June 27, 2021
Its 3:12 AM. I suppose I would naturally expect to lay awake in the wee hours of the morning like this with my mind filled with thoughts of leaving family and home. NO DOUBT that will be what occupies my mind and robs my sleep tomorrow, but surprisingly my head is filled with images of all of you whom we have had the privilege of processing this glorious conference with… our new friends! And more accurately our “old” friends…
I related so much to the analogy Sis. Holley used of awaiting 9 months for the birth of a child. But the image that has occupied my mind these past hours has been of the pre-existence. In my minds eye I can see all of us gathered there. We knew one another, we loved and supported one another as we eagerly volunteered to take any assignment the Father had to give. Having had many family home evenings where we learned at Father’s feet about His plan, about our need to experience certain things to grow, to progress to become more like Him and ultimately to return home to Him, we likely went through stages of acceptance and understanding which ultimately resulted in the exercise of Faith in our older Brother. Because we had spent time with Him, knew Him, His character, His love, heard His passionate and humble defense of our Father’s plan, we collectively chose to put our future in His hands.
“We know you said it will be hard, but we’ll take that tremendous leap into the unknown and you’ll catch us…Right? You will catch us?” “Yes, my sister, my brother, I will. I promise.” And so we took our preparations seriously and we spent as much time as possible with each other, with our Father; gathering assurances and knowledge and building each other up for our eventual journey.
We rejoiced, even marveled at the opportunity we would have, watching others go before and somehow make it back home. Full of eagerness and wonder that we would be trusted with this responsibility, we counted ourselves lucky, blessed, in awe that we would be trusted to come during the great winding up scenes on earth where so much of the plan would hang in the balance. yet hopeful together as we recounted our Savior’s mercy…and His promises…
But then as our turn grew nearer, I can picture every one of us invited into the parlor of our heavenly home where we received our final instructions and had another glimpse of the uncertainty that would lay before us.
“What do you mean, we won’t be able to see you? What do you mean, we will forget everything you’ve taught us, won’t hear your encouraging words as you take us on your lap? But how can we possibly do it without all that?” The fear, the anxiety, the reality of our choice, the giant “leap” into the dark looming before us… We held our collective breath. How can it be accomplished?
The image I have of all of you from today was much more humble, tender, vulnerable than the previous two days. The imminent reality settling in as children went about feeding the chickens for the last time, others preparing for impossible good-byes, settling last minute affairs. Many of us now homeless, having forsaken all our earthy treasures, joining from our children’s basements, hotel rooms and foreign countries where isolation has forced a deeper, introspective look at the trust we were placing, and in whom it was placed.
But this morning, I realize we’ve all been here together before! The Smith’s, the Cooks, the Kearons, the Cordon’s, and an army of the Savior’s most valiant servants who came ahead of us… gathered in the parlor of our Father’s home looking directly at the fear, the anxiety, the reality of our choice, the giant “leap” into the dark looming before us and we KNOW how it would be accomplished! “His word is in our hearts as a burning fire shut up in our bones We will not weary in forbearing.” We will move forward with renewed hope in Christ!
I saw a much more tearful group today, but I also felt, heard, experienced, and witnessed that hope, that peace that surpasses all understanding! The same hope that was required when we left our heavenly home! But this time we know we are not alone and will never be alone! We have each other; our fellow soldiers of uncertainty. We have the leadership of this marvelous and glorious church of Christ on earth and most importantly we have our Savior who has indeed accomplished the incomprehensible atonement in our behalf.
We’ve been figuratively gathered once again into the Father’s parlor for our final instruction from the 4 quarters of the earth! Gathered again after eons of separation to strengthen one another on our journey. How my heart is drawn out to you! ALL of you! We can, and will once again, accept all we cannot see or remember, step into the dark…and jump! And He WILL catch us! Every one of us! It’s His work! His impossible and glorious work!
Thank you for courage, your sacrifice, your faith and your “renewed” friendships! I don’t know about you, but that kinship will strengthen me over the next 3 years! As will the enabling Grace of our Savior Jesus Christ! This great work will be accomplished, not because of our “might, mind and strength! But because of His! Of this I testify, In the name of Jesus Christ Amen!
With immense love and admiration,
Sister Theresa Collins- Arkansas, Bentonville mission
