We have District Conference twice in a year but it was a rare treat to have a member of the General Authority Seventy visit us! Jack N. Gerard and his wife, Claudette, came and lifted our hearts! We held two conferences, one in North Cyprus for all those in the Turkish Branch, and one in Larnaca, Cyprus for everyone else! Elder Hofhiens, aka Steve, conducted both meetings.
The talks were so good! We had many on being a disciple of Christ, Ministering, Caring for those in need, Missionary Work, personal revelation, the Book of Mormon and Jesus Christ and His atonement. There were so many good messages and personal stories that it took me awhile to digest it all, but the one that really stood out to me was only a small aside that our Mission President, President McKeon, told us.
When he was a youth, he was responsible to pick up his grandfather from a medical clinic for the treatment of Parkinson’s. It was a hard day for his grandfather and as young Howard eased his grandfather into the car he noticed a tear running down his grandfather’s cheek. When he got into the driver’s seat he asked his grandfather. “Grandfather, you’re a good person. You’re a patriarch in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Why do you think bad things happen to good people?”
His grandpa was quiet for a minute before he answered. “Oh Howard, this isn’t my challenge. This is your challenge, and your parent’s.”
This answer touched me. Lately, in my life and maybe for all 50-60 year olds, death is a main theme. We’ve had parents pass, siblings pass, and even friends pass away. It has been a real challenge, and a surprisingly difficult one! Faith in Jesus Christ does help, but the loss is still an open wound.
Time helps. Service helps. The Comforter helps. And faith in Christ, His atonement and resurrection, supply much needed trust and hope for a glorious reunion in the world to come.
Elder Jack N. Gerard was our last speaker and he did not disappoint. He emphasized the Good, Better, Best of the Covenant path. He quoted Elder Packer-
“No matter what citizenship or race, whether male or female, no matter what occupation, no matter your education, regardless of the generation in which one lives, life is a homeward journey for all of us, back to the presence of God.
“Ordinances and covenants become our credentials for admission into His presence. To worthily receive them is the quest of a lifetime; to keep them thereafter is the challenge of mortality.”
Elder Gerard expounded on this topic and challenged us to make sure that we are emphasizing the very Best of Gospel living. As branches of the church, we have limited leadership and limited auxiliary programs, so our focus needs to be on helping our members take the next steps toward Jesus on the covenant path — be it baptism, endowment, or sealing.
We are all on the covenant path, and it is a wonderful thing for a disciple of Christ to enjoy the blessings of the Temple. Temple experiences strengthens our faith in Christ and provides the motivation needed to endure all the trials life presents.
