Five years ago, my ward in Alexandria split. This split ran through the heart of a close knit community – and created many heavy hearts.
Last week, we were realigned again and I will be returning to 1st ward where I will see many beloved faces when I walk into church next Sunday: Martha, Liz, Amy, Ann, Sarahanne, Darla, Julie, Kamae, Beth, Corine, Amy, Amber, Collette, Mary Frances, Brandi, Noelle, Janet. Wards are like families and it’s great to be home.
But …
There many faces I will not see on Sunday. Many beloved friends will still be attending 3rd ward: Mary, Kristin, Katie, Cherlyn, Ali, Noelle, Jessica, Jackie, Liz, Sarah, Hollie, Jocelyn, Janeil, Jinelle, Brooksany, Debbie, Rebecca, Joy, Michaela, Sarah, Julie, Alison, Jenny, Donna. We went through a lot together five years ago when the newly formed 3rdward started with just a bishop – and we had to grow and serve to create a ward from scratch. We did a good job, if I do say so myself, creating a beautiful, warm, giving place with Christ at its center. As my friend, Debbie, said about the ward: “Third ward is like magic”. I will miss it. Wards are like families and it’s hard to leave home.
I feel particularly connected to the women of 3rd ward because they are the ones that saw me though cancer in 2012. They are the friends who stood by me at the begins of Ordain Women in 2013 (even when they didn’t understand or agree). And they have loved me through the ups and downs of the ongoing faith transitions of my soul.
To honor all of these women, I am giving my Exponent II gift subscription (2 subscriptions) to the 1st ward and the 3rdward. I’ll put them in the library each quarter, so anyone can use them – pictures for Relief Society lessons, stories for Sacrament Meeting talks, good reading the foyers, and even some nuggets for Primary Teachers.
This gift comes from the heart; and is my heart. Like the women of these 2 wards, the women of Exponent have carried me through dark times as well as bright times. Together, we have searched for truth, clung to faith, prayed, blessed, and written the stories of our lives. The voices (and stories) of so many Mormon women are preserved in the pages of the Exponent II Magazine. The emotions of these Mormon women are printed in the artwork on these pages. In giving an Exponent II subscription to the women of each ward, I hope to join the strength of all these women and continue our growth and journey – together.
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Pictured below are faces of some of my ward(s) friends – taken at Super Heros New Years Eve 2015.
4 Responses
That is a beautiful gift, Suzette. Best of luck with the transition.
Great idea!
I don’t want to be a downer, but I believe policy only allows materials in the libraries that are from store.lds.org. There’s a good chance your subscriptions will have to end up in the trash, which would be a shame. You might want to check with your bishop and stake president.
I guess we’ll see. Magazine #1 was dropped off today with “A1 Relief Society Copy” printed on the cover. I’ll keep my eye out. 🙂