The First Sunday

The first Sunday. I set my alarm for nine O'Clock, but I woke early because sometimes my alarm doesn't go off (I was excited to go to church too, so that may have been a reason as well). I got up, and felt well rested (I had gotten to sleep early the night before because I knew I would have to get to church early if I wanted to meet someone to sit with).

The drive to church was long but well worth it. There were many people that came up to me and introduced themselves and said they were happy to see me. I found a Brother that I had seen the day before, and I went up to say hello to him, he quickly introduced me to the young men's president in the ward. He was happy to see that he would have a new young man in the ward and once he learned that I was there alone he immediately invited me to sit with him and his wife.

It was a fast Sunday, so it was also testimony (by default). There were many people that approached the pulpit to bare their testimonies, and I just sat and listened. I noticed that there were a lot of young men getting up to bear their testimonies and I felt that it would be appropriate for me to bear mine as well (I figured it would also give anyone a good reason to introduce themselves to me). I waited until there was no one standing to bear theirs, and I rose and began walking. As I was walking, I thought to myself, how confident I could be because my Father had taught me to be, and from my past experience with bearing my testimony and speaking publicly (also facilitated by my Father). I thought of how I would appear to these people, how they would think of me after this, what they could and would expect of me. As I stepped up I looked at the bishop and smiled. I began with introducing myself, and stating that I was new to the ward and that I would be there until June. I mentioned that I felt that some people took the church and the blessings that we receive for granted, and how lucky I felt to be born into this church. I closed by bearing my testimony of the church and the Book of Mormon.

I sat down and my new friend told me I did a good job. A few more people bore their testimonies, and sacrament meeting ended. I stood up to ask where my class was and several people shook my hand and told me that they enjoyed my testimony. I went to class and I added my name to the attendance list. The class was taught by an older woman who spoke in a heavy southern accent (as many people do).

For the priesthood hour I went with most of the priests to sister Clark's house. She is an elderly lady who can no longer make it to church in the morning. We arrived at her house and agreed we were not going to sing a song. We entered and greeted her and I introduced myself, she said she was pleased to meet me and she mentioned twice that she liked my haircut. As opened the scriptures to read the sacrament prayer, the priest's quorum adviser spoke up and told her that we were going to sing her a song, we all looked at each other, then to the adviser and decided on "We thank thee oh God for a Prophet" then sang it to her. One of the priest's blessed the Bread and I blessed the Water. I said it was a pleasure meeting her, and we departed for the meeting house.

As we entered the building, my priest's quorum adviser introduced me to a Sister that lived in Clayton (a town close to where I am staying, relatively) and had a sixteen year-old daughter that goes to my high school. She gave me her cell phone number and invited me over for dinner...