3 (sort of) Related Thoughts

Here are some random thoughts I had at church today. Stay with me to the end. They ARE related to each other in some way.



First, in the latest General Conference, Elder Richard G. Scott said, "I have seen that many times individuals have made great sacrifices to go to a distant temple. But when a temple is built close by, within a short time, many do not visit it regularly." I find this to be true. Because I can go to several temples at no great sacrifice to me, I tend to not make the effort to go very often. My thinking is, "I can go anytime". And often a month goes by without me going ANYTIME. It's too easy. It's too convienent.


Secondly, we were talking in Primary about how the early saints were commanded to gather to Kirtland, Ohio. As we discussed why it's important for the saints to gather, I told the girls about my experience of being completely separated from the church while I was in Mali. That experience made me realize what a blessing it is to meet with others of common faith each Sunday. We teach each other. We are strengthened by each other. The first Sunday after I came back home, I cried as I sang with my Relief Society sisters. I was honored at the chance to take the sacrament. I was amazed at how the testimonies of other people filled me up. Now I've been back for 5 years from Mali and I'm afraid I've fallen into the same old pattern of taking those precious things for granted again...or as the children say "taking them for granite".

These two thoughts reminded me of a time in my scripture study when I began to notice how the Lord commands the people of the Book of Mormon over and over to REMEMBER. So how do we make sure that we are remembering things that are important to us?