I most recently returned from traveling the country of Japan, and what an adventure it was!   Flew in to Haneda airport Tokyo… bullet trained to Osaka… trained out to Nara one day (delay due to taking the ‘wrong’ train)… next day a different train to Kobe (glad we got on the ‘right’ train this day!)… another day, took an express train to Kyoto (express is the way to go!)… couple of days later, bullet trained back to Tokyo…  after a short break, bused out to Fujiyama for the day… that night, bused back to Tokyo… after resting for a couple of days to recover, bused to Narita airport and air planed back home!

This trip was a last minute, inspired, and needed break to visit my son who has been studying Japanese language and culture arts since the end of December 2017.   He was off from school for ‘Golden Week’ and it was likely going to the be the best time for him to check off the bucket list items he had for himself and I was excited that he was willing to let his old man tag along!

What does ‘Golden Week’ mean anyway and why do they call it that!!??   No one really knows except the fact that everyone takes time off!!   Well, I decided to do a little research and what I found out is exactly that, it’s an excuse to take a bunch of time off!   There are a few known national holidays during this week, one having to do with some old Japanese calendar that made May 1st New Day!  (Celebrated like New Year’s Day, my son and I clearly missed the party and fireworks the eve of as we didn’t know and slept thru it all) with May 2nd also being an additional public holiday with the succession of a new Emperor!  (Which by the way is the first time a Japanese Emperor to abdicate since 1817).  OK, enough with the history lesson.   Just say, ‘Golden Week’… it is a 10 day holiday for the locals!   In my opinion its the time of the year that the local economy makes ‘zutto’ (much) GOLD or YEN from the sale of everything from travel to gifts and food.

The first Sunday of Golden week was a most memorable time for me.  My son and I decided that we would attend the local Urayasu Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Sunday service.   The spirit overwhelmed me this day during sacrament service.    From the moment that the sacrament service began into listening to the translated talks and testimonies then finishing up with us singing hymn #34 (All creatures of our god and king #62 of the English hymn book) I felt the spirit so strong!

During the last hymn, I immediately had a flash back to just a few weeks ago where I attended the semi annual priesthood session of General Conference in person at the Salt Lake City Conference Center.   During this conference’s intermediate Hymn sung by the congregation I felt as if a choir of angels from our ancestors were singing the hymn with us.    Our loved ones who have passed away are among us, they are watching over us, they are cheering us on, they love us as much as we loved them.

I am honored to have witnessed in person a sacrament service in Japan, such a blessed place full of blessed people.   As I observed the members being so respectful of the sacrament ordinance, where I saw many (sisters especially) taking the cup with two hands; and both brethren and sisters bowing to the the deacon passing the sacrament, I was reminded of how I need to be more reverent and respectful of this ordinance where we remember our Saviors’ atoning sacrifice to overcome both physical and spiritual death.

I am a personal witness of how the love our Father in Heaven can make a person’s life better while on this earth and throughout eternity.   I’m so happy that I was able to Unplug during Golden Week 2019 and enjoy the sites and people of Japan!   I learned from the Urayasu Sunday service that we don’t have to travel to far away places to Unplug from the world… we can Unplug each and every week as we attend our local Sunday services and enjoy the blessings of the sacrament ordinance.  May we all remember who He is; and may we remember to be His witness in all things; so we may have His spirit with us always!