In case you haven't noticed from my Facebook posts, we live in a Branch. The Freeport Branch. Most people have a weird reaction when they find out that we are in a Branch in Utah. They think, "Really? The Church has Branches in Utah? That is crazy!" It isn't as crazy as you would think. Let me give you some background on how it came about.
We moved in here almost six years ago. When we moved in we were going to a ward that was in a different stake in a different city. Now that is crazy. We were driving down to Syracuse to go to church. It wasn't that big of a deal really. If we lived outside of Utah our drive would probably be longer. So we didn't mind. The thing we did mind was that most of the people in that ward didn't want anything to do with us. It was really frustrating when we would go to church and no one would talk to us. We weren't the only ones that felt that way that lived here in the town homes.
After a couple years of that we got a call saying there was going to be a special meeting with the stake presidency. That meeting was when we found out that we were going to be made into a branch. It was a shock. I didn't think that it would work out all that well. I figured it would make it six months before they split us out into wards again because the branch just couldn't function.
It all came about when they were going to reorganize ward boundaries. The stake submitted their plans to Church headquarters. Well, the word came back from the First Presidency that the changes were not approved. They had a different plan. They decided that the Clearfield South Stake needed two branches in it. The Freeport Branch and the Antelope Branch. The Freeport Branch was to consist of the Country Oaks Apartments and the Oakstone Town homes. It seemed like there was no way we would have enough active people in the two complexes to make a branch work. But it came from the Prophet so there must have been a good reason for it.
Well, that was nearly four years ago. And the Branch is thriving more than ever. When the branch was created our average attendance was probably around 25 people. I was the Sunday School teacher and there was usually 2-3 people in class each week. Now the average attendance is somewhere around 125 people each week (and the Sunday School class is nearly full). It has been amazing watching the branch grow. It was definitely inspiration that created the Branch. Who would have thought that it would grow that much in such a short period of time.
The best part of the branch is that we are all family. There are no clicks. People don't feel left out. We all take care of each other. It is the way any ward should be. We are one big branch family. It is so wonderful. If you ever want to see how the branch is come on over and visit for a meeting. I guarantee that you will be greeted by several families right away. You will feel like you belong in the branch as soon as you walk in. There is a lot of friendship and love in the branch. And everyone is quick to welcome in anyone new. We love new people. Even if you are just visiting.
I have been in a unique spot in the Branch for the last two years. I have been the Branch Mission Leader. I say it is unique because I have been in a position where I have been involved in all the missionary work going on in the branch. And there has been a lot of missionary work here. Not only have we had around 15 convert baptisms in the last couple years, we have had a lot of people return to activity. There were times when I was going out with the missionaries every night of the week. Just in the last couple weeks I have had three new branch missionaries called so now I have five branch missionaries to help me out. One of the things that makes the work thrive so much is the plan that Elder Perry started about three years ago. Our stake was one of the pilot stakes for the new mission plan. As a result our stake has been the highest baptizing stake in the region since we started using the plan. The plan is now being used worldwide in all the missions. It will be great to see how big of an impact that will have. It is a wonderful plan. It is amazing how well things work when the inspiration is received and the people follow that inspiration. Our branch has been greatly blessed by the mission plan and by the willingness of all the people in the branch to do missionary work. I have seen some amazing people come and go in the branch over the years. They have all left their mark and have influenced more people than they will ever know.
I would just like to say that I love the branch. I am extremely grateful for the branch and all that they have done for me and my family. It will be a sad day when we move out and have to leave the branch. It is always sad when someone moves out of the branch. We are one big happy family and it is great. I have a firm testimony of the inspiration that was received to create this branch. It was the right time for this branch to be formed. And now it is growing and I know that some day it will grow enough that it will become a ward. I look forward to that day. But until then...the Freeport Branch ROCKS!!!
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