Spring is here! Daffodils and blossoms all around

Monday was the only day I walked by the river this week. 

Haven’t seen the great white egret for a few weeks until Monday. Welcome back friend.

I walked Tuesday and Wednesday in my neighborhood.

Thursday I walked the treadmill (I very much dislike the treadmill) in a Medford hotel while there for a zone conference. Friday I walked in lovely Mingus Park in Coos Bay as I was there for missionary interviews.

Saturday I hiked with Sister and Elder Crump along Wild Iris Ridge Trail.

It was foggy in the valley below

Now you have my walking history, LOL, I’ll get on with the opportunities of the week. It has been a great week. I have been blessed to see every missionary in the mission. Zone Conferences were held Tuesday in Eugene, Wednesday in Roseburg, and Thursday in Medford. Each conference begins with lunch followed by training and learning opportunities. President and Sister Cornelius speak, each member of the mission presidency speaks, and the assistants to the president and the sister training leaders all do presentations. It is quality time to feel the Spirit and to be guided to become better missionaries and servants of the Lord. 

Elder Barker gives a short informational presentation regarding cars and maintenance and driving skills.

I gave a short presentation about requirements for going to doctors and insurance and what to do if they are ill.

Morning sunrise on drive from Eugene to Roseburg

Eugene lunch and training

Singing to the Relief Society sisters who prepared lunch in Roseburg

Afternoon break time for cookies in Medford

Friday interviews were held in North Bend followed by a Restoration Devotional that evening. I didn’t get back to my apartment until after 11:00 P.M. but it was worth the late night. 

In North Bend at interviews, Sister Budge brought me some cute white flowers. Elder Wellock had a long arm so helped me get a picture of us and my flowers.

Sisters Cornelius, Davis and Sutherland waiting for interviews.

Sister Sutherland and our traditional “silly” picture

Saturday evening Sister and Elder Barker invited me to go with them to Creswell to take two elders serving there to dinner. We ate at Toxic Burger. Strange name for an eatery but the pulled pork sandwich I had was delicious. 

Elder Brown, Sister and Elder Barker, and Elder Welch

All during the week, I have been thinking about the Come Follow Me lessons for this year and the blessing of studying again the Book of Mormon. 

My goal is to read/study the Book of Mormon daily. I must confess that I fall short in this goal all too often. I read at least one chapter daily but my desire is to spend more time in this book. I have come to value the teachings and lessons I can find in the Book of Mormon. I have recently read several conference addresses discussing this book. One I liked a lot was given in October 2017 by then President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, President Russell M Nelson titled The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?

President Nelson begins his talk with this story: 

In 1986, I was invited to give a special lecture at a university in Accra, Ghana. There I met a number of dignitaries, including an African tribal king. As we visited prior to the lecture, the king spoke to me only through his linguist, who then translated for me. I responded to the linguist, and the linguist then translated my responses to the king.

After my lecture, the king made his way directly to me, but this time without his linguist. To my surprise, he spoke in perfect English—the Queen’s English, I might add!

The king seemed puzzled. “Just who are you?” he asked.

I replied, “I am an ordained Apostle of Jesus Christ.”

The king asked, “What can you teach me about Jesus Christ?”

I responded with a question: “May I ask what you already know about Him?”

The king’s response revealed he was a serious student of the Bible and one who loved the Lord.

I then asked if he knew about the ministry of Jesus Christ to the people of ancient America.

As I expected, he did not.

I explained that after the Savior’s Crucifixion and Resurrection, He came to the people of ancient America, where He taught His gospel. He organized His Church and asked His disciples to keep a record of His ministry among them.

“That record,” I continued, “is what we know as the Book of Mormon. It is another testament of Jesus Christ. It is a companion scripture to the Holy Bible.”

At this point, the king became very interested. I turned to the mission president accompanying me and asked if he had an extra copy of the Book of Mormon with him. He pulled one from his briefcase.

I opened it to 3 Nephi chapter 11, and together the king and I read the Savior’s sermon to the Nephites. I then presented the copy of the Book of Mormon to him. His response lodged in my mind and heart forever: “You could have given me diamonds or rubies, but nothing is more precious to me than this additional knowledge about the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In 3 Nephi 11:14 we read: Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.

I have come to love the teachings found in the Book of Mormon and the spirit that comes to me as I read and study it. It IS more precious than diamonds or rubies! I can grow closer to my Savior, Jesus Christ, as I read and ponder. I have a greater desire to be more Christ-like in my actions and words.

I would encourage you to read this conference talk given by President Nelson. At the end of the talk are several lists of what you will find in the Book of Mormon compiled by President Nelson. I know that if you will study and read the the Book of Mormon you will find greater joy in life. I would invite you to make reading the Book of Mormon a part of your daily life.

During my mission in New Zealand a few years ago, I took the opportunity to get a new Book of Mormon and as I read it, I marked every reference to my Savior throughout the book. It was an amazing experience.

I am grateful for my testimony of the truthfulness of the message of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ. I know through the gift of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is my Savior. That he atoned for my sins and was resurrected. He has shown me the covenant path by which I can return to my Father in Heaven and live with him again if I am worthy. Families are eternal. 

I love my Savior, Jesus Christ.

I love you my family and friends.