The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints highest leadership is made up of fifteen men. Our prophet and his two counselors make up the First Presidency. Then we have our twelve apostles.
Today one of them, Elder David A. Bednar, visited our stake. What a blessing for our stake and members. We were encouraged to spiritually prepare for the weeks leading up to his visit. I enjoyed the time as a mother preparing with my children. We promised them if they would pray and read their scriptures that they would receive inspiration and answers during his visit. We were able to see that promise seen through. I won't write of it here because it is too personal, but we have all written of it on our personal journals.
Alec being our Stake Executive Secretary needed to sit on the front row so that if the Stake Presidency needed him he could not only help but exit quickly and quietly. We had also been asked by our stake not to save seats. So how do you get a family of 8 (our 6 plus my parents) on the front row of a stake conference that has an apostle speaking? You arrive 2 hours early! Now this may seem silly, but Alec reminded me how early we had gotten up to go to Walt Disney World. We certainly could make an apostle such a priority.
I packed snacks and activities to keep them all entertained for the 4 hours; 2 hours of waiting, 2 hours of listening. The kids did great and were very well behaved. Alec only had to "snap" once. (this is our family attention getter) As Elder Bednar left he stepped down off the stand, nodded to each of the adults on the front row and as he was about to walk through the door - he stepped back, stepped towards our two older boys, stood six inches from them, looked them in the eye, put out his hand and said, "Tell me your name." Noble gave his full name, "Noble Simpson Dunn." and Liam said, "William Dunn."
We've made sure the boys recognize that is a special opportunity. We were all touched by it.
Today one of them, Elder David A. Bednar, visited our stake. What a blessing for our stake and members. We were encouraged to spiritually prepare for the weeks leading up to his visit. I enjoyed the time as a mother preparing with my children. We promised them if they would pray and read their scriptures that they would receive inspiration and answers during his visit. We were able to see that promise seen through. I won't write of it here because it is too personal, but we have all written of it on our personal journals.
Alec being our Stake Executive Secretary needed to sit on the front row so that if the Stake Presidency needed him he could not only help but exit quickly and quietly. We had also been asked by our stake not to save seats. So how do you get a family of 8 (our 6 plus my parents) on the front row of a stake conference that has an apostle speaking? You arrive 2 hours early! Now this may seem silly, but Alec reminded me how early we had gotten up to go to Walt Disney World. We certainly could make an apostle such a priority.
I packed snacks and activities to keep them all entertained for the 4 hours; 2 hours of waiting, 2 hours of listening. The kids did great and were very well behaved. Alec only had to "snap" once. (this is our family attention getter) As Elder Bednar left he stepped down off the stand, nodded to each of the adults on the front row and as he was about to walk through the door - he stepped back, stepped towards our two older boys, stood six inches from them, looked them in the eye, put out his hand and said, "Tell me your name." Noble gave his full name, "Noble Simpson Dunn." and Liam said, "William Dunn."
We've made sure the boys recognize that is a special opportunity. We were all touched by it.
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