This blog will be words only - sorry no pictures. As I looked at the title I realized that there should be a dash or slash between Wicked and Stake Conference, since they are two separate events to to talked about. But I guess in today's venacular, wicked could mean "the best" and stake conference was, so I guess the title will stand!
Last Saturday, September 12, we went to the Paramount Theatre in Seattle and watched the play Wicked. Wow - it was electrifying!! We loved every minute of it and are so glad we listened to the sound track for weeks before going to the play. Many of you have seen the play and we certainly recommend it to any who have not. After the curtain call for the matinee we attended, we hustled home to get ready for the 7 pm adult session of our stake conference.
It was wonderful as Saturday night sessions usually are. The stake presidency focused on a scipture in Alma 37:6 - "that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass". They talked how important it is to ask, seek, and knock and reminded us that Elder Holland suggested we do those 3 things though scripture study, prayer and obedience. We were reminded of the simple task Elisha gave to Naaman in order to cleanse his leprosy, and that each time we do those small and simple things we add oil to our lamps so that we can have enough light to see clearly. It was a wonderful meeting - pie and ice cream to follow but I was so gabby that by the time we reached the cultural hall the refresments were all gone so we had to run to Safeway to get our treat!
For the Sunday session we joined all the stakes in the states of Washington and Alaska for a broadcast from Salt Lake. Brother Gibbons from the general YM Presidency spoke and told a great story from his youth in Nevada. He was trying to catch a gila monster and chased one down an old mine shaft until he got lost and his flashlight lost its battery power. He crawled around on the tunnel floor until he felt the old iron tracks that used to carry the rail car from the mine to the surface. He followed that back to safety - and reminded us of the iron rod in our own lives. Elder Piper from the 70 conducted the meeting and spoke about a fishing trip he took as a youth in Westport WA and how sick he got. His father suggested he pick a fixed spot on the horizon (the shore) and focus on that to feel better, which he did. He encouraged us to set our sights on the true and fixed principles of the gospel. Elder Nelson of the Twelve spoke - he talked mostly to the Primary children and had 10 of his grandchildren sing - and invited all Primary children in WA and Alaska to also stand and sing 3 verses from our favorite "Follow the Prophet". He spoke to us also about the miracle of the Book of Mormon. He talked about today's efforts in translating the Book of Mormon from English into other known languages. With the aid of the computers and lexicons of today, church employees translate about 1 page per day. The Prophet Joseph averaged between 8-10 pages a day translating from an unknown language into English! Our dear Prophet, President Monson, concluded our stake conference and talked with us about saving "lost batallions" and in his great way illustrated that concept with many wonderful stories.
It was a great weekend - I guess into todays parlance, it was wicked!!
