Monday, November 9, 2009

one-by-one

tonight for our family home evening we watched
Another Testament
Reflections of Christ

it is a documentary about the experiences
of producing beautiful photographs
depicting the Savior's visit to the Americas
as told in 3 Nephi.

this experience resonates with me
because of my own interest in photography.
moments of intense emotion are suspended in time
and we are asked to suspend our belief
and imagine ourselves in those photos.

for me the images communicate
a testimony of the Savior's divinity
just as forcefully as the mediums of
paint, sculpture, music, or the written word.

christ2.jpg picture by joiester

One of the historians pointed out
that the scriptures say
whenever the Savior was
blessing or healing he did it

one by one

until now
I had never truly considered
the impact of that
simple act

I am an individual
and our Savior
will never make me feel lost in the crowd.
christ1.jpg picture by joiester

the Savior isn't here
in person
to teach
and bless
and heal
so he sends the next best thing...

{yep, current Elders in our ward}

it's hard to believe
that these young men get anything done.
but the truth is
they
along with faithful, Christ-like members
are saving the world

one by one


over the past year
12 souls
have joined themselves
to the gospel of Jesus Christ
and we are honored to have crossed paths with them

Jamie | young, single mother of Jared
jjweb3.jpg picture by joiester
Marvely and her son Tyler
DSC_0289.jpg picture by joiester


Eunju who came here from Korea with her husband.
eunju.jpg picture by joiester


Irene{with Chester}, originally from New York City and formerly of the Jewish faith.
DSC_0465.jpg picture by joiester


Gwen{with Sam}, also a former practicing Jew. As a doctor of psychology, she was counseling a member of the church who ended up counseling her that she needed to be baptized by the proper authority--that patient later performed her baptism.
wp006.jpg picture by joiester


Mike & Meaghan--baptized the week after they were married.


Mallory{right}--originally from Alabama. Had only been baptized for a month when she attended her first General Conference!



in a tiny way I believe that
the experiences
Adam and I have had
in this ward
have undoubtedly given us
a glimpse
of Zion.

2 comments:

Rebekah said...

This is such an amazing and inspiring post. I can easily see Zion through your photographs of the new saints in your ward. This is what the work is all about.

Tara said...

Joie,
love this post! Thank you!