Area Presidency Message
A Sacred Moment in Time
Several years ago, while serving as a bishop, I witnessed a group of youth discover their significance and divine purpose. They learned that “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction.”1
Through ministering visits, these youth had become acquainted with Sister Orpha Cutler. She was a sweet elderly sister with failing health who lived alone in a small trailer. Her many needs provided a wonderful opportunity for young men to find themselves through serving her. Several activities included washing her windows, cleaning her trailer, and sitting in her front room and visiting with her. Over time, these young men formed a lasting bond with Sister Cutler. She had won them over.
Then one day, she received shocking news. She was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given only a short time to live. This development was devastating! Within weeks, her condition worsened, and she was unable to attend sacrament meeting on a consistent basis. These young men became a spiritual lifeline for Orpha as they made ministering visits to her home and administered the emblems of the sacrament to her. She loved her time with them and especially the opportunity to renew her covenants.
As her condition progressively deteriorated, she moved to a nearby community and into an assisted living center where she received the care she needed and where a small group met each week for sacrament service. One day I received a telephone call from the center. A worker asked if I would bring the priests, or in Sister Cutler’s words “the boys”, to visit her and administer the sacrament. I told the worker we were honoured with the opportunity.
On Sunday, I informed the priests of Sister Cutler’s request. Without hesitation, they accepted the invitation.
Following our Sunday meetings, we made our way to the care center. During the drive, the young men spoke about recent sporting events, their upcoming exams, and mostly about the young women they wanted to take to the next school dance. It was a typical teenage conversation.
When we arrived at the center, we were greeted at the door by Sister Cutler’s concerned caregiver. With tears in her eyes, she frantically said, “Bishop Nattress, Orpha is getting weaker and weaker. She fades in and out, and I am afraid we are going to lose her!” She continued, “Her one desire has been to partake of the sacrament.”
She then eyed the young men standing behind me. They were dressed in white shirts and ties—worthy young men of God, holding His priesthood, honouring that priesthood. They were on the Lord’s errand. Through her tears, this worker said, “You look like angels!” She then led us to Orpha’s room.
Orpha’s condition was critical. She was lying very still in her bed. I knelt at her bedside, took her hand in mine, and said, “Sister Cutler, this is Bishop Nattress; I am here with the priests quorum. We have come to administer the sacrament.” She offered a faint smile and nodded positively.
The priests formed a semicircle as they knelt around her bed. One tiny piece of bread was placed on a small saucer. It was blessed, and the morsel was carefully placed in the side of her mouth. We knelt again. One sacrament cup full of water was then blessed, and a small drop of water was carefully administered.
This was a sacred moment. As we concluded the ordinance, Sister Cutler smiled and softly whispered, “Thank you.”
I looked around the room at these fine young men. They were not so different from the sons of Helaman. The words of Isaiah best describe them as they were, in fact, “mount[ed] up with wings as eagles.”2 They were truly on the Lord’s errand.
We all left that care center changed. We had participated in a sacred event. Sister Cutler had for the last time during her mortal existence covenanted with God that she would always remember Him. By so doing, the heavens were opened, and she was blessed again to have His promise to have His Spirit to always be with her—in sickness and even in death.
Our drive home was filled with silence. Eventually one young man broke the stillness when he simply said, “That was really good.” We returned home with a renewed understanding of what it truly means to take upon us the Saviour’s name.
Sister Cutler passed away a few days later—faithful and true to her covenants.
Is it any wonder that, by design, the two most-quoted scriptures in the Church since the Restoration in 1830 are the sacrament prayers?
In this complex world, where distractions come so easily, let us never forget the small and simple things that bring power, authority, and eternal life. Let us renew our covenants each week as we partake of His sacrament. As we do, we will find peace, and He will bless us now and forever.