At the end of the row.

I’ve been fortunate enough to attend Sacrament meeting in many places.

In each city, state, or country even, the architecture and demographic in these buildings are unique and reassuring.

Though wonderful, the differing landscapes and time zones are not the source of, nor the lead catalyst for, my testimony.

No matter the location or my surroundings while attending Sacrament meeting, the Lord has chosen the simple time of pondering in a church pew, theater seat, or metal folding chair to teach me some of the most profound lessons.

I attended Sacrament meeting with my Great Aunt Kaye. She is neighborly love personified.

It’s not uncommon to greet many new faces when sitting next to Nancy Kaye Bassett.

Though not uncommon, one introduction was special.

I met this woman for a brief moment, her smile beamed and faltered only slightly. Sunglasses hid teary eyes.

I didn’t catch details, but by watching brief exchanges with concerned friends who knew her, I was made aware that tragedy had recently stricken her family.

But the opening hymn started, and she sat down on the pew in front of me. She sat alone on the bench hugging the wall, far away from the isle.

She sang the opening hymn.

When the Sacrament ordinance began, I watched her slide her belongings down, newly positioning herself at the other edge of the bench now closest to the isle.

When the emblems of the Savior’s body and blood were passed to the individuals of the congregation, she had opportune access to them, and them to her.

This sweet, hurting woman, and the Holy Spirit through her, taught me as she sat reverently at the end of the row and I in the pew behind her.

In any Latter-Day Saint chapel from Parowan to Perth, it’s to happen the same way.

The sacrament is prepared, broken, blessed and distributed by the power of God given to man.

Today, I was made keenly aware that the woman at the end of her row wouldn’t have to personally participate in or perform any of that.

But, by showing up and moving to the end of the row, she would be the beneficiary of all of it.

So will we.

But she had to show up; her broken heart obviously present, a contrite Spirit easily recognizable. And she could move to the edge of the bench to better position herself to receive.

So can we.

After highlighting all the Savior asked His followers to do throughout the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead, Elder Bassett offered this observation:

“My impression is that the Savior expects us to do all we can do, and He will do what only He can do.”

Roll the stone away, remove the burial wrappings, walk. They could and they did.

Pray, make and keep covenants, move to the end of the row. We can and we do.

“For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.” 2 Nephi 25, Book of Mormon

After all we can do. After all, we can do.

But in both instances, it’s vital to note:

only the Savior does the saving.

Only He provides the needed healing, raising, changing - He performs the miracle. He provides reason for any follower’s desire to follow.

Moving to the end of our row means to better position ourselves to receive Heaven’s greatest blessings.

Our beloved Prophet shared the following about our Savior and repentance in his message on The Power of Spiritual Momentum. Repentance means turning toward the Savior.

“Please do not fear or delay repenting. Satan delights in your misery. Cut it short. Cast his influence out of your life! Start today to experience the joy of putting off the natural man. The Savior loves us always but especially when we repent. He promised that though “the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed … my kindness shall not depart from thee.”

The Savior loves us always, but especially when we move to the end of the row.

“God has a special love for each person who makes a covenant with Him in the waters of baptism. And that divine love deepens as additional covenants are made and faithfully kept.”

Elder Renlund beautifully teaches that our Father in Heaven loves all of His children, and has a special, deepening love for each who move to the end of the row.

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The blessings of the Savior’s atonement are abundant and available to every individual in this worldwide congregation of Heavenly Father’s children.

“He also cares deeply that all His children have an opportunity to hear the glad tidings of the restored gospel.” E. Rendlund

When we do what we’ve been asked to do,

trust Him to do what only He can do,

and stand still,

We have opportune access to Him, and Him to us.

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He can be heard sitting in church pews.

He can be known sitting at the end of the row.