I love General Conference! How incredible it is. I listened to a living, breathing prophet of God. That is such a blessing. People all over the world listened to his words; yet, each can receive individualized instruction, peace, and comfort through the Spirit. God loves His children. He knows His children. A prophet and General Conference are proof of that. Because I've known my whole life, I forget how incredibile it is that we have a prophet. It is amazing! How it changes my life all the time.
Our weekly Sunday devotional was unique from all of the rest. Our speaker was Vai Sikahema, the pro-football player. He is from Tonga, and played for the 1984 championship BYU team after he served a Church mission in South Dakota. He then played for the Cardinals, Packers, and Eagles. Since his football career, he works for NBC out of Philladelphia as a sports director and anchor.
He is such an example of living what he believes. His faith and religion are part of his career and forefront in his life. My favorite story was about baseball (of course!). He organized a "Mormon Day" at the Philly's when they played the Cubs (Chicago...YAY). He arranged for LDS missionaries to sing the national anthem. At this point, the players usually go into their clubhouse. One stayed, watched, walked out to the middle of the field, and shook the hand of each of the 60-ish missionaries. His name? Sammy Souza. Vai ran up afterwards and asked Sammy why he had done this while all of the other players had left. Get this: Sammy Souza's response was that as a kid in the Dominican, he played baseball with Mormon missionaries.
How incredible is that!?!?!? There are people running around today (okay, likely walking) who played baseball with Sammy Souza and they probably don't even know!!!
Vai also told of a program in Philadelphia for orphaned kids. Each Wednesday they highlight a new child in hopes to find them a good home. In a board meeting, his boss asked for suggestions regarding a logo. It's already called Wednesday's Child. Vai was considered a genius for his contribution that is so common to us in the Church: "Forever Family". Now, all over Philladelphia on television, billboards, etc. is displayed "Wednesday's Child looking for a Forever Family". How wonderful is that! Because it's true! It is possible. Our families can be together forever, through the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Vai brought with him a man that he had taught on his mission 28 years before. Together, they told the story. It was so neat to see the friendship they share, and to see the family who changed because of Vai's mission. Bob Dole was working in his dad's store when he saw the missionaries and commented that he'd never known two guys who both had the first name "Elder". Figuring the clerk was being a smart alek, Vai responded "if you had any sense, you'd know those are titles, and you'd have us over to tell you about them". Vai was shocked to hear the clerk say, "How 'bout Thursday?".
Bob shared his experience. He really had a desire to know if what these kids were telling him was true. If there really was a prophet of God on the earth, he needed to know. He prayed to know. He said he did not receive a huge manifestation but that he felt very strongly that he needed to try it out in order to find out. He did. He was baptized three months after he met Vai. Bob's wife wasn't too excited. Years later (10 actually) Vai found a picture of Bob and tracked him down. Bob's wife answered the phone and informed Vai that she had joined the Church about a year earlier, and only one month before the phone call, the Dole family had been sealed in the Temple as a family. Forever.
The entire Dole family was at our Sunday devotional at the MTC. It was wonderful to hear from them, and see how their lives changed because they joined the Church. It was incredible. I can't write it all. I wish I could. It's one of those things that words simply wouldn't cover adequately.
This week has been monumental for me in ways that are very personal- ways I won't share. I'll be satisfied to say this: God knows me. He knows what I need and what I desire. This week, through ways that cannot be mere coincidence, prayers of years past have been answered. I know, through the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ is my Savior. We have a prophet -Thomas S. Monson- on the earth; he leads this, God's Church.
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