When I was in China my bed exactly 27 feet from where I had sacrament meeting. In Arkansas they had some pretty massive ward areas and we had a hard time convincing people to drive two hours one way to church every Sunday. Some devote members did! but most did not. I told myself that if only they lived within walking distance of the church they would come every sunday! but after my experience in China I found that people don't come to church because it is convenient.
Including me there was nine other American teachers that are active members of the church. My room was the closest to the small kitchen that served as our chapel, and the farthest commute anyone had to make was a whopping 100ft. But when Sunday morning rolled around I was surprised to see only my roommate and one other girl, making a grand total of three out nine active members in attendance! Occasionally another one or two others would wander in after I pounded on their door, but most of the time it was just us three.
After seeing this I was brought back to my mission. I realized that even if church was a few steps away from their bed people will not go unless they have a testimony of why they go. I go because I know that the sacrament is a soul saving ordinance that must be taken every week to keep us clean and "unspotted from the world." I look forward to renewing by baptismal covenants and brining Christ's atonement into my life every week. I will do all I can to partake of it wether it be 27 feet away or 270 miles away.
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