Thursday, January 3, 2013

Day 3, January 3

This past Sunday in our ward's Sacrament Meeting, a gentleman spoke about his forebearers.  Among them was a family who had joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 19th century.  In order to emigrate to America from Europe, they were going to have to leave a daughter behind, to travel  later with another family.

I could only imagine the heartache the parents must have felt at that choice.  They felt compelled to join with the other Saints in America but could not afford to take all of their children.  At the last moment, a man came forward and gave them the money to take their daughter with them.  At one point, on the trek west, a mother found that she had only two stale biscuits with which to feed her family.  She asked for the Lord's help, then put the biscuits in a dutch oven, poured water over them, and prayed.  Within a few hours, the biscuits had been transformed into a meal sufficient to feed her children.

My own ancestors faced hard choices as well, finding the courage and strength to leave comfortable homes and dear friends to follow a prophet.  Because of their faith and testimony, my family has a rich heritage of church service and obedience.

So, for today, I am grateful for the choices of ancestors.

No comments:

Post a Comment