Escalante District conference

We had a wonderful weekend!  We were asked to drive the Cebu Temple President, President  Pagaduan and his wife to the Escalante District Conference.  We picked the President and Sister Pagaduan up Saturday night from the Bacolod Airport and drove them to L'Fisher Hotel where we had a lovely dinner with them.  We had a lovely visit.  They are a very special couple.  They have seven children and 6 grandchildren.  They have four daughters and three sons, just like we do! Sister Pagaduan is such a friendly and gracious woman and we had such a wonderful evening. 

The next morning we drove to Escalante with them and enjoyed our visit as we drove.  The entire building was full of saints so much so they ran our of chairs and many stood the entire two hour meeting just thankful they could here an apostle of the Lord speak. President and Sister Pagaduan both spoke in conference along with Elder Echo Hawk of the area presidency.  Sister Pagaduan spoke about temples and the importance of visiting the temple and leaving our everyday cares and troubles behind while we worship in the temple of our God.  Elder Pagaduan spoke about missionary work and the miracle of service.  Finally, Elder Echo Hawk spoke and told of his conversion to the gospel as a young boy of fourteen. He never thought that as a consequence of that decision he would become a general authority and have the opportunity to sit at the feet of the prophet of God, Thomas S. Monson and be taught by him.  He spoke about the first meeting he attended with President Monson in the Salt Lake Temple and being introduced to share his testimony with the leaders of the church and the prophet that morning.  He spoke very fondly of the elders who taught his family, Elder Pearson and Elder Camphuysen, who changed his life and enabled him to serve the wonderful people of the church.  He said,

" When I was 14 years old, two missionaries, Lee Pearson and Boyd Camphuysen, taught my family the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and I was baptized. Two years later my priests quorum adviser, Richard Boren, challenged me to read the Book of Mormon. I accepted that challenge, and I read at least 10 pages every night until I finished.

On the title page I read that it is “written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile.” In the introduction to the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, it says that the Lamanites “are among the ancestors of the American Indians.” As I read the Book of Mormon, it seemed to me that it was about my American Indian ancestors. It tells the story of a people, a part of which were later described as “Lamanites,” who migrated from Jerusalem to a “land of promise” (1 Nephi 2:20) about 600 B.C. It is an account of God’s dealings with these ancient inhabitants located somewhere on the American continents. It includes an account of the ministry of Jesus Christ among them following His Resurrection. Passages in the Book of Mormon suggest that over time they were dispersed throughout the American continents and islands of the nearby seas (see Alma 63:9–10). Their prophets foretold that many multitudes of Gentiles would eventually come to this land of promise and the wrath of God would be upon the Lamanites and they would be scattered, smitten, and nearly destroyed (see 1 Nephi 13:10–14)".

He also spoke of the similarity of the congregation he stood before with dark skin and black hair  here in the Philippines in comparison to the many Native American members of the church all over the United States and how vital a role they play to the growth of the gospel.  I felt so touched and inspired that I too have had the opportunity to serve the Native American youth and the Philippine youth during my lifetime.  What a marvelous work we have been blessed to do.  Later, I was able to shake Elder Echo Hawk's hand and marvel that I was shaking the hand of a general authority of God who has had many occasions to shake the hand of the prophet of God.  What a marvelous experience. 

What a wonderful meeting we enjoyed and then we were able to meet many of our participants and help two young men complete their renewal and original applications before driving the Pagaduans back to Bacolod.  After a short rest we took the Pagaduans to Dr. Marty's home for dinner with our friend Gay.  Gay and Marty have been friends with the Pagaduans for many years when they all lived here in Bacolod.  It was a joyous reunion.  I was so blessed to be able to share such a wonderful evening with the temple president and his wife and their good friends.  I love the temple and attending there, but knowing that I am blessed to be friends with the man who is the president of the Cebu Temple of the Lord and his sweet wife will make the experience even better as they want to socialize with us when we attend and have invited us to their home which is adjacent to the House of the Lord. How did we ever get so lucky to be blessed with these wonderful friends in our life.  We are truly blessed.