Sorry, this is long, but please read when you get time. This week-end was our stake conference, and since President Godfrey had been in for 9 years, the presidency was to be reorganized by visiting General Authorities, Elder Ronald Hammond, Area Authority Seventy, and Elder Richard G. Scott, Apostle. It was the first time in memory that an apostle would visited the East Stake. As per standard procedure, former bishops and high counselors, and anyone else considered to have potential are invited to interview for the new stake presidency. I was one of about 26 men to recieve an invitation letter about 2 weeks ago. I suspected some time even earlier that I would recieve such an opportunity. From previous experience with this process, I know that it involves background info being provided the two visiting general authorities ("in the mouth of two or more witnesses") and they conduct all the interviews in rapid succession on the Saturday morning (9 am-2 pm) before the Sunday general session. Therefrom they aquire inspiration as to which individual has been foreordained and specifically chosen by the Lord to fill the position. They then call that person back for a second interview, issue the calling, and then give him a couple of hours to choose two counselors, who are then called back for a second interview and calling. Optimally, they wish all this to happen before the 4 pm Priesthood leadership meeting.
It was announced some time ago that this was to take place and that Elders Hammond and Scott would be our visitors. So I had to contemplate and ruminate about my pending interview for several weeks, not to mention worry about whether I would be called to a presidency postition, and if so, who else should be involved. The Spirit often issues premonitions about such things, but that gets mixed in with tricks that your own mind plays on you, so it can be conflicting and confusing. At some point I experienced signigicant releif by recalling my testimony of the doctrine of foreordination and my confidence in the inspiration of our Priesthood leaders, knowing that the Lord would choose, qualify and asist whomever He had foreordained to be in that position. That sort of took the pressure off for a while, knowing that ultimately, all would be as it should be. But, now that it is all over, even though I was fully worthy and prepared for the interview, and even looking forward to the oportunity to meet and talk with such a profound Apostle as Elder Scott, I realize what a difficult time those few preparatory weeks were, and I am now experiencing sweet relief at the outcome, which was:
Ken Bernt - Stake President / Ross Belnap - 1st Counselor / Todd Payne - 2nd Counselor
I know what all you kids are thinking right now - You've got a picture of Ken Bernt's contorted face in your mind (for those inlaws who never experienced Ken, he gets very emotional whenever he speaks in church, and he gets a very interesting look on his face.) He ultimately gets it under control and he gives great talks. He's the first to admit that he is too emotional. I think he will be a great Stake President though, and I know he is the right man for the calling, chosen by the Lord and called through one of His Apostles.
Anyway, all that aside, back to the title of this post: As is necessitated by the fact that there are about 30 interviews to be conducted in 5-6 hours, they are all short, 7-10 minutes each. From a holding room (the dug-out, as Todd Payne called it), I was moved to the on-deck position, where I was greeted by Elder Scott. He is much shorter than I imagined, but what a sweet, warm person he is. He is also very deep and intelligent. If you didn't process his general conference talk, you should listen to, or read it again. Profound! Anyway, he invited me into the room where I sat immediately in front (no table) of him and Elder Hammond. They thanked me for coming and proceeded to ask just one worthiness question, and all the rest dealt with my life, my wife, my kids, my aspirations and impressions. we talked about each of you briefly. Elder Scott's thanks indicated the interview was over, and as he stood, he opened his arms signaling that he wanted a hug. So we embraced. It felt good. I'm sure he hugged everyone - he is just a very warm person. The soothing demeanor that comes through in his conference talks is for real. That is how he really is, and it is very disarming and congenial in person.
Finally, from the best of my memory, I want to tell you about Elder Scott's parting testimony in today's conference. He told us that when one is ordained an apostle, he is given experiences that assre his ability to testify to the world that Jesus is the Christ. Then he said "I know by more than just faith alone, that Jesus Christ lives". Doesn't leave much question, does it.
I Love you all,
Dad
HISTORY
A Little History:
Our story begins in Pocatello, Idaho, circa 1972, when the lovely Debby Christensen agreed to a first, though fateful date with admirer, David Croshaw. Long story-short, he bade her follow him, and they went arm-in-arm to the Logan, Utah temple for establishment of an eternal family unit, Generation 1, on May 23 1973.
From their first blissful summer in Salt Lake City, educational pursuits took them to Provo/Orem, Utah, birthplace of Leslie and Rebecca, and to San Francisco/Oakland California, birthplace of Colin and Matt. Then, for establishment of livelihood, expansion of the tribe with Abby and Dana, and for raising/unifying of Generation 2, it was back to the roots in Pocatello for a rewarding sojourn.
In time, driven by a raging, but commonly shared sense of adventure and independence, one-by-one, Generation 2 escaped the homeland to distant regions of the country and the world, each ultimately developing their own tribal expansions by pairing with worthy mates and initiating Generation 3.
Now sensing fulfillment of their purpose in Pocatello, Generation 1 has also left those roots and transplanted to Cascade Idaho, from which base, they anticipate more abundant contact with The Posterity, Generations 2 and 3, in the future. That contact however, awaits fulfillment of a call to LDS missionary service in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, wherein they hope to help the state of the world by sharing the love of Jesus Christ.
So now, including Generation 0 (Grandma and Grandpa Christensen) home base includes Yuma, Arizona, Pocatello, Idaho, Cascade, Idaho, Vancouver, BC, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Spokane, Washington, Boise, Idaho, Los Angeles, California, back to Boise, Idaho, and on and on (Generation 3+) to infinity.
Our Mission Statement:
This is the blog of our eternal family unit. Initiated years ago, it served well as a journal, but even more so, as an archive of our personal interaction. It was a gathering place, a confabulation instrument, a unifying force for four generations of widely dispersed and progressively prolific posterity, and their valued associates. Though it served these purposes well for many years, it eventually took a back seat to new-kids-on-the-block, Facebook, and Instagram, and was sadly forgotten.
We now move to resurrect this blog with an added functional purpose of archiving the missionary experiences of Generation 1, of their movements and activities as they participate with The Gathering of Israel in the land northward. In so doing, we hope that via their own comments and posts, this blog will again serve to gather and unify the posterity and their friends.
As in the past, that the young and vibrant may know the old and tired, that enduring bonds may be fostered and maintained, that experience and encouragement may be openly shared, that posterity may embrace truth, and that hearts may be knit together, we must resist detachment despite our geographic divergence. We shall do so here.
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5 comments:
Also, something I think very few people know....Elder Scott is FUNNY!!!!! It was so incredible getting to listen to him during the Saturday night & Sunday sessions of stake conference. Something I'm so glad I was able to experience.
I really like all the apostles so much, they provide me with an amazing sense- by being special witnesses of Christ- of one more wonderful aspect of being involved in the one true Church.
I got to meet Elder L Tom Perry this summer (at our Stake Conference) and it was wonderful to speak briefly with him and shake his hand.
the next day, I got to sing with him present and I could barely make it through "Because I have Been Given Much" while being overcome with the spirit. When I sat down, a stranger next to me hugged me, I was shaking.
Apostles and special witnesses of Christ are a gift to all of us and I am greatly impressed by the wonderful opportunity that we all have to hear words from them, take advise given by them, and occasionally touch them in endearing ways when they come to our stake conferences.
What an awesome experience! Thank you for writing this for us to read!
Funniest one liner said during Stake Conference had to be from Eldon Payne. After the new Stake Presidency was announced every member of the old and new Presidencies got up for a few minutes to talk and Eldon got up and said, "I know...you all thought you could take a pill and the Paynes would go away."
I also testify that it was a truely great experience to be in the close presence of Elder Scott, to receive his council and hear his testimony.
David did you use the thesarus to find "ruminate"?
Jason
Thanks so much for sharing, this, Dad. Mom, are you going to tell your story, too?
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