June 27th, 2022

I don't know what you did on June 27, 2022, but we had a remarkable mission conference with President Steve and Sister Kathy Randall. It was tender because it was the last conference that they would teach us before being released from this assignment---but what made it even more remarkable was that we were sitting in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake as the Randalls taught us about Joseph Smith and reminded us of the last months and days of his life. This is the 178th anniversary of his death by the mob while he was being held in the Carthage Jail in Illinois. Short perhaps of being in Carthage itself, could there be a better place than this beautiful and holy place to remember Brother Joseph and all that he did to restore the complete truth of Jesus Christ and his Living Church.

From my notes: Sister Randall called her talk "It Is Well With My Soul." She reminded us of the history of this beautiful song. Then she focused on the items that worried Joseph in the months right before his death. Always a very directed and involved leader, Joseph became even more concerned about the building of the Nauvoo Temple because he was anxious for the Saints to receive the fullness of the ordinances there. He encouraged the members to be more diligent in their record keeping both within the Church and personally. He began teaching the Twelve and others more intensely in the three months prior to his death--often meeting with them for hours and sharing revelations and teachings with them to strengthen them for the future. He expressed concerns over and over about the families--are the Saints strong enough for what they would need to face? She ended by asking us to consider these four related questions: 

 1. Do we love the temple?

 2. Do we cherish the records of the Church? Do we record our own? 

3. Do the principles of the gospel impact our daily lives? 

4. Will we remain strong enough no matter what happens in the future? 

President Randall spoke a bit about the transition to the new mission leadership. A phrase he used repeatedly was "We come to love those we know the best." We will love the Holmes as we come to know them. He then transitioned that same concept to know Christ and Joseph Smith. He asked us to: 

1. Read and study the Book of Mormon. 

2. Prayerfully study the JS History in the Pearl of Great Price. 

3. Bear testimony of Joseph Smith. 

4. Prayerfully study the Doctrine & Covenants. By doing these things, we can increase our testimony of Jesus Christ and the Prophet Joseph Smith. "We come to love those we know the best." 

At the end of the meeting, Randalls were presented with three notebooks of thank notes from the missionaries. Around 1700 missionaries served under them in the past 2 years. That is amazing to think about. While that presentation was being made, the music leader went and changed the closing song. It had been "Joseph's First Prayer" which is a sweet song about the First Vision. But it was not the hymn we needed to end this special meeting. Instead we sang "Praise to the Man." It is a powerful, dynamic hymn--perfect for the occasion. 

Praise to the Man. 

Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah! Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer. 

Blessed to open the last dispensation, Kings shall extol him, and nations revere. 

[Chorus] Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven! Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain. Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren; Death cannot conquer the hero again. 

 2. Praise to his mem’ry, he died as a martyr; Honored and blest be his ever great name! 

 Long shall his blood, which was shed by assassins, Plead unto heav’n while the earth lauds his fame. 

3. Great is his glory and endless his priesthood. Ever and ever the keys he will hold. 

Faithful and true, he will enter his kingdom, Crowned in the midst of the prophets of old. 

4. Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven; Earth must atone for the blood of that man. 

Wake up the world for the conflict of justice. Millions shall know “Brother Joseph” again. 

[Chorus] Hail to the Prophet, ascended to heaven! Traitors and tyrants now fight him in vain. Mingling with Gods, he can plan for his brethren; Death cannot conquer the hero again. 

Imagine a chapel full of missionaries singing this hymn after a powerful meeting about Joseph Smith, the prophet. It was awesome--a moment to never forget as the Spirit witnessed once again that Christ leads his Church through prophets called by God and directed by Christ--as the pattern always has been when the gospel has been on the earth. Joseph Smith was the prophet to begin in these latter-days--the restoration of all truth, the priesthood powers, and the ordinances of baptism and the temple.

After the closing prayer, everyone just sat for a moment--feeling the feelings but also watching President and Sister Randall on the stand--one last time. Oh, how we love them. It is true that you love those you know the best. 

Then a missionary started singing "God Be With You til We Meet Again."  A familiar hymn to say goodbye--the congregation joined in and it was amazing.

Then four Polynesia sisters--two from our zone-Sister Sitake and Sister McClure
came up and sang a traditional farewell song as well.

Like Sister Randall said, "Be glad that we had this marvelous experience together and not be sad that it is ending."

Gary ran an errand and Jena and I headed to the Church History Library.  You can see the cranes and the top of the Salt Lake Temple under construction behind us.

That is how our June 27th started!  Being missionaries is pretty spectacular!