FINAL ZONE CONFERENCE- GLENDALE/PHOENIX NORTH ZONES June 2014

PLEASE CLICK ON THIS LINE TO GO TO ALBUM OF ALL PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT.  THERE IS A PHOTO OF EACH MISSIONARY IN THESE ZONES WITH PRESIDENT AND SISTER TAYLOR. 

We met with the great GLENDALE and PHOENIX NORTH ZONES this week for the final time...such a bittersweet time for us!
President Taylor started the day with a doctrinal discussion about ENDURING TO THE END. We always study the Doctrine of Christ and this one was perfect for what we wanted to share today.  Our goal for each missionary is for them to ENDURE JOYFULLY!

I had the Assistants help President Taylor and I with a throwback skit from last year called MAN COLD!!!  (Look that up on YouTube to see the one I based this one on) It was really fun and we love to poke fun at ourselves along the way!
I gave the missionaries the advice the Church Mission Department Doctor told us to tell our missionaries..."JUST BUCK UP!" OK, I never could bring myself to tell a missionary that, so it was now or never.  Actually, we celebrate with them how overall healthy they have been, and how self reliant they are in taking care of themselves so much of the time.  We know that Sister Griffin will be a pro at helping them in no time...it comes with the calling.  I have LOVED caring for our missionary health!

 I switched gears and followed up on our commitment from Elder Bednar to use FAMILY HISTORY AS A MISSIONARY TOOL.  I hope some of you have been helping your missionary find family pictures and stories to use in their lessons and contacting of people.
I left 4 commitments to them to use with 4 groups of people they commonly teach.

President Taylor kicked off the vehicle portion of the meeting with another blast from the past...a silly bike safety video he made, but with all new photos of current missionaries...LOVE IT!
"YOU CAN DO IT, I KNOW YOU CAN!"  "YOU WILL BE HAPPY OF YOURSELF!"  Two classic quotes from the video!

 Elder and Sister Rodgers have served second to our 36 months, a total of about 28 months.  They planned on 12-18 months and extended to stay the entire portion of our service, they loved their mission so much!  In fact, our entire office staff extended to finish with us, so it is truly so fun to serve a senior mission...lots of work, but so rewarding!
The missionaries love getting CLEAN CAR AWARDS, and a new addition, the GOLDEN PLATES for the top score! A license plate holder they get to keep on their car as long as they maintain the high score in the zone.

 President Forsberg joined us for the last few minutes before lunch to share a message with the missionaries and we were so glad to have him and to hear his testimony and advice!  He has been super supportive of missionary work in the stake and they have some really good things going.

 The top two sets of elders from the two zones today!

 And then it was off to LUNCH, truly one of the highlights in a missionary day.

 The stake that decorated and served us did a fun job with the decorations and left a really nice quote on the table for each of us.

 We sang our thank-yous to the stake and then crowded in for the MISSION FIGHT SONG!  I love this song and the enthusiasm behind it!

 We only had one young missionary in these two zones with a June birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO:
President Juchau
Elder Baker- IT WAS HIS ACTUAL BIRTHDAY!!!
President Taylor

 Next we sing to the birthdays of the month in all langauges possible in the zone...



Spanish

 Samoan by Elder Unasa




                                                Korean By Elder Jeong

 Swedish by Elders Stulen and Canny


                 Mexican Mananitas

 Elder Handley sang in German



                                              Elder Canny in Norwegian

                                   
                                                                           Portuguese by Sister Pickett

GLENDALE AND PHOENIX NORTH ZONES:
Sitting Front: Elder and Sister Rodgers, Sister King, Sisters Polander, Brewer, Sister and President Taylor, Sisters Pickett, Welch, Jenson, Lechner, Meyer, Coleman and Perry. Standing Floor: Elders James, Lower, President Juchau, Elders Lindsay, Canny, Stulen, Silcock, Schultz, Pollard, Goehring, Parsons, Stevens, Burgoyne, Sisters Matuauto and Steimle, Elder Perry. Sitting Stage: Elders Jeong, Bryson, N Christensen, Sharon, Wainwright, A Smith, Unasa, Elliott, Maxey, Goldsberry, Burton and Gapinski.  Standing Back: Elders Kirk, Handley, Ure, Baker, Ramos, Luke, Bryant, Weiler, T Anderson, Taylor, Miller and T Jones.

 We noticed an unusual number of taller Elders in these two zones...hence, a photo was in order.  L to R: Elders Christensen, James, A Smith, Stulen, T Anderson, Canny, Lower, Kirk, Baker and Sharon. And for perspective on the stage, Elders Elliott and Unasa...oh, and Sister Taylor down front as token short person!

 Back in our afternoon session, Sister Pickett played for her zone to sing...we wish we had a CD of all the beautiful mission songs!

 And Sister Lechner sang a solo accompanied by Elder Lindsay.  SAVIOR REDEEMER...my favorite arrangement!
We do not have photos of the afternoon discussions about CHOOSE NOW TO BE WEIRD...sounds crazy?  Well, Elder Bednar taught us that is what we need to do!  When you think about it, as members of the Church we are pretty strange, peculiar or even downright weird. We even pay to serve a mission!  We had a great discussion of all the things we do, and then how to plan to keep doing the ones we can after a mission so we can keep our covenants.  After all, the things we do all are under covenant of baptism or the temple, and as a result, we are BLESSED WITH PROMISES THAT ARE SURE...and POWER FROM ON HIGH if we keep those covenants.

 We desire our missionaries to be covenant keeping people, and in the temple as often as possible.
President Taylor then led a discussion about the difference between SUBSTANCE AND STYLE!  This is why missions all over the world survive getting a new President and Wife every 3 years.  The SUBSTANCE are the rules we live by and the doctrine we teach.  The STYLE is the way we do it.
So, PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT THE SAME STYLE!  Do not ask for a blog, you may get one, but do not expect it...and the same goes for many things.  It was a great discussion to have with the missionaries.  We are personally thrilled to get to know the Griffins in person!  They are the kindest people in the world and we KNOW they are called to take over the Arizona Phoenix Mission.  It will be in the best hands ever!  Theirs and the Lords, because they are led by the Spirit and we feel that every time we talk with them!

We took time to greet each missionary personally...and yes, even to hug them all to say our goodbyes.  We hope we see most of them again someday, but we do not know if our paths will cross...so yes, there were a few tears too.

We see each individual missionary for WHO THEY HAVE BECOME...and that is a special privilege to watch that growth and conversion.  We love and admire each one for the choices they have made and continue to make as they faithfully serve their Lord.


We invite you to check in with us if you live in Utah or come through to visit.  We are cheerleaders for life for all our missionaries past and present. We will get you information on when we are speaking in sacrament meeting on July 13 in Provo as well.
May the Lord bless you as you support your missionary and this great work of salvation.
This is the Lord's work, and we are privileged to be a part of it.