Wasn't Conference Wonderful?????

Wasn't conference wonderful?   We were so disappointed because we wouldn't be able to watch conference for a month or so.   Then Saturday we had an appointment in a township 45 minutes away.   On our way home, about 9:00 pm we stopped to get gas.  After the gas tank was filled, Larry went to turn on the car and it wouldn't start.   In fact, it wouldn't make a peep.    He tried several things but nothing worked.    We finally found someone who would jump us (we had jumper cables in the trunk).   Eventually the car started, and we drove straight home.   We planned to make a stop, but we were afraid to turn off the car until we reached home.   It is definitely not a good idea to be out at night here, unless you are in your locked car and moving.   We arrived safely home.    The next morning (Sunday) we went out to start the car to go to church and it wouldn't turn over.   So we went inside and waited for general conference to start.    We are able to get conference on our computer because we have the internet.   But the chapel and members don't have internet, so we planned to wait for the DVD from Salt lake to come, and attend regular meetings with our branch until it arrives.    We would have called our zone leaders to come and pick us up, but their car also broke down and had to be towed to the car dealership.  (In fact, we spent the afternoon getting their car towed and running them places).   So neither of us had cars.

So Sunday, we sat and watched 3 sessions of conference (2 sessions from Saturday and one from Sunday---- because we are 9 hours ahead of you.)  What a blessing it was!       I loved every talk, but 3 of them tied for my favorite!

Whitney Clayton (story of the 7 year old girl who survives the crash)

We need to see the light and fight toward it.   We will have to endure our own spiritual wilderness and fight to live......Each day we face a test----will we believe?  We must actively choose to believe...we won't actively discover the truth anymore than we will accidentally pay tithing.     I noticed his use of the word "fight for it".   Usually we don't hear such strong words in their talks.

Wilford Anderson

"I can teach you to dance.   But you have to hear the music."    We can teach our children the gospel but they must hear the music."  Invite our kids to sing with us.  If they can't her the music....keep practicing!"   I love that part....keep practicing.    I am still practicing.

Dale Renlund

*****A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying!   I love that.   

If we don't repent, we are latter day sinners.

If we quit, we are just latter day quitters.

The church is like a big hospital.  We are all sick in our own way.   We come to church to be helped.

What was your favorite part of conference?

Friday night we had a very special experience at FHE.   We were at President Alvana's home and the nonmembers didn't show up.   However, we went ahead with FHE for their family.   I showed pictures of all the stages of Christ's death/resurrection.   We discussed them and then put them into the proper sequence.  By now it was pitch black in their back yard.    I had wanted to read the actual scriptures about his death/resurrection, but I didn't think anyone could see to read.   When I asked them, they said they could.    We read from Luke 23 and 24 in round robin style.   We discussed the topic even more, and then Larry said we would sing the closing song.  Sister Alvana hesitantly asked if she could bear her testimony before we closed.  She proceeded to bear the sweetest testimony.   She repeated over and over how blessed  she feels that their family found the gospel.   The spirit was so strong.    She and her husband are trying so very hard to live the commandments and follow the church teachings.   We can  feel that every time we are around them.   Yet everything is so hard for them.....trying to figure out how to teach a primary lesson (either the  primary kids sit in rows and listen to someone read scriptures for 1 hour OR they pass out bags of chips and they eat non-stop for 1 hour), teaching seminary is so confusing for them AND filling out the attendance forms and registration forms are IMPOSSIBLE for them (inspite of one on one helping); AND recording tithing properly is overwhelming.     It makes us stop and think about how easy we have it because we have been raised in the church and have seen what a well functioning ward looks like.   They have NO IDEA what it should look like in spite of 6 years of senior couples.   I have a renewed testimony of how much Heavenly Father loves each one of us despite our weaknesses and strengths.    I desperately want this family to be able to stay strong and enjoy all the blessings of the gospel.    It also shows me that if we have a strong testimony of the BASICS, we can feel the Savior's love.   

Two weeks ago we were in charge of a district/stake young adult fireside.   It was held at a building on the other side of the district.   We were to show a CES Broadcast.   Larry had been trying to download it for a week but because of power outages and inconsistent internet at our home, he hadn't been able to do it.   Two days before, he finally succeeded.   We picked up the projector from the district president and Larry did a run through to make sure everything worked and the program was completely downloaded.   That day was one of the hottest days we have had.   We arrived at the building about 1:00 and no one was there to unlock it, we found someone to unlock it and went inside.   It was soooo hot.....and there is no air conditioning.   The chapel is one of those large portables.   We were all sweating and sticky but we settled in to watch the broadcast.   Two minutes into the broadcast, the projector quit so we couldn't project the video onto the wall.   After a half dozen futile attempts to fix the projector, everyone gathered around the laptop and tried to see it.   But mostly they just listened and tried to fan themselves.   After it was over we served fried chicken (that's right-----greasy, hot chicken).   Remember how I said the district president wants people to get something substantial to eat at every event.    We had enough money to buy chicken but no sides or anything else.    They LOVE Kentucky Fried Chicken and it is in every town (almost). When we served it, the first two people grabbed a drumstick.   Every single person wanted a drumstick but there were only two.   Now we know.......only serve drumsticks!  And...don't count on the church projector!

This week we have secured a police report for a missionary application (it took a half day), fed the missionaries twice, gone on teaching appointments, trained branch leaders, looked for property for a church building, talked to inactives, found glow sticks for the missionaries for their branch activity, passed out a half dozen church cards, and given the elders an Easter Egg Hunt and more.   The Easter Egg hUNT WAS A HUGE HIT WITH THE ELDERS.

We feel so blessed to be serving a mission.  It is  discouraging, work, but we love it.  

THERE IS NO PLACE WE WOULD RATHER BE.  The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored.   Thomas Monson is a living prophet..    We love you!!

The Todds