I will be the first to admit that has been a banner year for me in the travel department! In February the trip to Kenya, March an Adriatic Cruise, in May I will visit my cousins in Madagascar and in July a Fun For Less Tour that is a cruise on the Volga River. Sounds pretty crazy even to me....
I didn't want my blog to just be a travel log so will I interrupt the trip photos to bring you my thoughts on our recent church General Conference. Twice yearly our church leaders meet in the conference center in Salt Lake City for 10 hours of meetings over two days. which are broadcast to church members all over the world. For most of us in the US we just stay home and watch on TV. In some places in the world members meet in church buildings to watch via satellite.
This conference was extra special because we sustained our new President whom we treasure as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator - Russell M. Nelson. He is a 93 year old world renowned, retired heart surgeon who is the longest serving of the men who make up the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. News reports when he became the prophet at the death of our last prophet, Thomas S. Monson said that religious scholars didn't expect many changes from the 'geriatric' leader Boy were they wrong!
At the beginning of the conference we were invited to stand and raise our hands to the square to sustain this man as the leader of our church. George and I stood in our living room to demonstrate that we would do our best to support President Nelson. This photo taken of him as millions of Mormons all around the world participated in his sustaining touched my heart. You can see the humility in this good man.
I didn't want my blog to just be a travel log so will I interrupt the trip photos to bring you my thoughts on our recent church General Conference. Twice yearly our church leaders meet in the conference center in Salt Lake City for 10 hours of meetings over two days. which are broadcast to church members all over the world. For most of us in the US we just stay home and watch on TV. In some places in the world members meet in church buildings to watch via satellite.
This conference was extra special because we sustained our new President whom we treasure as a Prophet, Seer and Revelator - Russell M. Nelson. He is a 93 year old world renowned, retired heart surgeon who is the longest serving of the men who make up the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. News reports when he became the prophet at the death of our last prophet, Thomas S. Monson said that religious scholars didn't expect many changes from the 'geriatric' leader Boy were they wrong!
At the beginning of the conference we were invited to stand and raise our hands to the square to sustain this man as the leader of our church. George and I stood in our living room to demonstrate that we would do our best to support President Nelson. This photo taken of him as millions of Mormons all around the world participated in his sustaining touched my heart. You can see the humility in this good man.
Just a word about him....he graduated 1st in his class from medical school at age 22, was on the team that developed the first heart/lung machine, has perfect pitch, plays the organ and speaks French, Russian, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese! He and his wife Dantzel have 10 children - 9 girls and then a boy; 57 grandchildren and 116 great grandchildren as of April (that number changes pretty rapidly). After the death of his wife, he married Wendy L. Watson. His son said the family saw “an immediate change” in President Nelson’s countenance. “The sadness was gone and it did us all good to see that happiness back.”
Oh and and age 93 he still snow skis....and not easy runs, black diamonds!
We are led by a truly remarkable man and this first conference was a good illustration of his energy. Major changes were made to the way the men in our congregations are organized and programs called 'home and visiting teaching' were retired. These programs have been a part of the church for more than 100 years but are now replaced by a new program just called 'ministering'. I love it and I'm excited to be part of making the changes happen in our ward.
I feel so blessed!
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