Three weeks ago my Area Presidency announced we would be returning to in-person church services. My Bishop announced that our first Sunday back would be on June 7th. I honestly wanted to stay home as our Bishop had said those who are high risk, and anyone who wants to stay home would be authorized to administer the sacrament at home for the time being. I have loved home-church, and quite frankly, if I am honest, I have struggled to connect with anyone in my ward since we moved in last year. We have no friends, we are the youngest couple in the ward, and almost the only one without kids. Plus, I just really liked peace, comfort, and the natural feel of home-church.
Well, the Lord works in funny ways. This Sunday I was asked by my Elders Quorum President to write a letter inviting the quorum back to church services. After writing the letter I realized that this might be helpful to more members than just my quorum members so here is my letter.
Hello Brethren,
I was asked to write this week’s message as an invitation to come back to church. Now I am going to be rather open, honest, and somewhat vulnerable with you. I am not a very sociable person, and going to church gives me a bit of anxiety. I have completely loved home-church, being with my wife, and visiting and joining my in-laws for Church, it has really been convenient, and a nice peaceful change of pace. When they first announced that chapels were reopening, I was honestly dreading going back. But when I got Bishop’s email I rejoiced when they said not only those who are high risk, but anyone who wanted to stay home could continue to do so, and they were authorized to administer the sacrament to our families.
What changed from last week when I felt this way and today with me inviting you to come back to church? Personal Revelation. I was running and listening to conference talks on Monday when I listened to the talk “Why the Church.” By Elder D. Todd Christofferson. It felt like he was talking directly to me when he said:
“How does His Church accomplish the Lord’s purposes? It is important to recognize that God’s ultimate purpose is our progress. His desire is that we continue ‘from grace to grace, until [we receive] a fulness’ of all He can give. That requires more than simply being nice or feeling spiritual. It requires faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism of water and of the Spirit, and enduring in faith to the end. One cannot fully achieve this in isolation, so a major reason the Lord has a church is to create a community of Saints that will sustain one another in the ‘strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.’”
As he spoke these words the Spirit brought to my memory a quote from a talk I listened to the week before, “In all things we should remember that being ‘valiant in the testimony of Jesus’ is the great dividing test between the celestial and terrestrial kingdoms. We want to be found on the celestial side of that divide.” Quentin L. Cook (Choose Wisely, Oct 2014). That is when I had the personal revelation, “I am in the position to go to Church, would I define my actions as ‘valiant’ if I was choosing to stay home rather than to do the hard thing?” After sharing this experience with my wife, we both decided that we are going to go back to church. Know that your decision of when to go back to church is personal, I invite you to include God in your decision-making process and seek your own personal revelation on this matter.
~Brother Goff.
I hope you find value in my experience. I am excited for Church this Sunday, and I am excited to try to build friendships with my ward members and enjoy their fellowship. If your area is still under home church only, pray for the day when you will be able to gather with the Saints again. If your area has resumed meetings, I hope this letter has encouraged you to seek personal revelation on coming back to church.
Jean
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
In 43yrs.I had always gone to services and was the "greater", hold a temple recommend and a full tithe payor. As a single parent, raised my son alone and with the Lords help, he is active , 2 yr missionary to Japan, graduated BYU-Hawaii Cum Laud, married in the temple, now a Dr. I have struggled all my life to be self reliant and with the Lord's help managed to get jobs. I have PTSD and having difficulty with my eyes as I work 6-7 days a week online talking to hundreds of people daily using my eyes on the computer and it causes tiredness. Our new bishop required me to write a 10 page report on 5 Conference talks on Self Reliance and to pass questions on them in order to get a small food order. I said it would put too much strain on my eyes and I am tired after 6-7 days a week working, I am 70. I did give him a 20 minute recording on how I had tried to be self reliant all my life and asked to do other things that would not endanger me and he was not negotiable according to the Relief Society Pres. My PTSD is from male abuse. I have told the Relief Society Pres. I am scared of my bishop and not letting me get food puts more pressure on trying to be Self reliant. He wrote me a letter ,unsigned, saying the 3rd most important thing to do was to be self reliant and the 4th was attendance in church. I can't do both. I get tired and need to rest my eyes and sleep. I have no family at all to help as my son lives states away and is trying to just make ends meet with his family. I am so scared and afraid of my bishop and don't want to return to church. I told him that I feel "black listed" and I was assured that I wasn't and that I was loved but in the letter he said I could only meet with him if it was an emergency. I have not heard anything else from him or the Relief Society Pres since then. I feel stuck and that I have no recourse or person to go to for help. And I feel that if I don't answer his questions about supporting my leaders (him), he would not give me a temple recommend. He has power over me and I feel alone and helpless for the first time since my baptism 43 yrs. ago.
Emily Goff
Tuesday 22nd of December 2020
Jean, I am so sorry you feel so alone and that this time with your bishop has been so difficult. With situations like these, it is appropriate to reach out to your Stake President and ask for his guidance, giving him the full story as to why you are teaching out to him rather than your bishop. Hopefully you can find some guidance there.
Kim
Tuesday 9th of June 2020
I just wish our Ward would open I don't enjoy "home Church" I'm elderly and live alone, and git so much out of Church services and related activities.
Elmer Jorgensen
Sunday 7th of June 2020
We have enjoyed our "church at home" experience. It will be nice when we are able to return to church, but our state has not yet give us the go-ahead to return to church. There has been talk of limiting church gatherings initially to just ten people. My wife and I have seven children; which means that if our whole family goes, just one other person can come too. And we really prefer to attend church as an entire family.
Malcolm
Thursday 4th of June 2020
It is against Government guidelines to open church again. stay at home as much as possible work from home if you can limit contact with other people keep your distance if you go out (2 metres apart where possible) wash your hands regularly You must be the only ward breaking these rules you should be ashamed placing members in a dangerous situation and ignoring the government
Jeremy
Saturday 13th of June 2020
IT is all dependent on your area, areas of the world have relaxed rules and churches are reopening. For those who are in areas where they still can't meet, pray for the day you can meet again.
sister Montok
Thursday 4th of June 2020
i'm really very happy hearing this, and i wasn't lucky enough to experience home service cus i'm the only member and my branch president place is far...i'm happy i will experience sunday school and relieve society again i so much miss them... and hoping to return to my mission soon...I love the church of Jesus christ of latter day saints so much.
Jon Richardson
Tuesday 16th of June 2020
I'm very thankful for your faithfulness in writing this. I have question. My wife & I don't attend the ward we are assigned to we attend one that is closer to our home. I have ask almost a year ago to have our membership moved but it hasn't. Our area is returning to limited church services Sacrament only and for a limited 50 people in attendance. My question is. Would it be fair for me to attend at the ward I normally go to and perhaps cost someone that is a member the opportunity to attend?