Let Me Stand Next to Your Fire

This evening before FHE I went to visit Ana Maria, a new member in the church (she was baptized about six months ago) who’s the Relief Society president here in my branch and one of my home teachees. She’s been called to give a talk in District Conference this Sunday, and she had asked me to give her some ideas about where to start with her talk, as she’s never spoken to a group that big and is feeling kind of intimidated. It was an awesome visit—first of all, I straight up love Ana Maria and her fam (her kids and her husband), they’re so good to each other, which is so much rarer than it should be, and such great people. As I was thinking about her and her family tonight, I thought of the part in Alma that I’m reading now in my Book of Mormon study, about the house of King Lamoni among the lamanites and their conversion to the gospel. I love both that scripture story and the parallel stories you see throughout the Church today, especially in all the developing world countries where the Church is growing so much. These peoples’ lives are proof that the Church is no old boys’ club, but the Church of Christ available to all that believe—and I think especially generational or older members of the Church need that proof. It’s easy to think of oneself as a little overly special when raised in the Church, and seeing the fire of excitement and faith in new converts eyes, and their fidelity to the gospel (which often outweighs the more jaded attempts of some old-schoolers) puts us in our place, I think, and helps relight that fire in us. At least, I know it does for me. I think that’s a big reason of why I love Church perhaps even more when I’m someplace where the Church is new(er), like here or on my mission—because when you’re in a place like this, it’s so much easier to constantly see the gospel with the new and fresh and excited eyes that we should have for it always. I love that—and just like when I was nearing the end of my mission, I already know I’m going to miss it.