We have had the great privilege of being around President Condie now for 18 months. He is a very special man. He is a General Authority, Emeritus. He has been the president of the Nauvoo Temple. We have gotten to know him well, because that is Nauvoo. He has also been a great supporter of Rendezvous and loves to tease me. He is always asking me if I have been to see the vet yet! He knows everyone in church leadership and has so many wonderful stories and experiences. Well, we had some of our friends over for dinner tonight and then we went to the fireside. He talked about all of the missionaries here being a wonderful ornament in their lives. He talked about life being hard and it is actually that way for most of us. That is life. He told us that we just have to learn to cope, make your way through the best you can. He talked about a young man who is a General Authority now. He lost his arm when he was 19. When he went on his mission he was afraid of how he would tie his tie. He learned to do it with his mouth. When he was a mission president he had some missionaries who were a little disgruntled, so he had them come up and take off their ties. Then he challenged them all to tie it. He beat them all. You have to learn to cope.
He talked about us being in Nauvoo. He said we are here to confirm the faith of all of those who come here and that includes ourselves and our families, especially our grandchildren. They have to be rooted and grounded in the love of God. I hope that is something that my children and grandchildren will remember from coming here. That will be worth our sacrifice.
He also talked about Luke 15 which is the parable of the Prodigal Son. We learn about a merciful Father in Heaven. He literally will run to us with His arms outstretched. He talked about the sealing power and that it will reach out and bring our wayward children back to the fold. He says that when they get tired of eating corn husks, they will come back WE JUST NEED TO LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON………He admonished us to forget about the curse of respectability! Is it more important for them to come to a funeral the way they dress etc, than them not come at all. We need to do whatever we have to do, and don’t worry about what your kids look like or what someone else may think. The Lord will never let our trials be more than we can bear. (Told the story of their neighbors who had their son become a drug addict at 11, left home and they didn’t see or hear from him for 17 years. One night he called. A year after rehab, he was sealed in the temple with them.
He also talked about forgiveness and told of a family in Pocatello whose daughter had been kidnapped, raped, and dismembered by their neighbor. They chose to forgive and let the Lord meet out the justice.
He then related a story about some passengers who had made a 30 city trip in Europe in 30 days. They talked about how hard it was and the man said, yes, it would have been easier if I hadn’t had to drag around these porcelain dishes she picked up in the airport when they landed in Holland. President Condie talked about each one of us dragging around porcelain dishes, and saying this is the day to undergo that mighty change of heart. Forgive someone, let go of past mistakes. Let go of the people or incidents that keep you from being truly converted. Even if people are at fault and make mistakes, the Gospel is true. If you don’t know it ask God. Ask him about the first vision, He knows He was there, He will tell you. Love President Condie
I have invited them and the mission president and his wife over next Friday. They have accepted. I was sitting there tonight thinking how presumptuous of me, but I am actually just wanting to thank them for making this experience so meaningful. That is one of the things that has really struck me. We are asked to speak, give training meetings, be leaders over these people, and some of them are return mission presidents, stake presidents, temple presidents, bishops etc. Who am I to try and help these people? One of the things President Gay taught us was that the most important word in the Missionary Statement is OTHERS. To bring the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to OTHERS. That includes myself, my family, and each of my brothers and sisters. The members of the church need strengthening as much as anyone. Never minimize the importance of what we have tried to do here. WE need to engage and lift each other, help others to fulfill their purposes, to change hearts to receive the powers of heaven. I hope with all of my heart that my service has been acceptable to my Father in Heaven. I can honestly say that there is not one day that I have been here that I haven’t given it my all. I have learned a great many things. I pray with all of my heart that I go home a better person. This mission has been a gift to myself and I would never have thought that going into it. I am blessed, I am grateful.
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