So, last night, April 27, 2011 I had the opportunity to attend the LDS Conference Center in downtown Salt Lake City, UT with a few of my girl friends and some of my YSA (young single adult) ward members to take part in one of the most historic changes of this century that the church has made. This meeting that I attended not only took part last night but was also held on Tuesday, April 26th & will be finalized this evening Wednesday, April 28th. The First Presidency of the church has called for all University Student Wards and YSA wards through out the SLC Valley to be “dissolved”. Why? Because they have decided to create YSA Stakes, in hopes to create a better chance for all YSA members to be served and to serve. This awesome under taking of change has already happen in Southern UT, Northern UT and Idaho and in doing so great things have come from it. It was rather amazing to sit among my friends and priers and hear great testimony of this change from members of the Quorum of the Seventy, the General Relief Society President, & Elder Russell M. Ballard member of the Twelve. Walking into the room you could feel the curiosity stirring as we all stumbled in to find our seats and await for the instruction of what was to come, amongst the stir of curiosity was a under line of fear lurking in the shadows. I say fear for the simple fact that change is never easy for anyone and although we each handle change differently, some better than others.. We all fear it in some way or another.
We were first instructed as to what was going to happen, why it was happening and how this was going to affect each of us as a ward family and more importantly as individuals. 1) All student & YSA wards have been dissolved. 2) The creating of YSA stakes & boundaries have been made and implemented. 3) With the change you are asked to attend the YSA stake boundaries of which you live in and also attend church in the ward that of which you live in or continue to attend your home/family ward if you wish. By creating and implementing these changes it takes away the need to “ward hope” & “bishop shop”.. Creating a more centrally choice and only allowing there to be 2 options… The YSA ward of which you live in or if living at home attending church & being apart of your home/family ward. 4) “It is a known fact that those to best reach the young single adults who are less active or not a member are those who are indeed a young single adult them self..” Service is crucial to our faith and our will being. When you know where you should be and who you can go to counsel with and receive direct revelation from the Lord, you are more certain to sustain the ills of this world. Also… This change is to prepare the YSA of the church to be ready to be handed the keys of this gospel and continue to carry forth the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. As well as to strengthen the home and family… It is our time to be open and prepared to share our lives with our eternal companions whom ever they might be. These are only a few of the points made last night in our meeting but these few really stood out to me. Sitting there in the midst of the audience listening, it struck me at how much thought and loving prayers must have been made/given in preparation of this change and progression in life. It was incredible for me to think about…It truly open my eyes in seeing just how important each of us is, but more importantly just how important each of us are to our Heavenly Father. “Wow…” was what kept flashing through my mind.
As the meeting continued the feeling in the room was emptied of curiosity… The feeling of fear still lurked for some, but most of all the room was filled with a bittersweet stillness. Or at least for me, from where I stood on the matter my heart was filled with a bittersweet stillness that I have still yet to shake when thinking of last night’s meeting, which I will explain. We were advised that with the changes those of us who were currently holding callings with in our ward where at that point in time extended a vote of thanks and released. It was at that moment for me that the bittersweet set in. At the end of December 2010 I was called to be teacher with in my ward’s Relief Society and with in the last 4 months I have fallen in love with this calling. More importantly this calling has taught me how to fall love with those that I teach, why I teach and how to teach… I fell in love with the gospel all over again. Please note that I have always loved this great gospel, my love for it was not lacking but it was definitely strengthened by accepting the role of a teacher and serving the women in my ward. I was sad to be released but understood that great things come with change and moving forward. I feel the need to take a moment and express just how grateful I am to have been a Relief Society teacher for the Wasatch 2nd Ward which now is no longer. I have been forever changed by the amazing, sweet spirits of the women in that ward. They truly are choice daughters of God and I know are intended for greatness. I can stand back from my experience as a teacher and honestly say that I was taught more than I could ever teach. I will be forever humbled by the pure knowledge of the love that our Heavenly Father has for the women in his church, he truly cares for each of us and really does know us individually. I pray and ask that the Lord’s hands continue to be actively apart in each of these ladies lives and bless them with the desires of their hearts.
Finally… Elder Ballard took the stand as the closing speaker. He bore testimony of this great gospel and the great work of which we are all apart of. He explained with a loving tone the significance of this change and how important it is for each of us to follow the instruction/direction that was given and why in doing so we will truly be forever blessed in more ways than one. I was blown away by the power that came with his words.. Power that testified that this change was made with the Lord’s direction behind it. He explained that we are to inherit the duties and roles of this great gospel, duties and roles that he now holds along with the First Presidency. He explained that they and as well as he will not be here forever and it will be up to our generation to carry on and move forward, that one day we would be the bishops, First Presidency, Relief Society Presidents, etc… And that now was the time to prepare for that. Having that perspective be drawn out in such a powerful way was exactly what I and I’m sure many others needed to hear. Changes to one’s life and self being to be better, become better and do better can not and should not be delayed, set aside for tomorrow… They have to be made now, continuingly being strived for every day. He ended the meeting by blessing each of us and ensuring each of us that we are loved and choice men & women, sons & daughters of God.
As my friends and I were making our way out of the conference center the chatter of what just occurred commenced and my heart was full with a since of peace. I knew in that moment that my life was being moved forward, moved forward by a loving stern push by my Heavenly Father. This may seem silly to some to read this and think that I really got all of this out of a simple meeting but that’s just the point… Greatness doesn’t need to be something grand, greatness.. True greatness always comes from something simple and last night was just that. Last night was a lesson in how to look at things in depth not just at the surface but to really go in and see the eternal perspective behind the instruction. And that’s exactly what I saw last night. I truly know that the Lord’s loving hands are with each of us and are cheering us on. I’m once again the student in the love of my Heavenly Father and Savior. The love that they so freely give to me and to you. I pray that my priers were touched and taught like I was last night and I pray that with this change in YSA, that we all may find strength in knowing that greatness comes from simple acts and with simple acts great love is gained.
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