This past week was the birth of my first grandbaby. What a blessing and joy! I will write more on that later or in Pink Mimosas.
The topic of this post came to mind last week when a mother of three young boys posted on Facebook that she was supposed to bring her oldest, 9 year-old, son to a church meeting early so that he could practice with the children's choir. It was a special meeting, called a Stake Conference, that was 45 minutes away from her regular church building. Her husband, a regular church-goer, was out of town and would not be able to assist with the 45 minute drive, the hour long practice, the two hour church meeting (nursery would not be available) and the 45 minute drive home. She was questioning the importance of this meeting and putting herself through all of this.
As I read that, I reflected on how many meetings like this that I have attended for 21 years, since my husband stopped going to church with me. I remember church meetings wondering the same thing, as I was on my way to the foyer with a screaming baby, and an older child in tow because they don't want to sit by themselves, knowing that I would remember nothing from the meeting. Or, when there was a teenager, getting babies ready to go to church and trying to manage the discussion and complaints from the teenager when they don't want to go. The long drive to the meetinghouse? Done it. It is hard, sometimes, and long. Especially when you pull over whenever there is a fight. That 45 minute drive turns into an hour in a hurry.
So, why put myself through this? Because I know that I teach by example. My kids know that going to church is what we do on Sunday, every Sunday. We go to partake of the Sacrament to remember the promises we made to the Savior to serve him and others by keeping the commandments. If we haven't been keeping the commandments, the Sacrament time becomes an opportunity for reflection on how I can do better, and how grateful I am that the Savior has made it possible for me to be forgiven and try again. My children learn that every Sunday, if not immediately, eventually.
They also learn that church makes them feel happy. If we go to church with a cloud in the car, after church, everyone is smiling. I remind them of how they feel, every Sunday, so they can learn for themselves the uplifting Spirit that church brings.
If they choose to not go to church as adults, how much more important going to church every Sunday as children is for them. I heard a story once of a child that had attended Primary when she was young. As she got older, she didn't attend church. One day, as an adult, she went to church and felt the Spirit there, then remembered that she had felt that Spirit before and desired more.
I also go for me. When I had those busy days when my church time was spent changing diapers, calming crying children, or mediating my children's arguments, I can tell you that going to church is still worth it for me. I am never disappointed. I always learn something, either from the speakers, the lessons taught, or from the Spirit pointing out some thing that will bring the next week more peace and direction to my life.
I am not just taking care of my own testimony and conversion, though. I am teaching my children, who will teach their children, who will teach generations to come that the Savior sacrificed for us so we can, through his grace and our willingness to follow Him, return to live with a loving Father in Heaven, and that by serving Him and attending church we will be blessed.
