Having a member of the Seventy come to our Mt. Hood Oregon Stake is a wonderful blessing. But this weekend, we had an added blessing to have Elder Richard K. Hansen as our visitor. He is not really a visitor, as he grew up in this area, his father has been a leader in the church, Elder Hansen use to be our Bishop and the Stake President before he was called to the Seventy. It was such a treat to feel of his spirit and be blessed by his inspired counsel. His brother, Paul Hansen, Crismon's 1st Counselor is his younger brother. It was also my easiest stake conference. I didn't have to host him in our home as he lives just 5 minutes away from us. It took a lot of pressure off of Crismon as well, to feel more relaxed around Elder Hansen, compared to someone we don't know.
What I want to remember about this conference. Elder Hansen set the theme of "Conversion" and the "Sabbath Day" for our Saturday evening meeting.
Pres. Paul Hansen counseled us to remember what we've learned tonight. Remember the things you learned that you did not hear. Elder Bednar: Consistently being true to the Gospel is the essence of conversion.
Shannon Richardson: Conversion is line upon line. Sacrifice is a sign of our conversion, true conversion. Keep your eye singled to God.
Trent Westover: Example of the Zoramites in Alma 31. They failed to do the little things daily that draw us to God. Alma 32, Faith is an ongoing process, always nourishing our testimony.
Adrienne Malan: Preparation for the Sabbath Day is vital.
Julie Bullen: (wife of Mission Pres.) Repentance. See yourself as a beloved child of God.
Pres. Bullen: Grasp hold of the Iron Rod and stay on the path to the Tree of Life.
Elder Hansen: Referring to Elder Halstrom: "Being active in the Gospel, is more important than being active in the Church. When we read: "As the Lord Liveth" you better listen to this. Alma 23, speaking of the converted Lamanites, "They never fell away.He wanted that to be said of him someday. There is more to the Gospel than just knowing that it is true. We need to be like Nephi, "I will go and do!" How can we increase our faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement? Through a revelatory process. That can be our blessing. We need to focus on keeping the Sabbath Day Holy. This is an eternal commandment. Our faith in God will increase as we do the little things each and every day; scripture study, prayers.
Sunday morning:
Pres. Crismon Lewis: We have rituals in our church through the Ordinances because we are a dual beings; the spirit and the body. Every commandment comes with a covenant. The promises from God are always in our favor. God binds us to Him and then He binds us with those we love. D&C 35, Keep all the commandments. I will cause the heavens to shake for your good. Story of the hail storm in Panguitich UT of his ancestors when George Deliverance Wilson commanded the storm to not touch his crop. The hail storm was fierce, but it built up around the fence posts, but it didn't destroy his crop. Covenants protect us and give us power.
Anne Anderson: Remember spiritual feelings we have. Build on the rock of Jesus Christ.
Pres. Steven Christiansen: Be still and know that I am God. Take time to be Holy. Mindfulness: Being one who is conscious of what is going on. We need time for our minds to rest, and be holy. Then he made promises to each of the age groups how we will have joy if we take time to be holy.
Whitney Kelson: Grew in appreciation of ancestors on her mission and the reality of the Atonement.
Pres. Watts: We sit at the feet of great men who have great authority. The temple brings us back to God.
Vivienne Lewis: I was called upon to share my testimony. I said I wanted to be like Abraham, to be called a follower of righteousness. This was a big surprise. You always think afterwards, "why didn't I say this, or that, but in the moment, I hope my humble testimony touched someone's heart. I had been praying for a spiritual experience in the conference. Didn't know this would be an answer to my prayer, if it was, but I felt I had been uplifted so much by the other talks.
Rich Monnie: Tender Mercies of the Lord, record them and remember them.
Cindy Hansen: We are who we are because of you. We have grown up here and you have taught us.
Elder Hansen: He keeps a picture in his binder that was taken by the Hubble Space Craft of the Deep Space - Black with spots of white, 10,000 galaxies and each galaxy has billion of stars. God says, "All things are numbered unto me, and they are mine." Brother Hinshaw's boating accident. "Jeff, get off the boat." He heard it three times. Jeff told Elder Hansen, I know God knows my name. God's children are without number, yet He knows our name. Doctrine of Christ: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism by Immersion, the Gift of the Holy Ghost, Endure to the End. We get to repent. It's joyous! We participate in ordinances in the temple, once for ourselves and then always for someone else. When we take the Sacrament, we do it every time for ourselves. It is a sacred privilege we should always cherish. Experience of Home Teaching Bro. Wilford Stevenson. When asked how he is doing he said shortly after the death of his wife, "I'm so very lonely, I pray every day that I can live worthy to be with Reba again. Elder Hansen's mother died about the same time. When he asked his Dad the same question, his Dad had the same response. He was so very lonely and he had a great desire to live worthy of covenants to be together again someday.
Before our Saturday evening meeting, we had a delicious dinner with all the Bishops and their wives, Elder Richard & Sis. Cindy Hansen, Pres. Jonathan & Julie Bullen, Mission Pres. and their daughter, Sarah, and the Stake Presidency. Alisha Christiansen did the food, (Pasta & Chicken dish, Caesar salad, rolls, fruit for dessert, with a homemade chocolate.) and Nancy Hansen did the flower centerpieces. We all helped in the kitchen before, but I did a minimal amount because of my lack of energy and strength. I have to be so careful. It's difficult for me to go over 5,000 steps a day. I really pay for it the next day.
It was really fun to sit by Julie Bullen and get acquainted. Turns out her sister is Lorraine Harris who was in my class at Sky View High School. I always admired and idolized Lorraine as she was so beautiful, kind, feminine, always with a single pearl necklace. She was very sweet.
Our good Bishops and their wives are: Derek & Dana May (Walters Hill), Derek & Carrie Conklin (Tickle Creek), Jeremy & Selena Kato (Sandy River), Pres. Trent & Sheryl Westover (YSA), Michael & Lisa Hulet (Powell Valley), Mike & Debbie Miller (Damascus), David & Deanna Hawkins (Estacada), Pres. Carlos Ibarra (Pioneer Branch). We are so blessed to associate with such great people.
