Until Duff had this calling, I had no idea how much thought and preparation and work goes into a Stake Conference. Meetings, prayer, meetings, prayer, meetings, phone calls, phone calls, agendas, binders, music, music, food (there are always at least 4 sessions and the presidency has to eat sometime!), set up, clean up, parking, audio visual, etc.
It was a great conference tonight. There was a priesthood leadership meeting from 3-5pm, and then starting at 5:30, the In-N-Out truck came and set up in the parking lot to serve dinner to all the adults in the stake. So we had Double/Doubles, chips, and a beverage choice of water or sodas. Then the stake RS had desserts to choose from. This is the 2nd year we have done this and it is very successful. It affords the adults 2 hours of time to eat and socialize with each other. We don't often get the time to do that. Then we have the conference session from 7:30-9:30pm.The messages were timely and well thought out:
- Kindness and how we talk/act to each other. Are we keeping our baptismal covenants and truly bearing each others burdens, mourning, and standing as a witness of God at ALL times, ALL things, ALL places??? And so in light of this, how are we making use of the time alloted to us?
- We are here to be CHANGED. So are we living our lives like the movie "Groundhog Day", or are we making sure we are changing ourselves???
- We go to church by geography. The design in this is to refine us by learning how to support, get along with, forgive, teach, help, others. We also recognize the weaknesses in ourselves and work to change them. We do not ward or Bishop or organization or president 'shop'. This is the Lord's way.
- How are our 'hearts'? Amulek in Ammonihah: He hardened his heart. The spirit had reached after him and he knew it, and then he recognized that he had rejected (resisted) it. How do I do in situations where I know the spirit has reached out to me? Do I act on it or resist it?????
- Gifts: Deny not the gifts of God. They are to profit us. Read Moroni 10 and D&C 46. Memorize these gifts. Seek the gift that I NEED. Seek the best gifts for ME.
We had a brother who talked about his re-activation after not being involved for over 10 years and the circumstances that brought him back. He was so humble and candid. He talked about getting his feelings hurt, and then how he became complacent. In the end, though he endured many hardships, he did find his way back and then baptized his wife. You could feel his gratitude for the atonement and repentance. I think we all paused for a moment to assess where we might be at with complacency in our lives.
Tomorrow our ward is assigned to go from 10am-noon. It will be a satellite broadcast with President Hinckley as the concluding speaker. I'm looking forward to it.
Duff will sleep well tonight. The first day is done!
(side note: Duff left for the church around 2pm to make sure everything was set up and ready to go. At 2:55pm President Woffinden still wasn't there. He made a call to him. He said, "President, are you okay?"--Arlen has been sick with a bad cold--He said, "Yes, I'm sitting here on my couch going over my talk. Why?" "Well, it's 5 to 3, and..." All of a sudden Arlen said, "Oh! We changed the meeting to 3! Start without me. I'm on my way!" So the presidency had a prayer, left the office and went to the stand and started the meeting. About 20 minutes later, Arlen walked in and sat down. When it was his turn to talk, he stood and explained why he was late. I love that about him. He could've said nothing, he could've made up an excuse, but he just let everyone know he was sitting there in his jeans and a t-shirt as human as we all are and completely forgot the time. The leadership meeting went off without a hitch!)
