The numbers for the Jan. 13-15, 2009, training seminar for new Missionary Training Center presidents and visitors center directors and their wives seemed staggering — nearly 40 different addresses and instructional sessions, crammed into 36 hours, spread over three days and two cities and involving two members of the Quorum of the Twelve, another half-dozen members of the Quorums of the Seventy and a host of participants from the Church's Missionary Department.
All that for 18 couples, just days before they were to begin their two-year assignments to lead at missionary training centers or visitors centers throughout the world.
But Elder Richard G. Hinckley of the Seventy, who serves as executive director of the Missionary Department, said the seminar's impact will exceed well beyond the 18 new presidents and directors and their wives.
"It's a great opportunity for impact when you look at the millions, literally, of visitors to these visitors centers and the tens of thousands of missionaries — young and old — who will come through the MTCs during the next two years," he said.
Highlights included instruction from and interaction with Elders L. Tom Perry and Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve who, along with Bishop Richard C. Edgley, first counselor in the Presiding Bishopric, comprise the Missionary Executive Council.
Joining them were Elder Hinckley and four other members of the Seventy who serve as the department's assistant executive directors — Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Elder Daryl H. Garn, Elder Clate W. Mask Jr. and Elder Lynn G. Robbins. Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy also presented a luncheon address.
The annual seminars, Elder Hinckley said, achieve a number of purposes: To draw upon the combined energy and enthusiasm of the newly called leaders, to provide them an understanding for unified and consistent application of established policies and to provide interactions with members of the Quorum of the Twelve and other General Authorities.
And the participants were seeing those purposes fulfilled.
Photo By Mark Beck
Elder Farrell M. Smith, the new Oakland Temple Visitors Center director, is joined by his wife, Diane, left, and a sister missionary, center, in meeting a visitor during a seminary training session on site at Temple Square.
"It was not only educational but spiritual, and we've been able to establish a camaraderie with the other directors and MTC presidents," said President Michael H. Holmes, who doubles now as both director of the Temple Square Visitors Center and president of the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission.
Added Sister Marian Holmes: "We were taught that these (visitors) centers are teaching centers. They're designed to find people and bring them to Christ."
Elder Parley R. Baldwin and Sister Cathy Baldwin, called to serve at the Cove Fort Visitors Center, spoke of meeting Elder Holland after his address, with Sister Baldwin asking if they could shake his hand. "He stood up and he embraced us, he hugged us — he really hugged us," she said. "I started to cry, and he wiped away my tear with the back of his hand and said, 'Don't cry, Sister Baldwin, Cove Fort's not that far away — and I'll come visit you."
Photo By Mark Beck
During a seminar training session, President Michael H. Holmes, the new director of the Temple Square Visitors Center and president of the Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission, and his wife, Marian, visit with a pair of sister missionaries.
The application of instruction comes later on-site, with the new presidents and directors and their wives already having begun their new assignments.
"The hope is that we give them enough information that they can later reference it when they see the context," Elder Hinckley said, adding that while the seminar instructions are wonderful, uplifting and spiritual, they aren't fully understood until the new leaders are in place and begin serving at the MTCs and visitors centers. "Then they look back on these seminars and say, 'Oh, now I get it — that's what they meant.' "
From the imposing ceremony of President Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration on the steps of the U.S. Capitol to the religious solemnity of the Jan. 21 National Prayer Service, President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve came away from their two-day visit to frigid Washington, D.C., warmed by witnessing not only a historic national event but also examples of graciousness, hope and unity.
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Barack Obama, left, joined by his wife Michelle, second from left, and daughters Sasha, third from left, and Malia, takes the oath of office from chief Justice John Roberts to become the 44th president of the United States.
President Uchtdorf — who was accompanied by his wife, Harriet — and Elder Ballard were assigned by President Thomas S. Monson to represent the Church at the inaugural events.
President Monson said, "It is always an honor for the Church to be represented at the inauguration of a new president. We send our best wishes to President Obama and pray for the blessings of a loving Father in Heaven to be upon him and his administration."
Courtesy President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder M. Russell Ballard stand with the U.S. Capitol in the background prior to the inauguration of President Barack Obama on Jan. 20. Pres Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard represented the Church and President Thomas S. Monson at inaugural events, including the National Prayer Service, Jan. 21.
Helping to arrange for and host President Uchtdorf's and Elder Ballard's visit was Elder Ralph W. Hardy, an Area Seventy in the North America Northeast Area.
Elder M. Russell Ballard with President Dieter F. Uchtdorf at nation's Capitol prior to inauguration of Barack Obama.
They were seated close to the presidential stage for the inauguration and near President Obama and his contingent for the prayer service.
"It was very appropriate to have two apostles of the Lord right here at this inauguration, where you have an African-American becoming the president of this great nation," said President Uchtdorf, contacted while in the nation's capital with Elder Ballard by the Church News and after their return to Utah.
Both President Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard used adjectives like "marvelous," "wonderful" and "overwhelming" in describing their experiences.
"This new administration is sending a message of hope and change to the world," President Uchtdorf said. "We know there is no greater message to all the world than the message of the Church and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I only hope this historic moment will open doors and hearts to the gospel message of hope and change."
AP
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, left, and Elder M. Russell Ballard stand outside the Washington National Cathedral after the National Prayer Service Jan. 21. The two attended President Barack Obama's inauguration the day before.
Both left the prayer service with a sense the people of America are going to unite behind the new president and his administration and that we need to pray for him. Elder Ballard said, "We need to exercise our prayers and help him accomplish the great objectives that he has set."
One such objective catching Elder Ballard's attention was President Obama's pronouncing an importance on responsibility. "People being responsible for their own lives and responsible for others who need help — I like that theme very much and hope the whole country can take hold of that because it can make a vast difference," Elder Ballard said.
AP
A general view of the National Prayer Service attended by President Barack Obama in Washington DC.
He pondered aloud how an emphasis on responsibility could have a powerful difference with the youth, who will be the future leaders of the nation and their own faiths. "That was great," said Elder Ballard of the president's "responsibility" objective "and I hope he holds on to it."
Courtesy President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, with his wife, Harriet.
At the inauguration, the Uchtdorfs found themselves seated next to an African-American couple. "When the oath was taken, this lady next to her [Sister Uchtdorf] just embraced her and gave her a kiss on the cheek with tears running down her face," said President Uchtdorf.
He added that the emotions he sensed over the two days were not simply the result of the massive numbers witnessing the event nor the historic moment of the United States' first African-American president, but rather a sense of how the transfer of power displayed in a free democracy can bring hope that even great challenges may be overcome.
AP
Crowds gather along the National Mall during the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
The crowd, President Uchtdorf said, was the largest he has ever been in. Elder Ballard noted it was reported that more than 1.5 million people were at the inauguration ceremony.
AP
President George Bush, center right, and first lady Laura Bush, center left, welcome President-elect Barack Obama, far left, and his wife Michelle Obama, right, on the North Portico of the White House.
"We could feel the deep emotion around us — we were surrounded by people of all colors, of all creeds and of all languages," President Uchtdorf said. "It was a great experience we had — to see a unity there that I hope will last on and continue throughout the years of this administration."
President Uchtdorf and Elder Ballard joined Muslims, Jews, people of different Christian denominations and other religions at the prayer service. "We felt we were in the right place with all these whom we call brothers and sisters," President Uchtdorf said, "to pray for this presidency, for this administration, and with them to pray for all the governments around the world to bring again peace and prosperity and unity to all countries."
AP
From left, First Lady Michelle Obama, President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, former President Bill Clinton, and Secretary of State nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton attend the inaugural prayer service at the National Cathedral in Washington, on Jan. 21, 2009.
President Uchtdorf spoke of the graciousness shown by presidential candidates at the conclusion of the November 2008 elections and the graciousness shared between outgoing President George W. Bush and incoming President Obama leading up to the inauguration. He called it an example of democracy to all and representative of the kind of efforts put forth by the Church.
AP
Crowds gather along the National Mall during the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Barack Obama, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009.
"That is a very important example to all of us and what we as a Church try to do — reaching out to the one and to all, helping to bridge differences, helping to bring the wonderful restored gospel message we have to all the people wherever they are, whatever language they speak, whatever history they have."
Courtesy President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Sister Harriet Uchtdorf, Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Ralph W. Hardy, Area Seventy from the North America Northeast Area.
Participation by Church members in the inauguration events varied from the 14 members of Congress who joined their peers on the inaugural stand to Saints who were among the University of Utah and Evergreen, Washington, High School marching bands. And from Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who were among the four members of Congress on the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies to Lynn Rasch returning to ride with an equestrienne group in the parade and 11-year-old Ethan Durrant joining the San Francisco Boys Chorus to perform at the inauguration.
Highlights of Church leader and member involvement in U.S. presidential inaugurations over the past 56 years:
2009 — Inauguration of President Barack Obama
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, second counselor in the First Presidency, and Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve represented the Church at the inauguration and National Prayer Service (see story on this page).
2001 — Inauguration of President George W. Bush
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir made its first inaugural performance since 1989; its itinerary including two concerts, a radio/TV broadcast and the inaugural parade, where the singers squeezed on a 125-foot-long float labeled the largest of its kind in inaugural history. Representing the Church was Elder J. Willard Marriott Jr., an Area Seventy in the North America East Area.
1997 — Reinauguration of President Bill Clinton
Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve represented the Church at inaugural events.
Utah's representation in the inaugural parade included a replica pioneer-era covered wagon — reconstructed from pieces of antique wagons found around Nauvoo, Ill. — and a replica of the handcarts used to cross the Plains.
1993 — Inauguration of President Bill Clinton
Elder James E. Faust of the Quorum of the Twelve represented the Church at inaugural ceremonies.
1989 — Inauguration of President George H.W. Bush
President Ezra Taft Benson and President Thomas S. Monson, second counselor in the First Presidency, represented the Church, while the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performed before the inaugural ceremony. Elder John K. Carmack traveled with the choir, and Steve Studdert, a Church member, organized the 1989 inauguration.
1981 — Inauguration of President Ronald Reagan
President Ezra Taft Benson, president of the Quorum of the Twelve, was joined by Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin of the Seventy as lead representatives of the Church. And the Mormon Tabernacle Choir earned its tag of "America's Choir" from President Reagan, making a stop of five-plus minutes in the parade in front of the review stand to honor first lady Nancy Reagan's request for a performance of "Battle Hymn of the Republic."
1977 — Inauguration of President Jimmy Carter
Representing the Church was President N. Eldon Tanner, first counselor in the First Presidency. Sen. Howard W. Cannon, D-Nev., conducted the inaugural program and served as chairman of the joint committee for inauguration arrangements.
1973 — Reinauguration of President Richard Nixon
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir sent a delegation of 30 choir members to sing in the White House's East Room, too small to accommodate the entire choir. Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve represented the Church, while the BYU Cougar Marching Band participated in the inaugural parade.
1969 — Inauguration of President Richard Nixon
President N. Eldon Tanner of the First Presidency and Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve represented the Church, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir making its second trip in as many presidential inaugurations to perform. J. Willard Marriott served as chairman of the inauguration, with his wife, Alice, as special assistant.
1965 — Inauguration of President Lyndon B. Johnson
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir made its inauguration debut, but dense fog at the Salt Lake Airport forced 251 members of the 363-strong choir to board buses for a nine-hour ride to Las Vegas, Nev., where they caught a subsequent flight and arrived just three hours before they were scheduled to assemble on the Capitol's east side.
1953 — Inauguration of President Dwight D. Eisenhower
President David O. McKay attended inauguration ceremonies, while Elder Ezra Taft Benson of the Quorum of the Twelve rode in a convertible down Pennsylvania Avenue in the inaugural parade — he joined join President Eisenhower's Cabinet the next day as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture.
— Compiled by Scott Taylor from Church News and Deseret News archives
New missionary training center presidents and visitors center directors and their wives will have a unique opportunity during their two-year tenures training missionaries to preach the gospel — or, more specifically, to teach teachers how to teach.
Elder L. Tom Perry — the member of the Quorum of the Twelve who chairs the Church's Missionary Executive Council — underscored the importance of teaching as he provided the Jan. 15 concluding address at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City for the three-day seminar for new missionary training center presidents and visitors center directors.
Elder L. Tom Perry
"We're all teachers," he said. "The day we came into mortality, we started to teach, even as babies teach their parents."
He cited teaching situations ranging from individuals associating with friends to parents interacting with children. "Even in wrongdoing, we teach the wrong things," he added.
Emphasizing the importance of teaching in the Church, Elder Perry referred to the phrase in 1 Corinthians: "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers . . ." (1 Corinthians 12:28).
"We are focusing on trying to make our missionaries the best teachers," he said. "That's their main and important function — to be teachers of the word of God."
Elder Perry projected the potential impact of maximum teaching worldwide, asking the presidents and directors and wives to consider the possibility of 25,000 missionary companionships teaching 20 discussions each week, equating to more than 25 million teaching opportunities each year.
"What a potential force that is — to teach the correct principles of the gospel to the peoples of the world," he said. "You're going to teach a core of teachers who are going out to teach the gospel throughout the world."
Elder Perry summarized the key principles taught in the February 2007 Worldwide Leadership Training satellite broadcast Feb. 10, 2007: To ask, seek and knock spiritually; to teach from the scriptures; to teach by the Spirit; to help the learner assume responsibility for learning; and to never leave a class without bearing your witness and testimony of the truthfulness of what you've taught.
"I hope and pray that your witness, your desires and your influence will be a power in their lives to change them," said Elder Perry, adding a promised blessing to the presidents and directors and their wives as they strive to be not only good leaders but also effective teachers of others.
"The witness of the Holy Ghost will be powerful in your lives — more powerful than it has ever been before."
"The essence of Romanticism is infinite longing." ------------E.T.A. Hoffmann
Lyrics: There's a secret path I follow To a place no one can find Where I meet my perfect someone I've kept hidden in my mind Where my heart makes my decisions 'Till my dream becomes a vision And the love I feel Makes him real someday
'Cause I know he's out there somewhere Just beyond my reach Though I've never really touched him Or ever heard him speak Though we've never been together We've never been apart No we've never met Haven't found him yet But I know him by heart
Am I living in an illusion? Wanting something I can't see If I compromise, I'd be living lies Pretending love's not meant to be 'Cause I know my heart's worth saving And I know that he'll be waiting So I'll hold on and I'll stay strong 'till then
'Cause I know he's out there somewhere Just beyond my reach Though I've never really touched him Or ever heard him speak Though we've never been together We've never been apart
No we've never met Haven't found him yet But I know him by heart No we've never met Haven't found him yet But I know him by heart
Each of us has our own talents, our own abilities, and our own challenges. Sometimes it’s tempting to want to trade places with others, but it’s probably not wise. One family tries to remember this simple truth with a wall hanging, cross-stitched with a piece of Grandma’s wisdom: “If all of our problems were hung on a line, you’d take yours and I’d take mine.”
Sorting out problems, however, is not quite as simple as sorting laundry. If our problems really were hung on a line, we might be surprised how similar they are. The truth is, we’re more alike than we are different. We all worry about our families and finances; we’re concerned about our health and well-being. Regardless of our differences, we all want to love and be loved.
So rather than wishing we were in our neighbors’ shoes, maybe we should look for opportunities to walk alongside them. Along the way, we might offer to carry some of our neighbors’ burdens. They may even want to do the same for us. We all have so much we could share with each other. We have a commonality, a camaraderie that comes of our shared humanity. Each one of us is connected to others; we depend on each other; we need each other.
Paraphrasing the great poet John Donne, the lyrics of a popular song put it this way:
No man is an island; No man stands alone. Each man’s joy is joy to me; Each man’s grief is my own.
We need one another, So I will defend Each man as my brother, Each man as my friend.1
If we can see one another as fellow travelers, we may be more inclined to look for ways to share each other’s burdens. We’ll see each other through the lens of equality and compassion, and this will open our hearts to the rich diversity of life.
1 Joan Whitney and Alex Kramer, “No Man Is an Island.”
Among life’s greatest blessings is the opportunity for second chances. A disobedient child says to his mother, “I promise I’ll do better next time” and “Can I try again?” We’ve probably all felt that way from time to time—we fall short, and we long for another chance, a fresh start, a new beginning. And while justice and fairness always have their claim, mercy and second chances also have their place.
The theme of second chances is as old as time and abundant in literature and history. We’re familiar with the story of the prodigal son who came home again; or the reluctant prophet Jonah, who got a second chance to overcome his fears. And we all have personal and family stories of making mistakes but then trying anew.
Another story of second chances is the novel Silas Marner, by George Eliot. Because of a false accusation and a friend’s betrayal, Silas becomes a recluse and miser, his heart “a locked casket,”1 whose only concern is his work and his hoard of money. When his precious gold is stolen, the loss drives Silas into a deeper gloom.
Then along comes a little girl, an orphan he names Eppie, who presents Silas with a chance at redemption, another life, a new hope for happiness. When Silas’s thoughts turn to little Eppie’s care and keeping, when his heart opens to her, he finds love and release from his bitterness and depression. Silas may have lost his gold, but he finds true joy in a golden-haired girl who gives him a reason for living, a second chance at life.
Believing and hoping for life’s second chances gives us the confidence to live a life that, while not flawless, is determined; not perfect, but progressing.
Life is busy, but it’s good to take a moment occasionally to make sure it’s busy for the right reasons.
Sometimes we may feel like a juggler trying to keep so many things aloft that he’s in constant danger of dropping all of them. With so many pressures and demands competing for our time and attention, we may feel overwhelmed from time to time, inadequate to the task, as it seems that everything is about to come crashing down.
How can we keep juggling life’s demands and maintain a sense of balance in our lives? It may help to remember a secret that every juggler knows: you don’t have to catch the balls that are going up, just the balls that are coming down.
In other words, focus on the things that need the most attention, each in its appropriate time. For example, where does work fit into a balanced life? Where do family and fun fit in? Some live for their work, at the expense of everything else. Work is important and even gratifying, but in the words of a familiar phrase, “No one ever dies saying, ‘I wish I’d spent more time at the office.’”
Some live for fun and pleasure. But in time, the heart yearns for something more meaningful and satisfying. There must be more to life.
As one writer said, “Live a balanced life—learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day some.”1 We need time to laugh and reflect, give and receive, love and be loved—all things in their time and season.
As we strive to find the right balance, we can remember the ancient words that remain true to this day: “To every thing thereisaseason, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”2
1 Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (2003), 2
我是在1996年12月29日受洗加入耶穌基督後期聖徒教會. 我在此留下我對這復興的福音的見證,我知道約瑟斯密確實是神的先知; 藉由約瑟斯密,神復興了耶穌基督的教會即耶穌基督後期聖徒教會; 摩爾門經是耶穌基督的另一部約書,與聖經共同見證耶穌是基督.而我們今日仍有一位活著的先知,多馬孟蓀會長
I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on December 29, 1996. I know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God. The Book of Mormon is indeed Another Testament of Jesus Christ. We have a living prophet today, even President Thomas S. Monson.
