Last Sunday January 29th 2012, the Toledo Ward of the Centralia Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints recieved a new bishop and with that a new bishopric.
We were a couple minutes late because I had started getting ready late, and because Spencer was sick and decided last minute he was going to the doctors and so the girls and I rode with my parents. As we drove up to the church my mother stated that there were a lot more cars there than usual. As we entered the chapel, it was towards the end of the opening hymn, and we had to find a place to sit because our usual area was taken. The chapel was quite full. We sat down right at the start of the opening prayer so once it was over I looked around and saw the Stake presidency and a lot of the Gifford family and almost all of the Lambert family. I wasn't sure what was going on. I thought maybe Clarissa Gifford had had her baby, but then knew that that couldn't be. Well, the 1st counselor of the Stake Presidency then came to the pulpit and said we are releasing our bishop and his counselors. Then it all came together. Bishop Lambert, his counselors Bro. Nelson, and Bro. Swaner were being released and called in their spots were Bishop Ted Gifford, Bro. Doug Gifford, and Bro. Boren.
At first I didn't really feel any emotion. I figured this would be coming sooner rather than later because there had been lots of whisperings and speculations about it throughout the ward the last few months. Bishop Lambert had been the bishop for almost (just one month short) 5years. I liked Bishop Lambert, but I wasn't terribly sad that he was leaving. Not that I was happy about it, I was just nuetral about the whole situation, and if anything, a little excited because I had only had two bishops (at least in that ward) and I barely remember the change of the first one, since I would have been 16, and wasn't really paying attention to that stuff at the time.
Even though I was nuetral to the whole thing, I started to get a little teary eyed because the way I felt. How I felt is very hard to describe. I wasn't sad, I wasn't extremely happy about the situation, but I was happy. I felt a very calming happy feeling. At first I wasn't sure what was going on, because I knew I wasn't sad. Well, the meeting went on, but one of the hymns we sang was, "How Great Thou Art", and it was during that hymn that I finally figured it out. As we sang those words I continued to get even more teary-eyed, especially everytime we sang, "How great Thou art". I felt this way because I felt the Spirit very strongly that meeting, and I really got the feeling that either Heavenly Father was there or Jesus Christ. There was just this over powering feeling that this was all supposed to be happening and that it would be ok. There was a great feeling of comfort. I know I didn't have a problem with the change, but it wasn't hard for me to imagine that there may have been a lot of people who did for one reason or another, and so our Father in Heaven knew that so He made sure there would be someone there for those who needed that extra assurance that the Lord knows all, and knows everyone, and that if we have faith in His plans then everything will work out.
It was an amazing feeling and I hope I will feel it often in my life. I know I struggle with a lot of things in following this gospel and in builiding my faith and testimony, but I do know that this church is true. That we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and who knows us. He has a plan for us all and we just need to have faith in that and do our best to follow His plan, and through the Savior, our Savior, Jesus Christ we can be happy for ever and ever and ever and live with our Heavenly Father once again.
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