Elder Neil L. Andersen throws out the ceremonial first pitch at the Dodger's Game

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles's name was added to the growing list of people that have thrown out the first ceremonial pitch at the Dodger's game. Elder Andersen threw out the pitch on July 1st, joining the few who have done so from the top of the mound. The pitch was a strike right over the plate that was caught by Elder Ruben Acosta, an Area Seventy. On that same night, the national anthem was sung at the game by a Church member. This is most excellent news. For details, please see this link. Thanks to you all for your readership and friendship.

We have a pet bunny/The sixth anniversary of our engagement

This will be a personal news update. On this Independence Day, Amy and I received a pet bunny. Amy's brother Troy had jokingly been asking us a lot recently if we wanted one, as his property has been overtaken by one. When he asked us today, we took him up on the offer. He's a cute little black bunny with brown splotches. Amy and I haven't decided on a name for him/her yet, but I'm leaving it for Amy to do. She was always creative in choosing names for the fishes she had growing up. Among the most memorable is Zorath the Avenger and His Squire Flip the Elusive. I had suggested to Amy that we use one of the names from our list of those we made for our children, as it doesn't appear that we will be parents soon, but she said she wants the bunny's name to be as unique and special as he/she is, so I'm leaving it to her.

As this Independence Day also marked the 6th anniversary of our engagement, we did a couple of things to celebrate. I ordered Amy some books she'd been wanting, and she's getting me a copy of the October 2007 General Conference DVD. We additional got a set of Doctrine and Covenants tape cassettes and some VHS copies of movies we wanted. We had the opportunity to see both of our families today.

As per our established yearly tradition of going to the temple grounds where I propose to her all over again, we went there today. This year has taken a wear and tear on us and our marriage because of all the stress and setbacks we've experienced of late. I will post more about what's been going on at a later time, perhaps within the next few days. But my point in mentioning this is that I knew our special circumstances required special attention. So in the several days prior to our engagement anniversary, when Amy was either asleep or absorbed in her own projects, I compose a letter to her to let her know what she means to me. I typed mine, unlike the letter she sent me that started our relationship, which she had handwritten, because I was afraid that in the moment I wouldn't be able to read my own handwriting.

As part of the letter, I wrote her a song, with the borrowed tune of the country song "Could I Have This Dance?" Because I want to share the joy of this anniversary with all my readers, I include a copy of the lyrics:

I’ll always remember

            The song my heart played,

            The first time we met and I knew

           

            As I pondered my feelings,

And we went and we dated,

I fell in love with you.

May I have your love

For this life and beyond?

Will you be beside me

As every day dawns?

            When we are together,

I know we’ll carry on.

            May I have your love,

            For this life and beyond?

I can never forget

The joy of the moment

We knelt at the altar right here

As we made commitments,

And pledged to each other

I knew I had nothing to fear.

May I have your love

For this life and beyond?

Will you be beside me,

As every day dawns?

            When we work together,

I know we’ll carry on.

            May I have your love,

            For this life and beyond?

Finally, I wanted to close this post by sharing something with you about us that I never knew until tonight. When we had our wedding ceremony in the Mount Timpanogos Temple, three of my aunts (Sharon (now Wardle), Jacqui Howden, and Louise Sturt (a surrogate grandmother who in some ways is more dear to me than my own blood grandmothers because of her outstanding presence in my life), all observed that when Amy and I were looking into each other's eyes, she wasn't seeing me as I was now (a disabled man), but as I will be after being healed by the Savior at the time of His Second Coming, and that they could clearly see in our eyes that we loved each other and had known each other in the premortal life and had agreed to meet and marry here.  I thought that was really neat to hear, and I thank my family for sharing that with us tonight.

As I close this post, I share my infinite gratitude and everlasting love for this sweet woman, Amy Nuttall Stokes, who loved me enough to not be hung up on my physical disabilities and limitations. I will be eternally grateful to the Lord for bringing this remarkable individual into this insignificant man's life. I love you, sweetheart, now and forever!

"Your Personal Ministry"--Elder Gary E. Stevenson's address at the Seminar for New Mission Presidentss

Elder Gary E. Stevenson spoke at the Seminar for New Mission Presidents on the topic of their personal ministries, in which he referenced his own experience at the first Seminar he attended as a newly-called mission president in 2004. His address was yet another in the series of great addresses presented at the Seminar. For a summary  of what he talked about, please see this article. Thanks for your readership.

2016 Mormon Tabernacle Choir Tour kicks off in Berlin

As the title of this post states, the 2016 Tabernacle Choir tour has kicked off in Berlin, a city known for its cold war history. Please see this link for all the details. Thanks.

Preliminary Report on the Seminar for New Mission Presidents

I am posting today with a preliminary report on the seminar for new mission presidents, at which all the apostles (in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) and other general authorities spoke.

Church President Thomas S. Monson appeared at the Seminar via a prerecorded message. He instructed new mission presidents on their duties, citing his own experience as a mission president and outlining some of the sacrifices made and blessings received as mission presidents and their wives serve. For the full text of his address opening the seminar, please see this article.

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke to the mission presidents on the subject of having faith to baptize converts. For a summary of his address, please see this article.

President Henry B. Eyring, First Counselor in the First Presidency, spoke to the new presidents about the importance of leading their missionaries and those taught by them to the Savior. To read a summary of his address, please see this article.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles urged new mission presidents not to be fearful of new technology. To read what he said on the subject, please see this article.

President Russell M. Nelson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke on the miraculous miracle that the Book of Mormon is. In his addressed, he urged new mission presidents to encourage prayerful study of the book by their missionaries and those they teach. For a summary of his remarks, please see this article.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, reminded mission presidents that they are engaged in the Lord's work, and, in so doing, as President Monson has repeatedly reminded us, they are entitled to the Lord's help. For a report of President Uchtdorf's remarks, please see this article.

Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles reminded new mission presidents that the Lord is in the details of furthering the work of His kingdom, and that we are instruments in His hands in helping the work to progress. For a summary of his remarks, please see this article.

In his remarks at the Seminar, Elder Dallin H. Oaks spoke on the subject of how the Lord is preparing people to receive the gospel and said that the mission presidents play an invaluable role in training missionaries on this important topic. For an account of his remarks, please see this article.

That's all this report will focus on. I will share more talk summaries as they become available. Thanks for your readership.