It never fails. I can get home at a reasonable time with full intent on getting to bed by 10 and it ends up being nearly 11 before I even start writing! I got lost reading some things about the press conference tomorrow and setting up a group on facebook promoting it. We will find out who the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be. Tradition would hold that it will be Elder Thomas S. Monson, the longest serving member of the Quorum of the Twelve (currently Fourteen), however it could be any worthy male. In theory we all should each get a confirmation of his call because we will need to sustain him at the next conference.
I’m honestly more anxious to see who his counselors will be. I read an interesting article from the Salt Lake Tribune which talked about each of the men he was likely to choose from and there are so many good choices of counselors I don’t know how anyone can choose one. I think it is too early for David A. Bednar to be called, but he would be amazing in the position I imagine. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland could probably do wonders as well. There are many others very capable of serving in that capacity as well.
I woke up to rain this morning. I absolutely love waking up to the rain. It is just so refreshing and always makes me think of having the opportunity to wash away whatever things we need swept away and giving us the opportunity to start anew – and clean. It’s interesting the timing of the rain lately. We had rain last Sunday, the day of President Hinckley’s passing and then again today, the day before the Quorum of the Twelve announces the new President of the Church. I tend to think of it more as washing the earth and anointing it for a new prophet. Of course we don’t need to wash away any of the wonderful things that Hinckley has done for us, but maybe it is more of a call to repentance for those who are in need. Having never been in the church under another prophet, this will certainly be the beginning of a new era for me.
President Hinckley brought the Church into the 21st century. He took control of the media and kept the Church in the spotlight, favorably. He wasn’t afraid to go out there and talk with news reporters, something I’m terrified of doing. He made the designs for the newer smaller temples and presumably had a large part in the way the current temples operate. He oversaw the construction of nearly 80 temples during his call. Roughly one third of the members of the Church today were baptized while he was President. I’m one of those and that is just an amazing figure to fathom.
In our branch council meeting this morning we had some rare extra time and discussed one word summaries of President Hinckley and then if these traits were skills or attitudes. After listing many things like charitable, loving, compassionate, temples, duty and clear sighted we went through and found that most of them were attitudes or combinations of attitudes and skills. Most of the traits we listed were not purely skills. What that means to me is that we have a huge amount of control over our lives, simply by changing out attitudes to the situations we are put in. I clearly need to exercise some attitudes to learn some skills to help make the world a better place. President Hinckley was a humorous man, but he never had fun at another’s expense. Sometimes he may have taken the expense on one of his own jokes, but I don’t think they were ever ill hearted. He was admired by so many not of our faith that he must have mastered charity, a Christ-like love, at an early age.
On to other subjects, I ate way too much this evening. I probably should have stopped at break the fast, but I went over to the Dowden’s and had more food, then more and then dessert. I forgot the doughnut holes at home this morning, so I’ll have to take them to Diana later in the week.
Stephanie taught an amazing lesson today for Sunday School. I learned way more than normal and hadn’t realized things even after reading the material three times that she pointed out to us! I guess it just shows you can’t do it alone.
In priesthood – in short – we talked about how to ensure that we always have the Spirit with us. Obviously we need to be mindful of things that would push it away like procrastination or not keeping our priorities straight. Brother Rider compared it to maintaining a level of physical fitness. It just isn’t possible to maintain an achieved level without some exact level of work each week. It may be as little as twenty minutes twice a week, but without it you will fall back. You will have the knowledge of the better fitness level, but won’t physically be able to attain it without more than the level required to maintain – and will have to do “make up” work. We need to keep our priorities straight and not stay up so late that we are late in the morning and constantly put off nourishing ourselves with the Scriptures or other good sources of knowledge.
Kristin posted a link to a site that is encouraging reading the Book of Mormon in 97 days in honor of President Hinckley’s 97 years of life with us. I’m thinking about taking the challenge, but want to make sure I can commit to keeping it before I do officially.
Well, speaking of not staying up to late, and 30 minutes and .10″ of rain later, I think it’s about time to sign off and get some sleep.
