Hello? Hello! We Thank Thee Oh God For A Prophet!
Years ago, I worked as an aerobics instructor at the Deseret Gym in downtown Salt Lake City. Now, if you know me well, you’ll find that slightly hilarious because I have no sense of rhythm, struggle with left and right and I’m an awkward dancer. Running was invented so people like me could feel like athletes. Still, I taught step aerobics, a weight lifting class and water aerobics. Deseret Gym was a sprawling facility with multiple weight rooms, workout studios, climbing walls, a nursery, a cafe, locker rooms for miles, steam rooms, hot tubs and not one, but TWO indoor swimming pools.
Then in the April 1996 General Conference, President Hinckley announced they were tearing down the gym and building a conference center. Yeah, that Conference Center. Now most of you just cheered and went on with your lives, but at the gym it caused a ruckus! There were heated conversations and petitions and letters to the editor about the glorious swimming pools. Probably because I was expecting my third child and ready to quit, and definitely because I had the privilege of visiting the Jerusalem Center, I remember thinking, “C’mon people. Let’s have some vision. I think the prophet might have loftier plans than weight rooms and a sauna.”
Every time there’s been an announcement or change since then, I’ve reminded myself, “Our prophet has a greater vision.” I just realized I’ve taken on the role at Segullah of writing about changes in the church back to when the mission age changed and discussions about Scouting (oh, those were great discussions, I miss the days when we really talked). I think something in me LOVES witnessing the rolling out of God’s kingdom, the progression of knowledge, the line-upon-line that draws us closer to the second coming of Christ.
As the changes roll out, I’ve occasionally wished I could be on those decision making committees. Have you? I’d especially love to join those who are creating the new youth programs. Will it look like Personal Progress (which I love!) but cooler and more fun? Will the scout camps be converted to youth camps? What are some other changes that might take place for youth in the temple? But as much as I’d love to join those committees and tell them all my opinions, I’ve realized they don’t need me. They have greater vision! There’s nothing I’ve thought of that they haven’t already considered. And they are coming up with far better ideas than my small mind can conceive.
Since I’ve had missionaries out for the last eight years, I’ve had several conversations with friends about what might make missions easier on families and missionaries. One solution we settled on was monthly phone calls. If we could just talk once a month our communication would flow freely and we’d avoid some of the pitfalls like medical issues, enrolling in school, purchasing shoes and contact lenses and just plain old sadness and homesickness. Never in my wildest dreams did I anticipate the announcement that we can now call, text, Skype, etc. ONCE A WEEK! It still feels too good to be true.
One of our friends teaches at the Provo MTC and an elder brought the announcement to class on February 15th and asked if he could read it aloud. He was only a few sentences in when she stopped him and said, “That’s not funny Elder. A lot of people here are really struggling.” She couldn’t believe it until she read it on the church website. And then she cried for happiness. I did too.
Tuesday morning, my son called from Montreal and we were able to able to gather 9 out of 10 of us on Facebook messenger. It was loud and wild and genuine and real. The call didn’t carry the weight of those Christmas and Mother’s Day calls. We didn’t cry when we hung up, because we get to talk again soon. My kids are great about writing to each other, but we gain so much more from a true conversation. Xander will keep writing his weekly emails for friends and extended family and I feel a little less anxious about sending out my fifth son next year.
Just before General Conference in October– when we were all hearing so many rumors– I heard several people say, “Some of the changes will drive the less faithful out of the church.” I’m still confused by this because in my opinion all the changes have been happy and good. But I’ve also noticed that even with the happiest of announcements– two hour church! calling home every week!– I’ve heard naysayers.
I don’t think anyone needs to worry. Missions are still plenty hard even with a phone call a week. We can learn plenty at church (probably more) in two hours. We just need a little vision. We need to trust our Prophet’s vision. And oh, we thank thee oh God for a prophet!
What changes are you excited about right now? Would you enjoy sitting on the ‘change-making’ committees? How are you adjusting to changes in the Church?
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