Week 49: Of Conferences and Changes

So this conference was rather amazing.  Three new apostles called and sustained.  I was not expecting that at all.  I didn't believe it when someone told me that Elder Scott had passed away as well.  I thought that there was no way that three apostles would pass away before the next conference.  But it happened, and now we have Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renlund as apostles.

Of all of the conference talks, I can't decide which is my favorite. They were all so good!  I learned some awesome things though.

Those who live in the church have probably asked at one point or another "why do the general authorities always tell us to do the same things: read the scriptures, pray, fast, etc."  Elder Larry R Lawrence taught us why.  He compared and contrasted Laman and Lemuel with the Sons of Mosiah.  He noted that both groups had almost identical backgrounds: father was a prophet, but they didn't believe.  Their doubts led them to commit serious transgressions.  They were rebuked by an angel of the Lord.  They repented, and started to do what was right.  But from this point on, there is a critical difference between the two.  Laman and Lemuel did not stay faithful to the small things that their father and brother preached, taught, and exhorted them to do. They eventually fell back into doubt and murmuring, and denied the testimony that they had received.  In stark contrast, the sons of Mosiah stayed true to the principles they had been taught.  "... they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.  But this is not all, they had given themselves to much prayer and fasting."  Obedience to those small commandments made all the difference for them.  Because they were faithful in the small things, the Lord trusted them with the great work of converting the Lamanites.  Because they were obedient, they had the promise of the Lord, and they were able to work great miracles.  THAT is why the General Authorities always tell us to do the same basic things. 

Another talk from the conference that was especially powerful for me was Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's talk about mothers and motherhood.  I had never before even thought about using the same words used to describe motherhood and childbirth to describe the Atonement.  The connection simply never would have occurred to my mind.  And the entire talk is simply beautiful.  If you haven't seen it, click the link above and watch it.  And if you have seen it, watch it again.  It's worth it.

I hope all of you who watched the conference felt the Spirit of God like I felt it.   And I hope that those of you who didn't watch it, or who only watched part of the conference, can set apart the time to watch it this week.  Here's the link.

Have a wonderful week!

Elder Colton West
El Salvador San Salvador East Mission

One of my good friends in the mission, Hermana Kelley, finished her mission last week

We went to a part of my area that we haven't worked in before. 
Looks a bit more like what I expected Central America to look like.

 Zona Chivopango (chivo means cool, figuratively) before the changes

A little surprise! Hermana Hidalgo and Ramon came to say goodbye
to Hermana Kelley. It was awesome to get to see the again!

Editors Note: The Hidalgo's are very special to Elder West. They live
in Ilobasco, his very first area. Hermana (sister) Hidalgo did the missionaries
laundry and cooked their noon meal and they paid her. This extra income is such
a blessing for their family as ES is a very poor country. Hermano (brother) Hidalgo was the
branch president and would keep Elder West supplied with green mangoes which he LOVES!
Their family became like his family. Hermana Hidalgo like a 2nd mom, their missionary mom.
She messages me almost weekly on Facebook Messenger (yes they have internet cafes there!)
and asks about Elder West and sends her love. She says he is like a son to them.
They have a son on a mission in South America and another son, not pictured.