October 6, 2006

  • From a letter dated October 5, 2006

    Dear friends, family, and fellow xangans,

    I hope that you all watched General Conference this past weekend. For me General Conference was better than Christmas. It is an amazing time for Prophets to speak, the Spirit to instruct. I was edifyed, instructed, uplifted, enabled, empowered, surprised, disappointed, informed, relieved, inspired, .... And if you weren't, you still can be by listening or reading the conference procedings at www.lds.org.

    Elder Oaks started right off the bat by picking up where Elder Holland left off last spring. In fact, I think Elder Oaks stole Elder Holland's talk, which was fine with me because I could then hear two "Elder Holland" talks. Elder Holland concluded the conference by talking about conference. How fitting that the apostle who means so much to me would speak on the event that means so much to me. He again bore such a moving witness of Jesus Christ and of the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley.

    Random weekend details: Between conference sessions on Saturday, Elder Dayton, Elder Dean, Elder Harris and I went to applebees and indulged in carnal passions for meat and chocolate. Between sessions on Sunday I made creamy noodles for everyone since conference was in my neck of the woods and all I had was spagetti and cream of chicken soup. Elder Dayton brought fresh brocoli which made it actually a very nice meal. My grandparent's brownies topped it off.

    Things in our area are going well. We are teaching several people and I am learning how to be bolder in committing for baptism. Sometimes I feel inadequate because I am not baptizing throngs like previous Elders have done in this area, but I am learning what I can do to do better. This is such a great area that I would like to learn how to use all the resources available here. I have also learned something about myself, and that is that I won't settle for anything less than a heartfelt thorough job. I am looking for people who will experience deep and moving conversions. I take baptism seriously. It is not just a thing to do. It is for the long haul. Conversion is not a cheap experience.

    Stay close,Elder Embree