Zone Leader Council, New Senior Couple and Baptisms

Well, we just had a Zone Leader Council and as part of Scott's (President Smedley's) presentation he taught several ways to light a fire and then we went back in to the office and he taught them about everyone having a spark. There may be different ways to light the fire, but everyone has a spark or the light of Christ and we shouldn't give up or cross someone off our list permanently. I talked about having a focus and purpose which will bring about unity. I did the yarn game where you toss it and hang on to the string, then I had them figure out what the purpose of the activity was, told them a story of how Andrew Jackson turned the War of 1812 into a victory by uniting his troops with a focus and a purpose, then we talked about Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon and how he had a focus and purpose that brought about unity. His first focus was God. I showed them that stick writing of Jesus that I have at home, and they had to figure out what it said. We pointed out to figure out what it said you really had to focus. Then shared a story about a young man who joined the church in Tonga. Elder Groberg shared that story in his Book, Fire of the Faith. He tells that this man had such a strong testimony that the beatings of his Dad and his brother never changed his mind. Eventually they repented and told him they were sorry. He was totally forgiving and never harbored ill will because his focus was knowing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. So that's the summary of our talks.

We also met on Tuesday at the airport a new Senior Couple, the Curtises from near Herriman, Utah. How grateful we are for their willingness to serve. They will do LDSC (that is LDS Charities) and also manage the service center and shadow lead 5 branches. So, they will be busy, busy! Many of our Senior couples were here to the airport to greet the Curtises.

This past Sunday, we visited a branch where there were two baptisms. The sisters in the pictures are Sisters Yang and Essma. The Elders are Elders Salmon and Elder Cox and Elder Nybo and Elder Allred. The two new members bore their testimonies afterwards. The room was full of very supportive branch members. Elders Nybo and Allred are our two office Elders, but Elder Allred was allowed to go back to this branch to baptize this young woman. He had taught her all the lessons and was transferred right before the baptism and since it was fairly close to the mission home, he could baptize her. It was great!