MAKE THE SCRIPTURES YOUR FRIEND

AUGUSTA ZONE WITH ELDER WILLIAM R. WALKER OF THE 1ST QUORUM OF THE 70

Elder William R Walker of the First Quorum of the Seventy toured our mission this past week accompanied by his wife. Elder Walker is over the temple department. Our zone along with two other zones had the opportunity to sit at his feet and be taught by him in Newberry, South Carolina this past Friday. We were the last stop on his tour of our mission. Saturday and Sunday he spoke at a stake conference in Columbia, South Carolina. Usually when guest visit our mission we are instructed to stand as they enter the chapel and remain standing until we are motioned to be seated. This time we were instructed to remain seated and after Elder Walker entered the room we would all have the opportunity to file by and shake his hand. President and Sister Holm, Sister and Elder Walker stood in the front of the chapel and greeted everyone. Elder Walker mentioned that he would speak to each of us but don't try to get in a long  conversation, tell him where we are from and answer any of his questions because there was more than 100 missionaries to pass and shake his hand and he didn't want to cut into the meeting time. As we shook Elder Walker's hand we told him our home is Las Vegas. He asked what stake because he reorganized the Lakes Stake a few years back. He told us President Larkin was released and President Teshimo was called to be the new Stake President. Of course that is our stake and we were very impressed that a General Authority who travels all over the world would remember coming to Las Vegas and even the names of the men who were called and released. Elder Walker was recently in Manus Brazil when the temple was dedicated there on June tenth.
The reception line took about forty five minutes as Elder Walker greeted each missionary with great warmth and love in an unhurried manner. The meeting was conducted in the same manner, with great love and unhurried. The meeting began at nine thirty, at twelve we had a lunch break and picture session, at one o'clock the meeting resumed and was over at three thirty which ended much too soon. Just after the meeting started Elder Walker had to leave the stand and take a phone call from Elder Russell M. Nelson.Elder Walker instructed us to make the scriptures our friend. Use them, study them, mark and write in them. He gave some suggestions on how to mark scriptures and make notes in them. As Elder Walker instructed us he told what he had learned from the twelve and whenever they referred to scriptures in their teaching he would put that apostles initials beside that scripture. President Faust taught that all temptations yield to immersion in the scriptures. As Elder Walker taught when he wanted to use a scripture instead of telling where it was found, he would give the subject and ask where it was found. Elder Walker loves the scriptures and the words of living prophets and apostles and he shared that knowledge with us. He not only shared his knowledge but also his love, the love of the Apostles and that spirit could be felt.

 

The Zone Conference was held in Newberry, South Carolina, about a two hour drive from Augusta, Georgia. We drove straight up the state of South Carolina on state highways and saw lots of beautiful country. Elder Berry drove the van with fourteen Elders and I followed behind in the car with four Sisters. Elder and Sister Laudie drove and transported two Elders and Elder and Sister Gowans drove and transported two Elders also. Only one pair of Elders drove themselves. We do this to help the Elders and Sisters conserve miles on their cars as they are desperately needed in their missionary efforts. The Zone Leaders made all transportation arrangements and we just followed their instructions. Tuesday before the meeting on Friday, Elder Berry and I drove up to Newberry in our car to get a feel for the highway, the best way to get there, time it would take and locate the church. We felt that since we would be responsibility for the safety of so many we needed to be prepared. We know Heavenly Father watches over his servants and protects them but we also needed to do our part and we felt his love and protection as we magnified our calling.

Arrival in Newberry-We just love these missionaries!

We have many joys as we serve with the young Elders and Sisters but this Friday we transported one of our Elders to Newberry along with his luggage which was unusual as this was not transfer day. This Elder came out about eight weeks ago. He came to Augusta from the MTC and was in our district. As we attended District Meetings and other meetings he sat leaned over with his head in his hands and didn't get his scriptures out or Preach My Gospel as we studied and learned how to be more effective. On occasion he would look up and participate. He came to our house on Sunday for dinner and we just loved this missionary and desired for him to have a change of heart. The other Elders never complained about him but we knew President Holm had been in Augusta several times working with this Elder. We don't know the plans for this Elder but we pray for his success.

This week we got good news for a sister the Elders are teaching and since they can't teach a single lady by themselves, Elder Berry and I have been accompanying the Elders. She was interviewed for baptism by President Holm, then President Holm had to get a clearance from the First Presidency. That clearance came through this week, President Holm interviewed her again. Her baptismal date is this Saturday. Since the missionaries have been teaching this Sister she has half hardily been trying to stop smoking. After her interview with the President she stopped that day. This lady has come to church every Sunday and stayed for all the meetings since she she has been taught. This past Sunday she was at church but just couldn't stay awake. After struggling to stay awake in Gospel Essentials Class she sat on the couch in the foyer during Relief Society and slept. We had to wake her up when it was time to go home. She had a busy Friday and Saturday and stayed up late because she was at a family reunion plus not smoking just got the best of her. The family reunion also lasted through Sunday but she decided not to go because Sunday was church day. We are so proud of her, she was at church although she slept through most of it.

Francine was baptized Saturday. There is a long story that goes with Francine. When Elder Caldwell was here she was scheduled to be baptized, the font was filled but no Francine. The Elders tried to contact her all morning by phone but she didn't answer her phone.  Elder Berry and I drove to her house, a granddaughter told us she wasn't home but after asking the granddaughter a few questions, Francine stuck her head out the door and told us she wasn't going to be baptized. Francine had been having some problems with high blood pressure and getting some teeth pulled. Instead of counseling the baptism she just tried to avoid us. About two months have gone by and we haven't seen Francine. When we call she is out of town or other similar excuses. Two Sundays ago she showed up at church and requested to be baptized so Saturday Elder Berry picked her up at her house, drove her to church and Elder Phillips baptized her. Sunday she was confirmed a member of the church.

Elder Ultra, Francine, Elder Phillips



Saturday afternoon at the home of  Francine. Elder Berry loves to take pictures while sitting in the car waiting.

Sunday we had many people return to church who haven't been for a long time. The van had a busy Sunday afternoon picking everyone up and returning them home. One family who wrote the Bishop a letter requesting their name be removed from church records, who Elder Caldwell testified to so boldly, were at church Sunday. The bishop sent Elder Berry and I to  visit them which we did and the Elders also visited. We visited them Saturday afternoon, expressed the Bishops love for them and his desire that they return to church and arranged for the van to pick them up. Although the Elders had done the same thing the previous two weeks and made arrangements for them to be picked up they didn't make it. Sunday they were at church. It saddens us that so many of the people who have been baptized are no longer active and receiving the blessings of the gospel. One of the things we do as we visit the less active and inactive is encourage these people to read the scriptures and learn for themselves and strengthen their testimony. We get commitments from them to read assigned scriptures but when we go back the scriptures haven't been read. Because they don't read and learn for themselves and gain a testimony when people speak against the church they listen and then doubt what the Elders have taught. We desire for them to feel as Nephi felt: "....For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children." (2 Nephi 4:15) We know the scriptures are true and are thankful for this time in our lives for the opportunity to sturdy and ponder them. They give us the strength to go out each day and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are thankful for General Authorities who share their love for the scriptures with us and encourage us to make them our best friend.

Love, Elder and Sister Berry