The topic in the Cantonments Ward Relief Society Sunday morning was “The Doctrine of Belonging”, based on Elder D. Todd Christofferson’s talk in October 2022 General Conference.
In that message, he taught:
“A sense of belonging is important to our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Yet it is quite possible that at times each of us might feel that we don’t fit in.”
Joining the Relief Society class discussion that morning was a beautiful young Nigerian girl named Naomi who understood exactly what Elder Christofferson meant and bore fervent testimony of the truthfulness of what he spoke of in conference. she told us that as soon as she settled in after her move to Accra a year ago, she began attending a Presbyterian congregation as she had in Nigeria. It was a tight-knit congregation, where everyone knew everyone, but not one reached out to the new attendee/ Sunday. after Sunday, week after week, month after month, she went to worship services, all the time “not fitting in”.
In February, she was invited to a worship service at the Christiansborg Stake Center, and to her great amazement, a Prophet was there. This service was completely different - in a good way.
With a beaming smile, she told the Relief Society sisters, “And he wanted to shake my hand. A prophet. Me. He wanted to shake my hand.”
She left after that meeting happier than she had been in a very long time. She felt the belonging she had yearned for. Soon after, the missionaries began teaching her - “Every Saturday - in my home!” She told us. They wanted to come to my home and teach me.”
As of four weeks ago, Naomi now “belongs” to the Cantoments Ward as a baptized member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
The very best object lesson for the “Doctrine of Belonging” was demonstrated by Elder Chrsistfersson as he reached his hand out to Naomi. Her reward. as he said in his talk,
“Is a powerful sense of belonging among the covenant people.”
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