Once upon a time, there was a troll at Families.com that attacked a friend’s beliefs. I didn’t share my friend’s beliefs, but I certainly didn’t feel she needed to be attacked for them. I didn’t like it at all and the troll got me so riled up that I decided to read the Book of Mormon just to get that troll’s goat. Funny how things work out. (You can read most of that long ago conversation here.)
I wiped the tear from my face just before shaking the Bishop’s hand. I had been so moved that I had wiped many tears from my eyes over the course of the one-hour service.
“Very nice to meet you.” I said with a smile, still thinking about the testimony I had heard.
A father described how when life gets to be too much, he prays for strength and it comes.
Two new mothers thanked God for their families and the blessings of the babies He has given to them to raise and nurture.
A child thanked God for his family.
All the while the babble of babies and coos of the toddlers was like music to my ears. Nobody shushed them. Nobody scolded them like I was scolded as a child.
The natural noises the children made were reminders of their blessings. They took great joy in their children, as did I. The newborn in front of us didn’t make a sound. Her blue eyes couldn’t yet see how she had melted my husband’s heart.
The missionaries who attended with us explained everything: the callings, the support, the bread, the water, and the boys blessing it, the fasting and the testimony, even the blessing of the babies as they were surrounded by the men who would bless them and give of themselves for these children.
After the service, the couple with the blue-eyed baby introduced themselves. The couple with the curly haired toddler, behind us, introduced themselves too. They welcomed us. They were all so friendly. It caught me by surprise as I’d never been to a church like that before.
On the drive over, I had wondered. Am I dressed nicely enough. Will they judge my clothes? Will they judge me? I realized later that it didn’t matter. They were here to worship. They were here to sing His praise and share his love.
So, thank you, troll. Thank you for being the bump in the road that has set me on this path that has thus far brought me a great deal of comfort and joy.