INSTANT CHURCH FAMILY

My husband has been in the Air Force for the past 15 years, and we have moved many times in the states as well as a four-year tour in Germany. We have learned through the years that you must get yourself and your family involved in the ward from the very beginning.

We find out who the bishop is of the ward where we are moving (the ward clerk should have a list of current bishops). Then we write and tell him about our family and when to expect us. As soon as we arrive, we are met with friendship and love. We then jump right in by attending ward choir, bringing our children to Scouts and Mutual, and attending all of our meetings. Soon enough we are fully immersed in "our" ward. We have said on many occasions how wonderful it is to belong to a worldwide Church in which you can go anywhere and find the same truth taught and an instant Church family to love and be loved by. — Lyndon and Stephanie Lee, Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas

BE GREAT SUPPORT

We moved 18 times in 15 years with a typical stay of 18 months. We are taught that the Church is the same everywhere. However, each ward has its own flavor.

Remember, people work hard to prepare lessons, parties, meetings, plays and special activities. Be part of a listening audience, a grateful student. Be a great support in each ward you attend. This can be thought of as a calling also.

If someone offends you or ignores you, remember the Lord told us to forgive everyone. Go to Church, even if the ward members may be unsure how to react to you. Attending in different parts of the world strengthened my testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel and the great love the Savior has for all people and how all people need His love and atonement for many different reasons. — Julia H. Hibbert, Tetonia, Idaho

TAKE THE FIRST STEP

I work as an electrician, and my wife and I relocate about every six weeks (from job to job), returning to our main home in Arkansas for about three to four months out of 12. The first thing we do upon reaching a new area is to locate the local branch/ward. Sometimes we can't find the Church in the immediate area or town so we call Church headquarters in Salt Lake City for the information.

We attend Church as often as possible and immediately try to interact with the people there. When you are only in the area for one month, you can't wait for others to reach out to you. You must take the first step.

Subscribing to Church publications is important, and we have them forwarded to us wherever we are. We keep extra tithing slips with us and turn them into the local bishop or mail them to our home ward and strive to keep our home bishop (where our membership records are kept) informed of where we are and what we are doing.

Although we can't hold a calling in our home ward (since we are not there enough), we try to conduct ourselves as representatives of the Church and are open to fellowshipping and friendshipping others we meet on the road. — Richard Phillips, Cherokee Village, Ark., writing from Des Allemands, La.

VOLUNTEER TO SERVE

We moved eight times in nine years. We found that the best ways to remain active were to do the following:

• Call ahead and find out which ward we were moving into. Contact the bishop and elders quorum president. Seek out the bishop the first Sunday we're there. Introduce ourselves and volunteer to serve in the ward wherever needed.

• Attend every meeting. This includes Cub Scouts, Mutual, Primary, Relief Society, homemaking, etc., during the week.

• Invite members' families over one at a time. Have them for Sunday dinners to get to know them.

• Get involved in the community. Volunteer to coach neighborhood sports teams, etc.

• Faithfully continue to have family councils, family home evening and daily family prayer. Continue to attend the temple regularly, where possible, and fulfill all Church assignments.

— Virgil and Joan Johnson, Kimberly, Idaho

LOVE AND FELLOWSHIP

We are in the military and experienced several moves early on after my husband's commission. I have learned over the years to not wait for someone to welcome us in the ward but to introduce our family and offer our service in the ward soon after arriving. This has been a great blessing to us and has helped to minimize feelings of displacement that come with moving or living out of a suitcase temporarily. — Janet Carver, Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.