Bishopric message
Good evening Brothers and Sisters,
We hope you are well and safe at home.
One of the most challenging conditions of our current state of isolation is not being able to gather together often as a ward family. We are all missing the teaching, support and socializing we used to receive from our dear brothers and sisters. Certainly the casual greetings that we have with each other in the neighborhood are valuable to us all, but our normal Sunday and weekday associations can not be replaced. We very much look forward to the day that we are able to gather together again; that will be quite a memorable reunion for us all.
The reunion of Alma and the sons of Mosiah was surely one of the most dramatic moments depicted in the Book of Mormon. They had been separated for fourteen years while Alma labored among the Nephites and the sons of Mosiah were among the Lamanites. The sons of Mosiah were journeying towards Zarahemla in order to see if the Nephites would accept their Lamanite converts among them, and Alma was traveling towards another city when they crossed paths and “Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord” (Alma 17:2). Mormon used this point in his narrative about Alma to then go back and spend Alma 17-27 to tell the miraculous stories about the conversion of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. After recounting those missionary labors among the Lamanites, Mormon wrote that Ammon “and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting.” Ammon was so overcome that “he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.” Mormon added that “the joy of Alma in meeting his brethren was truly great, and also the joy of Aaron, of Omner, and Himni” (Alma 27:16-19). It was a glorious reunion and surely a great orchestrating of events on the part of the Lord. We look forward to being completely reunited through our Sunday meetings and weekly activities when the time is right. Our joy will be great! But until that time, we will continue to serve and care for one another in the Lord to the best of our ability.
We are pleased to share messages from the two High Councilors currently assigned to Parley’s 3rd Ward, Trevor Larsen and Michael Hansen. Their messages about repentance are amazing. We thank them for their service and for teaching us about the blessings of repentance.
We miss you and love you!
The Bishopric
