This evening at the stake general priesthood meeting I fulfilled an assignment to join the stake presidency in a panel discussion about home teaching and personal priesthood interviews. We sat in chairs in risers right in front of the first pews. I was first, taking five minutes to discuss stewardship interviews. I finished, pleased with my presentation. The first counselor in the stake presidency was speaking and fielding questions from the large gathering of priesthood brethren. As he did so,one brother in the front row reached up to me and handed me a note. I thought it might be some nice compliment on my presentation. I opened the note and read the following:
"I noticed that your fly is open".
So much for decorum; I made the requisite adjustment and slunk down in my chair, chagrined...sigh...
A friend of mine, Ray Richey, sent me the following joke (sadly, I can SO relate):
A group of 40 year old golfing buddies discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's restaurant because the waitresses there are really good looking. 10 years later, at 50 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because the food there is very good and the wine selection is good also. 10 years later at 60 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because they can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free. 10 years later, at 70 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because the restaurant is wheel chair accessible and they even have an elevator. 10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at Mario's because they have never been there before.
The Seattle temple is closed for two weeks of deep cleaning and minor repairs. Somehow the day seems a little empty. The two highlights of my week are attending worship service with Melba and serving as a temple ordinance worker on Wednesdays from 11:00am to 5:00pm. I always return home with my spirituality strengthened and my love of the temple ordinances deepened. A side benefit is the camaraderie I feel with my fellow ordinance workers. We have a brotherhood forged from serving together in the House of the Lord. I'll be glad when March 9 arrives so I can return to the temple.
For the past several months our high priest group has been submitting their accounts of experiences in their lives that have strengthened their faith and testimony. We have 23 stories and will go to press this week. I thought I would share with you the account I have included in the book.
The Miracle of Home Teaching
By Lawrence Barry
I have always appreciated the value of home teaching even though my own efforts have not always measured up. Sometimes I would get energized and visit my families early in the month, taking them a spiritual thought and making sure they were doing alright.
Other times I would find myself at the end of the month, having visited few if any of my assigned families. I would scurry around trying to set up last minute appointments so I could meet the “letter of the law”. I’m sure those visits were all “flame but no heat.”
Over the years I would hear of brethren speaking of the special spiritual blessings that came to them and their families because of their faithful efforts at home teaching. These accounts strengthened me although I had to admit that I had never had a similar experience.
All that changed when my wife, Melba, and I were assigned as a home teaching couple to visit a single sister I’ll call Melissa Newcomb (not her real name). Sister Newcomb was a young single woman just recently released from active duty in the Army. She was about 21 years old and was working at Fort Monroe, VA where I was stationed at the time.
In our first contact with Melissa she was reluctant to see us. We continued to gently press for some contact with her and finally she agreed to have lunch with us at a nearby restaurant. We bought her lunch and we had an enjoyable although somewhat awkward time getting to know her.
Each month thereafter we would meet with Melissa at the restaurant, always trying to get to know her a little more. We asked if we could visit with her in her apartment but she didn’t want to do that. So for over a year we met monthly for a “meet and greet”. Occasionally we would discuss gospel topics and encourage her to come to church with us. She never did.
Finally we were transferred and we lost contact with Melissa and frankly she slipped from our minds as we became involved in our new ward. Occasionally we would think of her and offer a prayer on her behalf but for all practical purposes she was “off our radar”.
All that changed a couple of years later when we received a letter postmarked Germany. It read something like this:
“Dear Brother and Sister Barry, I have often thought of you over these past two years. After you were transferred, my life began to change. I got my act together, started attending church and working things out with my bishop. I want to thank you for being such steady and faithful home teachers. I’m sure at times I must have been a challenge for you. Thank you for never giving up on me. I am currently serving an 18 month mission in Germany and love sharing the gospel with these wonderful people. Thank you again for being there for me even when I didn’t know I needed you.”
Sincerely,
Sister Melissa Newcomb
Frankfurt Germany Mission
Each time I find myself getting too routine or casual in my home teaching I remind myself of Sister Melissa Newcomb and how the Lord touched her and brought her back to Him through the home teaching program. It gives me new and wonderful meaning to the Lord’s teaching to the Nephites after his resurrection when he taught them about ministering to those members who wander away from the Church:
“Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your synagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall heal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.” (3 Nephi 18:32)
Mulling over my options for today...mostly mundane tasks...my mind began to wander, my imagination taking control--here's some things I'd like to do today if I could:
--Charter a plane and fly to Tucson, Phoenix, Atlanta, Boston, Fresno--to visit my distant kids, grandkids, siblings and mother
--Learn to ride a horse and play polo
--Organize a southern gospel singing group with me on bass
--Walk along an abandoned train track
--Build a raft, stock it with supplies and float down the Mississippi river
--Walk barefoot on the beach at Cayucos
--Go to an Emmylou Harris concert
--Take a road trip and visit every national park in the USA
--Lay on my back on a green hill with the warm sun above and look at the white clouds passing by and see what figures and shapes they make
--Go to the temple with my eternal sweetheart
--Help someone in need
--Grow a full beard and mustache
--Write a novel
But instead, I think I'll go to Ft. Lewis to pick up Melba and my medications....
I'm wondering if the planets are in/out of alignment--strange happenings across the land--for example:
--Sun in the NW forecast for next five days
--Trina misses the greenery of Washington
--Mike starts a blog
--Rebecca and Sylvia will fly to Seattle end of April, then drive with Amy 280 miles to Spokane for "Time out for women"
--I tear out two bushes only to replant three
--My oldest just turned 41 and I'm 4 months from 67
--I have no lesson or workshop or talk to prepare this week
--No medical appointments this week
Spring is in the air here in the lush NW and our arborist and his two man crew are working their magic on our tall firs, decorative trees and various shrubs. We had them pull out some useless bushes, grind down some stumps and shape the trees--snip, snip, snip--our yard is getting a serious haircut--high and tight!
