Thoughts on a Day: Sunday, a Day of Rest, a Day of Fasting

Sunday, July 31, 1990

Sunday is the day of rest and rejuvenation for the spirit. I used to think that ‘fast’ Sunday was not fast at all. How could it be a ‘rest’ day when we hurried to meetings and home to hurry through dinner so we could hurry to another meeting?

Dad was gone from early morn til night. There was no time for rest. I hear my mother’s voice saying, “There is no rest for the wicked and the righteous do not need any.” I never figured out if we were wicked or righteous because I tried to do good but I felt I could use some rest.

I did know that the realization, that the fast Sunday did not mean the day would go speedily by, came to me through years of maturing and experiencing beautiful spiritual feasts.

At an early age I began to understand the feelings which permeate my soul. I feel a great uplift to my spirit. I realize that by participating in fasting and prayer I am fed. ‘Fast’ is to hold me ‘fast’ to the gospel.

-EHG

Thoughts on a Day: Pioneer Relief Society

May 7, 1991, Pioneer Relief Society 19th Ward

I have labored long and hard for about five weeks preparing a special presentation on the birthday of the Relief Society. I researched many interesting episodes and feel successful in preparing a very entertaining history. I even found a cluster of plastic glass grapes which were the rage a short time-- well years--ago. It just seems a short time.

In spite of feeling like a pioneer mother--worn, tired, and foot sore--I went to the meeting and called upon my adrenalin to get me through. I had such a cold, but was able to last the evening.

I am grateful: because of a warm home, good food, and abundant juices, I didn't have to lay my bones in the cold frozen Wyoming plains.

The sisters enjoyed the humor blended with the hard labors and sacrifices made by those stalwart women. They built meeting houses, homes for the poor, granaries to fill with hand-gathered wheat, silk worms, and etc, etc, etc.

-EHG