Two years ago our stake split from one stake to two. A stake is a large congregation within our church made up of several wards, which are smaller congregations. Both are set up geographically which makes it really nice because you attend church with your neighbors and those that live near by. The stake we were in grew too large and so it was split. The stake we live in became the new stake which meant we did not have a building for all of us to meet. This has made things a little difficult as we have shared buildings with surrounding stakes while we looked for land to build on. Being made up geographically, ideally the new building will be in the area where those that will use it live. We were asked to pray and fast to help in this process and a while back it was announced that a location had been found. Today was the ground breaking.
I had never been to a ground breaking ceremony before, although they occur for just about every new building that is constructed within the church. It was incredible! I worked yesterday so when I got home last night I was not sure I wanted to get up early to attend because I tend to need and very much enjoy my sleep after a long day. But early sometime this morning, maybe 4am or so I woke up with voices of my grandparents in my head, "Angie, you have actual Mormon pioneer blood pumping through your body and you think you're too tired to get up and celebrate such a historical event?" I rationalized with thinking we had been told that parking would be terrible, we would have to walk quite a ways to get there and that we needed to bring our own chairs to sit in; aka: more junk to haul and haul it a long way (you all know my major adjustments in hauling so much junk around since getting Z). But then I next thought was, "You think you have to walk a long ways hauling a few chairs and diaper bag?" So that confirmed it, I was going. Plus, I really wanted to have Z there so I could tell him all about it one day.
We had lots of friends there, here are Bryce and Lee (ha ha, you're not hiding now)! I really love Steve's expression in the back too.
This was the choir, they sang
Faith In Every Footstep, one of my favorites. The choir was made up of several members of our ward and another ward as well.
One Primary kid spoke, the Primary children (kids ages 3-11) sang How Firm A Foundation, a teenage girl spoke, then we all gathered at the pole...
I thought this was the coolest part. Our Stake President is really into object lessons and that was very evident today. This large telephone pole had been erected with a ring around the top and hundreds of cords streaming down. Each family was to hold a cord to represent that each person was needed to support the church and serve those people that need us. If one cord was dropped and several were; the pole remained strong and steady because those around kept hold until that person could grab and pull their cord again.
Besides all that, it just looked really cool and was so moving to see members of our stake all around holding to their own cords. We all sang
True to the Faith. The line, "True to the faith that our parents have cherished," always touches me but especially today as I thought of my own ancestors and the sacrifices they made for the faith they loved and believed in. There in the mist of all those people with my own little Z, I couldn't help but think of
Zadok Knapp Judd Jr. and all that he did with his life.
Finally, it was time for members of our Stake Presidency and a few others (including a few Primary children and young women and young men) to grab a golden shovel and be the first to "break the ground." All at once, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir was piped over the loud speakers singing
Come Come Ye Saints and most moving for me was the release of a flock of white doves. It was incredible and brought me to tears as I watched the doves fly and the words, "Come, come, ye Saints, no toil or labor fear; but with joy wend your way. Though hard to you this journey may appear, grace shall be as your day."
The Stake President spoke about how Mormon Pioneers who had been asked to settle parts of Arizona had actually crossed the Salt River right at this point and walked the ground where this new building will be. He wondered if they had any idea of how much would follow; the saints that would come after them, how they would sacrifice and survive and later thrive here in this desert. How they came 90 years before any air conditioning would be available. I am so thankful to them, and so thankful to live in this time with so much comfort. What an incredible blessing this turned out to be, one that will not soon be forgotten.
