Dear Lake Ward,

It was Stake Conference this week, so we didn't meet as a ward.  Here is a wrap up of stake conference.

In the Saturday evening meeting Pres Mortensen spoke about marriage.  He said that only 52% of people are now married. He quoted John 1:5, “Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  He liken that to kneeling across the alter from your sweetheart in the temple and making covenants with the each other and the Lord.  He then quoted a general authority and told about how the PPI we would each have with the Lord might go in the next life.  He said the questions that the Lord would ask might go in this order:  How is your relationship with your spouse?  Are they happy and their needs being met?  How is your relationship with your children?  Tell me about your service in the church. Your service in the community. 

Pres. Mortensen ended with the Law of Common Consent.  This is how decisions are made within the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.  All 12 apostles have to agree on what is being discussed or it is tabled without any action being taken.  He said that that is how it should be in a marriage.  In big decisions, both need to agree or it needs to be tabled without any action being taken.  He said that Beauty doesn’t happen naturally, it takes time and work.

Jordan T, a physical therapist, spoke on the benefits of physical exercise.  He pointed out 4 benefits:  1.  Improves self esteem and prevents depression.  2.  Combats disease.  3.  Boosts energy levels.  4.  Generates healthy outlook on life. 

Dana Murphy spoke about how to fortify our homes so that they can be like a temple for our families.  She talked about how the Kirtland temple was built during their poverty and trials.  She mentioned 3 ways:  FHE, other family teaching moments and Love. 

Pres. Rasmussen ended the evening by talking with us about a website called Mormon.org.  He showed us the page that he had created.  You can go to Mormon.org and search for Dan Rasmussen, Tait Eyre or Mark Mortensen.

Pres. Rasmussen told us to go and look at the site, enjoy reading others profiles and then challenged us to create our own.

On Sunday morning, Tait Eyre spoke first and said that the theme for the conference was, “I am a Mormon.”  He quoted D&C 115:5-6 “Arise and shine forth, that thy light may be a standard for the nations.  And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be  for defense and for a refuge.”  He said that Mormons should BE 4 things:

1.      Be Optimistic.  We all have troubles, but we don’t need to be discouraged.
2.      Be Forgiving.  Believe you and other can change.
3.      Be Involved.  Throw yourself into the church, there is refuge there.  D&C 123:17, “Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power.”
4.      Catch a vision.  The church was founded on a vision.  Visions give us the power to improve.

Then members of the stake spoke on prayer, scriptures, missionary work and temple marriage. 

Pres. Mortensen spoke again on covenants.  He pointed out that the Old Testament spanned 4,000 years of time and Genesis 11 was the mid-point in the time line.  That the first 11 chapters of the OT cover 2,000 years and then the rest of that rather large book covers the other 2,000 years.  In Genesis 17 the Lord made a covenant with Abraham.  We are a covenant making people.  He pointed out man is to act for himself, but that there are 3 powers:  God, Satan and our own.  We are enticed by either God or Satan.  We are invited to God by covenants and then we are bound to him.  Satan want us to sin and then by the act of sinning we are bound to him. 

Pres. Mortensen spoke about the different covenants Mormons make through their life:

1.              D&C 84:57 repent and remember the new covenant, meaning the Book of Mormon

2.              Baptism

3.              Exodus 31  Keep the Sabbath Day holy.  D&C 59  We will be made holy by keeping the Sabbath holy.

4.              D&C 84  Priesthood, call to come unto Him and serve faithfully and diligently.

5.              Temple covenants that will enable us to return unto Him.

6.              Marriage, the greatest covenant and provides the greatest safety.

The Mission President’s wife spoke and told about a plaque by the front door of the mission home with just three words, “I am willing” and a picture of Christ washing the disciple’s feet hangs above the plaque.  We need to dedicate our lives tot he Lord and be willing!  She ended by quoting Mosiah 2:41, “I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual.”

It was a great conference, I like stake conference more and more the older I get!  

Make it a stupendous week!!!

WIth much love,

Debbie