March 28-April 3, 2022

 My favorite weekend of the year is over already.  It always amazes me how quickly the time passes during General Conference.  The talks were amazing; filled with inspiration and things that I needed to hear.  As we listened we thought of the friends we are working with, wondering if they followed though on their commitment to watch conference and find answers to their questions.  Other than the talks, my favorite conference moments:  President Nelson on Sunday morning when he began his talk with, "Brothers and Sisters, I love you."  His short pause let us savor that sweet moment and we are sure that he does love us.  The second was when President Nelson announced a temple in Missoula, Montana.  My hometown!  Growing up there, I never dreamed a temple would be built there.  But, my reaction since the temple in Elko, Nevada was announced is that if Elko can have a temple, no where else should surprise me.  No offense to Elko folks.

Bishop's Storehouse was Saturday morning.  We all worked quickly and were finished in time for us to return home by noon for conference.  The young missionaries watched in the Relief Society room with some of their friends and a few ward members.  We opted to watch at home in the comfort of our pajamas!  This is the first mission where we have been in a closer time zone and can watch all the sessions on the day they are broadcast.  We drove in to the chapel between the Sunday sessions to have lunch with the missionaries.  We thought it was just our district but the Spanish and Mandarin Elders and some companionships from a neighboring ward also joined us.  A few members of the Spanish Ward that meets in our building were also having lunch there so we shared all our food and ate together.  Their lunch was a bit more nutritious than the hotdogs and chips our district planned.  We brought ice cream and toppings - we have leftover toppings but the gallon of ice cream disappeared quickly.

One of the older sisters we have been visiting expressed an interest in going to the temple.  She is 87 years old.  She and her husband were baptized over 40 years ago.  He was endowed but she refused to go the temple.  All she wants to do is die and be with her beloved Frank.  When we last visited she began to cry and said she knew she had made a mistake - that she wanted to be sure she would be with Frank when she dies and maybe she should go to the temple.

We visited Sister Ross, the spunky kiwi, this week.  She told us that she expects to see us at least twice a month!  One of her sons is a woodworker and had made a clever coat hanger for her entryway.  John was interested in it so she had her son make one for him awhile ago.  This week she presented me with a knife that he made.

Sister Ross says I did all the hard work chipping away at the ice, so I deserved a gift too.  The knife is beautiful.  She says it will slice tomatoes, and other things, but it's too pretty to use.

We had a fellowship visit scheduled with Solomon and Wumi but the young sisters called us the night before saying that Solomon and Wumi had met some friends that were interested in the gospel so they were going to come along.  We decided to reschedule our visit and let the sisters do their excellent job of teaching.  We certainly could have been there but felt it might be a little overwhelming for the friends to have so many of us.  I think Solomon and Wumi are going to keep us running!  Their enthusiasm is contagious.

"We have received important direction for the future at General Conference.  My prayer is that the Spirit has spoken to you directly about things the Lord would have you do.  The future is always uncertain.  Weather changes.  Economic cycles are unpredictable.  Natural disasters, wars, accidents, and illness can change life quickly.

These actions are largely beyond our control.  But there are things we can control, including how we spend our time each day.

Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future.  But only now can we do.  Now is the time we can learn.  Now is the time we can repent.  Now is the time we can bless others and 'lift up the hands that hang down.'

The Lord loves you.  He is your Savior and your Redeemer.  He leads and guides His Church.  May we be a people worthy of the Lord, who said, 'Ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.' (Jeremiah 30:22)"  President Russell M Nelson