"Crossing The River"

Yesterday (Sunday) was a big day at the MTC. We started at 8:00 a.m. with fast and testimony meeting in the new branch--Branch 50. Pres. Boone was there to conduct the branch business of releasing Pres. Donaldson and sustaining Pres. Taylor as the new branch president. Pres. Boone asked Steven and me to bear our testimonies, followed by time for a few missionaries to bear their testimonies. Then the Donaldsons were asked to give a parting message to the branch. Sis. Donaldson said she felt like the Lord was showing them a tender mercy by having Pres. and Sis. Taylor replace them because they had served with us previously and it would be easier for them to leave the branch with us there. That was nice of her to say. Pres. Donaldson said that he had been in Nauvoo earlier this week and had stood at the end of Parley Street looking across the Mississippi River. He concluded that CTR doesn't just mean "Choose the Right," it also means, "Cross the River." He told of a friend of his whose ancestors had been in Nauvoo. Half of them chose to cross the river and go west with the saints. The other half chose not to go. Those who crossed the river and went to Utah remained active in the Church. Those who stayed behind fell away from the Church. He said how important it is in our lives to "cross the river,'' to make the choice to follow and serve the Lord. I really liked that analogy of "crossing the river," especially as you picture in your mind that big Mississippi River from the end of Parley Street. Tiffany can really relate to how cold it was the day the pioneers left Nauvoo and crossed the river because she was there on February 4 and participated in a reenactment. What a hard thing that must have been for the pioneers to do. And how greatful we are that they did it. I think in our lives, when we're faced with a hard challenge, we can think about the pioneers and do as they did, "Cross the River."

Something I remembered just now is a sign we saw the other night in the reception area of Pres. Boone's office as we were waiting to see him. It read: "I'm too blessed to be stressed." That's something worth remembering.

After sacrament meeting we went to the Mission Conference which they have at the MTC every fast Sunday. Pres. Hansen, who was released as a district president, and his wife spoke. They were followed by Sis. Madsen and Pres. Madsen. Sis. Madsen told how they had seen the Atonement work in the life of their son, David, who had two brain tumors and many challenges during his 31 years of life before he passed away three years ago. It was touching to hear Sis. Madsen relate how he had overcome the many challenges of his life through the Atonement. She said, "I hope you can liken David's experiences to your own life." David was able to let go of the anger he had felt towards those who had been unkind to him. (Cast your burdens on the Lord.) He accepted his life and his limitations. (Don't compare yourself to others.) He was able to experience joy through service in the temple and being a faithful home teacher. (Find joy in giving service.) He maintained his sense of humor. (Be happy.) He felt and expressed gratitude for his many blessings. (Recognize the Lord's tender mercies in your life.) And he learned to rely on the Lord and focus on spiritual things. Pres. Madsen spoke about the importance of "fervent prayer" in our lives. To pray fervently requires effort on our part. Sis. Boone talked about the importance of keeping a history and recording your experiences so that you can have a record of God's dealings with you. Pres. Boone talked about good music and how it plays such an important part in our lives and in our worship services. That was quite a mission conference. I told Steven it was actually the first one I've attended because I have usually made it a point to attend fast and testimony meeting each month in the 8th ward to keep a connection going with our home ward. But now that we're on this new 8:00 a.m. schedule I'll be able to go to mission conference more.

After mission conference, we had a little study and preparation time before going to fast and testimony meeting in Branch 4. When Pres. Boone got up to conduct the branch business, he said that Pres. Taylor is currently presiding over two branches, so he needs to be released as branch president in this branch. We got to hear from the new branch president, Pres. Lindsey, and his wife, and then there was some time for the missionaries to bear their testimonies before Steven and I gave our parting message. I reminded the missionaries to be obedient, because if they are, then the other things will fall into place. Being obedient is the key for everything else to work. Steven told the story of Elder Aliaga, and how they as missionaries will be able to experience that joy with the fruits of their labors if they will work diligently, teach by the Spirit, and obey with exactness. District B (which leaves this week) and District E (which leaves the week after General Conference) sang their departure number together. That was a big group: 17 elders all singing together. So we said goodbye to the elders in District B who will be leaving this week (Elders Baker, Clements, Trappett, McAllister, Price, Burley, Eakins and Sorensen) and all the other elders in the branch at this time: Elders Brewer, McAllister, Hansen, Norton, Carey, Howard, Thatcher (ZL), Rowley (ZL), Urrutia (ZL), Boyle, McElvain, Barlow, McNinch, Brown, Francis, Kregger, Moore, Campbell, McBride, Smith, Danielson, Hansen, Carter, Morrison, Petersen, Remer, and the new elders this last week, Elders Baxter, Engh, Slade Twitchell, Carter, Warren, Christensen, and Wight. We'll miss seeing them leave but know they'll be great missionaries.

After coming home from the MTC, we enjoyed a fun evening with the Barretts. We had hamburger and rice casserole and corn for dinner. Riley gobbled her corn but had a hard time with the rice casserole. Camden gobbled her rice casserole but had a hard time with her corn. Quite the opposites. Sidney enjoyed eating both things as long as she could feed herself! Everyone loved the tasty sugar cookies from Allen's and the mint Dibs. Sidney tried Dibs for the first time and had quite the funny expressions on her face like "this is good, but painful."