Lehi's Dream at Fort Eustis

A large In-Processing Day

     Each Monday we attend "In-Processing".  All of the new soldiers who arrived at the base over the weekend are briefed by different departments - Dental, Medical, Finance, and Religious Support to name a few.  They fill out forms and learn all of the rules about living and training on Fort Eustis. 

They have been up for hours, listening to lectures, after having traveled from their previous Basic Training bases. The soldiers get yelled at a lot.  If they start falling asleep they are yelled at and told to go in the back to stand - or do push ups.  We have seen groups as small as 4 and as large as 247.  Normally there are 45-150 new soldiers at a time.

Our Battalion Chaplain

      Elder Elkins is introduced by the Chaplain and gives a quick explanation of who we are:

"We are 'faith based volunteers' who give 'chaplain-like' services to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Some of you know us as 'Mormons' or we are commonly known around here as 'The LDS'."  He gives a very brief explanation of his military career so that they know he understands.  He describes our Sunday services and the location.  He then asks for a show of hands, of those who are members of The Church, or those who would like to be affiliated with our group.  We get 1-6 on an average Monday who raise their hands.  We then invite those with raised hands to step to the back of the room for a couple minutes so that we can give them more information - and have them give us some information (name, company, etc), and take their pictures for our records.  And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be be desirous that my family (and friends) should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.

     It is interesting that sometimes 5 will raise their hands, but when asked to step to the back of the room only 3 are willing to do so.  The other two put their heads down and try not to make eye contact.  Behold, we beckoned unto them, but they would not come. We then take those three, give them printed information and have just a minute or two to invite them to attend church on base with us.  Of those three who were willing to walk to the back of the room, perhaps one will actually attend meetings.

     Since we are not allowed to go to the barracks, the only actual contact we have with these identified members (or interested friends), is when they attend church.  We can text or call if they gave us a phone number - texting is more efficient, since they can't always answer a call.  We also send newsletters and personal notes, which we do through the Chaplains and Company Sergeants.  Many choose to ignore these contacts. ...insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost.

     Sometimes we get people in the back of the room who are clearly confused.  When one of those soldiers starts filling out the form and is asked to give the name or his ward or which Priesthood he holds, he gets a strange look on his face and asks, "Wait - what group is this?"  It becomes clear that he had no idea what he was agreeing to when he raised his hand.  Some think we are a different church group.  Some raised their hands because they heard, "Raise your hand" and didn't want to be yelled at again (and they were really asleep with eyes open). Some are members, some are not members, but they actually PLAN to attend church while they are filling out our form. 
    Then comes reality.  When soldiers are in their 8 weeks of Basic Training (just before they come to us) they are told what to do every minute of the day and night.  They are not allowed to make any decisions for themselves.  They are told to go to a church service on Sunday.  If they choose to not attend church, they are given extra cleaning duty at the company or barracks.  Church is better.  Many attend the LDS services at Basic Training, which is made available by senior military missionaries like us.  So everyone goes to church, and half of them sleep.  Some soldiers who have been inactive for years actually find that they like the church after all.  Many non-member "Battle Buddies" attend with their member friends and like what they hear. ... numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree.

   

   One point was driven home to my understanding on our last DC Temple trip.  We had this bus full of soldiers and arrived at our first stop, McDonald's, for breakfast.  Elder Elkins and I were sitting in the front of the bus so we hopped off first, and I yelled "breakfast!" as I got off.  We stood outside the bus  and nobody else got off.  Then one by one the soldiers started sheepishly stepping off the bus.  One grinned and explained that they were so used to being yelled at and told what to do that nobody dared stand up.  When they realized that nobody was going to tell them, they felt silly and got off of the bus.

  

   When they get to Fort Eustis or other similar training bases after basic, they soon find that nobody is there to make every decision for them. There are still many, many rules but they have more freedom than they have had for a while.  So when Sunday morning arrives and they get up, expecting to go to church, they discover that everyone does not attend church here.  They can choose to go to the PX to shop or the bowling alley or other fun places on the base, and they do.  Sometimes the sergeants even make it difficult to attend.  Pressure from all sides can make or break a good decision. ...Behold I saw a great and spacious building (like unto a barracks). And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.

     It takes an exceptional soldier to decide to attend church rather than go elsewhere with friends.  It is interesting to see which soldiers make that choice.  It is not always the ones that we would expect.  Some of those soldiers who "found" the church after years of inactivity are the ones who attend.  Some are faithful long-time attenders.  There are some returned missionary soldiers who decide that they can do without church attendance for a while.  That is a dangerous decision. And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed...because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost.
     When we meet the new soldiers on Monday mornings we always walk away with the same kind of comments.  Soldier A has that "sparkle" or "the light in his eyes", Soldier B doesn't --we don't expect to see him again till graduation.  Some are holding on to the rod of iron, some let go.   Some partake of the "fruit" (or the homemade bread), some do not, and it makes us very sad.  It is available to all.

     We attend the graduations of all who sign up with us, whether they attend church or not, and battle buddies who do attend a meeting.  When we are recognized by those who have chosen not to attend, they are usually surprised to see us.  In most cases it is a positive experience for us to take their graduation pictures as a service.  A few, we can tell by their countenances, feel guilty and don't want to see us.  Those who have decided not to attend church, who had "the sparkle" in their eyes at In-Processing, have usually lost "the sparkle" from their eyes and countenances by graduation.   We can see the difference.  Sad.

This is one soldier who kept the sparkle and we miss him terribly. It is not a surprise to see this kind of soldier at the top of his class. (Soldiers are not supposed to smile when they are at attention, but some can't help but sneak a little smile out, when they are happy.)

   On a positive note:  We have one soldier who is being taught by the young Full-time Elders.  He attended the DC Temple trip because his roommate, one of our most faithful, invited him.  He liked what he felt at the Visitors Center.  He said that his roommate in Basic Training was also LDS and took him to church.  He gave him a call one day and said, "Guess what, my new roommate here is LDS - you guys are everywhere!"  To which his previous roommate said, "Yes, we try to be!"   He doesn't attend every Sunday, but plans to meet with us and the Elders again tomorrow.  Regular attendance and commitment is a learned experience.  We have high hopes for him.  He will be graduating in less than a month, so it's crunch time, if he is willing and ready.

     Many are not ready to hear the full gospel, but there are so many who have received some "light" or had some "seeds planted".  We feel it will make a difference for them someday down the road.  I just wish we could be there when they partake of the "fruit" and experience the full joy of the gospel.  

     I just want to say, "The fruit is delicious."