“Bro. Hesch has been released as Elders Quorum President, and we propose that he be given a vote of thanks for his service. Those who wish to express their appreciation may manifest it by the uplifted hand.” Normally, those are some sweet words. You know, you’ve worked hard in your calling and now it’s time to move onto something new with a different challenge. Well, this was different as the tears came rushing and my heart felt hollow. My mind raced as I thought of all the work left to be completed in the quorum. I knew my decision to move was right as manifested to me and my family by the Spirit through fasting and prayer, but the pain and sense of loss were still there.

I thought about Bro. Tom (names have been changed) and how I was working with him on getting to the Temple, and Bro. Luke who finally let me into his home to visit. The last church visitor he let into his home was 10 years ago. What would happen to these brethren? And what about the 2 home teachers I was working with? Helping them to understand their duties and responsibilities and the impact they could have on the single sister they home taught and her young children.

I reminisced about the opportunity I had to bless a young infant at the hospital as his parents held him praying that he would live. The joy I felt as I visited this young family a few days later in their home with their healthy baby. How is Sis. Clark? A single sister to whom I bore my heart felt testimony as she was explaining how she was going through her second divorce in 3 months? What about those experiences in Presidency meetings as we knelt in prayer and and asked if Bro. Taylor was the right person for the assignment and opening my eyes to see my counselors in tears as they were touched by the Spirit?

What would happen with these experiences now that I have been released and do not hold that mantle of authority? Can I continue to have spiritual experiences on a regular basis? The words of Elder Oaks reminded me that spiritual experiences come from the way we live our lives and not the positions we hold. “How do we achieve spirituality? How do we attain that degree of holiness wherein we can have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost?

“We seek spirituality through faith, repentance, and baptism; through forgiveness of one another; through fasting and prayer; through righteous desires and pure thoughts andactions. We seek spirituality through service to our fellowmen; through worship; through feasting on the word of God, in the scriptures and in the teachings of the living prophets. We attain spirituality through making and keeping covenants with the Lord, through conscientiously trying to keep all the commandments of God.

(Dallin H. Oaks, “Spirituality” General Conference, October 1985; see Ensign, November 1985, p. 63 or Pure in Heart, p. 123)

We can have spiritual experiences on a regular basis by serving faithfully as home and visiting teachers. As we serve our families/sisters and have their welfare in mind as we pray and fast for them we will find ourselves having spiritual experiences.

I’ll miss the joy of serving in the capacity of an Elders Quorum President but I will at the same time strive to continue to serve, study, and pray and through my efforts I will be blessed with my Heavenly Father’s Spirit.

Posted by John in Feature Articles