Returning Home: A Visit to My Home Ward

Walking into my old *ward building was like stepping back in time, though the faces that greeted me have changed. The halls, once filled with the laughter of friends and the bustling energy of Sunday morning preparations, now echoed with a different rhythm.

*Ward=a local congregation in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Time has passed, and with it, many of those who once shaped me into who I am today have either moved away or gone on to the next life. Yet, as I took my seat in the familiar chapel, I realized something profound: while the faces may be different, the heart of this congregation remains the same.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

— Matthew 6:21

Growing up, this ward was more than just a place of worship; it was my spiritual home. It was here that I learned the gospel of Jesus Christ, not just from the lessons taught in Sunday School, but from the everyday examples of the people around me. There were the teachers who gave their time and energy to help me understand the scriptures, often staying after class to answer my questions or offer a word of encouragement. There were the leaders who encouraged me to serve, who saw potential in me even when I struggled to see it in myself, and who patiently guided me through the sometimes tumultuous waters of youth.

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny…