Super Conference‏ (From the pres)

Dear Parents and Families,

This week we had the much anticipated "Mission Tour." Every September a member of the General Authority Seventies is assigned to come to our mission and see if it "feels good." This year our guest was Elder Michael Ringwood of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He was sustained in April General Conference and this was his first mission tour. He is tall, slender, and soft-spoken. When he speaks he speaks with the power of the spirit. He was able to interview a very few of the missionaries, but he was able to look into the faces of each one of them. He will be speaking in the Sunday afternoon session of conference in October, so be sure to be watching so you can see him.
The north part of the mission met in Edmund on Wednesday and the South part met in Norman on Thursday. It is always an inspiring sight to see the missionaries gathered together. I told them on Thursday that the word "synergism" comes to mind. Most of them looked blankly at me, but I explained it means the total is greater than the sum of its parts. There is a power when they get together that can't be denied.
The two days were similar but not identical. It is interesting for me to watch good men become men of God when they have a mantle and when the spirit is guiding. Both Elder Ringwood and President Gee stood up, ready to let the spirit direct the things they said. Both days Elder Ringwood told them he would be most delighted if each one learned something that wasn't spoken. That would be personal revelation just for them. (You might ask your missionary what was most meaningful to him/her.) He reminded them of the words of Elder Scott that their willingness to raise their hands and participate indicated that they were ready to be taught by the spirit. We had many, many comments from the missionaries. Part of the time was spent going through II Nephi chapter 31. If you want to join in the study you are invited to do so. It was to the missionaries a powerful example of the Father and the Son, teaching in unity.

Elder Ringwood told many stories. I will share just two of them.
When his youngest son was born, his oldest son was ten years old. As the baby brother was placed into his older brother's arms, the ten-year-old looked up at his dad and said, "Why do I love him so much!" That is the kind of love we need for the people we are teaching.

The next story comes from a brother who lives in Europe. One night he had a dream. He was separated from his family by a wide gulf. They were beckoning him to come to them, but he was with his friends. In the dream he decided to stay with his friends. Then he heard a voice say, "In two days I will send my messengers." Two days later missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on his door. He told them about the dream. He said, "I saw the faces of the messengers and you are the ones that I saw."

There were many examples of the way the missionary work is directed from the Lord. I hope you catch the feeling again that these young missionaries really are the messengers of God. They are his angels. They just need to be reminded over and over so they don't lose the vision of the work they are doing.
On both days, as Elder Ringwood talked, the theme emerged that miracles are happening but we may never know about them. Sometimes it will be years later that people will accept the gospel. His words were very encouraging.

President Gee spent part of the time talking about the focus doctrine of prayer and fasting. Many of the missionaries shared thoughts and feelings. President Gee shared an experience he had many years ago. He was married at the time. He has always loved, even adored his father. One day his Dad was working in his acre of potatoes, which was his special little project. He was weeding them by hand. Somehow in the process he lost his glasses. His eyesight was not good so he couldn't see to search for the glasses and without them he was almost blind. President Gee could not stand to see his Dad be miserable so he went himself and crawled up and down every row, searching for the glasses. He had no success. In the potato patch he offered a prayer to Heavenly Father in behalf of his dad, and asked if he could be blessed to find those glasses. As he continued to search he walked carefully between the rows of potatoes. He saw a flash of something and found the glasses lodged up under a potato plant. These everyday experiences build faith that Heavenly Father is mindful and watching over even the simple things. Think how mindful He is over helping his messengers reach his children.

Well, the day was full of such examples and the spirit was strong. Elder Ringwood felt good about the mission.
The work still seems to be going well. We are sure every prayer offered in our behalf is being heard. We have the armies of Helaman here and an army of others praying for them. Please pray that the members will catch the vision of their part in this work. Have a good week. We pray for your families as well. Love,Sister Gee
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