Conference Weekend

Conference weekend is always so peaceful and relaxing. It's nice to be able to stay at home with family and to listen to positive messages of faith and hope.

As a kid we always watched on our big console television. Now we just hook-up the laptop and watch on the Internet. We used to ask our parents about "the olden days" before TV. My kids are going to ask me about "the olden days" when there wasn't any Internet and we listened to music on "records" and "8 tracks" (I had both) and when there were no cell phones or iPods.

We sustained a new prophet and president of the church this weekend, President Thomas S. Monson. I'll surely miss President Hinckley, but I can see the church moving forward in a very positive direction.

In remembrance

This afternoon I was looking at January's First Presidency message in the Ensign. It was an article entitled "The Master Build Bridger" written by President Monson. He spoke of how a bridge builder builds not for himself, but those who come after. Jesus Christ's atoning grace is the bridge and the only way for us to cross the chasm of sin and death and return to God, our Heavenly Father.

I looked at the photo of Thomas Monson and the thought passed my mind that he's going to be our next prophet, and I thought that President Hinckley's time would soon be over. I didn't give it much more thought, until tonight we found out that President Gordon B. Hinckley, our beloved prophet, had died at his home, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 97. News release

President Hinckley has made a profound impact for good for the church, it's members, and to an extent, the greater world at large. He has worked ceaselessly for good for so many years, working much harder than many men younger than he.

I have always revered him as a prophet of God, but I remember very vividly how I felt when he unveiled the plan for the Perpetual Education Fund. When I was a missionary in Chile, we went hiking up a mountain with a Chilean returned missionary on one of our free days. I remember him telling me how he went on a mission with many Americans, and how he worked hard, and even learned some English. But all of his American companions went home and had school and work opportunities, but we he went home he had nothing. He returned to his small town, and though he learned leadership skills, and worked hard on his mission there were no job prospects and no way of financing any education. I didn't know what to say to him.

After President Hinkley told of us this plan to finance education for young members of the church in developing countries via very low interest loans, I felt so joyful. This inspired man of God saw a real need and found a way to make it happen. I felt in my heart that this man truly is a prophet chosen of God.

Under President Hinckley's direction the number of temples in the church has gone from less than 50 to over 120. He also announced the building of the Conference Center and he raised the bar for the standards required for missionaries to serve. Also, his openness with the media was unprecedented. He was interviewed by Larry King, Mike Wallace, and Tom Brokaw.

But above all of the measurable things that he accomplished, I will remember him for the man of faith that he was. He was a true witness of Jesus Christ. I will remember his love for the Savior and his faith in Him. I will remember how much he loved his people and all people. I will remember how optimistic he was and how he saw the good in everyone.

I feel sad for the loss of this great man, because he made the world better, and we will miss him. But I do not feel sad for him. I know, as he knew, that he is now in a much better place. I'm sure he is having a wonderful reunion with his wife and his family and friends that had passed before him. He will be rejoicing and feeling immeasurable love, being reunited with Jesus Christ his Savior.

I loved our prophet, Gordon B. Hinkley, and as many, I will miss him dearly.

Standing Together

Melinda went to the National Student Dialogue Conference this weekend. It's basically a Evangelical Christian and Mormon conference where they discuss doctrinal differences, similarities, and try to find common ground. It was sponsored by Standing Together which is an organization started by Rev. Greg Johnson to create understandings between Evangelical Christian and Latter-day Saints. Bob Millett spoke there as well, and we've both enjoyed his works, especially "A Different Jesus?" and "Grace Works."

Here are the highlights (and lowlights) of the rest of our weekend:

• Ian and Miles bought a Lego Star Wars set with the money they have saved up
• I played stay-at-home dad for 2 days
• I have much deeper appreciation for all the work Melinda has to do everyday
  
• Ian got an ear infection on Friday
• Max (one of our mice) died - we were all very sad; especially Miles
  
• Miles was the only one to make it to the primary program; everyone else was sick this morning
• All the kids wanted to be "simpsonized" like their mom so we made a collage

Scott's mission report

Melinda's brother, Scott, came home from his mission on Thursday. He spent 2 years teaching the gospel to the Spanish speaking residents of Ft. Lauderdale Florida. We went to his ward to hear him speak today.

He started out directly with his testimony of Jesus Christ and of His Atonement. Wow. Scott used to be this precocious, opinionated kid, and now he is a man who during 2 years of service really gets the heart of the gospel. Through his blood (bicycle accidents), sweat (Miami heat), and tears (this one I'm just assuming) he has seen the hand of the Lord in his life and in the lives of those he has served.

I liked his mission stories, but seeing his love and gratitude for Jesus Christ is what was really moving. He has changed in 2 years, and all for the better. Is their anything better a nineteen year-old could be doing with 2 years than serving Jesus and getting to know Him?

Choose ye this day

Kevin and Brian had an extra ticket to this afternoon's Priesthood Session, so they invited me to go with them. It was a very nice experience. I remember the last time I went my knees ached so bad because of arthritis and lack of legroom that it was just painful. This time I was fine and I enjoyed the talks immensely and felt the Holy Spirit there.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does a wonderful job of teaching it's people how to live. The church is truly centered on Jesus Christ and his teachings and it helps it's members to become better people and how to be a disciple of Christ. It's amazing to see so many men and boys assembled not for a sports activity, but to listen of Christ and how to live righteously. These are some of the many fruits of the church.

Tonight we were taught to control our emotions and not become angry. We were taught to have vision, be faithful, be virtuous, and to work for good causes. We were taught to avoid pornography and the sins of this world.

The righteous men who taught us today were true examples of how to live. When we left the conference there were many protesters shouting at us. The contrast between the protesters and our Priesthood leaders tonight could not have been greater. It is not hard for me to choose which ones I would rather be like.