As we struggle through a pandemic and countless zoom meetings and as I've studied Moroni 6, I've been thinking about church and why we come. Which reminded me of a man I taught on my mission.
I was serving in Sucre and half our ward was Quechua speaking. Everyone would meet together for sacrament meeting and then afterward would split into a Quechua and Spanish Sunday School class and then their own language's Elder's Quorums and Relief Societies. I didn't speak much Quechua (I could give a simple greeting and understand it at times) and none of the missionaries were Quechua speaking so we would bring members to translate for us if we taught anyone who spoke only Quechua.
Most of the Quechua members lived far away from the meetinghouse. Some would travel almost an hour to come to church. One day a man showed up to church by himself. Someone asked him if he'd like to hear the discussions. The zone leaders happened to be at church that day and they taught him all six discussions right then and there. The next week he was baptized.
This sort of thing was rare but not unheard of. What was remarkable was that he continued to come to church each week without fail. He paid his tithing faithfully and remained active the entire 6 months I was in Sucre. I can't remember his name but I will never forget his faith. Although he walked into the building knowing nobody, he did assimilate into the ward and became truly a member of the congregation and we watched him prosper and try to convert his family.
I think about him when I think that going to church sounds hard. He had to travel. He came alone. He spent over half his day on a Sunday in travel or in church. I couldn't communicate well with him, but I would love to know his story.
I do know that I've been blessed for going to church. It isn't always easy and I often think of something I once heard--"If you quit the church you'll get an extra vacation day and a 10% raise." But in truth it doesn't work like that. The blessings I get from going to church and staying close to God and the wonderful people that worship with us are immeasurable. I know that what I pay in tithing is returned back to me more than I can ever know. And when I am full of doubt or despair or frustration, coming to church and feeling the spirit is exactly what I need. Going to church has kept me on the path that will lead me back to God.
