One Letter Away from Heaven

I know most of you heard this but I wanted to have it written for my own good and I wanted to share it again because I believe it's true.

I was released from my calling at church today and had the opportunity to say a few words (I spoke too long) and I chose to talk on Elsie Fitt's (one of the originals of our ward) observation that:

HAVEN WARD IS ONLY ONE LETTER AWAY FROM HEAVEN!

Upon pondering this statement I thought it would be interesting to look up the term "Haven" in Webster's Dictionary.

The 3 brief definition's are as follows:

1. Harbor, Port

2. a place of safety; refuge

3. a place offering favorable opportunities or conditions

It was amazing to see how this truly applied to our ward in unique ways.

1. Harbor, Port

Haven ward brings in vessels of all kinds with business of all kinds. This may be true of many other wards throughout the church but I am reminded of when Pres. Eyring visited our Stake Conference a few years ago and said:

The South Salt Lake Stake is a "crossroads" within the church.

Many members of the church can tell you of someone they know that has been a member of the stake at one point of their lives. There are many good people trained up by those stationed in the Stake and then turned loose to serve elsewhere in the church.

2. a place of safety; refuge

Many are aware now of the refugee situation that abundant in our ward. It has been such a growing opportunity to serve these humble and faithful people who dealt with a great deal of turmoil and now move forward in a strange place, usually confronting a strange language, and always among the strangest customs. We are truly blessed by the opportunity to serve these wonderful people.

3. a place offering favorable opportunities or conditions

Finally, anybody who walks through the doors of our chapel will tell you how hard it is to run faster than those who would like to put you to work. There is a great need for service in our stake and what is even better is that eternal truth that with service comes satisfaction, even an eternal joy.

We are not gone yet and we will always have a place in our hearts for the Heaven...excuse me, Haven Ward. Thanks for all you have done for us. We love you.