September 24, 2023

We have known since before we came on our mission that there would be one occassion that we would return to Utah for. That was for the temple trip and mission farewell of our grandson Parker James Rowan. This was the weekend and we are so grateful that we were able to go and be with him and his family. We had Zone Conferences last week so it worked out perfect that we could leave directly after car inspections at the Bend Zone Conference. That meant that we were already several hours closer to Utah and were able to arrive in Tremonton Friday night. Saturday we attended the Brigham City Temple with Parker and other family members and then went to Maddox for dinner after. Later we played games and prepared for his Open House the next day. We were blessed that Rachel & Chris were also able to come to Tremonton and do all these activities with us and then spend the night to be with us Sunday too. Sunday Parker gave a great talk. He was assigned to speak on a talk by Elder Lawrence Corbridge, "The Way." Amy and her brother Hank sang a beautiful version of "How Great Thou Art." It was a great meeting! Afterwards friends and family came back to the house for some yummy food and to spend time with Parker. It was a bonus for us that my sister Sharon and her husband Paul were traveling though Utah that day and were able to stop by and visit for a few hours. Monday morning we left early to return to our mission in Oregon.

My heart is so full of love and gratitude to be able to participate in these activities with Parker. We love him so much and know that he is going to make a great missionary! What a sweet and tender experience it was to be in the temple with him on Saturday. He is the 1st of the next generation on my side of the family to attend the temple and serve a mission. My experiences serving in the temple and now serving a mission make these moments even more tender because I know how much the temple can bless his life and how much his testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ will grow while serving a mission. For the scripture they are putting on his missionary plaque he chose 2 Nephi 2:8: "Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah." Serving a mission is hard for these young people. It is intense! I have so much love and admiration for our missionaries. Parker thinks he is going out to share the gospel with others, and he will do that, but he has no idea that the most important conversion will be of himself as he turns to his Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ to help him through the hard times. We are so excited to read his emails each week and hear what he is learning.

I have to post some pics of the yummy food Amy prepared for the Open House. It was fabulous and she did such a good job!

And look at this cute, cute cake! I thought it was a picture of a shirt and tie when I first saw it. But nope, it is a cake!

Before we went to Tremonton we had the opportunity to participate in Zone Conferences. These were my favorite so far! After lunch the Assistants and Social Media Sisters did break out rooms where the missionaries practiced how to find new people to teach. They had (4) different rooms and in each one they were to talk for 2-3 minutes to different people and try to get a return appointment. One was at the door, another was working with members for a referral, one was street contacting, and one was using social media. We were asked to be in the street contacting session and role play with the missionaries. Elder Rowan had a soccer ball and was playing in the park. I had a walker and was taking a walk down the street. It was so fun and enlightening too. They were supposed to try and "hook" us with the restoration. I told them I was sad and just out for a walk. I got invites to church and invites for return lessons. But my favorite was one set of Elders who told me that they were happy because in a week they were going to be able to hear from a prophet and did I know what a prophet was? And did I know that we have a living prophet here on the earth today? When I asked if Prophets could see the future they said that Prophets know what problems the world is facing and that last Conference the Prophet talked about Peacemakers Needed. Would I like to listen to Conference this time and hear what message the Prophet has for the world? I have to say that these missionaries made me, a long time member, very excited for upcoming conference!

Today we went on a teaching appointment with the Elders. The Mission has set a goal to try and get 300 people to listen to conference. So the Elders taught a lesson to their "friend" about listening to Conference. I loved this scripture that they shared.

Mosiah 2:9 "My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view."

We always like to take some little detour on our way out to Bend for Zone Conference to see parts of Oregon we might not otherwise get to. This time we stopped outside of Lebanon and went to McDowell Creek Falls County Park. There are some waterfalls there and some nice hikes. The water flow was not as much as we would have liked but we did find one set of falls that lived up to their name. They are called Majestic Falls. An elaborate stair/bridge/walkway has been built to view them and it was like a little slice of heaven.