Reunion Preparation

 

         

                     REUNION 

      PREPARATION  

 

When I was young, I loved our family reunions, I still do!

The Wade family reunions in Bountiful, Arizona, Texas, and Duck Creek to name a few.

Some of you remember the McAllister gatherings in Arizona and the Johnstun reunions at Como Springs (the purple and gold crepe paper we wrapped around car antennas as we drove up the canyon), the baseball games, genealogy meetings, the food and the fun. The Stone family reunions at Hyrum Park are always memorable!

I didn’t appreciate all the planning and preparation that was involved until recently.  Annette and I decided to have a reunion/retreat with the senior missionary friends we made while on our mission in Ukraine. Here’s a partial list of what’s involved: finding and arranging for an adequate place to gather.

Locating contact information on all those to invite. Composing and sending texts and emails announcing and inviting and replying to a myriad of questions. Making and sending maps, planning menus, and itineraries. Contacting local motels, negotiating discounts and forwarding that information to would be participants. Shopping, fixing food, gathering supplies, loading and hauling a truck full of everything you’ll need, and on and on. A lot of work but a fun work!

One day as I was thinking about all that still needed to be done, It dawned on me, there is actually another reunion that I should  be preparing for- this one is much more important and requires a lifetime of preparation and work, if done right and yet hopefully this effort should be fun too! This reunion is one that everyone of us will attend at the end of our mortal journey, a reunion with our maker!

Amulek taught (Alma 34:32) “this life is the time to prepare to meet God. Yea behold the day of this life is a day for men to perform their labors.”

Alma taught (Alma 12:24) “this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God.”

How do we do this?  Nephi taught (2 Nephi 9:41) “the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight path before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy one of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is no other way save it be by the gate…”

David O. McKay shared prophetic insight as to what this reunion with the keeper of the gate will involve. “ …I will tell you the order in which he will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife. ( for the men)Have you been actively engaged in making her happy and ensuring that her needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship with each and every child.

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the preexistence.

Forth, He will want a summary of your church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had…but he will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellow men in your church assignments.

Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all of your dealings.

Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country, and the world.”

(as quoted in a talk by Robert D Hales, speeches.byu.edu)

As we go about enjoying our reunions in life with family and friends, let’s remember to prepare for the final and most important reunion we will ever have- one with eternal consequences!

Much Love-   The Grandparent Chronicles