The Singles Ward Experience

I will be 31 in April.  Do you know what that means in the world of an LDS single woman?  It's a significant age, like when members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turn 8.  Or 12.  Or 16.  Or 19 (or 21). Now 31. Yes... this means I am moving on from the Singles wards.  Can you believe it?!  I have been attending a singles ward for 12-13 years.  Granted, a few years in between were spent at my home ward in PA and in home wards on my mission... but for the most part I've been doing the Singles Ward thing.

What does that mean, exactly?  The Singles Ward thing.  Well, it can mean anything really:

Cute boys

Weird boys

Best friends

Special people (you know what I mean)

Awesome adult friends

Leadership opportunities

Really fun activities

Really lame activities

Really cool activities that would've been cooler if more than 5 people showed up

Powerful testimony meetings

Awkward moments

Awkward people

Impressive lessons and speakers

Chitter chatter during lessons

Passing notes during lessons

Meetings before church

Visiting teaching

Home Teachers who never came

Home Teachers who actually did come

No crying babies

Family Home Evening with friends

Planning, Brainstorming, Praying, Seeking

Inspirational moments

Loving people for who they are

Seriously, today was probably one of my favorite days at church in a Singles Ward.  It was filled with the Spirit, filled with emotion, and filled with love.  The timing of my leaving is perfect because my existing ward will be dissolving soon and all new wards and stakes will be formed in Orem.  Rather than having a bunch of smaller local wards, they will combine our groups with other UVU student wards and there will be a good number of large wards, large stakes, etc.  I think it's going to be a great step forward in the world of Young Single Adults.  I just happen to be too old to join the party!  So today was kind of the last hoo-rah together as our ward.  And it was precious.

I've learned so many things and grown and changed in so many ways, just in this Lakeridge 11th ward in Orem, UT.  Amazing people here.  I've attended BYU singles wards.  I've tried out a huge singles ward in Holladay, UT.  I attended a tiny little singles branch in Gettysburg, PA... bless its heart!  I served in 2 singles wards in WA on my mission and loved them both.  In all my experiences, I have a testimony of their purpose. No, it's not the crazy "meat market" stereotype that so many girls dread and avoid.  It's the opportunity to serve among your peers and learn and experience things you wouldn't be able to do otherwise.  It's like when little kids play "dress up" and they're pretending to be grown-ups and have pretend dinners together and what not.  A singles ward allows "young kids" to be leaders;  to make decisions;  to teach;  to love;  to serve;  to guide.  Only it's not pretend... it's real life.  Real people.  Real friendship.  Real love (for the lucky ones).  Real testimonies.  Real change.

And I've loved it.  And today everything kind of sunk in... that all of this is coming to an end for me.  Very soon.  I love that when a girl turns 18 she can start attending a Singles Ward, join Relief Society, and have a whole new family to be a part of.  Some of my favorite girls in the ward are 18 or 19.  Like, I might as well be their Young Women leader!  And they are precious.  One of them said I am her hero;  another told me she wants to be just like me.  And I laughed and said, "For real... can you believe you weren't even born yet when I was a bee hive?"  That's funny. :)  But I love that about being "an adult"-- that age just doesn't matter anymore!  (Except for the turning 31 rule).  I love people for who they are.  I can hang out with the wives of the bishopric members and have a blast.  And I can hang out with the young newbies in the ward and welcome them with open arms.  I've had a leadership calling in my ward for the past year and it's really helped me see the importance of loving people equally and avoiding judgment and gossip.  

When I start going to my new ward, I wouldn't mind not having a calling for a while... or maybe just chillin' in a piano-playing calling of some sort.  But eventually I would love to be a leader again... or serve in Young Women.  But I'm not in any hurry for now. :)

So here's my ode to Singles Wards.  Amen to all of it. :)