Long Story

Two years ago, on our way home from North Carolina, we found ourselves in Nashville on a Saturday night. We had Callie with us and we were in the hotel and she texted me to see if Wes would be mad if we didn't go to church the next day. Well, Wes saw the text and was mad and Callie was mad that we had to go to church, I  never want to go to church when we are on the road, but we went. 

On that particular day, three things happened that I knew I needed to do. Two young women spoke. They had just been on a trip to Palmyra and Kirtland. The first one talked about how beautiful the view from inside the temple was as you look at the Sacred Grove. The second one talked about how her grandmother told her to touch the trees in the grove because they were there when Jesus came. She also talked about the Kirtland temple and how the floors were original and to, okay, I'm still a little fuzzy on that point. The third thing was that their little Primary sang Pioneer songs. When I left there, I remember Callie and I were joking about the crazy grandma who told her to touch the trees, but I wanted to go. With Covid, in our future, I didn't know when that would happen, but this trip started forming in my mind.

 Fast forward two years. I became the crazy grandma who told her grandchildren to touch the trees. To be honest, I had them look for the biggest ones, because a 200 year old tree would be big. One of the things that makes the grove so beautiful is the new growth. This is the tree we touched. 

I don't think it was 200 years old, but I had a connection to it. While sitting on a bench, I did see a tree that could have been that old. We stayed on the paths, but the place has a spirit to it. Even when you are with 2 very rambunctious boys.

 I texted this picture to Callie and reminded her of the story and she admitted that she remembered it and that she thought it was a cool idea. 

 Going inside the temple was never on the agenda of this trip. We had no idea if it would be open and we had the grands. We had lunch on the lawn, way in the back of the parking lot. The lot is surrounded by woods. The kids had a great time playing and eating. There were 4 cars in the parking lot. After lunch we went to walk around the temple grounds when an older gentleman came out to his car. He asked us, "Do you want to come in the temple? You can see the sacred grove from the entrance." Of course we entered and had a look from the front desk. Who does that? Who asks a family with little kids into the House of the Lord? In this case, it was the temple president. 

Even the kids were quiet. It goes on my list of tender mercies and maybe even a miracle. It was more than I ever expected. 

 Next is the Kirtland Temple. We couldn't go in, but I have already written that just being on the outside was an emotional experience for me. We did the church tour of Kirtland

 and the Johnson farm. It was at the Johnson farm 

that I learned that Jesus appeared to Joseph eight times. In fact, in the very room we were in. I was impressed that when Joseph had a question, he asked the Lord. I love that Jesus was instrumental in helping him form the church. Kirtland turned out to be more than I expected.

 Okay, last, the Primary song. At the time I was the Primary music leader, but now I am the Music Chairman (or whatever). I asked the Primary to sing, but the chorister and the pianist were going to be out of town, so I asked the youth to sing. I arranged for a Conductor. I knew that they were having trouble practicing because of vacations, and other interruptions. They were going to practice before church today and I said I would bring the treat. I really expected there to be 7 or 8 kids there. When I walked in there were a dozen or more. We had a dozen boys, who I encouraged to sing loud enough to be heard. The practice was a little iffy, but something I learned a long time ago is that when you sing in Sacrament Meeting the Spirit sings with you and it always works out. They did a beautiful job. I realized that all the things I learned in the Sacrament Meeting, 2 years ago, had become real to me. Who knew that 2 young women and a Primary chorus could have such an effect on my life. And who knew that going to chruch, with everyone mad, that we would all come out of there being touched by the Spirit.