Lexington Zone Conference - January 22nd

The Lexington Zone
Top row Elder Benham, Elder Cs.Crook, Elder Wood, Elder Fackrell Elder J. Larson, Elder Stoddard, Elder Butler, Elder Seal, Elder Cd Crook,  Elder Ty Johnson, Elder Foote, Elder Van Beekum, Elder Fleener, Elder S. Evans, Elder Dopp
Third row Elder R. Evans, Elder Sizelove, Sister Cn Hall, Sister Durfee, Sister Webster, Sister Lewis, Sister Heywood, Sister Bradley, Sister Short, Sister Galloway, Sister Dickerson, Sister Bayles, Sister Williams, Sister Dunn, Sister Neser, Sister Saunders, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Newbold
Second row: Elder and Sister Reynolds, Elder and Sister Hoopes, Sister and President Woodbury, Elder and Sister Newby, Sister and Elder Benson
First row: Elder Thompson, Elder Burdge, Elder Torgersen, Elder Sidwell, Elder Butcher, Elder Schroeder, Elder Beale, Elder Hicken, Elder Dursteler

        This round of Zone Conferences began Wednesday, January 22nd, with the Lexington Zone. It was held, as is usual, in the Lexington Stake Center on Tate's Creek Road in Lexington. 

        Elder Hicken, an Assistant to the President, conducted. Participants in the main session included Elder Van Beekum at the piano and Sister Durfee leading the music, opening prayer by Elder Butterfield, Recitals by Elder Fackrell, Miracle Conversion and/or Contacting Stories by Elders Ty Johnson and Foot, Elders Torgersen and Dursteler, and Sisters Williams and Dunn. Sister Woodbury did the Cleanliness Report Card and awards, a talk on faith, and the Missionary Medley. Elder Burdge did a beautiful accapella musical number of "I Stand All Amazed," Stake President Krebs spoke, and President Woodbury did Auto Safety, Tune-Ups, Remarks and Instruction. More details are in later Zone Conference reports.

        Three rotations of classes occurred before and after lunch, the first being President Woodbury on the topic of expanding our pool of members for Member Present Lessons. The Assistants to the President, Elder  Hicken and Elder Z. Evans did a workshop on helping investigators to repent and access the Atonement, and the Zone Leaders, Elder Dopp and Elder Sizelove, focused on creating an environment in lessons that will invite the Spirit to be present.

The President leading the first of his three break-out sessions

After lunch and singing "Called to Serve" GKLM-style for the Relief Society Sisters who provided lunch, 

Stake President Krebs and the sweet Relief Society Sisters
who provided lunch

it was back to work, going back into the second and third rotation of break-out sessions.

Missionaries coming in to the demonstration of what NOT to do...

The Assistants to the President led an inspiring and in
some cases heart-rending demonstration relating to the Atonement.

Like in the story of the Seminary class doing the same,
Elder J. Larsen was asked if he would do twenty push-ups
for each person in the group in turn, so they could have a donut. 

As they watched Elder Larsen do the push-ups for them,
even if they didn't want the donut,  the mood of the room
grew more and more somber and more than a few tears were shed. 

Besides the mess and chaos, loud music was playing and the
 Zone Leaders just started off,, with no prayer or introduction.

Zone Leaders Elder Dopp and Elder Sizelove, in another room, where they
had created a spiritual environment for teaching.

Elder Evans helped Elder Larsen in between twenties,
by shaking out his arms
as the latter became more and more fatigued. 

Toward the end, Elder Larsen was shaking with the effort,
having to do a few at a time until all sixteen people had their donuts. 

A hug of gratitude from Elder Evans at the end

Elder Hicken and Elder Evans talking about helping investigators
 to access the Atonement through repentance.
Note: Two other Elders went through the same experience as Elder Larsen,
but unfortunately I didn't get pictures of them. 

          When the break-out session were finished, everyone gathered back in the chapel for a wrap-up by President Woodbury and the testimonies of those missionaries finishing their missions before the next Zone Conference, namely Elder  Hicken and Elder Z. Evans.

         With her trusty tripod and camera timer, Sister Woodbury took a Zone picture (see the beginning of this post) and other shots after the conference was officially over. There were copies of the pictures she had taken recently, along with Ensign magazines, the current Trumpet, and two Sister Woodbury cookies each.

Elder Fleener and Elder Foote

Elder Cs Crook and Elder Dursteler

Sister Lewis, Sister Webster, Sister Bradley,
Sister Durfee, Sister Cn Hall, Sister Heywood

Elder Burdge, Elder Dopp, Elder Thompson, Elder Sizelove

Hermana DeLaVega, Sister Lewis, Sister Neser, Sister Saunders

Sister Galloway, Sister Short, Sister Bayles

Elder Cd Crook, Elder Fackrell, Elder Wood, Elder Benham

Checking out the Trumpet
Sister Williams and Sister Dunn featured

Sister Cn Hall, Sister Durfee, Sister Heywood, Sister Dickerson,
Sister Williams, Sister Bradley, Sister Dunn, Sister Short, Sister Galloway

Elder Larsen, Elder Newbold, Elder Butcher, Elder Burdge, Elder R. Evans,
Elder Thompson, Elder Dursteler, Elder Fackrell, Elder Schroeder,
Elder Benham, Elder Wood, Elder Beale, Elder Benham, Elder Cs Crook,
Elder Torgersen, Elder Sidwell, Elder Stoddard, Elder Seal

"Speak no evil" - or something like that...

        Everyone left filled, renewed, recommitted, and supercharged, as they went out to face...

the bitter cold outside...

Sister Neser and Sister Saunders
smiling, even in the cold
(We did get them a ride at least back to their area)