Transfer Conference

This morning we had transfer conference, so you're probably wondering what happened to me. Things haven't changed too much. I'm still a Zone Leader but I have a new zone and a new companion--Sister Mendivelso from Columbia! I haven't worked with her very much, but Sister Moore was her companion too and she says that she is amazing; one of the hardest workers you'll ever meet. I believe it. This means that I might get to learn a few crumbs of Spanish too. This transfer conference we went to the Conference Center and had time to take pictures with all of the Christmas decorations there. They go all out for the Christmas concert there.

We've had some great teaching moments this week. We're still teaching Shannon and his humility never ceases to amaze me. We taught him about the Gospel of Jesus Christ: faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. As we were teaching him about baptism we committed him to follow the example of Jesus Christ by being baptized by one holding the proper priesthood authority of God. He told us that he hasn't been baptized yet but that is something that he has wanted to do. Sister Moore and I didn't know what to say to that, it was amazing. The next time we taught him we gave him Enos to read and we talked about it when we called him. He asked us if we had ever felt like we had chills go down our backs when we read the Book of Mormon or the Bible because he said that he felt that as he read parts of Enos. We told him that we knew exactly how he felt. He also called the missionaries there and they set up an appointment to meet on Wednesday! Those missionaries have no idea what an incredible and prepared person they are about to meet.

 

This past week I also had a miracle on the phone. I called and talked to Sarah who was referred by her friend here on Temple Square. Sarah has had a lot of member friends growing up and she was curious about their beliefs so she asked her friends for a copy of the Book of Mormon. Sarah's friend who I talked to on the square gave her a copy of the Book of Mormon and highlighted her favorite verses. I think that was a little while ago because when I called Sarah had read those verses and felt that they were true, she just didn't know what to do next. I told her that I could help her with that. I don't know that I've ever called someone that was so prepared as she was. I'm learning more and more what a difference it makes in a person's life to have a friend that is a faithful member of the church. I definitely what to be like these incredible members that I meet here on the square. Sister Moore and I are going to call Sarah this evening. I'm praying that she picks up the phone.

 

There are TONS of people that come to Temple Square to see all of the lights so one of the things that we have had to do differently is crowd control at the Christus. Before we did anything about the Christus we would get complaints all the time about people climbing on the statue. I don't understand why people think it's alright to climb on the statues here on Temple Square. So we made is so that we stop people at the bottom of the ramp when it is full at the Christus then the sisters at the top will introduce and play the narration (words of Jesus Christ from the scriptures). Then after that people exit down the stairs instead of the ramp and we let more people up. It has taken a bit of orchestrated effort to make sure all the Christus assignments are covered and all of the sisters doing it know what they are supposed to do. Since there is more than one zone doing different assignments it has taken some extra communication. People seem to like the new system, though, because you can actually hear the narration. So that is one thing that Sister Moore and I were helping to figure out this week.

 

I love being able to spend time here on Temple Square during the Christmas season. It's a great mission to be in at this time of year. Have a great week!