learning at the feet of an apostle.....

I spend a lot of time on this blog, being silly and talking of lighthearted things. Tonight I want to do something different and take a moment to record my feelings I had tonight sitting at the feet of an apostle.

Elder Robert D. Hales is the visiting Authority at our Stake Conference this weekend. I just returned from the Adult session. It was amazing. There was a very tangible feeling of peace there. I loved his candor, he could just open his scriptures and teach from them. He had a great sense of humor. He told a story about his wife, early on in their marriage. Financially they were struggling and she was the one that kept the budget. He wanted to buy her a new dress for Christmas. He had her try one on that was in a store window and told the sales girl that he was going to get it and not to take no for an answer from his wife. His wife tried on the dress and came out to show him, he said she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen. His wife smiled at him and returned to the dressing room. Soon the sales associate came out with the dress, walked right past him and put the dress back on the rack. They later walked out of the store,and Elder Hales asked his wife what she said to the clerk, he really wanted to get her something beautiful for Christmas. She remarked that they couldn't afford it, and that she told the sales girl, "Don't listen to him, he drinks!" His humor continued when he talked about how there will be no "mugwamps" in heaven. It was a saying his dad used with him growing up. You may wonder what a mugwamp is, his definition was "someone who sits on the fence with their mug on one side and their wamp on the other." He told us not to take the neutral way, to be firm in our beliefs and make up our minds about what we need to do.

He talked about having no regrets, to live each day productively, and spend our time wisely. He quoted Whittier who said, said, "The saddest words of tongue and pen are those that say what might have been." He talked about light and darkness, that darkness is dispelled where the light is, and that when we dim the light, or turn out the light we invite darkness in. He spoke a great deal about the temple, that we are doing an incredible work for others, freeing someone for eternal progression that couldn't come any other way. He said, "The adversary can't get a temple recommend, we are safe there". He counseled to take the time to enjoy the peace found their with our spouses. Elder Hales talked of prayer. He said we should pray specifically for something, and then to kneel in faith willing to do whatever is necessary when we receive our answer. He said many times when people think they aren't getting an answer to their prayers, they aren't at a point where they can willingly be prepared to do whatever is required.

He said a great deal more, but those are the thoughts that struck me. I wanted to take a moment to record my feelings and impressions of this night. I felt the Spirit very intensely especially when he testified of the Savior. It reaffirmed and strengthen my testimony. How grateful I am to belong to a church that has a living prophet and apostles. What a wonderful opportunity it was to be in the same room and listen to someone so remarkable as Elder Hales. It was truly an incredible evening and I wanted to take a moment and write of my feelings before the craziness of life creeps in.