A New First For Me

In my last post I mentioned our Stake Chapel session in the Los Angeles Temple. What I didn't say was that while Alan and I were waiting on the pew for the session to start, Bishop Richardson sat down next to us and shook our hands.  He then said "Sister Stott, I know this probably isn't the best time to do this, but I was wondering if you would accept a new calling."  I said "what calling?"  He then asked me if I would accept the calling as the 2nd Counselor in the Relief Society.  I said, "of course" and then he told me who the new president was going to be and that she had requested me as her counselor.  That was a "first" for me.  I had never received a ward calling in the temple before.  I wonder how often that even happens.

Yesterday, during Sacrament Meeting I was sustained to the position by the members of my Ward, but I was not there to witness it.  Unfortunately, I have been battling bronchitis and a sinus infection for the past 5 days and was too ill to attend Church. I will have to wait until next Sunday to be set apart.

Although being a counselor in the Relief Society can be somewhat time-consuming (I've done it before), I know it will be a lot less time-consuming than the calling I just got released from - Young Women's President.  I had forgotten how time-consuming YW's on a ward level can be...crazy busy!  I only served as our ward YW president for about 10 months, but when the Bishop called me to that position he told me that it would be a temporary thing (roughly a year or less) and that I was called, basically, to be there long enough to train others how to run the organization.  The Bishop lived up to his word.  After I had served my time, I was released. 

All three women's organizations in our ward were totally reorganized yesterday - The Relief Society, The Primary, and Young Women's. You can imagine the line-up of Sisters outside the Bishop's office to be set apart after Church...but of course I didn't have to wait in line as I will have to wait until next Sunday.

I am really looking forward to this new phase of my life. I am very excited to start working with the other sisters in the R.S. presidency. Let the good times roll!

Best Weekend!

I don't know how you can top the last weekend I had and not even have to spend any money doing it (except for some gas).  It started out on Friday by going to the Los Angeles Temple for our Stake Temple day.  Alan and I were able to go on a session and then attend the chappel session with the rest of the Stake.  It was pretty amazing and the spirit was very strong. My feelings for the temple are very strong and I am madly in love with the Los Angeles Temple. Since I have been attending it for the past 34 years, I consider it "my" temple.  I cosider it a great pleasure to be able to work there every Wednesday morning to further the work of the Lord in this part of his vineyard. 

The next morning, Saturday, a baptism was held for Steve Bullard. Alan and I have been home teaching the Bullard family for about 4-5 years. At first, Steve didn't really want much to do with us or even have us in his home, but through regularly visiting the family, he started to warm up to us.  He gradually went from being cold and pretty unfriendly to us to welcoming us into his home. He even invited Alan and our Bishop to give him a priesthood blessing a couple of years ago prior to him having surgery to remove a tumor from the left side of his skull.  This surgery left him very dizzy and he lost part of his hearing, but in my estimation was a blessing in disguise. Because of this trial, he learned to turn to the Lord for help.  Finally, after watching his daughter be baptized 4 years ago by her grandfather and not by him, I think it gave him reason to consider learning more about the church, but it happened very gradually. He went through many sets of missionaries. Finally, about a month ago out of the blue he asked his wife, Elise, how soon he could be baptized.  It was amazing!  The baptism was very well attended - best I've ever seen.  He will never lack for an outpouring of love and support from our ward members.  Talk about a mighty change of heart!  He is truly a new man, a better husband, and better father.  The image of Christ is in his countenance. I considered it a privilege to have been able to attend his baptism, felt the spirit there, and be able to participate by leading the music.

Saturday evening and Sunday morning were also very special as we held two more sessions of our Stake Conference.  As I looked around the chapel and cultural hall where the conference sessions were held, I felt an outpouring of love for all the members of our Stake. I am surrounded by people I have grown to know and love over the 30 years we have lived in the Lancaster Stake.  Although we have considered moving to Utah to be closer to our children, I know that when that day eventually arrives, I will truly miss the friendships and love that I feel here.  It will be hard to move from the area we have lived in for so long, but some day it will happen. Until then, I will work hard to make sure that life is good no matter where I am living.

A True Fairy Tale

Once Upon a time there was a little red ball.  She had a good life but she was very lonely.

One day she met some jacks

and a great friendship began. 

In fact, they spent every day together and would never let each other out of their sight.

They found a lovely place to permanently spend some time together.  But one day the little red ball got lost and couldn't find her way back to the jacks.  Although a long search took place to try to find the ball, she could not be found.  The jacks were lonely without their little red ball friend to keep them company.  Finally, about two years later, the little red ball was found!  She had been lost under a bed far far away from her jack friends.  Once she was discovered, she was reunited with the jacks and they all lived happily ever after.