Today it was Fast and Testimony meeting at Church. I love Fast & Testimony meeting because what is shared is usually unscripted and totally prompted by the Holy Ghost. With Brigam being baptized the night before, it is usually a tradition for Mike and I to both share our testimonies. Mike was the very first one up (but not necessarily the first one at the mike. There's always that one guy every month.)
I think he'd been planning it for a while, so that didn't surprise me. When Mike sets his mind to something, he does it completely well. He did a great job of sharing his joy in Brigam's baptism. He announced that the rumors that were circulating were indeed true - we are moving.
He keeps his composure pretty well during testimony sharing, unlike me who tends to tear up as soon as I stand up to make the long walk to the microphone. He did actually get emotional this time, however, when he was talking about Bishop Ladow.
Bishop Ladow is such a GREAT example of service. He serves others continuously. I don't know how he has the energy to do it, but he does. We truly have been blessed by him. His example is one thing that makes this ward great. When you're with him, you want to try a little harder to be a little better. He is awesome and we will miss he and Sister Ladow so much when we leave.
Throughout the next few testimonies, I leaned down to Brigam and asked him if he was going to bear his testimony. He said, "What's a testimony?" That is a slight wake up call. Something we attend every month and he isn't aware of what is going on? Somewhere I passed up a teaching moment. So I proceeded to tell him that Testimony Meeting was when one shares with others what he believes and knows to be true. How you feel about family, church, Heavenly Father - that the Holy Ghost guides what you say. He kept asking me, "Should I say this? Should I say that?" I said, "You decide." He wanted me to come with him and whisper in his ear what he should say. I told him that if I did that, I would be telling him my testimony. It wouldn't be his. He wanted to go, but I was slow to get up. I have to wait for that complete butterfly-in-the-stomach-take-over before I can even think about rising to my feet. I just wasn't feeling it.
Soon my dad got up and I told Brigam, "You can go sit up there with Grampa and wait your turn." He did. Such a brave boy.
After Grampa finished sharing his testimony, Briggy got up there. He did really well. He spoke of how he wanted to share his testimony and how he loved church. He went on for a bit, but then got stuck. I actually thought he forgot how to end the testimony and was telepathically saying, "In the name of.......", but still he was frozen. Then he turned to the bishopric and one of them prompted him - he continued, "I love my family, I love my teachers that teach me and am thankful for them....." then he concluded with the right words and returned to his seat. I was so impressed with him.
As he sat down I told him that he did a good job sharing what he felt with us. He told me that his stomach got all weird. I asked if it felt like there were a bunch of butterflies in it. He giggled. I told him that that is how most of us feel. He said it was easier for adults to do that. I told him, "Doubt it!!!"
After another minute he asked me, "Mom, did I mess up on my testimony?" I told him, "You can't mess up on sharing your testimony because it's your testimony. What you share is who you are and you did great sharing!" After some more time (I was still awaiting my own butterflies) he said, "When can I do that again?" Next month, bud. "Cool." I told him that it was his job to now spend the next month looking for spiritual experiences that he could share with others. How the Holy Ghost has helped him during the month. He was excited.
When it was really getting close to closing the meeting time, I finally got my own set of butterflies and proceeded to the stand, following my Mother incidentally. She shared then I did. It's hard to keep your composure while telling the things in your heart.
I did share that I was so grateful for Brigam's choice to be baptized and what a great and special kid he is. Then I spoke of my gratitude for the great ward I am in. I said, "I've always told my kids that a true friend is one that makes it easy for you to be yourself. You don't have to change who you are to be with them. This is how this ward has been. True friends that allow you to grow and become better because you don't have to worry about impressing them or being something you're not."
To be quite honest, I've been worried about our new ward in Utah. When we moved here, we left a super ward in Sandy, Utah. In our interim between Utah and Washington we went to another ward, but it wasn't very friendly. I was worried to go back because my brother has been disappointed in his ward in Utah. But then I thought, "Whatever ward you end up in, you will be an asset to it." Being an asset certainly makes you feel like you belong and that is the one thing you want to feel in a ward. Wherever we go, we'll be fine. We will find good people that love the Lord as we do and great people that will teach us to love Him and serve Him even more. We'll be fine, Heavenly Father knows where we're at and He will be with us. Besides, it was His idea that we should move. And who can argue with that suggestion?
