Extermination

This morning I was thinking about extermination of pests-public nuisances-whatever.  We used to have this really cool BBQ pit in our stake park.  It could accommodate large groups for campfire fun.  It even had a couple of raised platforms for some type of performances-at least I can imagine people playing guitars, singing around the campfire, etc.  Since the park is pretty much my backyard, I thought about using it in the future for some type of family gathering.  Well, that's not happening.

A couple of months ago, the stake leaders decided to fill the area in with dirt because rowdy teens were using it for their drug parties or other unseemly activities.  They thought the best way to drive out the nuisance was to destroy the gathering place; that will stop it, right?  Or at least force them to continue their activities somewhere else where we can't see it, where they can't bother us.  It made me sad.  Not that I'm in to wild drug/sex parties, but it was just such a nice feature of the park.  Now it's just weeds. 

It reminded me of our infestation of swallows  all along the top edge on the outside of our gym building at work.  I liked going in that door to enter the facility.  Mind you, I was a little concerned of bird droppings, but I loved seeing the crazy way these birds flew together, or should I say, really did not fly together.  Mighty ducks they were not-no flying V's or any semblance of order.  They just clumped and moved together like a flock of hyperactive children.  Reminded me of the students inside the building. 

One day while entering the building I noticed all the nests were gone.  I don't know how the maintenance dudes did it...perhaps power washing?  But all the crazy birds and their nests were gone.   It was clean, sanitized, but devoid of life.  I was sad.  I'm sure they found new homes.  I hope.  It's possible some of the baby swallows were destroyed in the cleansing of the building.  I understood they were a nuisance, but did we really have to give the extermination order? 

Back in the early days of the church, the  Mormons were a nuisance to the residents of Missouri and Illinois.  They seemed to be gathering in droves.  They encroached on the state's land They made their presence known. They could influence the vote. They not only were a nuisance, but they threatened the residents way of life.  They had to be driven out-exterminated. According to the order by Gov. Lilburn W. Boggs, the Mormons were "in open avowed defiance of the laws, and having made war upon the people of the State...and must be exterminated or driven from the State if necessary for public peace."   So legally you could exterminate a Mormon until 1976, when it was eliminated by Sen. Christopher Bond.  There you go.  I suppose like the crazy swallows and crazy teenagers, if you take away their nests and place of gathering, they'll be gone...or at least from your line of sight. 

Death and destruction certainly don't reign supreme.  Life prevails.  People start again.  People find a new place and carry on with life.  As Pioneer day, celebrated in Utah every July 24th attests:
"We’ll find the place which God for us prepared, Far away in the West, Where none shall come to hurt or make afraid; There the Saints will be blessed."

And so they have. I am so proud to be a Mormon, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I'm grateful for the pioneers who preserved my faith, who kept it alive even with the threat of extermination...life prevails.  Faith prevails. 

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House of Faith

This morning I was thinking about the house I belong to.  I recently returned from the Wizarding World  of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood.  While waiting in line, I played around with a couple of Harry Potter apps including the sorting hat.  After asking several questions, the sorting hat declared I was 56% in the house of "Hufflepuff."  What the heck?   That's the weird one.  Great.  Oh well.  I have a lot more house pride as I consider what it means to be part of the house of "O'Malley".

it meant so much to meet to gather for the  baptism of my great niece and participate in the baptismal service. My brother did the ordinance and talk about baptism; my sister gave the talk about the Holy Ghost; my mother and sister in law gave the prayers. I sang a song and played the piano interlude.  There's a special power that comes when everyone is on the same page.  We believe Jesus is real.  We believe the gospel is real.  We believe in the restored church. We believe in priesthood power.  We believe in ordinances.  Believing together brings us closer.  The next day the counselor in the bishopric mentioned how touched he was with the powerful yet simple faith if dear Bella. it reminded me of my own house of faith. 

in his talk, my brother shared how our mother had taught him faith my teaching him the Lord's prayer.  My mother also taught me faith by bringing me to church, teaching me the gospel, bearing her testimony and observing her commitment to every church calling-including her latest calling as a primary teacher for the 5 year old children.  My faith had grown as I have observed my siblings and their commitment to the gospel. They show their belief through action. I not only come from a house of faith but I feel like we are also united in our faith.  Together we are really stronger.  We are loyal to a cause much greater than ourselves.  We defend our faith just as fervently as any Gryffindor would! 

Not that it's Hogwarts castle, but I certainly am sad that the  Woodruff ward  building is being sold.  It houses so many of my childhood memories.  I look at the light fixtures  and remember gazing and imagining all sorts of things to pass the time while laying down on the pew as a 3 year old.  The familiar strained glass windows seemed to make our little ward house especially unique. The pulpit was sacred ground where I bore my testimony in word and song.  The classrooms still have the orginal hardware reminding me of primary kids escaping through the windows and other classroom antics. The stage was the place where we held our very large teenager Sunday School class complete with lesson and Texas sheetcake or cinnamon rolls from Mom-good ole' Sister O'Malley.  The primary room was the place where I learned about magnifying callings. Back in the day before the block meetings, we spent so much time in the building, it was  almost like second home.  It was my very own  house of faith. it was the place where I felt the spirit over and over and over again.

Yet, the Woodruff chapel is not where my faith resides.  It's part of my own house-memories of faith stored in my body and in my spirit.  The light peaking through my own stained glass windows reminds me that I really am part of the house of Elohim, God the Father.   I'm  part of something so much greater than myself. I seek unity of faith with my fellow brothers and sisters.  We really do have something to cheer and show our house pride.