Why I Loved Stake Conference

We were nourished by the good word of God in our stake conference talks this weekend. In preparation for this weekend, we met as a stake for a Temple Chapel Session last week. Crismon gave an inspiring message in that meeting. Maybe one reason I loved Stake Conference was it was kind of a relief that Crismon got through that first Stake Conference as the new President of the Mt. Hood Oregon Stake. We were grateful that the first conference was a Sunday Broadcast. It was a nice way to get started. There were 36 stakes in Oregon that received the broadcast from SLC with Elder Quentin L. Cook as the presiding authority.

Our Saturday evening meeting was well attended. Chairs were filled half way back into the cultural hall. Carrie Johnson, a YSA was asked to speak and share her conversion story. She shared that she has been a disciple of Christ for 10 years, but it was just over a year ago that she came to know of the truthfulness of the gospel. Her family are very active in their own church and they reacted in a negative way to her baptism. Many in our meeting were in tears as she shared how her parents had told her about 3 months ago that she was no longer a part of their family and they disowned her. 

She is engaged to Sam Caudle, Brett's cousin, and they are to be married next week in the Portland Temple. Vivi is really close to her and I'm glad she was able to come with her mother-in-law, Diane Caudle, to hear Carrie speak. It was the Caudle family that introduced her to the Church 10 years ago. It has been a process for her to grow in her knowledge of the gospel. She is amazing, very strong with a fervent testimony.

Crismon gave a very powerful talk in our Saturday session on the need for parents to create the rich soil of the gospel for their children to plant their seeds of testimony and for them to grow. He spoke with boldness in a way I hadn't heard him before. Certainly, the mantle of his calling was evident. He shared that there is a price that we all need to pay for the gospel in our lives. We must have a change of heart.

To create this soil we must first have a desire, with an eye of faith. We need to help children understand who they are, sons and daughters of God. The Lord is hastening the work and we need thousands of missionaries now.

It was interesting that his message led right into Elder Cook's talk. He spoke on Preparation for Missionary Work. "We are on the threshold of great missionary work." He asked that each family and each ward prayerfully ponder how they can help young people with two important things. 1. They must each have a testimony. 2. They need to overcome fears and feelings of inadequacies. As our youth come to know who they are they will be able to overcome these weaknesses.

Half of the stake met in our stake center on Sunday morning, and the other half in the Sandy Building. Both well attended. We also heard from Sis. Ann Dibb, Elder Ochoa, and Elder Maynes.

Crismon attended the Coordinating Council Meeting with 15 other stake presidents in the area, under the direction of Elder Richard Hansen in Beaverton that afternoon.

Pres. Dennis Baird, Pres. Crismon Lewis, Pres. Charles Allen