Recently, we had Elder Holland come visit our stake. It was a very personal and neat experience with an apostle of the Lord. As a kid, I remember going to the Sun Dome, I think it was called in Arizona to listen to one of the apostles, but they were so far away you couldn't even see them. I haven't had the chance to go to conference in Utah either so this was exciting!
Chris is always more daring than I am though. He thought to take the children and wait out in the foyer so that when Elder Holland walked out of the offices to enter the chapel he would have to walk right by them. Chris, had to give C.J. a nudge forward, but Chris & all the kids got to shake his hand. Chris was holding Mason in his arms and E. Holland squeezed Mason's cheeks and said that those were "Holland" cheeks. How neat is that! He was very personable and funny and short in stature.
I'm not going to do this justice with what he said that is, but I'll try and give a few key remarks that touched Chris and I.
He talked to the youth and mentioned how hard and trying these times are. He said it used to be that the rate of young men falling away from the Church was always higher, now that is not the case. The rate of young women is equal or if not more. He spoke shortly on tithing and asked the youth to compare that to their lives as well. If we are to live around a hundred years and were to devote 10% of our life to Jesus and basically hold to the rod with all your might, that it be the years of 12-22 or 14-24.
I loved how he bore his testimony of Hinckley and the long life he spent serving the Lord and then he finished with his own. It was so powerful to hear his personal testimony and witness of the Gospel. What touched me was the amount of time they spend away from home and that he would never do this if it was all just a "ruse, a fairytale". He said he would only spend this much time away from wife, family and grandchildren for the Lord and because he KNOWS this is Jesus' true church. He exclaimed several times he doesn't just believe or strongly think that our Savior lives, but HE KNOWS. " There is not anything else that I could experience or hear or see that would make me believe more than what I already know". I couldn't help to think as I was sitting there Oh Yeah, this man has actually seen our Savior. The other treasured event in this visit was the Apostolic blessing that Elder Holland pronounced unto everyone within in the sound of his voice. He blessed us that any righteous desire of our hearts that we stand in need of, can be ours! The spirit was so strong when those words were stated. After the meeting, E. Holland just stayed and shook hands, and visited with our members. Chris, stayed to help put away chairs and said he did not leave for over an hour after the meeting. What a neat treasured experience we had and will always remember as a family.
I found out later, there was over 1200 people in attendence at the building.
4 comments:
What a wonderful experience.
I know I have heard the testimony of some of the apostles and I felt like the spirit was telling me that they had actually seen our Savior. It is a powerful testimony.
Wow, thats pretty special...reminds me of the time in mexico when dad and I were just few feet away from Hinckley. It was awesome! but you've got an experience to cherish forever. remeber to journal it too.
OHh, how amazing! That is something that you and the kids will hold dear to your hearts forever. I think it is wonderful to be able to experiance and know for yourself through the spirit, through other's experiances that our savior is real!
It WAS an amazing experience to have him in our stake. We were so touched as well by the words that were spoken. Now, the trick is not to forget them and use his words to keep us going, moving forward in faith. Thanks for your post.
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