A long awaited baptism

Today a certain brother in our ward that for all intents and purposes has been active but not a member.  On Sunday he was baptized after 20 years of being part of his member family.  He and his wife have already set a temple date.  It was a very wonderful occasion.

Liz played this beautiful arrangement of I feel my Savior's Love

Historic Stake Conference

On April 14 Liz and I took the kids and a family friend down to Dover, DE for our Stake Conference.  Elder Alan F. Packer of the Seventy was presiding (Son of President Boyd K Packer).  Unlike any Stake Conferences of the past, 37 years worth to be exact, this one in part was to announce the split of our stake.  We are still the Wilmington Delaware Stake but everything below the canal is now the Dover Delaware Stake.  37 years ago then Elder Boyd K. Packer presided over the last split.

Between the Priesthood Leadership meeting and the Saturday Evening Session Liz and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Elder Packer and some of the other Elder’s Quorum Presidents and their wives.

During the evening session Liz played a musical number and I sat with her on the stand.  After introducing the Washington DC Temple President Elder Packer asked that “Brother & Sister Daryl Olson” collect their thoughts so they could speak when the Temple President finished.

I turned to Liz and said, “Did he just say our names?”  She was mortified and speechless so that answered my question.

I shared my testimony of reactivation efforts in our ward (we just celebrated our second anniversary of becoming a ward) and how the Lord blesses us in ways we cannot conceive or anticipate if we are anxiously engaged in good works.

Liz shared her testimony of the primary program and the blessings of the gospel.

Now you’re probably bracing yourself for what many of the members of the congregation were speculating.  Let me be clear I was not called to the New Stake Presidency.  Our current Stake President will remain unchanged.  He called a new first counselor (both previous counselors are in the new stake) and he will retain the 5 high councilmen that still reside in our newly defined stake boundaries.  There are still a great deal of positions to fill in our new stake but despite what many thought was coming I am still the Bay View Elder's Quorum President, and happy to be just that.

Service and Sacrifice

On Saturday March 31 a couple of the Elders and I built a porch/ramp for one of the disabled sisters in our ward.  At about 1 o'clock I realized conference had started so I pulled out my phone and was able to tune in.  It was at that very moment that Elder Oaks was speaking on service.  It really hit home :o)

Our lives of service and sacrifice are the most appropriate expressions of our commitment to serve the Master and our fellowmen.                                  Sacrifice

To Sup with an Apostle

I got a very exciting email last night from the High Councilman assigned to work with me.  It read as follows:

"President Olson,

As you know, in connection with Stake Conference there will be a Priesthood Leadership Meeting in Dover from 4 to 6 on Saturday April 14th.  You and your counselors should be there for that.  Just for you, as President, there is also an invitation to attend a special dinner with our visiting general authority, Elder Packer, after the leadership meeting.  You are encouraged to bring your wife with you to the dinner.  I look forward to seeing you on the 14th.

Bro. Jordan "

Now the adult session begins at 7 so I realize it will probably be something quick and informal, but to me it is exciting to meet the President of the Quorum of Twelve.  I've met several apostles and general authorities over the years and I always get excited at the opportunity.

The last time I met the President of the Quorum of the Twelve was on my mission when the Elder Hunter visited us in our mission.  I was in the mission office at the time so I had several chances to shake his hand and speak to him.  I knew when I met him that he would be the next Prophet and in time he was.

To eat with an Apostle of Jesus Christ isn't something that happens everyday.  I guess it happened one other time, by chance, that we sat at the table next to Elder Perry at Chuck o Rama.  This will probably be different though :o)

Welcome Home Dad

Bright and early this morning my loving kids came into love on me and let me know how glad they were that I was home.  Now to put this into context I was gone to Orlando, Florida all week for a work conference.

I reminded me of when we first moved to Wyoming in the summer of 1980.  My dad went back to Arizona, for a period of time that I don't remember exactly, to finish a fencing job he was working on.

I remember very vividly that we made him a banner with butcher paper and draped it across the garage door for him to see when he got home.  "Welcome Home Dad"

We did the same thing my kids did by going in to love on him and welcome him home.  He must have been exhausted but he still returned our affections and let us know how glad he was to be home.

Lately Carter has been commenting on the fact that after he's worked or played really hard that he smells like me.  Now the smell of perspiration isn't the best, even if it is mixed with deodorant, but I remember the smell of my Dad too and although it wasn't necessarily a pleasant smell it was a smell that meant safety.  I know my Dad worked hard to provide for us growing up and that he still works very hard today.

I try to emulate my father in the good thing he did and does.  It makes me proud when I see Carter emulating the good things that I do.  I'm so grateful for my father and I want to be just like him.