2:Remembering the Savior by Representing Him

In the beginning of this chapter, the author tells the story of the last supper.  After each had taken off his shoes and sat at the table, Christ knelt with water, and washed each of their feet.  Washing of feet was usually done by the servant of the household, and was considered a very lowly act.  In this case, it is a direct example of Christ's ministry; He served his fellowmen with love.   In John 13:14, Christ said "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; yet also ought to wash one another's feet."

In our church, every Sunday we take the Sacrament.  We take bread and water, and with these we are renewing covenants (promises) we have made with the Lord.  This covenant includes taking Christ's name upon us.  Robert D. Hales explains to us that when we "take His name and always remember Him and keep His commandments, He gives us the greatest blessing He can give us: that is to always have His Spirit to be with us."  So, let's break that down a little bit.  If I am covenanting to always remember Christ and to keep His commandments, how will I act each day?  How will I represent the Savior?  Hopefully, I will be striving to act as Christ did.  If I am serving my friends, family, and those around me out of love and kindness, I am taking His name upon me.  If I do this, I will be more receptive to the Spirit and will be able to hear it's promptings in my life.  What a beautiful blessing.  

The author then goes on to explain that she has named each of her children after someone they admire, someone who they wish their child would emulate.  On her wall, a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley (a prophet of the LDS faith) says "Be true to who you are, and the family name you bear."  I can relate to this because I was named after my Grandma Stella (my full name is Stella Kathryn).  If I can emulate even the tiniest bit of the hard work and service and love my Grandma has brought to the world, I will be a lucky girl.  She has served on hospital boards, was chairman of the board for Habitat for Humanity in Utah County, and mayor of Orem, Utah.  The difference she has made in her community is staggering!  She has served in multiple church positions, been a friend to many, and works harder than anyone I have ever known.  She has been recognized for her service time and time again.  As an 82 year old woman, she still works every day in her 2 acre garden, tilling and planting and harvesting loads of vegetables and fruits, bottling and preserving and baking them, much of which is given away to family and friends.    She came from the humblest of beginnings and never made an excuse in her life.  She had 8 children and has been married to my grandpa, who is almost, ;) , as equally impressive as she is, for 60+ years.  And that is me telling the short version of her story.  

WOAH.  Thanks mom, for giving me that name!!!  It's a lot to live up to.  And obviously, so is taking upon us the name of Christ.  But if we can be remembered as someone who loves the Savior so much that we are pillars of service and love to everyone we meet, what else can we ask for?  My Grandma is one of those people.  I want to be one of those people.  

The journey for today is to find ways I can honor Christ by letting the way I live represent Him, and to try to always remember Him. Tomorrow I'll report back on how I did and what my experience was like.  I am so grateful for this experience already;  I have prayed morning and night, read my scriptures thoughtfully, and had time to personally reflect on my spirituality and what it means to be closer to Christ.  In general, I just feel right.  

-Stella Kathryn :)