Being raised in the gospel, and attending church nearly every Sunday since I was born, I guess I would be labeled as your average LDS gal... So I want to take you back to 11; when you're the oldest in Primary, ready to be in YM (or in my case YW) and have very little interest in participating in singing and sharing time. Well that pattern has not changed in this next generation.
I have had the opportunity to be involved with the Primary in our past two wards, and recently I was called to be a counselor in our Primary Presidency. I get to be in both junior and senior primary and look over all the kids. Believe me, you can see the exact expressions on those 11 year old kids faces that you had back in your day. The funny thing is it doesn't stop in Primary, it continues on through your Beehive days, then Mia Maids. Once you hit the age of a Laurel you are literally counting down the hours until you graduate and are in the Singles Ward.
In my case, you skip the Singles Ward altogether, get married, and attend a family ward. Once you get there, you've finally entered into Relief Society! Success! But wait, don't breathe yet. Much like the pride cycle, within 3 months of being newlyweds, you are more likely than not to be called as Primary teachers. It starts all over again! ;)
I cannot begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed serving in Primary though. Being able to teach these children just a portion of the principles of the gospel that may lead them to great eternal blessings such as baptism and entering into the Temple.
Our last day in our ward here in Vernal was yesterday. Each ward we go to just gets better and even more difficult to leave. Its crazy to think that we'll be in Laramie for probably 5 years.
5 years in one ward? Now that will be hard goodbye!
But that is the one thing I am always grateful for when I move to a new place; I always have members around and a welcoming ward. Whether they be few or many, its nice to have a group of people that you share a common bond with; people you can call family.
