New Albany Zone Conference - January 29th

The New Albany Zone
Top: Elder Hill, Elder Grant, Elder Polson, Elder Miller, Elder Edwards, Elder Loser, Elder Carter, Elder Woehl, Elder Ch Johnson, Elder LeFevre, Elder Kidd, Elder Cd Johnson, Elder Pennington, Elder Lowe, Elder Hansen, Elder Prows
Middle: Sister Clark, Sister Child, Sister Vikari, Sister Brown, Sister Bauer, Sister Tripp, Sister Esquerra, Sister Pope, Hermana Binks, Hermana Adams, Hermana Lawrence, Hermana Porter, Sister C. Goodrich, Sister Kerr
Bottom row: Elder Gibson, Sister Gibson, Elder Greenup, Elder Hicken, President Woodbury, Sister Woodbury, Elder Z. Evans, Elder Whitehead, Sister Trimming, Elder Trimming

         The New Albany Stake Center was the location for the New Albany Zone Conference January 29th. 

        With Elder Hicken conducting, the conference began with the song, "I Need Thee Every Hour" led by Elder Hansen with Hermana Binks at the piano. The Opening prayer was by Hermana Lawrence with Elder Polson following with Recitals, and Miracle Conversion and/or Contacting Stories by Elder Edwards and Elder Woehl, Sister Kerr and Sister Goodrich, and Elder Hansen and Elder Prows. Sister Woodbury did her Cleanliness Report Card, awards, and the Cleanliness jingle, President Woodbury did the requisite auto safety, and Elder Evans talked about the Media Survey for the Mission Office. 

        "The Choice of Faith," was the title of the talk on a Christ-like attribute given by Sister Woodbury, then Sister Vikari and Elder Hill did a beautiful duet with Hermana Pope accompanying on the flute and Sister Binks on the piano.

         Stake President Porter spoke to the missionaries, then President Woodbury did Tune-Ups, beginning with a sort of State of the Union, or rather State of the Mission report and a  request for everyone to fast with a purpose this Sunday, for their own investigators and for the Work in the mission as a whole. He regretfully then had to address the subject of serious missionary in-field misconduct and transgression. He said he felt like Jacob in Jacob 2 when he had to come down on the people, and had to talk about things that might offend the innocent. Still, he related how the first two weeks of this year were pure agony for him because he not only had to send home a missionary because of what he had done on his mission, but also his companion, who allowed and in some cases facilitated it. The President  outlined specific behaviors that he will not tolerate, and had everyone stand up to witness that they have been warned.  

        On a happier note, had everyone stand again to sing the Missionary Medley, then once again President Woodbury took a turn at the stand, this time speaking about personal sanctification as talked about in Doctrine and Covenants 88:68, seven verses before the scripture much talked about recently, which says,"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time." (: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." He challenged us to say in our nightly prayers, Wilt thou accept my offering of the best I could do today?"

        Breaking into three assigned groups, everyone moved into different classrooms for the first Break-Out session. 

        Zone Leaders, Elder Whitehead and Elder Loser, did training on "Teaching Powerfully and Simply."

        President Woodbury's session was on increasing our pool of members for Member Present Lessons.

        The Assistants to the President led an inspiring and insome cases heart-rending demonstration relating to the Atonement. Like in the story of the Seminary class doing the same, Elder Hill was asked if he would do twenty push-ups for each person in the group in turn, so they could have a donut. He answered gladly that he would, every time, even with the later people when he was getting tired and it was taking more out of him.  As they watched Elder Hill do the push-ups for them, even if they didn't want the donut,  the mood of the room grew more and more somber. Toward the end, Elder Hill was shaking with the effort, but he carried through until everyone go their donut. When it was all done, Elder Hicken and Elder Evans showed a touching video about the sacrifice of the Savior and talked about helping investigators to access the Atonement through repentance.

        Lunch was provided by wonderful Relief Society Sisters and to thank them we sang, as is tradition, "Called to Serve" GKLM-style. 

        Sessions two and three followed with the groups rotating and the same presentations being done over again. Two more Elders did the push-up for donuts exercise but I didn't get pictures.

Elder Miller, Elder Polson, role-playing with Sister Clark and Sister Child

Elder Kidd and Elder Ch Johnson role-playing with
Sister Kerr and Sister Goodrich

         Everyone gathered back in the chapel for Clean Car Awards courtesy of Elder and Sister Halvorsen, a wrap-up by President Woodbury, a lovely musical number by Sister Moskot, and the testimonies of those missionaries finishing their missions before the next Zone Conference, namely Elder Whitehead, ELder Loser, Sister Goodrich, 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 Whitehead and Elder Loser passed out the Zone t-shirts that had been designed and ordered for everyone and of course they had to show off how they looked on everyone. No, they are not part of a dress code for proselyting, but can, on the other hand, be worn proudly on P-Days, while doing service, or exercising.

Elder Lowe, Elder Lowe, Elder Loser, Elder Edwards

Elder Z. Evans, Elder Hill, Elder Grant, Elder Polson,
Elder Carter, Elder Miller, Elder Loser, Elder Whitehead

Atop: Elder Grant and Elder Z. Evans
Standing: Hermana Porter, Hermana Lawrence, Sister Kerr, Sister C. Goodrich, Sister Brown, Sister Vikari, Elder Woehl, Elder Le Fevre, Elder Ch Johnson, Elder Hill, Elder Polson, Elder Whitehead, Elder Hicken, Elder Kidd, Sister Bauer, Sister Tripp, Sister Child, Sister Clark
Below: Elder Co Johnson, Elder Greenup, Elder Edwards, Elder Carter, Elder Miller, Elder Loser, Elder Pennington, Elder Lowe

This is how everyone felt when they were told it was time to leave...