June 6-12, 2022

The long anticipated mission tour took place this week, culminating with Zone Conference on Friday.   Elder Sean Douglas of the Seventy and his wife Ann conducted the tour.  They started on Monday in the Atlantic provinces and worked their way west.

Elder Sean and Sister Ann Douglas

We began with a group photo at 8:30, then they shook each missionary's hand and the conference started at 9:00 am sharp!  They are both great teachers but I was so impressed with Sister Douglas.  She was very warm and funny, talking about sheep and her dogs, all related to a gospel concept of course.  She taught us a little about sheep behavior - how they know and recognize their shepherd's voice and respond only to his commands.  She also talked about how they ignorantly follow the head ewe's lead anywhere she takes them - for instance, off the edge of a cliff.  My dad had a small flock of sheep and we always called them stupid but she was much kinder and called them obstinate.

Her point was - do we know our shepherd and recognize his voice?  (John 10:11-15)  And are we going to follow the shepherd or follow the ewe off the cliff?

Elder Douglas is a very enthusiastic teacher, who interrupts often (his own admission) after asking someone a question or to read a scripture.  He told us about his experience sitting with Elder Ballard in a small room while learning the process of assigning missionaries to a specific mission.  Only the twelve apostles have that assignment.  Elder Douglas told us not to doubt where we have been assigned and assured us we are where the Lord wants us at this particular time.  A side note: when Douglas' received this calling three years ago, they moved to Salt Lake City and purchased what he called a cozy bungalow.  They did not know when they bought it that it had been Elder Ballard's home for many years prior.  Elder Ballard called one day and asked if they would invite him to their home for a bowl of soup.  Of course they did and Elder Ballard reminisced and told them stories about the house and his family memories there.  It was so sweet.

Elder Douglas also told us about the first time he spoke in General Conference.  Each speaker is allotted a very specific amount of time to speak.  Did you know that General Conference prayers are allotted 60 seconds?  If you go over, a light on the podium comes on - but if you have your eyes closed, how would you know that? Topics are never assigned but the newly called seventies are asked to prepare their talks a few weeks before conference so one or more of the twelve can review it; they suggest changes, perhaps clarify a point of doctrine and usually shorten it.  When the talk receives approval, the speaker goes into the "practice" room so they can adapt to using the teleprompters and standing at the conference center (replica) podium.  They warned him that your speaking tends to slow down when addressing a crowd, so they allow a 15 second variance.  Elder Douglas' talk was allotted eight minutes.  It lasted nine minutes and 20 seconds.  When the First Presidency executive secretary called him about it, he thought he was in real trouble (I wondered, like what?  Fire him?  Never assign him to speak in conference again?)  As it was his first time, he was forgiven.

He did teach us doctrine as well.  Here are some of the highlights I jotted down:

• God can do his work alone - he is allowing us to work in his vineyard at this time
• God is a God of miracles, we put the lid on ourselves
• Notice the feast on the table instead of the crumbs at your feet
• I came into this world to do the Father's will, because my Father sent me here
• Desires determine priorities (Alma 29:4, 32:28)
• Priorities determine decisions (D&C 11:17)
• Decisions determine actions (Mosiah 28:3-6)
• Actions determine joy or misery (D&C 88:33-35)

Many of the senior couples don't usually attend zone conference but since we had a visiting authority, more couples made an effort to be there.  During lunch while visiting, we discovered that four senior Elders had served in the same mission at different times.

The two more senior Elders in the middle are John Cooper and Roger Walker.  They both grew up in Raymond Alberta and knew each other before their missions in the early 1960's.  I know, eons ago.  They went to the French East Mission headquartered in Geneva Switzerland.  He picked Elder Walker up at the train station in Grenoble France when Roger arrived in the mission.  Elder Brent Kellis on the left is from Arizona and Elder Peter Gothe on the right is from Ontario.  They both served in France in the early 1970's.  I think the mission had a name change by then but it was still headquartered in Geneva.  All four of them have retained their French language skills.  Not too bad for a bunch of old men, eh?

When we walk through Angrignon Park to and from the metro, we see lots of ducks and geese.  We have been watching for babies but not seen any until last Thursday.  And then only one.

Mom and Dad are being very protective of baby

When we were close enough to take a picture, the dad walked along side us.  When we paused to snap the photo, he was only a couple inches from my feet, ready to peck at me if needed.

We had a ward talent night Saturday.  We have a lot of talent in this ward and we got to see some of our leaders in a different light.

Our missionaries singing "Heavenly Father Loves Me"

Clareena Lindsay, our YW President singing a medley of popular songs

The "Primary Boyz" glow in the dark dancing?

Sondy DuPont, a high counselor, singing with his daughter

Minerva Gagnon, the bishop's wife, rocking out

Howard May, the Stake Clerk, singing "Yesterday"

Alfredo Escandor, our Elders Quorum President, singing a love song

I saved this video for last.  Far left is Thiago Morais, Stake YM counselor.  The tall blonde is David Benson (my cousin once removed), our Seminary teacher.  Center is Jason Glowa, Stake YM counselor and the Stake President's son.  The Stake President and his wife were in the audience jumping around and screaming like a couple of teenagers.  The older brother with reading glasses on the drums is our Sunday School President, Bob Donaldson.  Right front is Chris Morales, Elders Quorum counselor.  And on the back right is our quiet, gentle, soft-spoken bishop.  Except for David and Bob, these men all grew up together and have had a band since high school.  It was pretty loud and raucous, even when they did Paw Patrol and The Excavator Song for the younger kids.  I think they were just having a very good time together.

Solomon and Wumi wore their fancy African clothes to church today.  We felt like we were back in Ghana.