A Quick Zwick Visit

         It was a marvelous experience having Elder Craig Zwick of the Seventy here January 17th to 19th. This was a last minute arrangement, with Elder Zwick calling President Woodbury about a week before saying that he wanted to come to our mission. Elder Zwick is our dear friend from way back, he and President Woodbury having served in a Bishopric together at the University of Utah Singles Stake. Elder Zwick was the First Counselor and President Woodbury was the Second. Besides being a member of the First Council of the Seventy, Elder Zwick has also recently been assigned to our Area Presidency. He is not directly assigned to our mission as far as visiting us and us reporting to him, but is still over us as far as the Area is concerned. He had told us that he would do his best to visit during our time here, and with that time down to a little more than five months, he wanted to keep his promise.

         Elder Zwick arrived about 9:00 Friday evening. We went to a late dinner before settling in at the Mission Home for the night. After a quick breakfast the next morning we ran to the Crestwood Stake Center to meet with our Mission Leadership Council, i.e. the Assistants, Zone Leaders, and Sister Training Leaders. During the recent polar freeze some of the pipes in the building had burst, so instead of being in the Relief Society room we were set-up in the Primary Room with narrow (depth-wise) tables in a V formation, and a projector and screen. For four and a half hours we were blessed by instruction and counsel from this wonderful and inspired leader. As he had asked, each companionship gave an accountability of what they are doing as a result of the Work of Salvation broadcast. President and I were also given time for short messages, as was Elder Hymas, our local Area Seventy.

Standing: Sister Munk, Elder Sizelove, Sister Baldwin, Elder Hicken, Sister Bayles, Elder Evans, Sister Dickerson, Elder Whitehead, Elder Earl, Elder Loser, Elder Allen, Elder Stohel, Elder Carson, Elder Dopp, Elder Carly, Elder Crichton, Sister Egbert, Sister Kuenzle, Elder Knudsen, Hermana Marsden, Elder Blauer, Hermana Hansen             Sitting; Sister Woodbury, President Woodbury, Elder Zwick  

        One of the things Elder Zwick talked about was the Covenant Path. Are [we] willing to enter into a covenant with your God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments, in all things that he shall command [us.]? (Mosiah 5: 5) He talked about D & C 6:13 "If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithfully unto the end, thou shalt be saved in the Kingdom of God for there is not gift greater than the work of Salvation, and of course, D & C 88:73 "Behold I will hasten my work in its time," a much talked about theme these days, and that to hasten means to accelerate, and how we must in turn accelerate our own efforts. He told us we must never get off track, but keep going, and keep working, tirelessly. He spoke for quite some time about the verse that comes five verses before it, D & C 88:68 "Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in  his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will." Sanctification is essential. Elder Zwick said that for missionaries, sacrifice, one of the covenants we make in the Temple, is perfect use of the Lord's time. He said that when we go to bed at night we need to be able to say in our prayers, "Wilt thou accept of the best I could do today?" We were also told to read aloud with our companions, Chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel, "Attributes of Christ."

        Following the Mission Leadership Council Meeting, Elder Zwick and President Woodbury joined President Lunt, the Louisville Temple President, at the Temple to tour and talk about temple-related issues. We met back together at the Lunts home where Sister Lunt provided a lovely dinner and we all got to catch-up (the Lunts are friends of Elder Zwick and his wife, too) and hear stories and experiences of Elder Zwick as a General Authority. 
        We moved over to the Crestwood Stake Center for a special meeting with their Ward Councils and many from neighboring Stakes. Edler Zwick presented wonderful information and instruction on the Work of Salvation and how to coordinate efforts between the members and full-time missionaries and truly become partners in the work. President and Sister Woodbury both additionally spoke briefly.
        The next morning, Sunday, we traveled to Elizabethtown, about forty-five minutes away,  where Elder Zwick spoke, along with again brief remarks by President and Sister Woodbury. Driving straight to the airport back in Louisville, we got Elder Zwick on his way again, this time to Birmingham, Alabama for another round of meetings with members and missionaries.
       How we love Elder Zwick and are so grateful to have had him visit the GKLM!