1st-Sunday Discussion on Conversion

Last Sunday felt like a great culmination in our ongoing 1st-Sunday lessons on the theme of Conversion.  The format was a little bit different, with 5 or so class members being asked beforehand to share a 5-minute-or-less account of either their own conversion, or that of an admired scriptural figure, family member, etc.  The resulting discussion was immensely uplifting.

One brother started off by sharing his own conversion story, explaining that he had intended to be a Methodist minister, and wanted to show the missionaries the "error of their ways" but obviously changed his mind.  He cited several examples of events that couldn't be simple coincidences that helped him to know of God's love for him as well as recognize the truthfulness of the Church.

Then another brother shared the account of Amulek in the Book of Mormon, emphasizing that Amulek never rebelled against the church, and didn't need to have a miraculous conversion like Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah in order to fully immerse himself in the gospel.  He shared of the joy he has felt when reflecting on the truthfulness of the gospel, including a vivid moment in his life when he knew it to be true.

Another class member volunteered his story which was "lame" by his own account.  On a church history tour as a youth the bus driver got on the loud speaker when they got to Adam-Ondi-Ahman and said, "OK, now's your chance to go pray and know if the church is true" (which apparently he said at most every spot they stopped at).  He went apart from his group and went off to pray and heard in his mind the answer, "You already know it's true."  He figured that by reading the Book of Mormon a few times and surrounding himself with the gospel throughout his life up to that point he had already had lots of small moments that affirmed the truthfulness of the Church.  He felt that even though the story is "lame" it shows that anyone can be converted.

One brother then referenced the previously-made contrast of Alma the Younger and Amulek, as well as the "lame" conversion story and said that he had experienced an Alma-the-Younger conversion story, which is not actually so enviable.  He cited how Alma wished the rocks would collapse in on him, so ashamed was he of his guilt before God.  This brother said he felt the shame of rebelling against the church in his youth, and even leading others astray.  But, like Alma, he said he knew of the sweetness of the atonement.

Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah are called to repentance by an angel

Another volunteer told of his story of going to a Palmyra Easter pageant as a young man and feeling God's love for him there, but then returning there some years later as an adult with some trepidation as to whether God would still accept him.  But thankfully, he said, he was grateful to once again feel that love at the same spot in the same way he did several years ago.  And, similarly, he had felt the sensation upon walking through the Arlington 2nd Ward chapel doors that he was home, whether he was perfect or not.

Lastly, the curator for the discussion wrapped it up by accurately assessing that the one thing all these conversion stories had in common was that they were all different.  (Something I agreed with, even though our intention going into the lesson was to connect all the similarities with common threads.)  He added his own account of his difficulty of just becoming an elder because that's "just what you do when you get to a certain age in the church."  He shared a story of a college roommate asking him for a priesthood blessing for something trivial (a cold maybe), but he, having the sincerity to want to make sure to do it right, excused himself to go say a "quick" prayer in the other room which actually lasted about 15 minutes -- surely to the confusion of his roommate.  He was able to observe later that his yearning to know how to do it right--to call on the powers of heaven--was a form of conversion.  He just hadn't always known how to recognize conversion; put it into familiar terms.  This class, and other similar discussions and experiences had helped to continually solidify that process for him.

EQ Temple Outing (& Dinner)

The Elders Quorum was glad to follow up its wildly mildly successful January temple trip with another wildly mildly successful July temple trip.  

The plan was to have a 3:00 pm endowment session followed by a 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm cookout at some nearby grills on Beach Dr. but due to some rainy conditions (read: excessive heat + low Evite RSVP success rate) we opted for a last-minute switch to a local Arlington favorite, 'Ray's to the Third' in Rosslyn.  

"Rainy conditions"

It was a great experience for those that were able to make it.  We're fortunate to have such a beautiful temple so close to us, and it was especially cool to do work for names submitted by A2 legend, Bro. Hanneman, as we try to fulfill the stake goal to do temple ordinances for an entire stake equivalent during 2015.  

All those in favor please Ray's your hand to the square.

The Many Titles of The Illustrious Arlington 2nd Ward Elders Quorum

Valiant Elders
Distinguished Gentlemen
Exemplary Elders
Most Noble Elders
Ye Royal Army
Most Reliable Elders
Men of Great Renown
Men of No Small Consequence
Ye Bold and Upright Men
Brethren of Highest Regard
Men of Romance, Men of Passion
Men of Resolute Conviction
Sons of Nobility
Men of Piety
Men of the Utmost Distinction
Men of an Era Long Forgotten
Sturdy and Reliable Brethren
Brethren of Great Stature
Men of Gallant Demeanor
Stalwart Brethren
Men of Might and Majesty
Sons of Virtuous Mothers
Men of Limitless Stamina
Men of Noble Pedigree
Venerable Brethren
Men of Unmatched Caliber
Brethren of the Highest Order
Estimable Companions
Men of Sound Reasoning
Defenders of Liberty
Men Who Occasionally Demonstrate Tenderness and Compassion
Brethren of Astounding Capacity
Ye Stalwarts
Men of Triumphant Majesty
Brethren of Inextinguishable Zeal
Unconquerables
Possessors of a Vigor of Action
Men of a Conquering Spirit
Possessors of the Kingly Virtues
Men of Unequaled Stature
Brethren of the Ancient Order
Defenders of the Oppressed
Champions of Nobility
Men of Uninhibited Capacity
Brethren of Unsurpassed Fortitude
Brethren of Irrevocable Dignity
Men of Resplendent Character
Honorable Brethren of Unsurpassable Glory
Brethren of Undepreciable Valor
O Ye of Unimpeachable Reputation
Men of Unquenchable Zeal
Brethren of Unyielding Devotion
Men of Boundless Influence
Instigators of Deeds of Exceeding Righteousness
Men of Undying Affection
Opponents of All Prejudice
Men of Merit, Men of Might
Fine Brethren of Sterling Repute Undimmed by Time or Circumstance
Brethren of Illuminated Intellect
Brethren of Unsurpassed Glory
Performers of Deeds Most Virtuous and Honourable,
Brethren of Dignified Grace
Men of Indescribable Resilience
Brethren of Inordinate Clemency
Elders of Magnificent Carriage
Men of Regal Lineage
Brethren of Unbending Ethics
Men of Patrician Lineage
Men of Benevolent Inclinations
Men of Burly Dimensions
Most Loyal Compatriots
Brethren Worthy of Prodigious Laud
Brethren of Perpetual Kinship
Men of Cool Equanimity
Men of Verdant Optimism
Brethren of Unremitting Benignity
Ye Who Marshal the Thunderheads
Brethren of Sovereign Spirit
Brethren of Seraphic Impulse
Eschewers of All Corruption
Girders of Imperial Raiment
Men of Unerring Rectitude
Rightful Kings of Distinguished Comportment
Brethren of Unassailable Fortresses
Comrades of Temperate Judgment
Men of Unearthly Dominion
Comrades of Veracious Origin
Men of Stately Grandeur
Brethren of a Commanding Gait
Brethren of Docile Submissiveness
Men of Staggering Strength
Ye Bearers of Glad Tidings
Men of Preeminent Rank
Decriers of All Ignominy
Condemners of Calumny
Foe Vanquishers
Broad-chested and Resolute Men
Irreproachable Men of Elegant Pursuits
Men of Rational and Improving Occupation
Brethren of Assiduous Observance
Brethren of Prompt and Decisive Action
Men of Exuberant Vitality
Men of Compounding Virtues
Brethren of Perpetual Grace & Dignity
Possessors of Unrivaled Fortunes
Seekers of Placid Contentment
Dauntless Warriors
Sons of the Patriarchal Order
Men of Irrepressible Erudition
Brethren of Interminable Allegiance
Brethren of Majestic Gallantry
Brethren of Irrepressible Resiliency
Men of Decorous Wardrobe Who Bear a Kingly Scabbard
Wielders of Medieval Weaponry

On Being Genuine

"The Church is not an automobile showroom, it is
more like a service station" - Pres. Uchtdorf

Our soon-to-migrate-westward EQ member, Daniel Harbuck, was able to dispel any question of his lame duck status by actually reaching out to see if he could teach a lesson in his few remaining months with the quorum.  He was assigned the topic of 'On Being Genuine' from a recent priesthood session talk by Pres. Uchtdorf.

In typical form, he was able to get a lot of class participation (even from those that couldn't attend in person) by doing some coordination with quorum members in advance.  He texted several members independently to ask, "Are there any examples of genuine love/service/testimony/anything that you can share?"  We were able to draw out some great stories in the class.  Below are some excerpts.

• An anonymous testimony was submitted recounting a story of a quorum member who, when he was a youth, stayed out too late one Saturday night with his friends and took a substance he shouldn't have, and which was detected by his parents when he got home.  The next day on the LONG ride to church the father waited for the rest of the family to head out of the parked car and then, unorthodoxically, told the son that he wanted him to stand in front of his fellow priesthood youth and tell them what he did and ask them to forgive him.  (Wow!)  [I'm not sure what I would have done in that situation either as the father or the son.]  So this young man stood up and explained what he did and then said he immediately felt the overpowering love and acceptance of his fellow friends.  
• Abraham S. shared a short story from his youth about finally pushing back on his father who he felt was pressuring him too much and the father sort of cracked and broke down a bit and said, "I'm sorry, son.  I guess I've never been the father of a 14-year old boy before.", and how this instance both showed him how genuinely hard his father had been trying, and improved their relationship greatly ever since.
• Skyler S. shared a fantastic story which I'll call the parable of the 3 priesthood friends, Stu, Trevor, and Skyler.  One boy, Stu, was the son of the stake president, and everything came naturally to him.  Sklyer started to grow tired of everyone saying how great Stu was, and he complained to his mom, "Mom - this guy's not actually that great.  I know.  I'm the one showing up on time to prepare the sacrament.  I'm the one collecting fast offerings every month."  His mom responded, "Skyler, are you serious?!  Look at Trevor.  He's doing all the things you are doing, and more, AND he's not asking for any recognition."  And then a few days later Skyler actually found Trevor at a street near his house and said, "Hey man, what are you doing here?" to which Trevor sheepishly responded, "Oh... yeah... I mean... I just kind of come here sometimes and just help someone out with something."  When Skyler pressed further he came to learn that this guy, Trevor, was actually doing repeat visits to a widow's house to do her yardwork for her.  Ha!
• Abele T. shared his appreciation for fellow quorum members who shine through as examples of genuineness for him by taking time out of their busy lives to help others in need and practice what they preach.
• Dan K. shared a story about how being a nursery teacher was actually quite difficult for him and his wife, and once when he slightly let on about it to his home teacher who happened to have a kid in nursery he was impressed that of all the preachy things the home teacher could have said, he simply said, "Thank you for helping in the nursery.  It's nice that my wife and I can count on people as reliable as you and your wife to trust our kids with so we can attend our classes and be spiritually uplifted."

"Many of the things you can count, do not count. Many of the things you cannot count, really do count.” - attributed to Albert Einstein

Harbuck Move - Timelapse (Oct'14)

Harbuck Move - Timelapse from pace barker on Vimeo.

Stake Conference Chair Takedown Assignment

This one is tough because we always seem to get paired up with the singles ward and both of us have hardly any trucks to be able to easily tackle the 300 chairs that need to get hauled after stake conference to the nearby ward building. But we find a way to make do.  At least the weather was nice.

Jacob and Josh loading up the SUV.  "Just pack enough of 'em in there and that way they won't slide around."

Homer Knudson, right, recruits some whippersnappers to help him maneuver a cart of chairs through the strait and narrow doorframe.  

EQ History - 2009

At the close of 2009, the Elders Quorum presidency consisted of Joseph Brubaker as President, Matthew Archer-Beck as first counselor, Sterling Fillmore as second counselor, Brent Olson as secretary, and Lance Gorbutt as assistant secretary. During the year, the Elders Quorum leadership had changed as Timothy Valentiner and Scott Lund moved for employment reasons. Blessed with many capable quorum members, both Presidencies organized the quorum to fulfill the Church’s missions of proclaiming the gospel, perfecting the saints, and redeeming the dead.

On the missionary front, the Elders Quorum focused on conversion, retention, and reactivation. A number of investigators joined the church, and on one special evening the five adult members of the Lkhagvasuren family were baptized. The quorum strived to fellowship these and other new members by teaching the lessons from the Preach My Gospel manual to support their conversion, despite the language challenges presented by the ward’s cultural diversity. Working on reactivation, Elders visited homes to meet and invite members to receive home teachers as well as to determine if unknown members on record still lived in Arlington. Highlights included another Lost Sheep Blitz in December and the return of Tigabu Afework.

The Elders Quorum developed spiritually and physically by participating in various uplifting activities. Spiritually, the Elders Quorum was blessed to participate in weekly class discussions and many ordinations, including Matthew Kantorski’s and Bumbagerel Norov’s ordination to the Melckizedek priesthood. On the temporal side, house moves were still common, but one interesting new challenge was the massive snow-shoveling expedition that we held close to Christmas when the DC area was hit with one of the biggest snowstorms in the last 50 years.

Snowmageddon, when Arlingtonians had to live
without Crate & Barrel and the Apple store
for 4 whole days!

The Elders Quorum also focused on temple work. Elders attended the Temple on Stake Temple Day each month and also helped new members prepare to attend the temple to perform ordinances for the dead. Together with the High Priests Group, the quorum helped new members create family history records. With quorum members, many new members entered the Temple for the first time and second times on planned trips in May and December. Several had the wonderful opportunity of receiving baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost for beloved siblings and parents.

Toward the end of 2009 the Elders Quorum presidency made changes to improve home teaching. The presidency increased the number of home teaching districts so that each district leader could work more closely with assigned companionships and also began using personal priesthood interviews to train and follow up with home teachers. Despite the challenges presented by high turnover in the ward, many home teachers served faithfully, and, of particular note, the quorum performed many priesthood blessings throughout the year for the members of our ward.

EQ History - 2008

The Arlington 2nd Ward Elders Quorum (EQ) was formed with the creation of the Arlington 2nd Ward.  The Elders Quorum Presidency (EQP) called at that time comprised the following: Timothy Valentiner (President), Scott Lund (1st Counselor), Joseph Brubaker (2nd Counselor), and Matthew Archer-Beck (Secretary).  In the first weeks following creation, the EQP extended callings to quorum members in order to fill the needs for managing quorum hometeaching activities; quorum instruction; and overseeing activities under the quorum's stewardship for fulfilling the church's three-fold mission by calling Chairs and Committee Members to an EQ Missionary Committee, EQ Temple Committee, and EQ Temporal & Spiritual Affairs Committee. The quorum has been very blessed by the many able quorum members and their willingness to faithfully serve in the callings extended.

The EQ has been especially blessed as well by the diversity of backgrounds of its members, including recent converts that joined the church just prior to and following creation of the Arlington 2nd Ward.  These new members have provided a unique opportunity for quorum members to maintain a vision and focus on the importance of missionary work and retention of new converts.  The EQ has made this effort a priority in conjunction with the ward and stake's focus on missionary work. The EQP, in conjunction with the Bishopric, created an EQ Mission Plan outlining the goals, structure, and methods for achieving the objective of "focusing on the conversion, retention, and reactivation of our neighbors that they may receive the joy of the gospel of Jesus Christ, including temple blessings." Part of the ward Mission Plan, which directly involves the EQ, includes the role of hometeachers delivery/facilitating the New Member lessons to recent coverts they hometeach, as opposed to calling separate Ward Missionaries to do so.  This has been a blessing a challenge thus far for the quorum's hometeachers.  We are striving to carry this out faithfully.

A unique aspect of the EQ is the growing number of converts of Mongolian origin.  Language barriers and cultural differences within the quorum have posed new challenges and been a source of great blessings for quorum members.  The EQ Presidency has sought to encourage as many activities as possible to encourage fellowshipping/integration of recent converts, as well as promote their spiritual growth.  These activities have included weekly sporting events at the ward building, PPIs, ward/EQ dinner activities, and a break-out Basic Priesthood Ordinances/Principles class that meets once a month during EQ.

One significant quorum activity worth highlight was the Lost Sheep Blitz effort carried out in December.  The activity included quorum members going out as hometeaching companionships (during EQ meeting on Sunday) to knock on two less-active members' doors to introduce themselves, extend a personal invitation to attend church next Sunday, and to assess whether the less active member would like to receive hometeaching visits.  This turned out to be a very motivating activity to all that were able to participate, with many encouraging anecdotes.  This effort also helped the EQP identify quorum members that have since moved from the ward in order to pass their names to "address unknown" so they may be eventually located and their new wards informed.

Overall, the Arlington 2nd Ward Elders Quorum has been very blessed as a newly formed quorum in 2008 with many opportunities to serve one another, and those under our stewardship, as Priesthood holders and disciples of Christ.

B-Ball Champs! (3/20/15)

Champions.  (Except for Mike Moriarty, left.)

With some key offseason acquisitions on the heels of our 2014 championship, the 2015 Arlington 2nd Ward b-ball team had everything it needed to once again raise the trophy.  On paper there was no stopping this team; the challenge would be making sure our playing styles could gel out there on the hardwood -- no small task when you have ballhog egomaniacs like Daniel Russell on your squad.

The season started a little rocky when we got smoked by our nemesis, McLean 2, in the first game of the season.  It was apparent they had been playing together in the offseason, whereas our guys looked like we had just come back from a very extended spring break.  But with some time we got our groove on and managed to peak at the right time, and basically coasted through the playoffs.

Season highlights:

• Christian's drawn-up isolation play at the end of a game in which he successfully buried a 10-foot power-shot to win by 1
• Aaron (rightfully) taking exception to an opposing bench player trying to arbitrarily create a new shotclock rule when we had the ball near the game's end
• Milkshake miscoordination at the end of the championship game
• Guilt-tripping players into volunteering to ref games
• Attempting to persuade Aubrey to name the new Quebe baby, "Bella Vista Quebe", in honor of Philip's heroics against the ward of the same name

Stake Conference Parking Assignment

Of all the stake conference assignments to get, 'parking attendant' is the second-easiest.  The easiest being floral decoration of the Relief Society room, and the hardest being chair take-down and transfer, very closely followed by chair set-up and transfer.  The chair assignment requires hauling 300 chairs from the "Scott's Run" church building and keeping track of those chairs so they can be successfully hauled back.  This wouldn't be so difficult for our ward if we had more trucks in the ward, but, alas, being closer to the city we mostly have Honda Accords and hand-me-down Le Sabres.  So we were very pleased to get the parking assignment this round.

The crew was very professional, and some of them even managed to sneak out just in time to double up on their duties as choir singers as well.  The real feat was being able to avoid a severe case of hat-head and still look presentable up there on the stage.  Of course, that wouldn't have been a problem for Han, whose icy Korean veins permitted him to stoically brave the cold without so much as an earmuff.

Mixed messages?  One of the most important duties of the parking crew is to provide consistent direction; all without the aid of walkie-talkies.
(Not pictured: Wes Coulam, Pace Barker, Byron Dixon, Bill Simmons)

The 'staging' phase on the adjacent field -- the most technical part of the job.  This is where the crew makes or breaks its reputation.  Our strategy was to preserve the snow-covered spots for cars with 4WD.  Nobody got stuck and nobody yelled at us, so we considered the day a big success.

Quezada Move - Timelapse

Quezada Move - Timelapse from pace barker on Vimeo.

Conversion Story - Pace Barker

The Savior, while manifesting his resurrected and glorified body to Thomas and others, once said, “…[B]lessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) While I do not wish to imply that I have been left in the dark in my quest to know of the reality of God, the atonement, and the gospel in general, I would categorize myself as one who has not seen. Despite this lack of an undeniable witness I can claim that I have a firm belief in the gospel, and I think I can say that I have been converted.

I take comfort in a recent teaching from Elder Christofferson, when he gave his inaugural apostolic address, in which he taught that, in general, conversion is a process and not an instant in time.

“You may ask, Why doesn’t this mighty change happen more quickly with me? You should remember that the remarkable [conversions] of King Benjamin’s people, Alma, and some others in scripture are just that—remarkable and not typical. For most of us, the changes are more gradual and occur over time. Being born again, unlike our physical birth, is more a process than an event. And engaging in that process is the central purpose of mortality." - Elder D. Todd Christofferson, 2008 General Conference, Born Again

Putting conversion in those terms, I can cite several experiences/processes that have contributed to my change of heart. I must mention beforehand that the below will be boring, but, as I recently tried to explain to my wife, Val, boring doesn’t need to preclude "good".

Baptism

On February 19, 1990, I, of myself, chose to be baptized and to make a commitment to follow the example and teachings of the Savior. I remember my simple but firm faith in the Lord, the feeling of purity of having my sins washed away, and my corresponding desire to keep myself clean for as long as possible. I also remember the day well since it was one of only a handful of days in my whole childhood in which there was snowfall in Phoenix. It was no descending dove, but it was nice to feel special and connected with God, even if it was just a coincidence. Finally, I also remember receiving my first set of scriptures: leather-bound and burgundy, with my name embossed in block letters. The sensation of opening up that same set of scriptures – the feel, the heft, the scent –still has the ability to bring me right back to that seat where they were first handed to me in that baptismal room so long ago.

Nauvoo

When I was about 15 years old I had the opportunity to go on a Young Men’s trip to Nauvoo (and nearby church history sites) with my dad and older brother and about 20 other attendees from my ward. To see the sites in person and to really internalize the struggles of the early saints and comprehend the urgency and sincerity of their/our cause was eye-opening for me. It helped that we had a very knowledgeable stake leader there (Steve Rizley) as our tour guide. He opened up the doctrines of the scriptures (D&C 121 in particular) and the history of the church in a way that made it all very real for me. I vividly remember touring places like Liberty Jail, Adam-Ondi-Ahman, Carthage Jail, etc., and I testified in a meeting then, and I testify now that Joseph Smith was a prophet. As secularism, changing times, and the other forces of the world occasionally crash in on me, that trip, and the feelings that accompanied it, have continually served as a source of strength for my testimony.

Temple Endowment

Receiving my endowments in the St. George temple on May 23, 2001, was a sacred experience for me. I’m glad for the covenants I was able to make there and for my opportunity to keep them throughout my life. The protection I get from the Lord and the reverence I feel for the temple help to round out my overall conversion.

Missionary

My mission was fairly typical, though undeniably special at the same time. I had an OK amount of success helping to bring people into the gospel; I had occasional small & simple miracles; I studied a lot (both doctrine and language as well as teaching methods) and consistently worked to validate my faith and my purpose; I learned a lot from my companions and fellow missionaries; etc. etc. One instance I vividly recall, however, is coming home one night to our garden-style apartment in Greensboro, NC, and sitting down on the couch and picking up a small study manual, known as the libro gris (the gray book), which had a lot of Book of Mormon commentary, and progress charts, and some of my personal notes. The day was exhausting but otherwise typical in most every way. But for some reason – perhaps because reading through a study manual at night in addition to my habitual and compulsory morning study was “going the extra mile” – I had a very strong sensation of happiness, positivity, peace, and validation.

Marrying Val

One of the biggest spiritual steps I’ve ever taken has been marrying Val. Her genuineness and sincerity as it relates to the gospel is so complete that it continually challenges and refines me, forcing me to intellectually and spiritually grapple with the tenets of the gospel, and improve my habits and behavior. (She is truly like a refiner’s fire.)

Israel

It is true that one need not literally walk where Jesus walked in order to metaphorically tread his path of discipleship, but I won’t deny that I felt very close to him by being on the temple mount where Isaac was nearly sacrificed but where Christ was actually sacrificed; and by sitting on the coasts of the Sea of Galilee; and by “abiding in the fields” in Bethlehem where the shepherds saw the angels; and by ponderously staring into a long-surviving olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane; and countless other examples of sacred sites that called to mind the reality of the Savior and of the bible in general. But perhaps the site where I was most moved was in the Garden Tomb where our tour group stopped for a testimony meeting. I recall feeling both a spiritual and physical surety of the Savior’s atonement and resurrection. I testified then (and still feel this way) that I was envious of the two travelers on the road to Emmaus who declared, “did not our hearts burn within us?” But concluded that my heart also burned within me, and I was glad to somehow share in that experience and add to the composite witness of the reality of the resurrection.

Serving as Elders Quorum President

I can’t point to any stand-out experience in my service within my current calling that has converted me to the gospel; I can only say that the process has somehow helped me to make the more conscious decision to be a disciple of Christ. I care less now about my image with the world, and more about my standing with God. There is certainly lots and lots of room for improvement but I think it’s worth noting how this calling has helped me to convert.

Reading the Book of Mormon

I have tried to regularly read the Book of Mormon for much of my life. Sometimes it’s more challenging than it is satisfying, but on many occasions I have been awed by the depth, the straightforwardness, and the general spirit that accompanies the sacred book. There are several chapters (e.g. Alma 34, Mosiah 15, 2 Nephi 2/9) that have had a profound impact on me and on my understanding of the gospel. By way of example, just earlier today I was reading some of the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi capped off by Nephi’s commentary in 2 Ne 25. Sometimes, like today, I’m fortunate enough to really connect with Isaiah’s writings and grasp some portion of the beauty of the prose, the glory and magnitude of the prophesies, and the aptness of the symbolism. To finish those chapters and then jump into the commentary and prophesies of an Israel-fled, law-of-Moses-abiding, ancient American prophet (Nephi) who engraved such things as can be found in that chapter is nothing short of a spiritual feast. Countless experiences like this have greatly contributed to my conversion, and firmness of testimony.

Examples of Others

The faithfulness, firmness of testimony, and selflessness of the many prophets and apostles that I have seen come and go over my years serves as a comforting reminder of the truthfulness of our cause. Additionally, I must mention the faithfulness and teachings of my parents, my grandparents (my grandpa in particular), and my parents-in-law, as additional sources of strength in my overall conversion.

My Personal Relationship with God

As I mentioned at the beginning, I do not consider myself to be a man of spiritual connectedness (“a visionary man” as Sariah would say of Lehi) given to various manifestations, whisperings, dreams, impressions, etc. Nevertheless, I have had a cherished handful of identifiable moments in which I know that God was speaking to me. Incidentally, most of these have come through one form or another of priesthood blessings.

Conclusion

While my conversion story is more a diversified account statement than a “story”, I think it highlights the many ways in which the creature can steadily put off the natural man and become reborn in Christ.

I testify of our eternal relationship with God the Father. I believe in Jesus Christ and his atonement and resurrection and his infinite love for all of mankind. I know that Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and that the Book of Mormon is a true account which validates the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the only true and living church on the face of the earth.

EQ History - 2013

2013 closed with Pace Barker as the elders quorum president and the presidency consisting of Matthew Chandler as first counselor, Daniel Harbuck as second counselor, Robert Brown as secretary and Yogendra Paneru as assistant secretary.

The quorum rendered countless acts of service throughout the year.  In the October Lost Sheep Rescue all third-hour meetings were spent visiting les-active members two-by-two.  Over sixty households were visited and nearly every team was able to make one home visit.

Baz Otgondorj was baptized into the quorum we saw Ian Evans and Paul Johnson leave for missions.

The elder's quorum also enjoyed some great activities. A BBQ was held at Lacey Woods Park in typical elder's quorum fashion—complete with hot dogs with no toppings, warm root beer, and all of this in the dark by the light of cell phones. The priesthood session of the October General Conference was broadcast online for the first time, but that didn't stop the quorum from holding its semi-annual pre-session burger and shake party at BGR. The tradition of holding an annual Turkey Bowl and a May hike in West Virginia continued.

The quorum set a goal for every member to do one piece of family history for their ancestors, in particular to take a name to the temple for ordinances.  Many brethren fulfilled this assignment and reported uplifting experiences.

We were uplifted in our quorum discussions and were able to strengthen and support one another through our testimonies of the Savior and our gospel experiences.

Home Teaching In More Inspired Ways

On August 31, 2014, we had a presidency lesson based on a 30-minute Q&A webcast with former Relief Society general president, Sister Julie B. Beck.

It's really a fantastic interview, and is eye-opening to anyone (particularly visiting-teaching women or home-teaching men) who wants to take their ministry up a notch and better follow the example of the Savior.

Sister Beck.  Doesn't mince words.

Below are some of the highlights I extracted from the interview, and which I relayed to the quorum during the lesson.  (Note that I replace most references to visiting teaching with home teaching.)

• The Lord is not going to ask if your home teaching is 100%; but did you care. [5:00]
• This is a ministry He cares about.  this is the one place he asks us to minister one-on-one.  This is a test.  Are we willing to "come follow me?" [5:30]
• Why is it so hard? Because the adversary.  It's our responsibility to get over the "issues".  Go to the Lord and ask to get over the barrier.  He'll help you.  He is mightier than all the earth. [7:40)
• Pres. Eyring has said "the only system that would work on this scale is this system." [10:30]
• Instead of ending our visits with, "If there's anything need...", let us rather ask, "What concerns do you have?", "What gospel questions do you have?", "Would you allow me to help you with...?" [11:50]
• Be like Mormon who was "quick to observe."  Pray for this gift
• 3 key questions to measure our effectiveness: [14:00]
1. Does my home teacher help me grow spiritually?
2. Does my home teacher care deeply about my family?
3. Will my home teacher take action without needing to be invited?
• Matt 5:44 - Love thine enemies -- this can mean loving people that don't want to be loved.  If we home teach only those families that we're buddies with, "do not even the publicans the same?" [Ouch!]  You have the opportunity to pray for them.  You are a disciple of Jesus Christ, and promise to remember him.  What better way to keep our covenants? [19:00]
• What about home teaching alone?  Serve in more inspired ways.  You don't have to occupy the same space to minister to others. [27:00]
• One sister said she didn't need a friend to be her visiting teacher, she needed a grandmother.  Someone to share wisdom, watch her kids so she could go to the temple, etc. [33:00]
• "I'm a disciple, and I'm up for this.  And it will be fun." [35:00]

Conversion

Below is a recap of a recent lesson from Elders Quorum secretary, Robert Brown.

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"You may ask, Why doesn’t this mighty change happen more quickly with me? You should remember that the remarkable [conversions] of King Benjamin’s people, Alma, and some others in scripture are just that—remarkable and not typical. For most of us, the changes are more gradual and occur over time. Being born again, unlike our physical birth, is more a process than an event. And engaging in that process is the central purpose of mortality."
-Elder D. Todd Christofferson, 2008 General Conference, Born Again

When I read this talk in anticipation of my lesson it reminded me of our last stake conference when we talked about Alma the Younger's change. The speakers at stake conference often emphasized his swift conversion, how he was living life in one direction and then afterwards he changed—started living it in another direction—and it bothered me all conference because I see Alma as someone who had always lived his beliefs to the fullest, same as Paul from the New Testament. To me that doesn't seem so much like a "change" as much as a "redirection," and I think the semantic difference is important. I don't know much about the specific past history of King Benjamin's people, but Peter seems to me a better example of someone who experiences a gradual "mighty change," and so is a more useful example for people who believe but struggle to live up to their beliefs.

Alma and Paul's conversion vs. Peter's

Peter hastily jumping out of the boat to greet the resurrected Lord (John 21)

Paul and Alma are testaments to obedience—whichever side of the Gospel they were on, they were true to their convictions. Peter, though, was a derelict fisherman who regardless of his beliefs, followed his impulse at all times: He jumps off a boat to walk on water and almost drowns, cuts off a guy's ear in front of the a Prince of Peace, tells Jesus over and over again how much he loves him without catching on that he needs to feed His sheep. This was his strength and his weakness, and as convictions grow they begin to inform his impulses, his forthrightness, and lack of guile, and this allows the reader of the New Testament to watch the manifestation of his conversion and convictions. When his testimony is strong, not adequate yet to his responsibilities, but still developing (like many members of the church), he denies Christ three times, but only a little while later he defended Christ so fiercely and with so little reservation that he was crucified for both his convictions and his fierce unwielding defense of it. His testimony, conviction, and understanding actually change him into a new creature, the rock and foundation of Christ's organization.

If we want a mighty change in our life, like the people of King Benjamin, or Paul, or Alma the Younger, and we don't want to wait for an angel or a great talk, we can relate Peter's life to ours, and study his change. If we are as brave and devoted as Peter the idiot who almost drowns, maybe we, too, can end up being so devoted and converted as Peter, the rock of Christ.

EQ History - 2012

At the close of 2012, the Elders Quorum presidency consisted of Pace Barker as President, Ryan Peterson as first counselor, Daniel Harbuck as second counselor, Matt Kantorski as secretary and Yogendra Paneru as Assistant Secretary. During the year, the Elders Quorum leadership had changed to include Yogendra Paneru as Assistant Secretary.

The Elders Quorum was blessed to witness many miracles this year, including the baptism of Yogendra Paneru’s family. The year was marked with record high home teaching of 88% in November, with attendance as high as twenty-four in Elders Quorum. Tyler Green organized hurricane Sandy Relief over Thanksgiving Weekend, and Abraham Smith coordinated hunger-relief efforts in conjunction with the Stake and State’s day of service. Abraham continues the service by coordinating Elders Quorum support of hunger-relief service of the nearby Mount Olivet United Methodist Church.

Latter-day Saint volunteers from dozens of congregations spent Thanksgiving weekend helping families in New York and New Jersey neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy. More than 6,500 Mormons answered the call to serve their communities by cleaning out flood-damaged homes and treating them against mold.

For the first time in known history, the majority of moves the Elders Quorum helped with (out of 13 total) were moves to remain within our ward boundaries – a testament to the family atmosphere of the ward.

Activities included a board game night, annual barbecue and "Turkey Bowl" Thanksgiving Football game, a temple trip for new members to perform baptisms for the dead, organizing the Ward’s Mongolian New Year and Halloween Parties, watching a BYU Football game, and meeting for dinner before Priesthood Sessions of General Conference.

EQ History - 2011

At the close of 2011, the Elders Quorum presidency consisted of Pace Barker as President, Ryan Peterson as first counselor, Daniel Harbuck as second counselor, and Matt Kantorski as secretary. During the year, the Elders Quorum leadership had changed as Joe Brubaker was called to serve as a counselor in the bishopric and Sterling Fillmore moved out of the ward with the birth of their third child.

Outgoing President Joe Brubaker

Outgoing 1st Counselor Sterling Fillmore, right

The Elders Quorum was blessed to have various members join its ranks through baptism.  One Nepalese member, Suman Sangroula even received the Aaronic priesthood and was able to baptise a fellow Nepalese sister, Babita Ranjitkar, just a few months after his baptism.  What's more, Suman received the Aaronic priesthood from another Nepalese convert, Yogendra Paneru.

Toward the end of 2011 the Elders Quorum presidency made a change in the format for home teaching reporting by opting to "go digital" through the use of an email-friendly Google form which feeds responses into a secure Google doc before it's uploaded (manually) to the Church's reporting system, MLS. We have already seen significant improvement in both the breadth (number of responses) and depth (thoroughness of comments) of home teaching reporting and we are optimistic that we will be able to attend to all of the needs of the quorum with thorough home teaching as our primary resource.

Conversion Story - Abele

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 4 years since I decided to become a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I grew up in a crazy life style that most non-members would consider ordinary. My conversion story differs from most in that I’m the only member of my family to have been baptized.  Often times I’m asked by my peers why I decided to join a church during what’s suppose to be one of the most adventurous and liberating periods of my life. I suppose theirs a perception out there that living a moral and Christ-like life translates into a dull and restrictive way of living. While I’ve certainly had many bumps along my journey, my decision to become a member has transformed who I am.

My conversion story dates back to the fall of 2009, when I moved to Arlington, VA. Growing up, most of my family was involved in many different denominations of Christianity. None of which really connected with me.  At the time, although I believed in God, I didn’t really consider myself to be a religious person. Fast-track to the middle of my junior when I endured an abundance of personal issues that brought me to one of the lowest points of my life. 

It wasn’t until then that I decided that I wanted a different life. I wasn’t sure what type of life it would be, but I was sure that I didn’t want my life to continue the way that it was.  Clearly I needed change. One night I got on my knees and prayed for that change. Little did I know that my prayer was almost immediately going to be answered. 

Soon after I ended up meeting one of my now very close friends. At first, I was completely unaware of their affiliation with the church and our friendship grew naturally on its own. It wasn’t till several months later that I was invited to meet with the missionaries. I was initially skeptical about it all, but out of pure politeness I agreed to do so. My first meeting with the missionaries didn’t go very well. Within the first five minutes of our meeting I was asked to commit to a baptismal date of a religion I’d never known about. I left thinking that this was the last of this church I’d ever hear about. 

A few months passed and again I was invited to attend church. The idea of attending 3 hours of church seemed a little daunting at the time but I agreed to do so anyways. Before heading off to church I prayed to heavenly father that he would reveal to me if this were the right direction to follow. To my amazement, I felt something that I don't believe that I had felt in a long time. I knew I was home. The Holy Ghost confirmed to me that I was in the right place. 

Over the course of the next few months, I met with the missionaries, slowly going through each lesson and understanding the principles of the gospel. A few short weeks later I was baptized and confirmed a member of the church.  Over the course of the next few years, my testimony continued to grow and strengthen. Knowing that through all of my afflictions, the lord is with me and will strengthen me provides me with everlasting peace and comfort. “Whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.” Alma 36:3

I have a testimony, and I know that this is Christ's Church built upon a foundation of prophets and apostles with Jesus Christ himself being that Chief corner stone. I bear record that this is the only true church. 

-Abele (July 15, 2014)

Don't Fear the Tumult

Reading Matthew 26 & 27 the other day my eyes were opened to some good insights that are packed into those 2 chapters.  Focusing on just a few of those insights I'd like to first explore 3 interesting characters whose stories are discussed there: Judas, Peter, and Pilate.

I  grapple with understanding how these 3 men will be judged for their various actions, but I think there are some good lessons to learn.  To recap their various situations:

Judas - One of the Twelve.  As had been prophesied by Jesus, he betrayed Jesus by assisting the chief priests and elders to unlawfully arrest him, all for 30 pieces of silver.

Peter - Also one of the Twelve, and the eventual leader of the church.  Also as prophesied by the Savior, he denied Christ 3 times before the cock crowed, despite his forceful assurances just hours before that he would never do such a thing.

Pilate - The local ruling Roman governor whose responsibility it was to uphold or dismiss the accusations against Jesus.

What's interesting about Judas is that while we all remember him as the worst kind of traitor (indeed, his very name epitomizes the act) it's easy to forget that as a member of the holy order of the Twelve and as part of the Savior's inner circle he must have been incredibly valiant at some point and must have brought about so much good during his roughly 3 years as a special witness of Christ.  (The ultimate tragic example in the parable of the sower of a seed that fell among the thorns and got choked by the cares of the world.)  We know his fate because the Savior said that it would have been better that that man had not been born, but it's especially tragic because very shortly after the act we read that he repented by acknowledging his error and asking to give the money back, and ultimately hung himself for sorrow.  He certainly wasn't pure evil, and I think he is deserving of pity.

What intrigues (and frankly, worries) me about Peter is how quickly his rock-solid testimony could be shaken.  When I think about it in modern-day terms and I apply his situation to myself I can easily see how, for example, if someone told me that I would [oh, I don't know, drink a beer], I would probably tell this person that they don't know me well, and I would never do that; but maybe I would find myself in a totally new circumstance--and not so much out of rebellion but out of convenience and a belief that what I was doing was really just to minimize fuss and drama--and I would cave.  In Peter's case there's the interesting caveat that the Savior actually said, "thou shalt deny me thrice," and maybe it was a critical growth opportunity for Peter on his discipleship trajectory.

Pilate yielding to the crowd

Getting back to that concept of minimizing fuss and drama, I think this is what Pilate's tragic flaw is.  We can tell that Pilate marvels at Christ and recognizes some divinity in him.  His wife even had a dream the night before about Jesus, and tried to convince Pilate to let him go.  But despite Pilate's soft efforts to free Jesus, in the end he's more worried about pleasing the crowd and when he sees that a "tumult was made" he ceremoniously but ineffectually washes his hands of the act.  I tend to want to give him the benefit of the doubt and put the blame on the crowd and chalk it up to unfair circumstances, but ultimately the buck stops with him and he behaved everlastingly ignominiously.  Contrast his leadership with the Savior's who, when he saw that people were making his Father's house "an house of merchandise," drove them out forcefully with a whip and overturned tables.


Both Pilate and Peter (and I guess Judas too) serve as great cautionary tales to not allow ourselves to fear what man can do (D&C 122:9) and to strive to be steadfast and immovable in our testimonies.

One final insight from these two chapters is found in 27:42, where we read about the chief priests and scribes and elders mocking Christ as he hung on the cross, saying, "He saved others; himself he cannot save.  If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him."  To me this serves as a perfect example of mankind's desire to make our own logical deductions based on our limited perspective.  Nowadays someone might argue that God doesn't exist based on all the suffering they see, or traditional marriage is outdated, or any number of "logical" arguments, but it's important to first consider our limited perspective and that "even as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are [God's] ways higher than [man's] ways." (Isa 55:8-9)

Why Am I a Mormon? (2/2/14)

Today we were instructed by the recently released 1st Counselor in the Elders Quorum Presidency, Daniel Harbuck.  Kudos to him for not only asking permission to still have the privilege of teaching the lesson even though  he had recently been released ,but for also earnestly praying and seeking inspiration as to what the lesson topic should be weeks in advance.  This preparation and humility really shone through in the lesson and helped to culminate in what, in my estimation, was one of the watershed moments of spirituality and testimony strengthening in this quorum’s history.

To help set the tone he asked everyone in advance to read one or more short lessons from Bro. Clayton Christensen’s ‘The Power of Everyday Missionaries’ website.  He also asked select people  to come prepared to class with a paragraph explaining, “Why am I a Mormon?”, with corresponding encouragement to post that explanation on their mormon.org profile page.  In addition, he asked a few class members if they’d be willing to read/recite the account of Joseph Smith’s first vision in either their mission language or their native or alternate language.

As the time for the actual lesson arrived, he began by citing Doctrine and Covenants, section 6; a missionary-minded section given in the very early history of the Church  in April, 1829.  The section is written by Joseph Smith in response to a request by Oliver Cowdery, his scribe in the translation of the Book of Mormon, to gain a further witness of the divinity of the work in which they were engaged.  The Lord responded (through this revelation in section 6 to Joseph Smith), “Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.  Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?  What greater witness can you have than from God?”  The “cast your mind upon the night” concept resonated, clearly with Daniel, and I think with many of us in the class as well.  Many of us in the Church have groped for answers to our peculiar and trying faith, often pleading with the Lord for validation and assurance.  Casting our collective minds upon the night we cried unto the Lord and remembering the peace that eventually followed was a provocative reminder of our human yearnings and the Lord’s continually outstretched arm (Isa 5:25, 9:12, 10:4).

He then asked for any volunteers that could share their prepared paragraph on why they are a Mormon.  David spoke up and shared his powerful story of how he had doubted his faith for many years, and was almost excited to leave the house and go to school, and was actually sitting on his bed making plans to leave the church for good when a miraculous thing happened -- he received a witness that the Lord needed him in the Church.  (And he has humbly and dutifully served in the Church ever since.)  [FULL STORY HERE.]

Daniel then asked a few previously selected people to recite Joseph Smith’s account of what is known as the ‘First Vision’ in which he went to a grove of trees in Palmyra, NY, to pray to know which church he should join and was visited by God the Father, and Jesus Christ the Son, who instructed him to join none of them, but eventually to assist in restoring the same church which existed on and off in The Savior’s era and in Moses’ era, and with all the holy prophets.

Ben Burgoyne, who served a mission in Germany several years ago, commenced with a recitation in German.  He could scarcely get the first word before he was apparently flooded with a recollection of all the sacred, the challenging, the joyful, and the agonizing moments of his mission, and was nearly overcome with emotion before reciting from memory the all-important lines,

“...sah ich gerade über meinem Haupt, heller als das Licht der Sonne, eine Säule aus Licht, die allmählich herabkam, bis sie auf mich fiel. Kaum war sie erschienen, da fand ich mich auch schon von dem Feind befreit, der mich gebunden gehalten hatte. Als das Licht auf mir ruhte, sah ich zwei Personen von unbeschreiblicher Helle und Herrlichkeit über mir in der Luft stehen. Eine von ihnen redete mich an, nannte mich beim Namen und sagte, dabei auf die andere deutend: Dies ist mein geliebter Sohn. Ihn höre!”

"...I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

All told, we had it read by the following members of the quorum in 13 languages:
Ben Burgoyne (German)
Rey Benitez (Spanish)
Han Lee (Mandarin)
Dan Kim (Korean)
Azzaya Nyam-Ochir (Mongolian)
David Sessions (Polish)
Karl Sneider (Turkish)
Elder Gledhill (Ukrainian)
Andrew Smith (Indonesian)
Andrew Cusick (French)
Anthony Latta (Russian) [I will not soon forget the image of an investigator reading the account in Russian while a nearby Russian-speaking return missionary wept with emotion]
Daniel Harbuck (Portuguese)
Elder Christensen (English)

Truly, this standard of truth will penetrate every continent, visit every climb, sweep every country, and sound in every ear.

It’s pretty remarkable to belong to a group of men that can be spiritual and emotional with each other in such a constructive way; and to catch a glimpse of their testimonies and their experiences which range the entire globe, really.

Hi, My Name is David, and I'm a Mormon (2/2/14)

I spent the morning watching “I’m a Mormon” videos trying to brainstorm as to why I am a Mormon. That I have to watch videos about other Mormons to discover why I am a Mormon is, well, somewhat shameful, and I realized that I have not seriously contemplated my reasoning for being a Mormon in several years. I guess Alma was speaking to me when he said  “if ye have experienced a change of heart, . . . I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26)

I made the decision to be Mormon on July 4, 2004 when I was 18 years old. I had recently graduated from high school and was trying to decide if being Mormon was worth it. I had made plans to attend college where I would conveniently stop going to church  and be able to forget the whole church thing. I was somewhat like Amulek who recalled that he “harden[ed] [his] heart, for [he] was called many times and ... would not hear; ... [he] knew concerning these things (meaning the truthfulness of the gospel), yet [he] would not know; [and] ... went on rebelling against God.” I knew the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-­day Saints taught truth and was God’s Church on Earth, but like Amulek I would not believe.  I was distracted  by the world; the commandments were restrictive, and I wanted to [be] free from it.

July 4th was a Sunday, and I was lying in bed thinking about my plans to leave the Church when I received inspiration from God. I remember specifically hearing a voice in my mind that said, “Do not leave, I need you in this Church.” It was a strange sensation at the time because my mind was talking to me in third person, but when I think about it now, I realize that the voice speaking to me was the Holy Ghost. I learned in those few seconds that God knew me, that He loved me, and that He had a plan for me. Learning these truths changed my decision to leave the church and consequently the trajectory of my life.

Since that summer day, I have had other experiences that explain my decision to be a Mormon. I have read the Book of Mormon in its entirety several times and know that it is from God because of the guidance and inspiration I have gained from its pages. I have felt the redemption of the Atonement of Jesus Christ as I have repented, and I have seen how the commandments protect us from difficult experiences, allow God to provide us with blessings, and bring lasting peace to our lives.

While I may have spent a little too much time this morning watching the “I’m a Mormon” videos, I enjoy watching them because they inspire me. The videos allow me to see how other Mormons navigate life and how the Church influences their lives for the better. I hope you know off the top of your head why you are a Mormon. But, if you [are] like me, and the question leaves you scratching your head, I hope you take the time to sit down, ponder, and write down why you are a Mormon.

My name is David. I am a law student, a father, a husband, and yes, I am a Mormon too.

B-Ball Champs! (4/4/14)

Honor: Restored

After coming up short year after year, we finally got the monkey off our back and beat our arch nemesis, the McLean 2nd Ward, to win the McLean Virginia stake basketball tournament.

Some season highlights:

• Winning our first game by Aaron Dodini stealing the inbounds pass with 2 seconds left and putting up a quick layup to win it.
• Christian Dees earning the nickname, “Coast to Coast” by doing just that, while also adding the flare of a 360 spin and a never-ending hangtime finger-roll.
• Any time Daniel Harbuck shot one of his patented, high-arching 3-pointers (with great accuracy, it must be added)
• The Abraham Smith no-look, over-the-shoulder assist
• The devoted fan club (special props to Aubrey, Penny, and Nelly)
• The increasingly disappearing shot clock substituted usually by some unwitting fan with an iPhone.
• Andrew Smith jetpack rebounds
• Devan Hanneman knowing his own deadly combination of rage and size and opting to leave the premises entirely when he was the victim of too many bad officiating calls.  
• Victory shakes at Burger 7 on Lee Highway
• Repeated weekly announcements in Priesthood opening exercises  to make sure everyone got the word that our team had won this year

Witnesses of the Book of Mormon (6/1/14)

JFS Manual, Chapter 9

Because of the Relief Society's 1st-Sunday Visiting Teaching Conference, many of our quorum members had to go down to Primary and Nursery to spell the sisters from their normal assignments and free them up to attend their all-hands conference.  This meant that attendance in our quorum was poor; though the lesson itself was rich.

Andrew taught from the Joseph Fielding Smith manual.  Before commencing the formal lesson, however, he opened up the class for the sharing of any spiritual experiences that any of the quorum members might have had in the past week.  One class member, John, shared an experience about feeling inspired to suddenly call his father on Friday which somehow culminated in him doing temple work for his great great grandfather on Saturday; a day he described as, "one of the most spiritual days of my life."  Andrew then went on to encourage us all, in what has become his broken-record mantra, "I know the Lord is blessing you guys with spiritual experiences, and I invite you to write them down cause I know you're having them."

In diving in to the lesson we covered the background of the 3 witnesses and then the 8 witnesses of the Book of Mormon; men who were permitted to see and touch the gold plates, and who, though in many cases took issue with Joseph Smith and/or the Church, continued to affirm their witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

The 8 Witnesses

We then discussed what it means to be a witness and how one comes to 'know' a thing.  The method of trial-and-error was put forth as one way we can know, and the corresponding example of touching a hot stove to learn that it's hot was discussed.  From that, Andrew shared a neat experience of an incident on his mission in France when a man asked him to prove to him why he, Andrew, could say that he "knows" so many things (e.g. God lives, Jesus died for us, etc.).  In his best French, he shared the analogy of the wind.  He asked the man if he had ever seen the wind, to which the man admitted he hadn't; he had only seen the manifestations of the wind.  Andrew explained that this is like the principles of the gospel.  When we test our faith we often receive blessings, or we hear someone else testify of a principle, or we receive an answer to prayer, etc.  These instances are like the leaf blowing on the tree or the water rippling -- manifestations of a greater power at play.  It was noted, however, that the Book of Mormon is unique because it is not the wind, it is the hot stove.  It physically exists.  Though we don't have the fortune of handling the original gold plates we can read the divinely translated copy, and we can put Moroni's promise (Moroni 10:3-5) to the test and learn for ourselves that it is true.  As the prophet Joseph Fielding Smith said in 1956,

“I bear witness to you that the Lord has made it very clear to me by revelation which I have received, and many of you who are here present can bear witness likewise, that these things are true, and that is the privilege of any sincere person who will endeavor to read with a prayerful spirit and a desire to know whether the book is true or not; and he will receive that testimony according to the promise that was made by Moroni, who sealed the record to come forth in the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times.”

The missionaries, Elder Gustafson and Elder Black, were then invited up to demonstrate the typical way in which they share the story of the Book of Mormon with investigators.  They showed us the painting of Moroni praying over the plates before burying them around 420 A.D. in the hopes that they would be found by some future generation -- basically a message in a bottle.  They asked us to ponder what words Moroni might have said as he prayed over these plates and over the future generations that would read them.  They invited us to note the specifics of Moroni's promise in chapter 10 (e.g. remember the kindness of the Lord, ponder the words of the book, ask with faith, demonstrate real intent, etc.) and gain (or reaffirm) our own witness of this divine testament of Jesus Christ.

Ultimate Frisbee (5/7/14)

Can it still be considered 'ultimate' when it's just a 2-on-2 frisbee game involving halftime donuts: YES.

Motivation

The poor turnout (out of 50 or so invites) was really just a function of poor marketing & communication--an unfortunate hallmark of many elders quorums in the Church.  Had I not inadvertently marked the event on the evite calendar as May 24th (instead of May 17th) and had I not sent out the correction email at midnight on the eve of battle, there's no telling what kind of turnout we might have had.

As it was, we still had a great time.  The weather couldn't have been much better, and the donut: elder ratio  was indeed favorable.  Also, the field presented us with some nice bonuses to make things more interesting: a roughly 4-foot wide puddle on the visiting side's 10-yard line from the rainfall the night before, and an elevated manhole on the home team's 20-yard line.  We deemed that the puddle, if inadvertently trodden upon, would result in an immediate point for the team with the mud-bespattered player; no small consideration in a game where the first team to gain 4 points wins.

Halftime

Based on a very arbitrary heads/tails frisbee toss we split the teams into James and Matt ("JM") vs. Alfredo and Pace ("AP").  Both teams came out ferociously, gunning for the endzones and running Brady/Moss-style wide-receiver routes most every play, with a very low success rate it must be noted.  This caused both teams to tire very quickly and reconsider their strategies.  JM started running a lot of short-pass, Wes-Welker routes, often making passes of less than 2 feet in distance, while AP continued to try for the long bombs.  JM managed to win the first game (with the help of a Matt puddle splash) and then we all broke for donuts and whole milk.

Refueled and re-invigorated, AP came out guns blazing and things started to click for their long bomb strategy.  They won the next 2 games, and with enough collective panting between us all we decided to call it a day.

Game Notes

• The obscure ruling that any team with a player that vomited any of the halftime donuts during the 2nd half of play would be awarded a point did not factor in.  

Postgame Tricks (2 frisbees at once)