talk and teaser notes

Stake Conference last week - some good talks and a teaser

Saturday night -
The first speaker talked about the Mormon pioneers and told us that the youth are going on a 3 day trek with handcarts in the Sierra Nevadas this summer. They will be well fed - part of the time. Part of the time they will go hungry. I don't think they are taking tents. It is going to be an experience. Benjamin is looking forward to it.

Sister Little said imagine a king is moving to your city, a palace is built, and you are invited to visit. The King of Kings has his palace on a hill outside of town and we are invited to visit. Light is poured out on us through the blessings of the temple. - We are a Light-powered people.

Perri Ann Allen - It is estimated that 90 billion people have lived. There are a lot of people needing and waiting for their work to be done. Three years ago she didn't know how nor was much interested in family history. However, she wanted to be obedient when the stake president asked us to bring 2 people to the temple - a nonmember friend to the Open House and an ancestor to the temple. She asked for help. She quickly found a family on her husband's side. Now she loves, loves, LOVES family history.
Kae Fisher - the Lord is not asking us to die a martyr's death, he is asking us to live a disciple's life.

Pres. Fisher - improve our peripheral vision. When he was a youth, he and a friend or two (?) had ridden their motorcycles over to the Dover building and were out in the parking lot thinking they were pretty cool and tough. Well, some bigger, ‘cooler’, tougher guys came over from the park and asked to ride his motorcycle. He said no. The request was repeated. The atmosphere was threatening. Alan saw men coming out of the church building and going to their cars. He hoped, fervently, that one of them might notice the young men and realize that he was in trouble and needed help. Intent upon their own business, they did not notice. I don’t think he told us what happened, but apparently he survived. The message is that we need to be more aware of those around us.

Don't leave your meetings without reaching out to someone new.



Sunday, January 24
Our Stake Presidency was changed around - the first counselor, William Bair, was released and the 2nd Counselor, Brother Norman made First Counselor. Doug Diamond was called as Second Counselor. Patriarch Fisher is designated non- functioning as Stake Patriarch after 32 years. Patriarch is an ordination, they are not released. He can still give blessings like for his family. New Stake Patriarch William Bair. Bishop Young's name and Bishop Dyke's name was included with list of High Councilmen!! Ward Conference next week will be well attended!

Pres Jardin - Take the message into all the world and where you cannot go, send. When you communicate with your friends, include Mormon messages.

Pres. Fisher – told the story of a little boy at a concert by a great pianist. Unfortunately, it is not true – according to TruthorFiction.com:

There are various versions of this story.


In some of them, the boy plays "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."


In this version, it is said the boy played Chopsticks, a simple little tune that every child who has had access to a piano seems to have learned how to play.


There is no evidence this ever happened, however.


Ignacy Jan Paderewski (1860-1941) was a Polish pianist who gained world wide fame and was very popular in the United States.


Paderewski experts say the story may have been inspired by a poster during World War II that promoted a meeting in support of the Polish Relief Fund.


Paderewski is said to have organized the meeting.


The poster included a sketch of Paderewski next to a boy at the piano.


The boy was carrying his belongings wrapped at the end of a stick and was called "Johnny the Wanderer."

It is however, a great story, so here it is. Believe the message even though the event is fiction:

Wishing to encourage her young son's progress on the piano, a mother took her boy to a Paderewski concert. After they were seated, the mother spotted an old friend in the audience and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy rose and eventually explored his way through a door marked "NO ADMITTANCE."
When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.
In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard, innocently picking out "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."
At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child, and he added a running obbligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience.
The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played. Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."
Perhaps that's the way it is with God. What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy. We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful, flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.
The next time you set out to accomplish great feats, listen carefully. You may hear the voice of the Master, whispering in your ear, "Don't quit. Keep playing." May you feel His arms around you and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.
God doesn't seem to call the equipped, rather He seems to equip the called.

Pres Fisher has some big redwood trees on his property. Some of the branches died and became a hazard. They love their trees and spent a lot of money having them trimmed, although they didn’t like chopping up their trees. During a break from the storms, a neighbor called Liz over across the street to look at the light streaming through the new openings in the trees. It was lovely. - The light can shine through us if we trim the dead branches. Trim a dead branch: it is not enough to not be doing something wrong - or not too bad - we need more that is good.
Be faithful. Try a little harder to be a little better. We are approaching the latter end of the latter-days. Keep the commandments of the Lord more fully.

                        ~~~~~~~~~

Did you catch the teaser?  My Bishop has been called to the High Counsel.  He cannot serve in both callings.  Sunday at Ward Conference, we will be presented  with a new Bishopric.