The Big Picture

A week of meetings.  We started the week attending “The Big Picture” on Monday, an all-day presentation by Family Search.  It is mostly for new employees-- young “techies.”  We learned that FS runs with 900 employees and over 5300 missionaries, the majority of the latter working from home.  Over 50,000 new accounts are opened per week. Most are opened by non-church members.  That agrees with our experience in the library.  We heard much that was inspiring—my three favorites:  Elder Bednar promised youth that if they would engage in family history they would be protected throughout their lives—I would like that blessing for my grandchildren;  Elder Holland said there are familiar spirits from the other side of the veil who are helping us gather our families—I have felt them, especially when I am in Parowan;  gathering my family not only redeems the dead, it redeems me.

            There were back-to-back meetings on Wednesday, the first about the new training pyramid;  the second, an “All Hands” meeting with the library CEO and members of his staff.for all those who work in the library  Change is often good and often hard.  And it is sometimes announced long before it comes.

            Work at the library was mostly zone work for me and guest work for Elder Challis.  There is always at least one odd, sometimes even bizarre, question that comes up during the week.

            We also spent some time on our other mission:  helping Jaynie and Lindsey.  We watched Jaynie’s kids in SLC while she ran an errand Tuesday morning. Henley and Hal brought their scooters, fitting right in with the scooter scene.  We also took a tour of the Conference Center because Henley really wanted to go inside. 

            In Pleasant Grove, we watched Luke and Elle (sleep), so Lindsey could go finish up the organizing at Timpview for the new dance teacher.  Elder Challis waged war again on the weeds in Jaynie’s yard.  Sunburned, sweaty, and tired, he won the all-day battle—this week.   He also tended kids so Jaynie and I could go to the temple together.

Making family history--Henley and Phillip

You may kiss the royal fingers :)