You may wonder why I would start blogging again. It is true, I've fallen off the wagon. Life has been full of tremendous changes and new, beautiful circumstances. It has been distracting but in a very fulfilling way.
This blog got pushed to the side for the last three months ~ and although I've been missing it, somehow I wasn't motivated enough to start again.
Then last Sunday Elder Oaks appeared in my life rather unexpectedly. His influence was unshakable and I knew it was time to reconnect.
Who knows why it is, apostles can affect you without visibly trying, but they just do. They are so full of spiritual power and have a presence which fills the room. Sunday was no exception and it re-centered my focus.
Apparently Elder Oaks randomly visits wards in SLC when he is not away or otherwise assigned to some conference. So there he was sitting on the stand in Cannon 9th Ward. Our bishopric was noticeably and understandably nervous. Brother Ince was shaking as he conducted the meeting. Someone must have texted Stake President Baker because he and his counselor slipped in the back after the meeting had started.
But the story gets better.
My dear sweet husband Joel falls asleep in almost every Sacrament meeting. At times, it has been a source of minor irritation between us. Sunday, Joel was a bit late to Sacrament meeting, didn't hear the announcements and didn't notice Elder Oaks. Partly because we were on the opposite side of the chapel and Elder Oaks wasn't super visible there. So after he had been snoozing about 20 mins I wrote him a note:
"Elder Dallin H Oaks is sitting on the stand and you're snoozing."
Joel didn't believe me but after my daughter Shannon found his picture on her smart phone and confirmed to him it wasn't a joke, the look on his face was PRICELESS. He didn't fall asleep the rest of the meeting.
This was hilarious for me and I was grinning from ear to ear. This was one of life's sweet little ironies which fell on my side.
But the story gets better.
After sitting down in Gospel Doctrine class, and after the time came for class to start, and then five minutes later, it was clear there was no teacher. I team teach this class, but that Sunday was not my week. I had not read the lesson but instead was busy preparing for next week's lesson on Isaiah which had me a bit worried.
Elder Oaks made it known he stays for all 3 hours and wanders from class to class for about 10 minutes a piece.
Any other Sunday you could ask me to teach at the last minute and, even though it isn't easy, it is usually survivable.
No way under heaven did I want to stand up in front of the class, unprepared and teach ad lib in front of Elder Oaks ~ as in not a chance. I was truly mortified.
As I stood up, I made my class promise me they would raise their hands and comment, and not leave me alone up front to flounder when that special someone walked into the room.
As the class went on, it turned into a fabulous, and I mean FABULOUS discussion about the Atonement. And no Elder Oaks with only 15 mins to the end, so I was feeling much better. My soul was stirred and filling up with the love and reassurance of our proactive, true and living Savior and his sure promises through the Atonement. Multiple people made awesome, relevant comments and shared insights. The Spirit had come to our class in force even without Elder Oaks.
Then he walked in and sat down.
My knees started knocking. I haven't felt this sensation in years and I could not will them to stop for the remaining ten minutes. Thanks heavens I was wearing a long skirt.
But the Spirit and the class kept going, the awesome comments kept coming and it ended well. I was so hugely relieved when class was over. As I sank into my seat, my friends all gathered around and we were smiling, chatting and laughing at the situation we just shared. They were nervous too.
As I stood up to leave, Elder Oaks came walking up and shook my hand and said "I wish I had been here for the rest of your class."
What a kind, sweet thing to say. I mean Elder Oaks, the ultimate scriptorian, surrounded by amazing spiritual talent stopped to pay an unknown sister a compliment ~ which hit its target with full impact.
As he shook my hand my soul filled with the sensation that I had been spending my energy on lesser things and needed to better direct my energies. Not only that sensation, but the desire and the will to do so.
Elder Oaks won't know what his handshake did for me, but I love sharing it with you.
Timshel
