Blessed

As most of you who read this blog know, 2 weeks ago our ward was split. James and I had been in the Cactus Lane Ward for just a short 7 months. I was in Utah when James sent me a text letting me know the ward had just been split. We knew this was coming. Yet, I had such mixed feelings when I read those words. We are now members of the newly formed ward, the White Tank Mountain Ward. I have been a part of a ward split one other time. But I wanted to put down my thoughts and feelings about this process. It seemed to have more of an impact this time around.

Maybe it's that I'm older, maybe more involved, that this whole process became so real to me. I wasn't there when they announced who our new bishop would be. However, when Bishop Garrett came to our home to issue me a calling I received a very strong personal witness that he was in fact called of God. He is who our Heavenly Father has chosen to lead our ward. It was an awe inspiring moment for me. As silly as that may sound there is no other way to describe it. Then, on Sunday I reveled in the way our sacrament meeting ran so smoothly. There was no craziness, no chaos, absolutely no confusion. The bishop led our meeting as if he had done it one hundred times before. As he read the names of the new auxiliary leaders, scout leaders, primary teachers, choir director, organist and so on we each raised our arms and sustained each of these members. I was one of these. I have been called to serve as the 2nd counselor in the Relief Society Presidency.

Yesterday was one I won't soon forget. After a wonderful sacrament meeting, James was set apart by the stake as the membership clerk and was then given a sweet blessing and was told of the importance of the work he would do. Then in Relief Society we were asked to stand and bear our own testimonies. As I stood, I bore testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel, the church and the love our Heavenly Father has for each one of us. I bore a sweet and personal knowledge of the Atonement and it's healing power. I bore witness of the living Christ whose life and ministry were the perfect example of love and charity by which each of us should pattern our own lives. I wanted every sister to know that they are Daughters of God and that there is power in that knowledge. While the world is crumbling around us we are blessed to be anchored firmly to the truth. I wanted them to know that there is so much we have to be joyful about. I love the scripture in which Lehi, speaking to his son Jacob says, "Men are that they might have joy" I believe that Heavenly Father truly wants us to be happy and that this is one of His divine purposes for us, to find joy and happiness in this and the life to come. I bore testimony of the divine organization of the Relief Society and it's purpose. I loved the article in this month's Ensign in which Julie B. Beck, Relief Society Genereal president was interviewed. In this she says that as Releif Society sisters, we are united first and foremost because of our faith in Christ. When Joseph Smith organized the Relief Society he said that we were not only to look after the poor but also to save souls and this is still our purpose.

I was humbled as I listened to the testimonies of our new president, 1st couselor and secretary. Then to hear almost every sister stand and bear her own special witness of the divine calling of our new bishopric and our new Relief Society presidency. At the end of this meeting the bishopric came in and set each of us apart. This has always been something I have loved. I was set apart by the bishop, his first couselor, and my sweet husband. I was also given a beautiful blessing by our new bishop. I came home yesterday with a strengthened testimony of the pure and absolute love of my Father in Heaven.