have been taught in lessons and sacrament meetings of the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. (April 2015 The Sabbath is a Delight) Not too long after that conference a letter was read over the pulpit in our sacrament meeting stating that we would soon be changing our meeting schedule so that sacrament meeting would be first, followed by our other classes. One of the reasons given for this change was to improve reverence in sacrament meeting and to set a tone for the rest of the meetings that day.
I remember hearing that and cheering inside, because I knew that it would be easier to keep my little ones happy in sacrament meeting when it was no longer at the end of the 3 hour block. Then I had a realization. It was going to be really really hard for me to be on time for sacrament meeting. And because of my calling, (ward organist), it would be rather noticeable if I walked in late. As it was, with 9:00 church and Relief Society first I quite often did not make it there early enough to play the opening song, let alone prelude music. Sometimes I would walk in, feeling terrible, as everyone was already singing the opening song. The Relief Society President was always so kind and understanding, but I always felt bad when I didn't make it.
And then our wonderful bishop issued a request of the ward. With the change in sacrament meeting time, he asked us to be there 10 minutes before the sacrament meeting even started, so that we could listen to the prelude music and prepare ourselves to take the sacrament. How was I ever going to do it? That meant having 6 children and myself ready to walk out the door for church by about 8:30am.
I came home that day and thought about things and a line from Elder Nelson's General Conference talk kept coming to my mind. He said that as he went about his Sabbath, making choices on how to spend his time, he would always ask himself this question, "What Sign do I want to give to God?"
I decided right then that I wanted to make some changes to my Sabbath morning that would show my Heavenly Father first of all that I sustain my bishop and will always make every effort to do as he asks, but most importantly, I wanted to show Heavenly Father that I love him and want to do all I can to reverence his day, and make my Sunday meetings and partaking of the sacrament a more meaningful and spiritual experience for myself and my family.
I began to prepare better on Saturday for the upcoming Sabbath. I packed the diaper bag with snacks and activities, made sure all the Sunday clothes were clean, and most important….that we knew where all the Sunday clothes and shoes were. I put a greater emphasis into getting the children to bed on time on Saturday night so that they would have an easier time waking up in the morning. I also started going to sleep earlier myself on Saturday night. We would leave family parties a little earlier when they happened on Saturday night as well. I began to get up much earlier than I had in the past and get myself completely ready, fix a quick breakfast, then wake the kids so that they could start getting ready.
If we left the house by 8:40 we could be walking into the chapel at 8:50, sit down and be there for the prelude music. We were able to keep this up right until the end of December when our time for church changed to 11am. Needless to say, Sunday mornings have been much easier for me these last couple of weeks since the time changed. We even are able to make time for family scriptures before church.
But, being on time for church is not the only blessing that came from my efforts. After a number of weeks of the new schedule, and my renewed efforts to prepare for Sunday morning and be on time, I began noticing a difference in how I personally felt at church. I was feeling the Spirit more. I was learning more. The talks seemed to be more for me. I was experiencing more personal revelation as I sat in lessons. I was feeling happier. The spirit that I felt beginning right there at the beginning of sacrament meeting with the prelude music, and then the sacrament and the talks, was carrying into my other meetings. That spirit was carrying into the rest of my day. I bear testimony that I know that preparing well for the Sabbath brings with it more blessings than just being on time for church.
No comments:
Post a Comment