Stake Conference Highlights

We have been spiritually fed in our Stake Conference this weekend. We didn't have a visiting authority, but we were blessed by having Pres. & Sis. Morby of the Portland, OR Mission join us. We have become dear friends and we will greatly miss them when they return to St. George this July. Pres. & Sis. Pond, our new temple president and matron were with us on Sunday morning. All of the talks that were given were so good, and the choir music was magnificent and powerful.

The meetings couldn't have started any better than a sweet story that Pres. Christiansen shared at the beginning of his talk. He was the first speaker of the Saturday evening session. He talked about doing church work on his computer that morning. He was responding to an email from Pres. Lewis. His 3-year old daughter, Violet, looked at the screen and could see Pres. Lewis' picture attached to his Mt. Hood Stake President email account. She exclaimed excitedly, "That's Pres. Lewis. That's Pres. Lewis." She kept repeating it over and over again. Pres. Christiansen said, "Yes, Violet, that is Pres. Lewis." Then she said sincerely, "I love Pres. Lewis. I love Pres. Lewis." She continued to repeat it, and then she started singing a song she made up about "I love Pres. Lewis." Pres. Christiansen began to think about that instance as he continued throughout his day. From the influence of the spirit he heard, "Out of the mouth of babes." He felt the strong impression to bear his witness that Pres. Lewis was called of God, and that he loves and honors him as our stake president and that we were blessed to have him as our Stake Pres. The sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost filled the chapel and it was such a tender, spiritual way to begin our meeting. All from the mouth of babes. I couldn't help but think about how all the grandchildren love Grandpa Lewis, and there are other little children that feel that love from him, too.

The theme of the Sat. evening session was on the "Hastening of the Work." Pres. Christiansen shared how it is the little things we do, that we often don't realize it, are influencing other people around us, are all part of the Hastening. We should ask ourselves, "Who does Heavenly Father want me to help today?" He reminded us of what Pres. Monson has asked of us, "We are surrounded by those in need. We are the Lord's hands."

All youth, 12 and above we're invited to come to the Sat. evening session. It was very full, with over 500 in attendance. Lindsey May, of our ward gave the first "youth" speaker in that session. She spoke about Family History work that she has been doing on the computer and the joy she has felt in taking those names to do baptism.

Sister Kathy Ricker spoke of attending the Seattle, then the Portland temple every month for their entire marriage and then 5 years ago they started going every week. They have raised 9 children. Half of them went inactive and started some very bad habits, but through the blessings of the temple, one-by-one miracles are happening in the lives of their children and bringing them back.

Isarel Rueda, a convert 2 years ago is leaving on a mission in a week. He was asked to speak on, "Why do I want to go on a mission?" He said, "I have seen first hand what the Atonement of Jesus Christ can do in my life, and now I want to share that with others."

Sister Emily Jensen (our Bishop's wife) spoke on "What does a Gospel Sharing Home Look Like?" It was a wonderful talk. She talked about having love in our homes for each other where the spirit can be there, then inviting people over for dinner, having others see the love we have in our family. She said, "When the missionaries are in the home, I feel Heavenly Father's love for all His children. We need to stand, shoulder to shoulder across a great field, and go forth and gather those who have strayed as we go along."

Bro. Kimble talked about the importance of seniors going on missions. He and his wife are wonderful senior missionaries in our stake. "All you have to do," he said, "is share your testimony." That is the easy part. It is hard work, but you don't have to go fast, just keep going!"

Pres. Morby recently asked for more senior couples, but Salt Lake said, we have 135 missions without any couples at all.

They have seen a great change in the mission since Pres. Monson announced the age change for missionaries. When they began as mission presidents in July of 2011 there were 185 Elders & 12 sisters, then 225 Elders and 25 sisters, then 270 Elders and 50 sisters, then two missions were created on either side of them, the Salem, OR Mission, and the Vancouver, WA mission. They then had 150 Elders and 40 sisters. Today they have 225 Elders and 72 sisters. All of the missionaries in our mission have iPads. The missionaries are told to: 1. Find 2. Teach 3. Baptize 4. Retain and 5. Reactivate. When a missionary is transferred he goes into a new area and because of the iCloud, the area book with all the contacts and information drops into his iPad instantly.

My sweetheart, Pres. Crismon Lewis, gave a powerful talk on the Hastening. We are being asked to do a little more than we have been doing. We can approach people by saying, "Do you have a faith?" "I'm so thankful I can be a member of our church." He asked our stake to come to know every member in our ward. Also, to introduce yourself to every new person. He challenged our stake, "May a new person never leave our building without being welcomed, thanked for being there, and letting them know we need them." The Bishopric is asked to quickly give every new member or convert a calling.

Sunday morning session. We have 24 full-time missionaries serving from our stake. The theme was on the Proclamation to the World on the Family.

Pres. Paul Hansen: We need to study the words of our present day prophets. The Proclamation needs to not only hang in our homes, but in our hearts. How do we do that? We need to study "Preach My Gospel." Satan works on our insecurities. When we can comprehend our divine nature, we can face our trials.

Sis. Morby shared about recently connecting with a friend from way back in her early schooling on Facebook. This friend recently lost her son. She asked Sis. Morby, "Where's Joe." That contrasted to the response from Sister Parrish (a sister missionary that was in their mission who was transferred to the Vancouver mission) who just lost her parents and her two siblings when carbon dioxide filled their home in Pocatello Idaho. She and her brother who is also a missionary have returned home. They couldn't believe the strength of this young sister missionary. At the end of the call she asked them, "Pres. & Sis. Morby, what can I do for you." She then posted on her Facebook page, "My family are hastening the work on the other side of the veil, "ISN'T THAT AWESOME!!!"

Pres. Morby said he'll never erase from his phone the voice message from Glenn Smith inviting them to his temple sealing. Miracles happen in lives! Talk to everyone. He and his wife wanted to share a Book of Mormon with the gas station attendant. Before he got the words out, his wife handed the young man the book and said, "Read this book, it will change your life."

Sis Pond: There were only 8 temples in 1950. They only had names to keep that many temples busy. Now, because of the computer and the understanding of young people to search family history, they are coming up with many names that previously couldn't be found.

Pres. Pond: Attend an Endowment session with the eyes of seeing it from the view of the Proclamation. Come to the temple and be strengthened in understanding the principles of the Gospel.

Pres. Lewis: We need to receive the words of prophets in patience and faith. We are entering an era where it will not be popular to follow a prophet. In 1995 the Proclamation came out. In 1996 there was a Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). But last year the Supreme Court struck down part of it. Since that time state after state have been legalizing same gender marriages. The gays want this to be a civil issue and not a moral issue. When God speaks it trumps everything. We must follow a prophet. Then with a powerful spirit he said: "I raise a voice of warning." He encourage all to pull out the Proclamation and teach it to our children. The Proclamation will answer why (same gender marriage) is so abhorrent to God. Go to the Topical Guide, Man, Potential to Become like Heavenly Father. Go to the church website under "Teachings" then "Gospel Topics" then "Becoming Like God. Marriage in the Garden was so important that Adam and Eve were married by Heavenly Father. When it refers to "one flesh" in (Gen 2:24) you look at the footnote it refers to "one flesh" meaning one like Heavenly Father.

This evening it feels good to have had conference and now to have it over. There is always a lot of stress associated with all the details, preparation, and Crismon's hours upon hours of study and prayer to prepare his talks. He was richly blessed. Thanks to our dear children who kept him in their prayers this weekend.