Mission Possible Brisbane

Here is my picture with Elder Benar. . . . Well, with Elder Bednar and a couple of hundred of our friends. (Back row, right side, just in front of Elders on the Stage) It was quite an experience. We all get in our places then Elder Bednar and his wife, mission leaders, area seventy, etc. come in and a photographer standing on the top rings of a tall ladder takes a few pictures. Elder Bednar and those who came with him leave.  I would say they have done this a few time, LOL. They know exactly how to organize things to go as smooth as possible. We had a three hour meeting conducted by Elder Bednar. The meeting was very much geared for the young missionaries but wonderful for us all. He is truly a master teacher.  He is also pretty funny. We got to see a different side of him than conference talks. Much of the time was taken up with Elder Benar taking questions asked by the missionaries. He told us all to not to try and take detailed notes but write down what we felt the Spirit w...

European discovery and colonization  Captain James Cook did not "discover" Australia in the sense of being the first human to see it. He was the first European to chart and map the eastern coastline of the continent. In 1770, while on his first voyage, he and his crew, including the botanist Joseph Banks, made landfall near Point Hicks and then sailed north, charting the coastline and eventually claiming the eastern portion for Great Britain, which he named New South Wales. After European arrival in Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations experienced a drastic decline due to disease, violence, and the loss of their traditional lands and way of life. European settlement resulted in a population reduction of up to 90% between 1788 and 1900.  "...without laying claim to this country by conquest, without even pleading the mockery of cession or the cheatery of sale, we have unhesitantly entered upon, occupied, and dispossed of its lands sprea...

 Bits and Pieces. . . . The above picture was painted by Ken Done a modern Australian artist.  We finally made the time to go to the free Art Museum.  It was small but interesting. And it was free. They also had some beautiful Japanese art installations donated from their sister city in Japan. Easter was interesting here.  We were surprized to find out that most stores close down for Good Friday, some for Holy Saturday, Everyone for Easter Sunday, and most for Easter Monday.  There were not many people at church on Easter Sunday because everyone goes camping for the long Easter Holiday.  I guess a group of church members has been going camping together for 40 + years. More power to them. Apparently it has only been the last 7 years or so since stores were closed on Sundays. Rockhampton is a little like going back in time. We had our mission car in the shop and we couldn't pick it up right when it was done because someone parked behind our car in the garage ...

Senior Missions around the world. I thought it might be interesting to learn about how different Senior Missions can be around the world.  We have kept in touch with some of the Senior couples we met in the MTC.  There were four couples in our group.  We were going to Australia, another went to the Philippines, another went to Greece, and the last went to Bosnia. Here in Rockhampton we have a strong ward.  1 1/2 years ago they were a branch in a District which is now a Stake.  We get asked to teach seminary, institute, and the new member, plus non-member, Come Follow Me Class.  We have also talked in Sacrament Meeting.  I got asked to teach the Relief Society Lesson the day before because someone got sick. We follow-up on lists given to us from the Elders Quorum Presidency trying to visit widows, less-active, and part-member families.  A big part of what we do is going to teaching opportunities with the Sister Missionaries and work with new member...

 About a boy. . . . On the 8th of March. 2025. Weijie Chu, (Lorenzo), was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He is from mainland China and has an amazing story.  Last night he talked for over an hour about his path to baptism.  I won't tell you everything but try to hit some highlights.  This is somewhat a continuation about an earlier blog entitled "about a girl". Just before covid Lorenzo had graduated from high school but due to covid he could not travel and was to shelter in place like we were here in the United States. With so much time on his hands he spent time on public media. Keep in mind that in China the people are limited to viewing only those things that the government approves of.  However, Lorenzo had a friend that showed him how to get around the government blocked sites and was able to watch American youtube. He came across a Chinese man with a youtube channel that talked about his experiences living in S...

  Ties that bind. . . We had a great opportunity to travel to Brisbane for a mission conference with Elder and Sister Jaggi.  He is a general authority 70 and is also a councilor in the Pacifica Area Presidency. It was very inspirational! I have learned that part of the job of a mission President and visiting authorities is to motivate the young missionaries.  Daily life as a missionary is hard and providing spiritual, uplifting meetings is one way to inspire them to be the best they can be.  Music is always inspiring to me and when the Chaple full of missionaries sang one of the new songs #1011 "Holding Hands Around the World" it was stirring. It may be primary song, but it fits missionary work very well.  Especially in a mission where there is so much diversity. There were many wonderful things said but what struck me most was when our mission president and his wife talked about the binding power of covenants. They had a missionary come up and began putting th...