Promises to keep

Hey everyone!

First off, I hope everyone who rads this has been enjoying general conference as much as I have! So far, I have watched the morning session in the JSMB chapel where the mission normally has it's Sunday meetings. I had tried to get a seat in the theater in the building, but despite my having shown up about 45 minutes early, it was already filled up. Oh well, it was still a great experience to have been able to watch it. As always, I will be attending the priesthood session live. I am very excited for this, especially since someone who used to serve on this mission, former Elder Frederickson, will be singing in the men's choir for this session. Aside from this, I plan on waking up a bit earlier next morning to wait in a stand-by line so that I will be able to attend the Sunday morning session, which session I have noticed tends to be the session in which new apostles are given an opportunity to speak. So, I will look forward to that, and I hope you do as well!

Anyway, now for the rest of the week. The week had kicked off quite nicely with a special Easter program put on by the choir. What happened in this program was the choir sang many songs regarding the death and resurrection of our Savior at this program. Aside from this, there were messages shared about the songs, and the messages therein. However, this was somewhat different than your typical choir program. Remember how I may have said that the director of the choir, Sister Watkins, had contributed the music for a couple of songs to our hymnbooks? Well, this was also because she had served on the general music committee of the church. As a result, she knew quite a few people to ask to come over to share messages. These were generally the people who had originally written either the music or words for these songs. We even had a visit from one of the tabernacle organists who performs with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Sister Bonnie Goodliffe, who played for a hymn sung with the congregation as well as an organ improvisation of her own. She was also the organist for the Saturday afternoon session of conference, which I just got out of. So, it was truly a memorable Easter program that day!

There have been some interesting developments at zone as of late. I don't think now would be a great time to tell you all what exactly I am talking about, as it has not even been officially announced to the zone yet - just the district leaders. All I will say is I am playing a role in what is going on. I will give more details next week. Aside from these happenings which have been discussed, I feel that I should let you know that mission leadership has said that they would rather have Elder Garfield, who just came back in to the zone, take on the role of head district leader in the zone. That's fine by me, honestly - he has more experience in leadership anyway. Besides, I have plenty on my plate already, especially with last Thursday. You see, last Thursday, FamilySearch was experiencing a major system-wide issue with temple lists not showing reserved ordinances. Now, naturally, this meant that until the engineers were able to find out what the problem was and fix it, we were getting phone calls from everyone and their dog about why their information had disappeared. We essentially had to tell them that yes, it was broken; yes, engineering was on it; and yes, we would let them know that everything was resolved. All in all, it was one wild day. But, then again, as I have before said from time to time, I'd rather have heaps of work to get done rather than nothing to do at all.

Now, General Conference brings to Salt Lake City Latter-Day Saints from all over the world. This actually includes former missionaries on this mission coming back in to the library. As for whether they are there to do family history or say hi to their old friends, I am not sure, nor am I completely sure how within the rules it is. All I know is that I have seen many former elders. I won't go over all their names, though I will note that former Elder McElwain, my trainer, was actually among them. It was nice to see him again! I don't know if I will come back to the family history library in the future for the sole purpose of saying hello to the missionaries I served with, but I do plan on returning to Salt Lake City for general conference in the future.

Finally, I should announce that a friend of the mission is scheduled to come visit us again, as he was not able to the first time. I am sure that I have told you that a special mission conference was planned at which Elder Dallin H. Oaks was to speak. I believe I have also told you that this was complicated by President Monson's passing. However, now Elder (or should I say President now) Oaks now has plans to visit our mission again for a special Monday morning devotional on the 9th of this month. Now, this is going to be a pretty big event, if I don't say so myself! There will be much preparing to do in anticipation of this, just as there was with Elder Duncan's visit to the mission. Either way, I will look forward to this, and let you know how everything goes.

Anyway, these are the current happenings of this week. Things are going along greatly here! I am enjoying having Elder Black as a companion, we get along quite well! I am learning every day to enjoy the work at zone, even though it can be difficult at times. Time management is still a bit of a challenge, but it is one which I have been getting better and better at tackling. I think that, when I finally return home from the mission, I will be noticed as having changed from the man I once was. That is my ultimate goal - to have significantly changed for the better. And so, I leave you with that today. I hope you all have a great week, and enjoy the remaining sessions of conference!



From,

Elder Bryce Petersen



Challenge: My challenge this week has two parts to it. The first is most likely something you saw coming from a mile away: take conference seriously. Of course, not everyone can come in person to attend this marvelous event, but it is still a wonderful assembly of saints worldwide to hear the word of the Lord through his ordained servants serving as general authorities of the church. Take heed to the words which they share. Write down notes as well - it will give you something to look over in the upcoming months, as well as help you to stay awake as you listen to what is said. However, the second part of my message is actually taken from former Elder Frederickson, who challenged those on his E-mail list to pay attention to the music which is performed and sung during the sessions of conference. He had mentioned that some of the songs were requested by the Brethren themselves. Just as always, but to a bit greater extent in this context, there are messages in these songs, and lessons to be learned. Pay attention to which songs are performed, especially to the lyrics. If you are in a situation which you can do so, even sing the hymn which the congregation sings with the choir in each session. Music will be a great way to invite the spirit, and open you up to further revelation as a result. Now, as you ponder the messages shared in the addresses by the leaders of the church, as well as the songs performed by the choirs, you will find answers to questions which you have had, and you will receive revelation with which you can direct your lives, and in them improve every aspect.