Could there be anything more exhilarating?

This post is part of the General Conference Odyssey. This week covers the Priesthood Session of the October 2012 Conference.

I miss Priesthood Session. Can I miss it when I never went to it? I miss that it exists. I miss that men get to go to it. When else did they get a chance to sing, listen, laugh, and be together like that? We always joked about how the men got called to repentance in their session, and the women got praised and comforted in their session, and there was some truth to that, but as I re-read the talks I see so much more than that. The Priesthood Session talks were so focused and pertinent. They were so stirring. I feel like they treated men like no one in the world treats men anymore: as if they are powerful, capable, and important—but could be trusted to use those gifts with gentleness and love.

Well, it's too bad, but there must be some reason for the change. I suppose there's nothing stopping any General Authority from still giving a talk just to the men if he wants to! Anyway, I do like reading these old Priesthood Sessions. I really liked Elder Christofferson's talk this time ("Brethren, We Have Work to Do"—one of those stirring ones of the sort I mentioned earlier) but I might have liked Elder Uchtdorf's even more. 

He tells a story about the benefits and limitations of flying in two different kinds of planes, and then he says:

Yes, there is always something imperfect in any situation. Yes, it is easy to find things to complain about.

But brethren, we are bearers of the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God! Each of us had hands laid upon our head, and we received the priesthood of God. We have been given authority and responsibility to act in His name as His servants on earth. Whether in a large ward or a small branch, we are called upon to serve, to bless, and to act in all things for the good of everyone and everything entrusted to our care. Could there be anything more exhilarating?

Let us understand, appreciate, and feel the joy of service in the priesthood.

Elder Uchtdorf is so great. I love his perspective and his joyful example. You can see his own exhilaration and joy in God's service. And when he talks about it, I feel it too. I was thinking about how hard it would be to serve in our Quebec branch all the time. Always having to fill some key position because there are so few truly active members. Always hoping for (but not getting) a temple closer to home. Always trying to welcome new members and meet the needs of so many who are struggling. Never quite feeling like you have the full amount of youth or priesthood leadership or active families that you wish you had. It would be exhausting.

And yet a bigger, "stronger," more established ward has its own challenges. There are still many to fellowship, many to support, many to disagree with. The callings are usually filled, but commitment can still waver, and sometimes it feels like more established members waste their gospel experience by tying themselves into philosophical knots about things that would be better kept simple. Faith and obedience may be a struggle for people even in a bigger ward. And it's definitely harder to feel needed and useful in a ward where there are 50 other people that can do everything better than you.

When I think about this I start to feel overwhelmed with the impossibility of ever becoming a Zion People, but Elder Uchtdorf just cuts right through all that discouragement with his simple statement that priesthood (and gospel) service is a privilege and joy. It should be "exhilarating," whether we are in Quebec or Utah or anywhere else in between. We get to work hand in hand with Jesus Christ himself!

I also loved the grateful viewpoint Elder Uchtdorf demonstrated here:

My love for flying influenced the direction of my entire life. But as invigorating and blissful as my experiences as a pilot were, my experiences as a member of this Church have been much deeper, more joyful, and far more profound. As I have immersed myself in Church service, I have felt God’s almighty power as well as His tender mercies.

As a pilot, I have touched the skies. As a Church member, I have felt heaven’s embrace.

Every now and then, I miss sitting in a cockpit. But serving alongside my brothers and sisters in the Church easily makes up for it. Being able to feel the sublime peace and joy that grow from being a small part of this great cause and work, I would not want to miss for anything in the world.

Since Malachi started college, we suddenly have only seven kids at home most of the time. I know that sounds like a joke (ha ha, "only" seven) but it really does feel quite a lot different! Sometimes the older boys will be here for a few days to visit, and then when they leave again, the house feels emptier than ever! It all seemed to happen so fast and I've been feeling pretty sad about it, when I have time to think about it. It feels so hard to have to shift and evolve from the habits and routines that have defined my life for so long! Especially hard to evolve into a nebulous, undefined future. But Elder Uchtdorf deals with that so briskly and cheerfully. "Every now and then, I miss sitting in a cockpit. But serving alongside my brothers and sisters in the Church easily makes up for it." 

I need to start thinking that way! Every now and then, yes, I will miss having young children and feeling so necessary and important to them. Every now and then I will miss who I was as a young mother. Every now and then I will miss the uncomplicated decisions of parenting a young family. But, I will always have the privilege of serving in the church, of serving my children and family in new ways, and of serving and loving those God puts in my path. I know God will compensate me many times over for any efforts I give in His kingdom, because I, too, have seen glimpses of the "sublime peace and joy that grow from being a small part of this great cause and work."