Fellowshipping

Fellowshipping Sherry. “Just a few years ago, Sherry, a single mother of two beautiful daughters, moved into a new ward. It had been a long time since she had been active in the Church, but lately she had been feeling some strong spiritual yearnings. So she was pleased when the elders quorum presidency showed up to help her move in, and she accepted their invitation to attend a quorum social later in the week. The very next night the Relief Society presidency dropped in, followed by one daughter’s Young Woman adviser and the other daughter’s Primary teacher. By the time the bishopric got there later in the evening, Sherry was feeling like she already knew everyone in the ward. Each visit had been warm and friendly, and by the time Sunday rolled around Sherry and her daughters were ready and eager to attend Church. “None of these people had ever met me before,” Sherry said later, “and yet they made me feel like I was coming home.” And in a very real way, she was. The outpouring of affection and interest gave her the courage she needed to make significant changes in her life. Within a week she had a calling in the ward, and her daughters were involved in their respective class activities and projects. As Sherry embraced her new ward and was welcomed and accepted by the members there, she became open and receptive to the Spirit of the Lord as it moved upon her. Her testimony was revitalized and her faith restored. A little more than a year after she moved into the ward, many of her new friends and neighbors joined her in the temple, where she made sacred covenants that she is faithfully keeping to this day. Not too long ago I had a chance to talk with Sherry’s bishop about the experience. “I wish I could tell you that it always happens that way,” he told me. “Sometimes things work out better than at other times. But when the entire program of the Church comes together in council like that to focus on the specific needs of one family or individual, miracles can and do happen.” It is my testimony that such miracles can happen only to the extent that we are prepared to work together- the men and women who serve in the quorums and auxiliaries of the Church- to make them happen. This is not men’s work or women’s work in which we are involved; it is all God’s work. We are on His errand, and we serve at His will and pleasure.” Counseling with Our Councils M. Russell Ballard, Page 12-13