I haven't gotten any e-mails from the girls (I got one from Katie but it was sent 7 days ago so I don't know if it counts.) Both you, and Dad, and Andrew began with saying "I'm sure the girls will tell you all about the Aquabats!" but none of them did interestingly enough. So I guess I can only sit here and ask how on earth you managed to hang around with them all day? And are the Aquabats! now officially members of our family? And if you're referring to Elder Liddiard, my zone leader, you know the person I have to report to every night after check-ins, he has already forbidden me from talking about my family around him because like I already told Dad, he thinks he was supposed to be born into our family. He says that jokingly because he's been a fan of their music since he was little (but not the show which is all I really know about them because I didn't listen to the music before I left) and that he's a fan of the genre that the Aquabats! are part of and has always been.
(Note: The Larsons deny any knowledge of spending the day with The Aquabats! on the set of The Aquabats! Super Show.)
I told Dr. Yamishiro that I would let you make the decision. I really don't want to go through more orthodontic work (almost spelled orthopedic that would have been funny) but I feel like this was kind of my fault because there was so much confusion over whether or not I was supposed to wear my retainers once I got my implants and I haven't worn them and so that could have been what caused the relapse. Anyway, Elder Andersen told me he'd be okay with getting the retainer too because he said, "If your Mom's not happy then nobody's happy."
Umm, yes. Right after I sent the e-mail saying I had no idea what you were talking about regarding the Arnold Friberg shows I walked to the Joseph Smith Building to get the mail and I saw this display standing right outside it:
"Oh...Okay then," thought I. Sadly I never got around to even looking at the Lost Whatevers because I never had the time. But I guess you can be glad that you knew what you were talking about.
I can get a flu shot if you want me too and I can tell them that my insurance pays for it. I'll have to sign up because there is a list but I'll go do that today if possible.
(Note: Molly told Eric about what the dumb DJs on the radio said about conference. She told him, "Dad said the DJs on the dumb radio show he listens to were talking a lot about Pres. Uchtdorf's talk 'admitting' that leaders are not perfect and sometimes make mistakes. I guess they think that is earth-shattering news. They also think that eventually the Church is going to "give in" to social pressure and allow gay marriage in the temple. They obviously didn't listen to Elder Oaks talk, or several others." The following is Eric's reply.)
Yes the people on the stupid radio show are stupid. President Uchtdorf isn't the first to "admit" that they aren't perfect. In fact last year we have this quote from Elder Holland's talk:
"Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith.
"So be kind regarding human frailty—your own as well as that of those who serve with you in a Church led by volunteer, mortal men and women. Except in the case of His only perfect Begotten Son, imperfect people are all God has ever had to work with. That must be terribly frustrating to Him, but He deals with it. So should we. And when you see imperfection, remember that the limitation is not in the divinity of the work. As one gifted writer has suggested, when the infinite fulness is poured forth, it is not the oil’s fault if there is some loss because finite vessels can’t quite contain it all. Those finite vessels include you and me, so be patient and kind and forgiving."
And apparently they [the DJs] didn't pay any attention to the 20 some odd other talks denouncing gay marriage and blatantly professing in the most polite language they can muster that, "The laws of the land may change but God's law and requirements for marriage never will." I'm going to stop here because missionaries aren't supposed to talk about "political" stuff but yes, stupid DJs are stupid.
But yes, Conference was amazing. I was bawling like a baby during Elder Holland's talk.
Elder Holland is a wonderful man, and he knows a lot about this mission. One day he called Elder Brandon and asked him how he could help. And apparently he plays tennis with President Peterson every Thursday.
Attending all the sessions of conference are mandatory. We are only provided tickets for the Priesthood Session and we need to get the other tickets on our own. We aren't expected to get tickets though but we are expected to watch the sessions in the places they are broadcasted on Temple Square like in the theaters in the visitor's center and such.
The seats we had at the preisthood session were amazing. I was on the very second row and there was no chair in front of me so it felt like I was in the first. Like last year it was right in front of where the general authorities walk in. Elder Christofferson came down and shook my hand. Elder Nelson came down and said, "This is the a very good looking group of missionaries!" I already knew I was good looking but the witness of an apostle helps. As all the apostles were leaving when the session was over each one waved at us. President Monson acted very funny and pretended to poke the head of a security guard who was standing guard facing us. And Elder Holland blew a kiss at us.
I didn't bring my camera because I was told they weren't allowed but apparently they're okay as long as you don't take pictures once conference has started. But I asked an elder right behind me to take some pictures and send them to me and he thankfully did:
I watched every other session in the North Visitor's center except for the last one. The North Visitor's Center has comfy seats, but it's mostly filled with families that were probably turned away because they didn't realize you're not allowed to bring infants to conference. So there's lots of crying babies. I asked Elder Seitz if he wanted to try "stand-by" and he said yes. Stand-by is a line that shuffles into the Tabernacle. If there are any empty spots in the Conference Center they move you in by order of the line. The Conference Center was so full that nobody in the Tabernacle was moved. They have screens in the Tabernacle so you can watch conference but unfortunately you have to sit on hard wood benches for two hours. We could have tried to get into the visitor's center again but we decided to stay because how many people can say they attended conference at the Tabernacle?
And I got this picture taken as well:
Anyway, I don't have many other messages to respond too but Love,
Elder Larson
P.S. - Happy Leif Erikson Day! Yinga! Hinga! Dinga!
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