“Hearts Knit Together”—Ward Combines to Strengthen Families
Contributed By the Relief Society general board
Jana Buttar’s ward knits their hearts together and combines forces in order to strengthen her family.
Article Highlights
- Two of Sister Buttar’s sons are less active, but she brings her grandchildren to church every Sunday.
- The ward helps the family from the moment they leave the car to strapping the children in again at the end of the services.
- Primary teachers and other leaders combine and make sacrifices to make sure the children are loved and taken care of.
“I have had Primary teachers and nursery leaders help me carry sleeping children outside and strap them into car seats. Teachers have dropped by little treats or gifts, special reminders for Primary parties, and scriptures for each of the kids.” —Sister Jana Buttar
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Women participate in the work of Relief Society as they join other auxiliaries and priesthood quorum members to strengthen home and family.
Members of Jana Buttar’s ward are helping her strengthen her family by sharing the gospel with her grandchildren. Two of Sister Buttar’s sons are less active, but nine years ago when her first grandchild was born, Sister Buttar had a desire for her grandchildren to attend church and to learn the gospel. Since then, her sons have been willing to let her work toward that goal.
Having the grandchildren attend church begins with a Saturday night sleepover at Grandma’s house and the work of getting the grandchildren ready on Sunday morning.
“At times I have had five grandchildren with me, the two youngest being around the age of one,” said Sister Buttar. “Trying to get five small children from a car and into the chapel is not something I would have been able to do by myself. I have ofttimes had a ward member carry in a child or two for me. Every week another amazing ward member saves me a seat, and if I have to get up and take one of the kids out she always sits with the others.”
One Saturday morning Sister Buttar took the children to a rehearsal for the Primary program. On returning to pick them up she found them sitting with one of the Primary teachers, a young college student. She asked if he would be going to watch the college football game later in the day and was humbled by his response.
“He wasn’t going to go because he needed to study,” Sister Buttar explained. “He came to the Primary program practice instead of studying. So now he was going to miss the football game to finish the studying he needed to do. I was impressed that he took time to be with the kids instead of going to the football game. That teacher had a huge impact on me that day.”
“I have had Primary teachers and nursery leaders help me carry sleeping children outside and strap them into car seats. Teachers have dropped by little treats or gifts, special reminders for Primary parties, and scriptures for each of the kids. I’m so grateful to the ward for the help that they give to us. These people make a really big difference in the lives of my grandchildren and me.”
As Sister Buttar can attest, we are all engaged in the work of strengthening homes and families.
