In 1994-1995 while serving a mission in Boston, Mass., with my wife, Marjory, I was privileged to attend the bishops and branch presidents meeting conducted by the stake president. In one of these meetings, the stake president made a rather unique and surprising statement. He said that the sweetest smell of tobacco he had ever experienced was in a sacrament meeting.
He went on to explain that when you smell this within a Church service this means one of God's choice spirits is seeking guidance and help. A sacrament meeting, he explained, was certainly the proper place to obtain it.
A short time later, my wife and I were transferred to the Brewster Branch on Cape Cod. While there, the branch president assigned us to work with the less-active members.
The elders introduced us to a sister and upon our entering her humble cottage, it was obvious to us that one of her reasons for not attending Church was a Word of Wisdom problem. Remembering the counsel of a wise stake president, my wife put here arms around this sweet sister to let her know we still loved her.
Another problem was that she had no means of getting to Church. Before long one of the sisters would go by her house to give her a ride to Church and she began to attend regularly.
After returning home, we would occasionally hear from her, especially at Christmas time. Then one day we got a letter from her with the following message:
"Hi! Sorry I haven't written sooner, but I feel that you would want to know that on the 25th (June 1999) I went to the temple in Washington, D.C., for the first time. It was awesome. I felt so peaceful and nothing to worry about. God told me I should let you know."
This was all made possible because of the wise counsel of a stake president and the love shown by the power of a hug. — Donald Christensen, Butterfield Ward, Tucson Arizona West Stake
Another in a series of "Missionary Moments."
Illustration by John Clark.
