My Love of Service and a little Star Wars

When the Relief Society president was announced I was excited and stressed out. I thought about how this would pan out. One of the thoughts I had was this, "The bar's been raised people." The bar has indeed been raised in our Relief Society. ("There's been an awakening, have you felt it?" If you like that Star Wars quote then visit this link http://lyndsiehrm.blogspot.com/2010/09/what-ifdarth-vader.html?m=1 It's me dissing on Darth Vader)

Sometime ago, I remember another transitional relief society experience I had. I was Visiting Teaching Coordinator at the time. I felt I wasn't doing enough with my calling or could do better. (I think this way a lot. If I'd let you see my patriarchial blessing you'd understand why I do.) The bar got raised. I knew where the bar was and I had been hanging off of it trying to figure out how to get to the next one. The next one up was just barely where I could reach it. This is where I believe the bar has been placed now in relief society. Dear sisters, the time has come to either step up or get stepped on.

"Go and do, don't sit and stew" 

-John Bytheway

I've tried to do more with my current calling. I'm always grateful for sisters who are willing to volunteer. It would not be as fun if I didn't have you guys. The church is a dedicated place or sanctuary. The chapel is a sacred place where we renew our covenants. I know this to be true. Let me share a story (I know how some of you like my stories ;)) A couple months ago the chapel was very dirty. There was leaves and dirty and the regular paper trash everywhere. It was decided that it should be vacuumed. To be honest I didn't feel like vacuuming on a Sunday was Sunday appropriate but there I was going up and down the rows with the organ being practiced in the back ground. I'm not sure what was louder the organ or the vacuum. I do remember though the spiritual atmosphere change of room. I was about half done and the building seemed to say thank you. It just felt so much better in there and I took a second to listen to the organ being played and the beautiful, instead of ugly, spirit. The chapel stayed clean and was noticeably different next Sunday.  

I know the building is a dedicated building and that it is a house of the Lord. We are so lucky to have this chapel that is so close to a beloved temple. 

"Divine nature breathes into us the desire to serve others"

Service is something I've grown up with. I've stayed after to clean up after activities and went with my Dad to clean the building on Saturdays. I had the most fun washing the windows and vacuuming the rooms. When I moved to Utah I brought that service attitude with me. In 2011, my YSA ward began meeting in the old Chapel to west of Hobby Lobby in Orem. When it was our ward's turn to clean the building I always wanted to be there. I remember Saturday March 10th, 2012, I was trying to get people to come clean the building as I was riding public transport up to see my Dad in the hospital. My phone kept going off and all I got was people saying they couldn't. It think it was 3 people out of about 12-14 who actually could.

One of the reasons I wanted to go through the temple was because I wanted to clean the temple. I did for the first time a few months ago. While I was doing that I was singing primary songs. I sang "Give Said the Little Stream", "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam", even "Once Their Was A Snowman". Nobody could really hear me very well because of the vacuum or at least I think. Follow this link for another example of serving in the temple https://www.lds.org/ensign/2016/03/how-could-i-not-stay-to-the-end?lang=eng

I'm so happy to share all this with you Sisters. Please take the time to sign up to clean the church on Sunday. I promise you will be blessed for your service. If you're having second thoughts consider the following. If you feel like there is something missing in your life the answer is usually service. I've included the following link for the sign-up HERE. Otherwise you can copy and paste this address -https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gm46Hnu6e1tPQorMgADe53ohNPoL1T-JWPiYKgS0yUM/edit?usp=sharinghttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gm46Hnu6e1tPQorMgADe53ohNPoL1T-JWPiYKgS0yUM/edit?usp=sharing

Lyndsie Medlyn (Building Cleaning Coordinator)