Line upon Line

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It never fails. Each time an activity or fireside is announced in my Relief Society class, I can count on a familiar voice from the back of the room to ask loudly, “Will there be refreshments?” This elicits smiles and chuckles every time. My 34-year-old friend Summer has some special needs, and while she is very high functioning in many ways, she has retained the delightful straightforwardness of a child. Some of the other sisters in Relief Society—myself included—probably want to ask the same question but don’t dare. We’re all grateful to Summer for asking it for us because, really, who doesn’t want refreshments?

I have found myself thinking of Summer’s question in terms of living the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we’re trying to keep God’s commandments, trying to be temple worthy, and trying to do all that we’re asked by modern prophets, it may seem that the Lord requires a great deal from the members of His church. We might ask the same question Summer did. With all our striving and effort, will there be refreshments? A sweet reward for our efforts? The answer is a definite “yes.”

While I’m all for refreshments in the form of food and drink, engaging in God’s work through obedience, faith, and service brings another type of refreshment entirely. Our efforts to build the kingdom of God on earth can be reviving, strengthening, and invigorating to our spirits, giving us fresh mental energy. There is also great comfort and peace available for those who strive to follow Christ. This is far sweeter than consuming cookies and punch at the end of a meeting.

Sweet is the Work

Elder Steven D. Shumway recently spoke of the blessings of participating in the church: “When we say yes to serving, we are saying yes to Jesus Christ. And when we say yes to Christ, we are saying yes to the most abundant life possible… When we consecrate our meager but best effort, God magnifies it. When we sacrifice for Jesus Christ, He sanctifies us. This is the transformative power of God’s grace. As we serve, we grow in grace… When we serve to magnify Christ and not ourselves, our service becomes joyful. When others leave our class, meeting, ministering visit, or activity remembering Christ more than they remember us, the work is energizing.” (1) That sounds like true refreshment.

Forty years ago, I served in the Washington D.C. mission. Though I tried to work hard and be obedient, I often felt that my reserved, introverted personality kept me from being an effective missionary. Fast forward nearly a decade: I was married, with several children, when I received an unexpected visit from a sister I had taught on my mission. What a pleasure it was to hear from her. A year or so after her baptism, she served a full-time mission herself. Though her life was not without struggles, her love of the Savior was apparent as we conversed. I hugged her goodbye when it was time for her to leave, then stepped back into my house and sat on the fireplace hearth for several minutes, replaying our conversation in my mind. I can still feel the warmth and sweetness of the Spirit that flowed over me as I experienced a “missionary payday,” grateful that the Lord had used me, in spite of my weakness, to bring the restored gospel to this wonderful young woman.

How Sweet Are Thy Words

I can relate to that sentiment. While I was a freshman at BYU, I began to feel the pull to serve as a full-time missionary. For my second semester I signed up for a Mission Prep class, a New Testament class, and a Teachings of the Living Prophets class, as well as a few general ed courses. This meant that much of my reading and study for school was straight out of the scriptures and the writings of modern prophets. Though I’d always enjoyed seminary, I had never done much more than the required reading. Now, for the first time in my life, I was absolutely immersed in the word of God.

About a month into the semester, after studying, pondering, and praying about the scriptures for hours each day, I was feeling something stirring inside of me. I already had a testimony of the gospel–a nice healthy bush–but I felt like the boy Jack, who planted a few tiny beans and was rewarded with a beanstalk of surprising proportions.

One memorable afternoon, all alone in my apartment after studying and praying, it was just like Alma promised, that if we plant the word of God in our hearts “…it will begin to swell within [you]…and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves…it beginneth to be delicious to me… And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience… by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof… which is sweet above all that is sweet…” (Alma 32:28, 42, emphasis added.) The reward for my consistent efforts to study and ponder the word of God was sweet indeed.

Sweet is the Peace the Gospel Brings

The blessings of the Savior’s infinite Atonement allow true followers of Christ to find sweet peace even during their hardest journeys and their deepest pains.

One Sunday many years ago, our family sat around the dinner table enjoying a meal. I asked, “What did you learn at church today?” Various answers were given by our children, then my husband—a member of the stake presidency at that time—spoke quietly, and with great emotion. He had participated in a membership council earlier that day, the culmination of years of repentance and change after serious sin and excommunication. Brad gave no details, except to say what a joy it was to witness the peace and relief of someone who had humbly done everything required in the repentance process, and who finally had full membership blessings restored. My husband testified with tears in his eyes, “I saw the Atonement of Jesus Christ in action today.” What could be sweeter?

On Easter Sunday last month, my niece posted a beautiful witness of the Savior. Nikki’s testimony was tested and strengthened in recent years when her long awaited baby girl died after complications during childbirth. I share these words with Nikki’s permission:

“I remember thinking how will I ever survive this? How will I go on? There is no earthly reason that I should have survived. I was very seriously ready to follow Quinn out of this world. My hope in Jesus Christ pulled me through and lifted me. I trust Him that through Him, we will see and be with Quinn, and others who have passed on, again. I trust Him, I only have hope in Him. I can smile again because of Him. Life is beautiful because of Him. He lives to wipe away my tears. He lives to calm my troubled heart. He lives and grants me daily breath. He lives, my Savior, still the same. He lives! All glory to His name.”

That Nikki can testify so powerfully, so hopefully, of Jesus Christ after experiencing debilitating grief and many unanswered questions, is an especially strong witness to me. “I know that my Redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives.”

‘Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love

Elder David A. Bednar taught,

For most of us, rebaptism isn’t necessary. Each Sunday, at the sacrament table, we are offered the ultimate refreshment: The Bread of Life and The Living Water that is Jesus Christ.

’Tis sweet to sing the matchless love
Of Him who left his home above
And came to earth—oh, wondrous plan— To suffer, bleed, and die for man!

Oh, blessed hour! communion sweet! When children, friends, and teachers meet And, in remembrance of his grace,
Unite in sweetest songs of praise. (5)

According to the Lord, there can even be refreshment in death: “…those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them.” (D&C 42:46) If ever we feel weighed down in the work of serving, of repenting, of forgiving, of enduring, perhaps the following hymn text can be a reminder to us of where true refreshment is to be found:

Why should this anxious load
press down your weary mind?
Haste to your Heavenly Father’s throne and sweet refreshment find. (6)

Notes:

1. Elder Steven D. Shumway, “Participate to Prepare for Christ’s Return,” April 2025 generalconference.
2. Sister Susan W. Tanner, “Scriptures—More Precious Than Gold and Sweeter Than Honey,” BYUdevotional, Sept. 11, 2005.

4. Elder David A. Bednar, “Always Retain a Remission of Your Sins,” April 2016 general conference.
5. George Manwaring, ‘Tis Sweet to Sing the Matchless Love,” Hymns, The Church of Jesus Christof Latter-day Saints, 177.
6. Philip Doddridge, “How Gentle God’s Commands,” Hymns, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 125.