Area Conference

Today we had area conference. The conference was held in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the church being organized in the Philippines by Elder Gordon B Hinckley who was an Assistant to the Twelve Apostles at the time. Last night they had a Jubilee broadcast celebrating the cultures of the Filipino people. (We missed it because Wade wasn't feeling well.)

Elder Teh of the Seventy and also the Area Presidency conducted and spoke at the meeting. He spoke about preparing ourselves spiritually. He talked about reading the scriptures and having a daily study time. The doctrine can be found in the scriptures and through the living apostles. He gave us 3 questions to ponder:

1) Do I take time to study the scriptures daily?
2) If not, what excuse do I have?
3) Will my excuse be acceptable to the Lord?

Wow! Do I have some work to do. I am not one to read my scriptures on a daily basis. My oldest daughter sent me an email letting me know that I should be taking advantage of this time to spend studying the scriptures. She said that is what you should be doing on a mission. Because we are in the office, we are serving in a different way than the young missionaries (she was a missionary). We don't go out and give lessons and teach the people. Wade had just challenged me to read the book of Mormon again before the end o the year . . . that should give me plenty of time. So when the 3 questions above were presented today, I decided I better get with the program! I don't want to have to give the Lord an excuse for not doing what he has asked us all to do . . . Study the Scriptures!

I am grateful for my children who have given me an example by serving missions. Now I am grateful to be on a mission with my eternal companion. He is a good companion and sweetheart. He had been giving me some of his ideas yesterday on being simple again. Sister Julie Beck, General Relief Society President, spoke in conference this morning on how the gospel is very simple. She also said that strong families are not by accident. We need to build those strong families by loving one another, living basic gospel principles, reading our scriptures, praying together and having Family Home Evening together. She told how as a child they would have family night every night by just getting together as a family . She related how her father would sit in his chair and read books to the family as they did their chores (wash dishes, fold clothes . . .) but they were together as a family in a simple way.

So now if Wade wants to be simple by eating rice and beans each week while we are on our mission, I can just add some spices to them and eat them . . to be simple. (I actually made them again the other night, added a little taco seasoning to the beans and chicken bullion to the rice and they were good! We will be eating them once a week - they are healthy!)

So what did I learn today . . . Be simple in our lives and study my scriptures . . . . .