I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion.
Doctrine and Covenants 101:21
Our Stake is lead by a Presidency who is supported by a High Council of twelve men. In the church, the priesthood brethren are organized into quorums or groups that work together to support the work of branches, wards, stakes, areas and the general church. These quorums do much to serve and form a tremendous brotherhood for the blessing of the members of God's kingdom here on earth as well as for many throughout the world of all faiths those without any faith to meet various needs - both temporal and spiritual.
Within the congregational family, we are assigned Home Teachers. Two men are assigned to work together to enable each and every family unit within the congregation to have someone to watch over them. These under-shepherds are able to focus attention on specific needs of individual members.
On our drive home from the Urgent Care Center in Rexburg on the 8th, I called our home teachers to let them know of the accident. That evening Gary and Bob were there to anoint Claigh with oil and give him a blessing of endurance and healing. Gary Meikle, one of our home teachers, is maintaining a fight with incurable lung cancer. He and his wife Jean are remarkable to say the least and have blessed us with such a sense of the possible when faced with the impossible. Gary serves with such determination and an inner strength form the Spirit that over comes the limitations of his physical body. The blessing brought comfort and peace.
On Sunday, just 2 days following Claigh's cave-fall, he rose early for his 7:30 a.m. High Council Meeting. I had had a difficult night and was sound asleep. As is in his generous nature, he did not waken me but attempted to get it together himself. He managed somehow to shave and was able to pull a shirt over his head, but there was no way for him to tie his shoes. Part way through the meeting, one of Claigh's fellow High Councilmen, Brother Jordan Jardine, noticed the untied shoes and asked, "Claigh, would you like me to tie your shoes for you?"
It touched Claigh's heart that Brother Jardine had even noticed something so small. What a simple expression of God's love for each and every one of us.
We are grateful!
Do small things with great love.
Mother Teresa
Later that afternoon, we enjoyed a relaxed dinner with the Meikles. They continue to bless our lives.
Monday afternoon, as I was leaving the house to get Claigh to the doctor for the casting of his broken radius, our dear home teaching friend from down the street, Bob Buchmiller, walked into our yard with a weed trimmer in hand. He had come to do our lawn for us. We had felt we could go another week but he insisted that it looked like it could get a little shaggy and he wanted to do it for us. He spent hours and left us in good shape for another two weeks. Bob and his wife Jackie have been dear friends ever since we moved here. During one of my lowest times with the chemo treatments, Jackie came and sat with me for a few hours one afternoon. Just her company when I myself wasn't good company at all made such a difference for me.
Today, one week later, Claigh is much improved. The pain in his sternum and left forearm have subsided greatly. He still wears a brace on his left arm to protect the healing tendons and muscles but has much greater use of his fingers. He is able to tie his shoes and button buttons again (albeit very slowly.) His leg abrasions are coming along. They were not too serious but cause some discomfort with the itching and healing process. Claigh does have annoyance with the cast on his right wrist but that will come to an end soon thanks to the amazing ability of the body to heal. He has been able to purchase a computer program that turns dictation into the written word so he is able to keep up his files for work as it will be some time before he is typing again. He thinks he will have tremendous use for this long term as he spends some time in the car traveling to visit with those he counsels.
Our family has been greatly blessed by Claigh's diligent efforts throughout the years to serve God in every way he can by serving God's children. It is true that you cannot out give our loving Heavenly Father nor even come close. His mercy and kindness never fails! He is a faithful God and will support our meager capacities to give and love in His way. There are many good souls who share this love for God and his children. We so appreciate the outpouring of your love in our behalf through words and actions. Your prayers for us are especially appreciated and have been answered in wondrous ways.
“God does notice us, and he watches over us. But it is usually through another mortal that he meets our needs. Therefore, it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom.”
President Spencer W. Kimball
