LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!!!

For seven years we have had the privilege of walking across the street to church. When people would observe us on our short walk they would comment about the ease our family had in attending church.  My response was always, "I pretend I moved to Utah!"

We lived 17 years in our previous home.  There we could walk to church too, but we usually made the short drive.  Our home was just around the corner from the Lancaster Blvd. building.  Sometimes we'd walk through a vacant lot for a shortcut, but that was never too good on dress shoes.

When we bought our new home one of the main draws was the location.  It was just steps away from the church. Before we made the final decision to buy, we would review the pros and cons of each house we had viewed.  Hughie would always say with a sense of allurement, "I really want to be able to walk to church."  I would then mention that we were already able to walk to church; he just didn't walk with us.  Hugh was currently serving in the stake so he was usually at the other building.  With that reminder, he would then add to his plea, "So . . . I want to walk together."  Needless to say, we bought the house three doors down from the church and we have thoroughly enjoyed our short jaunts not to mention the money we have saved on gas.

Anyway,  we're moving - not our house, but our ward.  Sierra Ward will now be attending church back on Lancaster Blvd. starting May 5th.  They are adding a Spanish branch to the stake, so things consequently needed to be juggled around to add the new unit.  I won't share all the details about who is going where and when, but it's obvious they had to do some orchestrating to make it all work. We will happily accept the situation.

The changes were announced at stake conference yesterday.  We had two Seventy visiting our stake, Elder Whiting and Elder Sabin.  It was an inspiring weekend to say the least.  Elder Whiting let us know that things were coming together in the Antelope Valley. EXCITING TIMES! Lots of missionaries are coming to the area too and we will soon (July) be a part of the newly created California Bakersfield Mission.

After the meeting, I wrote our stake president assuring him of our support, "We are happy to do our part in building the kingdom of God, even if it involves driving across town."

Hurrah for Israel!

"I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?"

—Jeffrey R. Holland, "Missionary Work and the Atonement", Ensign,  March 2001