Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy

This Sabbath day was unlike our normal Sundays.

For one thing, we didn't go to church since our plane home was canceled

and we got stuck in Salt Lake City.

No biggie!  

There is so much to do and so many Sabbath day-appropriate activities!

We took the Trax to Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake.

It was a beautiful spring morning, and seeing all the beautiful

sister missionaries surrounding the grounds

 made me homesick for my missionaries!!!

We walked past the Salt Lake Temple, which is under construction.

It was incredible to see!

So amazing!

President Nelson spoke about the temple reconstruction saying,

"My dear brothers and sisters, these are the latter days. 

If you and I are to withstand the forthcoming perils and pressures, 

it is imperative that we each have a firm spiritual foundation

 built upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

So I ask each of you, how firm is your foundation? 

And what reinforcements to your testimony

 and understanding of the gospel are needed?

We have been promised that "if [we] are prepared [we] shall not fear."

Then I saw a figure in the distance, and I knew it was Livvy,

a full-time missionary on Temple Square.

I ran to her and yelled her name, it WAS Livvy!

She was so cute and gave us a wonderful tour of the grounds.

We also sat in on an organ performance practice in the Tabernacle.

 That made me cry.

I was feeling so many feelings.

That music is so powerful, and I just felt so happy.

We finally got back to the airport but were starving since we had

only eaten the muffins we had saved the day before.

We had to grab dinner, and I felt terrible about having to do that

since we try really hard to keep the Sabbath day a holy one-

different from all the other days of the week.

But this was different; this was kind of essential, especially for 

Lottie and Gigs who were dying.

So we went to Cafe Rio (again) at the airport for a quick dinner.

 Christian and I have been really good at avoiding Sunday

shopping, traveling, and recreational anything.

It's kind of been our family standard, and I believe it's blessed us so much,

to the point that it's never been a question or temptation to do anything

other than service, ministering, and worship on the Sabbath.

We packed up and started to the gate. 

When who should I see but the one and only Elder Kearon, 

who happens to be one of my favorite General Authorities.

He has no idea who I am, but I was so excited to see him and

I waved to him with my Cafe Rio drink full of Dr. Pepper.

Then it hit me:

I waved to him with my Cafe Rio drink.

Knowing that remarkable man, he probably didn't even think anything

of it, no judgment, but I did and was reminded why, that as a

Member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,

I am of covenant people who 

 live in the world but are taught to not be of the world.

I have never forgotten the reminder that President George Albert Smith, 

shared in 1935, and it's still relevant:

"Much of the sorrow and distress that is afflicting

mankind is traceable to the fact that they have ignored

 God's admonition to keep the Sabbath day holy."

I know this was a unique circumstance, but what a great reminder for

me, my children, and my posterity of that great commandment!

God didn't give us commandments for no dumb reason.

Everything makes sense if we just listen and obey!

(Nielson family theme!)