(All-mission conference picture.  We are the 7th and 8th heads from the left. Liz is wearing a black top.)

Earlier this month we had an all-mission conference.  Prior to the conference, Pres. Watson asked Liz and I to share our thoughts about the Prophet Joseph Smith at the beginning of the meeting.

The conference began with everyone standing to sing “Called to Serve.”  I had sung that song hundreds of times over my lifetime.  But it wasn’t until we took Julie to the MTC that it really struck home.  Ever since then, whenever we sing that song, I have to check my emotions.  It happened when we took Martin and Christine as well.  Even now when we sing it at church, those same emotions come back.  But to sing it with 200 missionaries, with me being one of them, and coupled with the MTC experience, I was struggling.  I knew I had the potential of being a basket case while sharing my testimony.

When it was my turn, I thanked the missionaries for the honor of singing that song with them.  I told them how much that song had meant to me when we dropped our children off at the MTC in the olden days when we could drop them off…and when the MTC was actually open.  Then I talked about how I received my testimony of Joseph Smith.  I’ll share a few highlights.

I grew up in the church.  Attended all my meetings and participated in early morning seminary. I always felt that Joseph was a prophet primarily because of the many extraordinary things he was able to accomplish in his short life.  But when I got to BYU and was preparing to serve a mission, I started wondering if my faith and testimony were strong enough to teach with the Spirit.  The answer to that prayer came while I was reading in 3 Nephi where Christ comes to the people in the Americas.  The feelings I experienced at that time left no room for doubt.  Other occasions throughout my life have reinforced that feeling.

Then I mentioned some of the fundamental teachings or knowledge that Joseph helped to restore.  1. The First Vision where Joseph learned about God the Father and Jesus Christ being distinct personages, 2. The Book of Mormon which provides additional understanding of Christ and his teachings.  3. The restoration of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James and John.  4. The restoration of the organization of Christ’s New Testament church. 5. The  Restoration of the Priesthood keys of all the previous dispensations.  6. Temple ordinances for us, and for those who have lived but did not have the opportunity to hear of Jesus Christ, and to receive those ordinances, including baptism for the dead. Imagine what it would be like if any one of these 6 key teachings were removed!

The week after the conference, all the missionaries who wanted/needed their covid shots came to the office where the medical staff had arranged with Walmart Pharmacy to come and vaccinate them. It is great to associate with all these bright, enthusiastic young missionaries.  I am impressed that the Lord has entrusted them to carry the gospel message to the world, at such a young age.  If this was a church lead by mere mortals, they would not have asked for inexperienced young people to interrupt their lives for 18 to 24 months, to drop out of school and to serve a mission at their own expense.  It is pretty amazing when you think about it. 

We had a wonderful, busy week. I probably said it before, but we return home in the evenings exhausted.  Between dealing with car accidents, inspections, and TWII alerts (it is a tracking device in each vehicle that alerts the missionary, and us, if they are speeding, braking too hard, out of their area etc.), and Liz dealing with travel arrangements, missionaries missing their flights, and those needing Visa’s because they are returning to the mission they were assigned to before Covid….we are busy all day….but we love it.  On Saturday, we went with the other Senior Missionaries to Balboa Island.  It was a great day out, and we love getting to know the other couples.  They are great people.

Life is good, we are well and happy.  We pray each day for our family and many of you.  We experience each day how much the Lord loves the missionaries and is willing to help us as we take care of their needs.