I realize I live a rather blessed life.  I can walk to my ward building which is also my stake center.  Many members in the world have to travel great distances to go to church and especially to ever make it to the temple.  In some situations, they might make it to the temple once in their lifetime. 

I was pleased to read about Uganda forming their first stake and grinned as I saw a picture of their priesthood bearers dressed in suits.  They look so happy.  I wonder how long they waited for this to happen and what life is like over there as they strive to live the Gospel.  I pray that their stake will grow quickly.  My in-laws live in a small town in Utah and that area has five stakes because it is so densely populated with LDS people.  Over a decade ago, they lived in Alaska and they had to travel quite a ways to go to church and Seattle was their closest temple.  Because my father-in-law was a stake president and the family couldn’t take separate vehicles, my mother-in-law packed up lunches for their large family.  Sundays were long for them and a sacrifice.

I can imagine there will be families in Uganda making similar or greater sacrifices to get to church.  Tonight I’m with my children alone as my husband attends the temple just 20-25 minutes away from us.  We are spoiled.  I hope for every member of the church to be spoiled in that way not too long from now. 

1000 members attended the stake conference in Uganda as they organized their new stake, expressing gratitude for the missionaires who brought the Gospel to them and made it possible.  What a thrill it must be for former missionaries to learn of the news you can find here.