June was Serve the Community. I originally had lavish plans of orchestrating a big event, such as a Special Olympic or a large scale community clean up. Instead, I reminded myself that the service doesn't have to be grand to reach the individual. The week after school got out we sat on the corner with a cooler and a sign: "Welcome Summer! Free Popsicles!" A handful of grateful customers stopped by to kick off their summer with a sweet, sugary treat.
The end of the month found us around the city, writing words of encouragement on sidewalks. Service doesn't have to reach the masses. This month was a good reminder to reach out to the one. If only one person got a free popsicle, if only one person read a message that made them smile, then that was more than enough.
As I still seek healing in my life, I look towards the service I chose for this month: Serve your Ancestors. To some, this may seem like a strange theme to choose for a service. Let me explain as best I can. Without touching on that which is too sacred to me, I want to testify of the tremendous help and guidance I have often felt from those loved ones who have passed on. They are in my life still. They are aware of me and often help where they can to strengthen me through trials and help me feel of God's love. I feel blessed to have the conviction that we are connected eternally, that I will see these loved ones again someday.
I have a duty to them. As they are helping me from the other side I have the responsibility to help them how I can, here in the flesh, to do things they cannot do. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we feel it is our opportunity to take the joy of the gospel we have found and offer that to others, including those who have passed on. We do this by being baptized vicariously for our ancestors in temples throughout the word, and by making further covenants for them in these temples. They then have the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel message in heaven, an opportunity they may not have had while on earth. But if we don't do the work to make those covenants for them, they will miss those opportunities of joy that are offered.
I can not think of a better service to give my ancestors than to offer them the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This month I will be spending time in the temple, making covenants in behalf of my ancestors. I will be taking time to write their stories in family search and adding pictures. I may even share on social media some ways my ancestors have influenced my life. We will end the month with a family reunion to celebrate the legacy left by my grandparents.
I invite you to join me. For the endowed members of the Church of Jesus Christ I invite you to do at least one ordinance in the temple for an ancestor. (I'd love to see your pictures in front of the temple that day. 💖 ) I invite you to share a story, a picture, a joke your grandpa used to tell. Help us honor our ancestors.
My Grandpa and Grandma Barker on their wedding day, with their parents, some siblings,
and friends
