Nov. 12, 2012

Hi family!
I took some time to actually read my emails today, rather than just printing
them out for later so this will be a quicky.
I am happy to report to you this week about the very sacred experience which it
was to have an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, Elder Neil L Andersen, and also
Elder Kearon of the seventy (he spoke a while back about wearing sandals so as
to not step on scorpions, remember?) and President and Soeur Murdock (I think
she meant the Roney's-her new mission president and his wife. The Murdock's were
there before.) speak to us at the Bordeaux stake conference and our special zone
meeting. Words cannot express how incredible it was and how very much I have
learned. I love that.

Elder Andersen is a lot like Jesus. He smiles a lot, and loves everyone. I have
observed that general authorities have this incredible capacity to love, and I
know that this is because they have worked very hard to obtain the Christlike
attribute of charity...no matter who you are, when you meet them you feel like
they came just for you. That's what it will be like when we meet the Savior
again, I am convinced.

Here are just a few thoughts from the conference. Elder Kearon reminded us that
'it takes a good conference to last past tuesday' and encouraged us to apply
what we learned from this great meeting, by binding ourselves to act and to
change and to make it last and to claim the blessings of strength, courage, and
happiness and joy that can be ours. He echoed the advice given us in Isaiah 58
'is not this the fast I have choses.....to undo the chains that bind' and
exhorted us to mighty prayer and fasting and dedication. He said that if we are
having a hard time, perhaps it is because our prayers have become routine, and
suggested that we fast with a purpose. I got to meet him and speak with him for
a moment, we talked a bit about Danville and he mentioned that when he grows up
he wants to be like Elder Wilson...I agreed. Are they in Mongolia, by the way? I
love them. I am thankful for the love hey've always given our family.
Elder Andersen and his family spoke to us in French, which was a treat! They
love this placem and spoke about their time here with tenderness. They love the
French people, for good reason. France is a wonderful country, he reminded us,
and though it has become very secular there is still the light of Christ. There
are worthy covenant keeping people in this landm and that is not going to stop,
and the adversary cannot and will not stop it despite his unforgiving winds of
apostasy the kingom of God is being restored here every day and all over the
world. Elder Andersen told us 'We are the light in the lives of others,' and so
we must be. How do we obtain this light, by learning about Jesus, applying His
teachings, and keeping our covenants. God is a God of promisesm and He is bound
when we do what He says. Let us keep the commandments. Let us not be
discouraged, but let us partake in the light and Joy of God daily.

I love you!
Sarah