The Importance of One

 Two weeks ago in sacrament meeting something interesting happened.  We partake of bread and water in remembrance of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but we have members of the congregation that have health conditions that do not allow them to eat the bread we use.  Rice crackers are used for them to be able to partake without causing them ill effects.  For some reason possibly due to the summer season and a lot of people being out of town, the rice crackers were not prepared.  There was one woman in the ward who could not partake because of this.  The young deacons administering the ordinance apologized but the bishop of the congregation noticed this interchange. 

The administering of the water was postponed while a member of the bishopric went to retrieve the rice crackers.  Another blessing upon those crackers was given (As stated in D&C 20:77) and administered to just this sister.  They would not let her be left out.  She looked a little embarrassed that all that would be done for just her, but it demonstrated the love of God for EVERY single one of children.

In The Book of Mormon, Jesus Christ comes to visit those on the American continent.  In 3 Nephi 11, Christ invites all to come forth and feels the wounds of the nail prints in his hands and feet.   In verse one it tells us that there was a GREAT multitude gathered together.   The definition of multitude is a great number of people or numerous amounts gathered together.  An example with a concrete number would be in the gospel of Matthew chapter 14.  The multitude Christ fed with five loaves and two fishes was in number "five thousand men, beside women and children." (Verse 21)  So we can infer that the number of those gathered by the temple just after the signs of Christ's death was a very great number.  However, the Lord invited EVERY SINGLE ONE INDIVIDUALLY.

"And it came to pass that the multitude went forth, and thrust their hands into his side, and did feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet; and this they did do, going forth one by one until they had all gone forth, and did see with their eyes and did feel with their hands, and did know of a surety and did bear record, that it was he, of whom it was written by the prophets, that should come."  3 Nephi 11:15

It was so important that every person could testify that Jesus Christ was the Savior.  All had the opportunity to know for themselves.  Each person mattered to the Lord.  Not one who would come would be left out, just as that sister was not forgotten or overlooked in that sacred ordinance that is done to remember our Savior Jesus Christ and the promises we have made with our Father in Heaven. 

This is a gospel where each individual matters and none will be forgotten or denied.