Monday

Sister Allen with her husband

We headed to the Visitor's Center for our Monday morning meeting.  Elder Allen is so inspiring.  He was one of the men at the MTC who helped put together the book Preach My Gospel that the missionaries use as they handbook or helpmate to bring others to Christ along with the Book of Mormon.  Director Allen said he wanted to talk a little about chapter 10.  He said he and a few others would meet on with Elder Boyd K Packer several times to discuss the compiling of this book.  He said one night in the Packer home Elder Packer handed one of the men this folded piece of paper and told him to use Elder Packer's notes from revelation to form this chapter on teaching.   The man, I wish I could remember his name, took it and looked it over, tried to read Elder Packer's handwriting and went back to the office to work on the chapter.  He wrote up the chapter using his own thoughts on how it should go and what he thought Elder Packer wanted.  A while later they met again and the man handed over the pages he had put together from Elder Packer's paper.  Elder Packer read them over and handed them back and said, "No, it's not right, use exactly what I gave you to make this chapter."  The man did and wrote it again and this time got it right.  If you read the chapter you will find that this chapter is about love and sincerely teaching by the spirit not by rote something you have memorized.  This is the only chapter in the book written directly by revelation, although the book was written by the revelation of many people and their thoughts and ideas.

This reminded me of the picture of John baptizing Jesus that hangs above the baptismal font in the LA Temple.  While we were there with Hannah and Marisa doing baptisms for the dead (while we were on our mission there) a lady came in and sat down next to us and told us the story of this painting.  The artist was commissioned to paint it by I think President McKay.  He painted it and asked President McKay to look at it before they hung it up.  President McKay told the artist that the portrayal of Christ was not right and he described how he should look.  The artist repainted it and then President McKay approved it.  The lady told us that this was the most accurate portrayal of what the Savior looked like.

I learn so much at these teaching meetings.   They are so uplifting to me.  It is Sister Allen's birthday today and we are celebrating tonight at 8:15 with cake and ice cream at their house.

We returned later to the Allen's house and below are some pictures of the celebration.  Elder Allen said she doesn't like surprises unless she knows about them and can prepare.  So this was an unsurpise birthday celebration.
                                                           

After wards we went over to the YSA FHE...and finished up with them, can I just say how much I love this Branch of young men and women!  This was the right place for us.

Alora Beckwick our "leader"

Elder Collins with Vita and Courtney

                                           Playing "freeze tag" and likening it to the gospel

We had a large tender mercy happen today, too personal to publish, if you want to know, you may call.  We feel every day there is a specific reason we are here, I'll be glad when I can identify it, wonder if we'll ever know.