Marines Corps Recruits and MS events

 This week was a contrast of events - We had the opportunity to volunteer for the MS society fundraising event at the posh Loews Coronado Bay Resort on Saturday & then participate in the Marine Corps sacrament meeting on Sunday with a graduating class plus new recruits in attendance.  In many ways, there were a number of interesting contrasts!

The MS society apparently has a fundraising activity this time each year and they have loved inviting many of our young Missionaries & Senior Missionaries to help assist them with the wealthy invitees to this suit, tie, & fancy dress event.  Those that were invited to come were dressed to the T's in their fanciest clothes and arrived walking into the beautifully decorated Resort called the Loews Coronado Bay Resort on Coronado Island.  Many came color coded in Orange & Black and were welcomed walking into the picturesque hall looking at the carefully placed food, vacation, & alcoholic basket displays for the silent auction.  They were then liberally plied with champagne and other alcoholic libations as they made their way to the techno savvy hall for a delicious multicourse dinner & dessert.  Following the sumptuous feast, the program began with large screens & videos documenting how the organization has helped & continues to help those suffering with MS & also the organization's ongoing support for research to help find a cure!  Awards were presented to those who had been most instrumental in helping the organization & their cause. The live auction was then started after a spirited auctioneer discussed one by one the packages offered with their most attractive features, and the bidding was started!  Each of our missionaries was given a filament "wand" that had blinking lights so that when one bidder raised his/her number to bid, the flashing "wand" drew attention to the bidder's bid!  Ohs & Ahs slipped from the audiences mouths as the bidding dollar amount got higher & higher, until the "sold" word bellowed from the mouth of the auctioneer!!  The blinking "wands" then did a final light flashing dance around the successful bidders.  Following the live auction, the fundraising continued as the auctioneer asked for donations starting at $ 10,000, $5,000, $2,500, and so on until the last plea for $ 100.  Cheers & accolades erupted in a carnival atmosphere as the "bidders" numbers were raised for the pledged donations.  All in all, it was a successful fundraiser - gifts were given, donations pledged - many in a very public display.  I thought of the good that these donations would do, but I also wondered about the Savior's teaching in Mathew 6 when He taught "Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them..."  It was an interesting event!!

Now I will describe the event we had this morning (Sunday morning).  Debbie & I were invited to attend a Marine branch sacrament meeting at the Marine Corps base in San Diego.  I was asked to play my cello with another senior Missionary on his guitar - a rendition of "Hallelujah" - so we played the first verse as an instrumental number after which the marines would sing the next two verses (words changed to be more "appropriate") with our accompaniment.  It turned out nice.  The building we met in was an ordinary hall with no pictures on the walls and the Marines were there to escape "boot camp" for a few hours.  They sat in company groups in their fatigues and the recruits with the most time were at the front and the "newbies" near the rear.  Most were LDS, but some had brought friends with them.  Apparently, the Marine Corps gives the recruits a choice to "go to the Church of their choosing" or stay and clean toilets, etc.  Most go to Church!!  As the meeting opened, a member of the branch presidency reminded them to be on their best behavior; heads forward, respectful, and awake - if they found themselves dozing, to stand up and move to the side wall until they are able to stay awake.  Although the noisy jets were taking off & landing every minute or so, the recruits were exceptionally quiet and respectful.  Here they were, just 18-20 years old without family or friends, cell phones, etc and in the most grueling training of their lives.  They were broken down, finding out about strict obedience, and learning about honor, courage, and commitment.  Totally overwhelmed and humbled, many were turning to God, prayer, and priesthood blessings to just survive! After a talk by one of the branch presidency, the sacrament was blessed & passed in a most reverential manner - the rest of the meeting was a testimony meeting with many of the graduates just finishing the program speaking of how God got them through as they prayed to Him almost continually.  They were grateful and optimistic for their future as MARINES!  Many tears were shed in the congregation as they sought help & courage to finish boot camp.  Religion that had been taken for granted in their "former" life, suddenly became real & essential!!  We were told that on other Sunday's in the 2nd hour of the meeting, many sought & received healings from many of their physical ailments through their new found faith in God & through Priesthood blessings - other friends would join them also asking for Priesthood blessings the next Sunday!

This experience reminded me of Alma (Alma 32:6) when he went to preach to the Zoramites and found some success among the poorer class of people that had been cast out of their synagogues for "their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word."

Before the meeting started, I was amazed to see a few senior missionaries addressing the new recruits with instruction on how to address an envelope so that they could send a short letter home to their parents to let them know they were "alive".  Some did not even know how to send a "snail" mail letter!  I am truly grateful for the sacrifice & service of these young men and young women, but I am even more grateful for the sacrifice of the Son of God, whose gifts allow us to repent and to hope for eternal life & exaltation.

Have a great week!