I grew up in a small town in Ohio. The nearest Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was in Columbus, a twenty-minute drive from our home. My father was a member of the Stake Presidency and attended early morning meetings every Sunday. Because my mother didn’t drive, dad would have to hurry home after his meetings to pick us all up for church, a forty-minute round trip for him. He would joking tell us, “I want you waiting on the curb with one leg in the air when I get there.” In other words, be ready.
As he pulled up to the curb, we would pile in the car and dad would rush us all to the church house.
As he pulled up to the curb, we would pile in the car and dad would rush us all to the church house.
One usual Sunday morning, we were hurrying into Columbus to attend our meetings when my mother noticed a car had broken down on the highway. Another car had already stopped to help the stranded motorist and, as my father sped on past, mother recognized the person who had stopped.
“Did you see who that was?” she asked my father. “That was Bishop Bailey.”
Dad didn’t make a comment, but I did. I was a little surprised because I knew we had very little time to get to our meetings and not be late.
“Why is he stopping?” I asked. “He’s going to be late for church.”
“Because, son,” my father answered, “Bishop Bailey has already learned what the rest of us are going to church to learn.”
“Did you see who that was?” she asked my father. “That was Bishop Bailey.”
Dad didn’t make a comment, but I did. I was a little surprised because I knew we had very little time to get to our meetings and not be late.
“Why is he stopping?” I asked. “He’s going to be late for church.”
“Because, son,” my father answered, “Bishop Bailey has already learned what the rest of us are going to church to learn.”
Bishop Bailey was focused on living the Gospel, helping those in need, and rendering kindness regardless of his own personal agenda. Attending a church meeting to learn how to perform those Christ-like acts was only secondary to him.
That morning I recognized for the first time that going to church isn’t what makes us worthy disciples of Jesus Christ; it is actually living those principles of service and charity that, hopefully, we learn when do we attend our meetings.
That morning I recognized for the first time that going to church isn’t what makes us worthy disciples of Jesus Christ; it is actually living those principles of service and charity that, hopefully, we learn when do we attend our meetings.
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