Tag Archives: The Church

Olivia sees the LDS Chapel

“The Church! I see it!” — What Olivia taught me about Church

As we were walking to Church we crossed paths with some friends from the ward. They got a kick of Olivia’s commentary on the walk:

“Icky Water,” referring to the stale puddle on the sidewalk.

“Come on, Daddy. Let’s go to Church,” she reminds as we’re about half way there.

When she saw the Church, her excitement came out in something like:

“The Church! I see it! The Church!”

Our friend commented, “Gee, I wish I felt that way every time I went to Church”

We joked a little bit about it: “Sacrament is about to start! Wahoo!”

“Yes, lesson time!”

Which really got me thinking about how I approach Church in general. In recent years, especially with the effort involved to get two small kids out the door, sometimes there’s a little dread and trepidation getting out the door.

It was good reminder to put off the natural man through the atonement of Christ and become as a little child, humble, meek, willing (see Mos. 3:19).

Stick with the Ship of Zion

Sometimes we talk about a perfect church filled with imperfect people. I liked this analogy by Lorenzo Snow,

“Stick to the ship of Zion. If boats come to the side, showing beautiful colors and making wonderful promises, do not get off the ship to go to the shore on any other boat; but keep on the ship. If you are badly used by any of those that are on the ship, who have not got the proper spirit, remember the ship itself is allright. We should not allow our minds to become soured because of anything that the people on the ship may do to us; the ship is allright, and the officers are allright, and we will be right if we stick to the ship. I can assure you it will take you right into the land of glory.”

Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow,
Chapter 3: Lifelong Conversion: Continuing to Advance in the Principles of Truth