Week 22

19 June 2017

 

Dear Loved ones,

The week started out cold and rainy, I thought our summer was gone. Sister Parkin and I were so cold all-day Tuesday, that we decided not to go to water aerobics. By the end of the week things warmed up.

It was so fun to have Amy come up Thursday night and stay with me. Friday, I showed her the office while I took care of the mail, then I drove her around Pocatello and we had lunch at a restaurant near my apartment. Afterward we drove together to Blackfoot, ID.  I had an appointment with the Community Center there to see about a Just- Serve project. Amy drove on to Rexburg and picked up Tom from his EFY and came back to pick me up in Blackfoot.  When we got back to Pocatello, Amy and Tom drove to the beach in San Diego.

Saturday night was my Stake Conference with Weatherford Clayton, our General Authority visitor. He was delightful and the meeting was inspiring. The Counselor in the Stake Presidency was the first speaker. He asked us if we ever were at a loss of words when someone attacks the church. He then held up this enormous sword he called the “Sword of Truth” He then recited lines from hymns: Behold the Royal Army, Shall the Youth of Zion Falter, and Hope of Israel. He then went on to say we need to put on the whole armor of God Ephes. 5:17 so we can defend and disarm critics with true doctrine. His whole talk centered on being more soundly grounded in the Doctrine of the Church.

A young man who was just arriving at the first anniversary of his baptism spoke and shared his conversion story.  His wife was a member and he knew how important it was to his wife that his children got to their meetings, so when she had to work he brought the children to church. He thanked all the people who had made him feel welcome on such occasions. The day he first saw missionaries coming up his walk, he ran upstairs and asked his wife if she had put them up to this. She said no! He went through several sets of missionaries, but when a 26-year-old missionary moved into the Ward he started really listening. He could relate better to a missionary that was closer to his age. He is now looking forward to temple blessings.

President and Sister McNab, represented the Mission Presidency, he is the 1st counselor. They had a sweet story about a repairman who came to their house and overheard Pres taking about Scyler Page. The repairman said Scyler Page had been his missionary companion years ago.  The repairman had married outside the church and had not been to church in years. Pres invited him to have missionaries come to teach his wife and they are now having lessons. He encouraged all member to pray for missionary experiences.

We then began to sing “Where Can I Turn for Peace” – Elder Clayton stood up, stopped us, and asked us to sing as if we were in a conversation with our Father, a heart-felt prayer.  My goodness, what a difference that made!! The spirit was powerful!!

The meeting was then turned over to Elder Clayton who promptly called on his wife to speak.  She had everyone get out their cell phones and text whoever the Lord was prompting them to invite them to come to the Sunday session of Stake Conference. Elder Clayton then called on a recently returned missionary, a young man about to leave on a mission, and a convert to share their testimonies. He next asked, “How do we fire-up our testimonies?” and opened it up audience participation who responded: forgive, serve, accept others, listen to others, do family history, be an example, etc.

I have been typing this letter at work when there was a quiet moment or two. I didn’t write yesterday because Jennifer Finlinson came down with her kids and had dinner with me.  It was so fun!! It has been a wonderful weekend.  I’ll save my notes on the Sunday session for another time. I still think the Saturday night meeting is the best in the church (outside the Temple). I had my question answered --since last April Conference I have been wondering if he was related to Whitney Clayton.  He is his brother.  They grew up with an inactive father and a good Christian mother of another faith.  When his father who was a doctor broke his leg skiing and was in the hospital, a nurse he knew well came into his room and told him he fine sons that needed him to get them to church. He took the challenge and their family was sealed in the temple when Elder Clayton was a teenager.  He tributes his mother for teaching him to pray. All four sons served missions and married in the temple. He had such a delightful sense of humor and was so inspiring as he challenged us to build our foundation on Jesus Christ.

I am attaching this letter with a plan for the housing.  If you see something that won’t work for your family let me know right away or forever hold your peace.

Can’t wait to let the fun at Bear Lake begin!!!

Love and hugs, Grammie/Sister Shill