Stake Conference
Today we had stake conference, one of those times that they take a date for the whole state of Washington, and Alaska too, and give us 15 minutes for hymn, prayer, and business at the beginning, and then broadcast from Salt Lake. We had Brother Hales and Brother Perry, after starting off with Marcus Nash of the 1st quorum of Seventy, who was called after being a stake president in Lynnwood. He was greeting us as old home folks.
The best talk, I think, was Sister Carol McConkie a counselor in the general presidency of the Young Women. I think that was because her talk was more personal, sharing experiences from the time she and her husband presided over the San Jose, CA mission.
But the crowning point of the morning was after the conference. Two members of our ward were presented for sustaining to be ordained elders; we were included in the groups for both. One has been one of our temple students, just waiting for the Melchizidek priesthood. The other was a Jehovah's Witness, a pretty senior teacher and leader in the area, who joined the Church. They asked him to speak in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago, and without specifying where he had been involved before, he talked about spending years studying the texts of the Bible in Greek and Hebrew, of seeking the Lord but feeling still empty. He was baptized only about eight months ago, and still has to wait for his year date to be able to go to the temple, but he has devoured everything he can get his hands on, previous priesthood manuals, seminary manuals, Church history--most of that coming from our house. He has lit up and deepened before our eyes, and we love him. He has experience a true and deep conversion, and is present to serve in answer to any need.
He was part of a group gathered with us for dessert last night, after the adult general session. He had baptized his sister earlier in the day as a priest, and next Sunday he will confirm her as an elder. Some of the ward members here went down to Lacey for that baptism, and one asked how long she was taught by the missionaries. He said three months, and at the two month point she called him and said this was "cracked," forget it. So a month later when she called and asked if he would baptize her, he wasn't altogether sure she was serious. He called and checked with the missionaries, who told him that, yes, this was for real and she had had her final interview and everything was set.
He told us that she had married into a family that was actively into the tent-revival tradition, and she liked it. Lots of loud music, people shouting out 'overcome by the spirit.' She told him, attending a Mormon meeting, that it was "too calm" for her. I said, "Peace has a way of working its way into us, doesn't it?" He agreed, it did and it had reached her, and between yesterday's baptism, today's ordination where he had a profound blessing, and next week's confirmation, he was filled to the brim today.
Peace does have a way of reaching into us. We had a confirmation in our ward last week of a woman whose daughter was baptized a couple of months ago. One of the bishop's counselors confirmed her. (He's one of our favorite people, and his wife, and they were part of our group last night.) The first thing he said to her after the necessary ordinal statement of the Holy Ghost was, "Jesus Christ has found you."
Don't we always think in terms of new members finding Christ? But, "Jesus Christ has found you." Leaving the ninety and nine, the shepherd going after the one who is wandering. He finds that sheep, carrying it home rejoicing. With this sister, he has found His child who didn't know where He was. I saw her today, and her daughter, and both of them are still beaming enough to light up a room without needing electricity.
The outpouring of the Spirit in the work of gathering in souls is intensifying of late in our challenged ward, indicative of the hastening of the work in the world. What a blessing it is to have the gospel of Christ in its power to to change and save lives.
The best talk, I think, was Sister Carol McConkie a counselor in the general presidency of the Young Women. I think that was because her talk was more personal, sharing experiences from the time she and her husband presided over the San Jose, CA mission.
But the crowning point of the morning was after the conference. Two members of our ward were presented for sustaining to be ordained elders; we were included in the groups for both. One has been one of our temple students, just waiting for the Melchizidek priesthood. The other was a Jehovah's Witness, a pretty senior teacher and leader in the area, who joined the Church. They asked him to speak in sacrament meeting a few weeks ago, and without specifying where he had been involved before, he talked about spending years studying the texts of the Bible in Greek and Hebrew, of seeking the Lord but feeling still empty. He was baptized only about eight months ago, and still has to wait for his year date to be able to go to the temple, but he has devoured everything he can get his hands on, previous priesthood manuals, seminary manuals, Church history--most of that coming from our house. He has lit up and deepened before our eyes, and we love him. He has experience a true and deep conversion, and is present to serve in answer to any need.
He was part of a group gathered with us for dessert last night, after the adult general session. He had baptized his sister earlier in the day as a priest, and next Sunday he will confirm her as an elder. Some of the ward members here went down to Lacey for that baptism, and one asked how long she was taught by the missionaries. He said three months, and at the two month point she called him and said this was "cracked," forget it. So a month later when she called and asked if he would baptize her, he wasn't altogether sure she was serious. He called and checked with the missionaries, who told him that, yes, this was for real and she had had her final interview and everything was set.
He told us that she had married into a family that was actively into the tent-revival tradition, and she liked it. Lots of loud music, people shouting out 'overcome by the spirit.' She told him, attending a Mormon meeting, that it was "too calm" for her. I said, "Peace has a way of working its way into us, doesn't it?" He agreed, it did and it had reached her, and between yesterday's baptism, today's ordination where he had a profound blessing, and next week's confirmation, he was filled to the brim today.
Peace does have a way of reaching into us. We had a confirmation in our ward last week of a woman whose daughter was baptized a couple of months ago. One of the bishop's counselors confirmed her. (He's one of our favorite people, and his wife, and they were part of our group last night.) The first thing he said to her after the necessary ordinal statement of the Holy Ghost was, "Jesus Christ has found you."
Don't we always think in terms of new members finding Christ? But, "Jesus Christ has found you." Leaving the ninety and nine, the shepherd going after the one who is wandering. He finds that sheep, carrying it home rejoicing. With this sister, he has found His child who didn't know where He was. I saw her today, and her daughter, and both of them are still beaming enough to light up a room without needing electricity.
The outpouring of the Spirit in the work of gathering in souls is intensifying of late in our challenged ward, indicative of the hastening of the work in the world. What a blessing it is to have the gospel of Christ in its power to to change and save lives.
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