Sunday Thoughts Without Pictures

It's really challenging to put my thoughts here without any pictures to help explain what prompts those thoughts, what reaches my mind and heart.  But today will be one of those picture free times.

Church this morning.  Insta-choir  for the special musical number. Which means a song that is familiar to everyone is sung and all are invited to come to the front and sing together as the ward choir. Today was a patriotic song.  Our ward seems to shrink in the summer with all the travel that people do. So it felt like most of the congregation was up singing together while few of us sat in the pews enjoying the music.  The song ended and all of a sudden a small toddler loudly proclaimed:  "Yay, Daddy, you did it!!"  I personally thought that was the cutest part of the meeting.  

I understand (even though it can be individually challenging) the focus on the youth of the church.  We need them.  Frankly, I think the church needs everyone.  But the last few years has seen stronger emphasis on helping the youth strengthen their testimonies and their commitment while helping them learn skills to help them throughout their lives - responsibilities, working together, caring for others, small leadership roles.  All of those are excellent and I wish that I had had that kind of focus expended on me as I was growing up.  But then again, the world was very different at that time.

Anyway, our Bishop has been encouraging our music leader to involve the youth, and to get some of them not only leading the music but playing the organ as well.  Today we had a sweet little neighbor lead the Sacrament hymn.  It was very sweet.  She clearly had practiced leading the song and did a very fine job.  Even smiled a time or two when she caught her Dad's eye. What a head start these youth are receiving.

Then I finished up listening to the podcast that I like (but don't always manage to complete) listening to.  This week's Come Follow Me became more pertinent to me as I listened to three men discuss these sections of the Doctrine and Covenants, relating personal experiences that strengthened their own dedication to being good disciples of our Savior.  

Repentance is a strong theme throughout the scriptures.  I am grateful for repentance and for today's reminder that our Creator provides the sacrament for us to be able to renew our covenants and continue our repentance process each and every week.  Not a once or twice a year thing, but a weekly focus on doing our best in every way possible to know Jesus Christ and become His. Yes, gratitude for the sacrament.