Conference and Zone

Hey friends and family!

I hope all of you had an awesome conference weekend. It's always an amazing experience to be up here at headquarters when conference is in full swing. Everything just seems to come alive. The Family History Library was open on Saturday during conference. So, most of us watched it in our zone's classroom. While taking shifts of being out on the floor. Honestly though, it was a good thing it was open. We had quite a few people coming in. Obviously our largest rush was between sessions. But, we had plenty of people coming in during the sessions. It was also great opportunities to talk about the conference and the activity that was happening all around the area with non-members. Also, a good portion of them were first time visitors. I did miss watching an hour of the Saturday Morning Session live. However, I was able to catch up during lunch. We watched Sunday morning in the NVC and attended the Sunday afternoon session in the Conference Center. All in all, it was a great conference weekend.

My favorite talk was by Elder Uchtdorf. I really loved when he talked about how on our journey in life it was never intended to be easy. But, if we pick ourselves up whenever we fall and keep trying, we'll be able to make it back to our heavenly home. 

"Even when you fail, you can choose not to give up, but rather discover your courage, press forward, and rise up. That is the great test of the journey.

God knows that you are not perfect, that you will fail at times. God loves you no less when you struggle than when you triumph.

Like a loving parent, He merely wants you to keep intentionally trying. Discipleship is like learning to play the piano. Perhaps all you can do at first is play a barely recognizable rendition of “Chopsticks.” But if you continue practicing, the simple tunes will one day give way to wondrous sonatas, rhapsodies, and concertos.

Now, that day may not come during this life, but it will come. All God asks is that you consciously keep striving." -Elder Uchtdorf

Sunday evening, we had a fireside with our Mission President at a different Stake Center than our normal venue. The Salt Lake Stake Center was completely booked all through out. So, we had the fun adventure of shuttling everybody up into the foothills at a different Stake Center. It was a really great time of reviewing what was learned in conference and discussing different themes we saw. 

This week has been fairly busy at zone. We've had a lot of researchers along with lots of first time visitors. There's been a good variety too. Last night I actually had the privilege of being able to work Special Collections for a couple hours. Which I always love.

Yesterday was the FHL's appreciation day for the staff and missionaries. So, we were able to have a really good breakfast buffet in the conference center.  We got some candy, and FHL designed chap stick at mid-morning, a FHL water bottle after lunch, lots of ice cream at late afternoon, and they served Costa Vida for those who couldn't make it to the breakfast. So, we didn't go to that last one. It was a really fun day.

We ran into an interesting hour last night though. Elder Lassle and I showed up to the floor at 6 like we normally do and realized that we were literally the only two people on the schedule for the entire hour. We had one guy already there who needed to go into special collections. Which is really awesome.  But, it takes a missionary away from the normal floor assistance. Immediately followed by a patron walking in for 1850 Tennessee research. I was able to take the man back into Special Collections and Elder Lassle started helping the patron with her research. Apparently throughout the hour he ended up helping three people at the same time until relief was sent at 7. It all turned out alright though. Everybody was able to be helped and it was a fun evening.

That's pretty much it for this week. I hope you all have a good one!

From,

Elder Hal