"Church Is No Longer Just For You"

When Gerson and I were newlyweds, Gerson had a job that made him work at least one – and sometimes more – Sunday a month. It was really hard for me to go to Church by myself, and so on those Sundays I would either stay home or only go to Sacrament Meeting. At that time we didn’t have a washer and dryer, so we did laundry at my parents’ house on Sundays. That became the perfect excuse to not go to Church on the Sundays that Gerson had to work. Eventually we got called to be nursery leaders and started attending Church regularly.

A couple years later when I was pregnant with Benjamin a friend told us, “Once you have kids Church is no longer just for you. It’s for your kids. No matter what you feel on a particular Sunday, your job is to teach them to go to Church. Even if that means you sit on the couches during 2^nd and 3^rd hours while they are in their classes, take your kids to Church.”

Out of all of the parenting advice I have received, that is the one that has stuck in my mind. It’s not that I don’t want to go to Church, I enjoy going to Church, but some days stuff happens where it’s just easier to stay home. On those days, that advice comes speeding to the front of my mind to remind me to get ready and take my family to Church.

The three of us got sick a lot during Benjamin’s first winter, so we went through a period of missing Church again. During that time was my yearly ecclesiastical endorsement for BYU, and in that interview my Bishop gave me some very good advice. He recommended that whoever is not sick goes to Church. As I contemplated my Bishop’s advice I felt the Spirit testify that I should follow it.

For the most part, if the kids are sick, I stay home. I am the one they want when they are sick, I am the one they want period. A couple times Gerson has stayed home with Benjamin, and Luna and I will go to Church. If Gerson is sick, the kids and I go to Church. If I’m sick, unfortunately everyone stays home. I’m pretty much the driving force behind my family accomplishing anything.

Up until Luna was six months old the thought of taking both kids to Church by myself was terrifying and I didn’t think I could do it. Then a week after Gerson hurt his back this past February I felt inspired to try, and I was able to do it! I still asked for and accepted help from ward members, but we made through all three hours.

Yesterday we woke up right when Sacrament Meeting was starting. There was no way we would make it to take the Sacrament. And what I’m sure is Satan’s favorite question entered my mind, “Since we missed the Sacrament is it worth it to go to the rest of Church?” The answer is: YES! I got us dressed, fed, out the door, and walking into Church by the time Sacrament Meeting ended.  The Spirit I felt during Sunday School and Relief Society, and Benjamin talking about the “toetoe” (aka: temple) on the drive home confirmed to me that I had made the right choice.

Another thing that inspires me to get my family to Church on rough days is my own son, Benjamin. If he just hears the word “Church” he immediately asks to go to nursery. He practically runs up the stairs to get to nursery after Sacrament Meeting. Two of his nursery leaders live above us and he always points at their car and says, “Look! They go to Church!” I can’t deny him the experience nursery is giving him. He knows who Jesus is because of nursery, he knows what the temple is because of nursery. It’s not that I haven’t been teaching him those things, but there’s something about the way those lessons are written, and learning it with kids his own age that he retains the information better in the nursery setting.

Benjamin’s spiritual growth because of nursery has been a testimony to me that my friend’s and Bishop’s advice are correct. Now that I’m a mom Church is not just for me – though I still greatly benefit from it – it’s also for my kids. On those days that we are running late, or are tired, or Gerson is sick, I need to go for me and my kids. As I have started doing that I have felt the spirit stronger. On those rough days I have also received strength, patience, and anything else I have needed to have a successful Sabbath. I know that creating this habit will serve as a good example for my kids and will be beneficial for all of us as our family continues to grow.