A Sunday Evening Tradition

By Cotbert Sutherland

One of the most heartwarming experiences I have had as president of the Kingstown Branch in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was visiting the Garden of Eden weekly with my family. The Garden of Eden is a home for the elderly.

We hit it off and became good friends with the nurses and patients there.

It was heartwarming to share our resources, talents, and love with them.

There were three interesting factors that touched us a lot:

These people looked forward to our weekly visits.
We viewed these elderly people as children (Once a man, twice a child). “For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not” (Job 33:14).
They miss their families and loved ones dearly. Our visits have made the third verse of the hymn, Ye Elders of Israel, resonate in my mind, to this day:

We’ll go to the poor, like our Captain of old,
And visit the weary, the hungry, and cold;
We’ll cheer up their hearts with the news that he bore
And point them to Zion and life evermore.1

Better than what we gave, the most memorable thing is the love that we received.

Our dear friend Lorna has passed away, but her love and appreciation still linger in our hearts. We know we will see her and many others again.

I close with my testimony by sharing this verse from Mosiah 2:17: “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

Our Heavenly Father loves and cares deeply for all His children everywhere.

I love My Savior Jesus Christ, and His Church. His gospel has been restored, and that Restoration continues with President Russell M. Nelson. I sustain him. I love my family and the Saints. I know the scriptures are true.