Grand Fundament Principle

Currently I'm serving as the nursery leader taking care of the little tikes in our ward and relearning the lessons I learned so many times before. How to be kind to others, taking turns, trusting that your parents will pick you up, remembering to have joy in simple things. I love who I'm serving with, she is a gem. Jeanne and I are well matched and I'm grateful for the two hours a week we spend together. I do miss the two hours of instruction I had been getting however and so appreciate any feedback I get from family and friends from the meetings they attend. I received an email from one such friend this week- it is priceless because I relate to it so well.

In Gospel Doctrine class a couple of weeks ago, Bruce Stewart apprised us of this most interesting little gem: in sermons given in the summer of 1843, Joseph Smith said that "Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism." Isn't that great?? The "grand fundamental principle" is not some black and white checklist of stuff, but rather, it is, simply, friendship. Additionally, he said that "Fuller fellowship among humans beings leads us to fuller fellowship with Deity..."

The Changing of the Guard

This Sunday our Stake Presidency will be released and and a new one will be called.  It has been quite a remarkable experience for John to be a part of President Clark Hinckley's presidency. Not only has it been wonderful for John, but it has been a great experience for each of us as family members as the past 6 and a half years John would come home with stories of the Prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley as well as all the great news of our own stake.  We will miss not rubbing shoulders with all of those great men . . . but that's the way the church works.  As my good friend Alice used to say "Happy for the call, happy for the release".