Priesthood in Action

Yesterday I took Dad to Church.  We went to St. Joseph's Villa where Mom was a patient and where they both served their mission.  Dad loves it there so much and I can certainly understand why.

The first time I ever went to a meeting there I was truly humbled by the simple faith of the members and the kindness of the people providing services for those who cannot do for themselves.  This entails helping the patients get from their rooms down to the chapel, passing out hymnals, passing the Sacrament, giving talks, prayers, greeting, taking the patients to Relief Society or Priesthood Meeting, and then back to their rooms, etc. The particular Sunday that I visited, a ward in the Stake was providing support for the branch.  The majority of the support came from young men and women.  It was an extraordinarily touching scene to watch as young, Aaronic Priesthood holders passed the Sacrament to the members of the branch.  There was a woman in attendance who was obviously in some state of dementia or forgetfulness.  She clung tenderly to a life-sized baby doll and would intermittently sing to it.  As the Sacrament came to her the young man helped her balance the baby doll so that she could partake of the sacrament, and even patiently helped her as she tried to get the baby doll to take the Sacrament.  Another woman was blind and another young man gently helped her by pressing the bread and water gently to her lips.  Another woman seemed almost catatonic - but as the young Aaronic Priesthood holder helped her get the emblems to her mouth it became clear that she was having difficulty even chewing so he touched her mouth and jaw ever so carefully to help her chew.   I was reminded of the Savior's love and service as I watched these young men stand in the shoes of the Master to provide the life-saving tokens of the Atonement to the "least of these".

Yesterday the ward that was helping seemed to be comprised more of middle age people...in fact I don't think I saw a youth at all.  However, the scenes played out there were just as touching as they have always been.  There was an older gentleman, perhaps in his 60's, that was wheel chair bound.  Another Brother wheeled him to the area that the Aaronic Priesthood sits so that the older gentleman could pass the Sacrament.  At first I didn't think anything of it...but after the prayer was said the scene that unfolded was truly special.  The Brother that was assisting the gentleman in the wheelchair quietly took a foam rubber "dowel" that had a slit in it the length of the dowel and placed it over the handle of the Sacrament tray.  Then he took out a velcro strap and when he had helped the man put the tray in his hand, he wrapped the strap around his hand so that he could secure his grasp around the handle of the tray.  He then pushed the gentleman to each member on his assigned route and then back to the Sacrament table where the whole scene was once again played out in preparation for the passing of the water.  It was truly humbling to see the service of both the Brother in the wheel chair AND the Brother who was assisting him.  Truly the Spirit confirmed the holiness of this sacred ordinance and I have reflected over and over on the kindness, dignity, and charity that was in evidence.

The speaker spoke on the gifts of the season and the gifts of the Spirit...and the gifts that we can give to our Savior and our Father in Heaven.  He suggested that "our life is God's gift to us....  How we live our lives is our gift to God."

Felicia and Dave came up from Provo and they, along with Brian and Lori and Dad and I had chicken fajitas for dinner.  The Dave, Felicia, and I drove up to Temple Square to see the lights.  It was beautiful...and if I knew how I would post a picture from my phone...but we know how well I know how to do that!  LOL

Dad did fairly well with only a few moments of confusion.  One of the most memorable was when he was trying to fill out a tithing slip as he prepared to go to tithing settlement.  He struggled to know the date.  I told him it was the 12th.  But, he just sat there and then said that he didn't know how to write that...I told him but he still had difficulty and so I got up and went to the table and wrote Dec. 12, 2010 and 12-12-2010 and told him that he could use either one.  However, he was having difficulty even knowing where to write it so I pointed to him where the date should go.  As he finished copying it down he said, "isn't it a shame we need to have all those numbers...but I guess that's just what you get when the Federal Gov't gets in the middle of it!"  LOL

As I watched him really struggle and work to make his appointment for tithing settlement, go to the church twice, and face his uncertainty in trying to fill out the slip I marvelled at the goodness of this man who is my father.  He pushed to be able to complete this year and to declare his love for the Lord, despite infirmity or confusion.  What a tremendous example he has been to me.  I don't know why I have been lucky enough, or blessed enough, to have him and Mom be my parents - but I am certainly grateful they are.  I really am like Nephi of old!