Let's try indexing in Portuguese in honor of Brazil

Monday, July 10, 2018 Good morning Brandon, I indexed in Portuguese for my first time yesterday. Sister jacki salmon is serving in Brazil. I encouraged her deacon brother Scott to index in Portuguese when he came to collect Fast Offerings. Since I have been teaching indexing in Spanish and Italian I know the steps for learning to index in a new language. I want my students to try new languages, why not me? It was so scary. I felt so lost. They use periods instead of commas in their numbers. The names of the months differ. I stuck a c in a name that was really supposed to have a curve over the top of it this morning. I thought they had left out a letter. As you can see I am making mistakes and learning. Would you dare? @@@ I wrote my ward missionaries and home teaching family. Here’s my letter:

Dear BH2nd Ward missionaries,
Elder Thatcher Boyce is speaking next week.
Elder Brock Jensen spoke today.
Will Walker was called to Dominican Republic.
Alyssa Nielson was called to Resistencia, Argentina.

Our missionary work goes on!

1- The whole bishopric were out of town last week. EQ President Cameron Tolman bore his testimony and conducted. Please hold tithing until next week. I wonder if there will be a drop in tithing this month?

2- The priesthood room had broken air conditioning today.

3- Elder Brock spoke for 30 minutes and Mark Jensen for 4 minutes. Japan is not christian. Few believe in God. Wouldn't that be weird.

4- He did favor us with his testimony in Japanese. I know all those sounds must have meant something. He spent 90 days in the MTC. They followed Elder Bednar's challenge to read the whole new paperback BoM in 90 days and pick a theme and highlight it. Bednar picked atonement for his theme. Brock picked the love and mercy of Jesus Christ. I haven't ever taken that challenge.

5- Elder Josh Borgeson won his canary- yellow- helping- indexing- fingers- tie today. He made his monthly goal. He is the first.

6- FSC was closed for maintenance this week. FamilySearch Center. I tried the public library one day but the computers can only be checked out for an hour at a time. I still made my goal but it was done in the lonely confines of my home. I am so looking forward to tomorrow.

7- #243 Let us all press on, was the hymn chosen by Dallen Rickets for priesthood. Q can't play it. Dallen persisted. Poor Q.

As it turned out that was the theme of our lesson: Let Us All Press On

By President Russell M. Nelson

Your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days.

My beloved brothers and sisters, as we come to the close of this historic conference, I join with you in thanking the Lord for His direction and inspiring influence. The music has been beautiful and uplifting. Not only have the messages been edifying, but they have been life-changing!

In solemn assembly we sustained a new First Presidency. Two great men have been placed in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. And eight new General Authority Seventies have been called.

Now a favorite hymn summarizes our renewed resolve, our challenge, and our charge going forward:

Let us all press on in the work of the Lord,
That when life is o’er we may gain a reward;
In the fight for right let us wield a sword,
The mighty sword of truth.

Fear not, though the enemy deride;
Courage, for the Lord is on our side.
We will heed not what the wicked may say,
But the Lord alone we will obey.1

I exhort you to study the messages of this conference frequently—even repeatedly—during the next six months. Conscientiously look for ways to incorporate these messages in your family home evenings, your gospel teaching, your conversations with family and friends, and even your discussions with those not of our faith. Many good people will respond to the truths taught in this conference when offered in love. And your desire to obey will be enhanced as you remember and reflect upon what you have felt these past two days.

This general conference marks the beginning of a new era of ministering. The Lord has made important adjustments in the way we care for each other. Sisters and brothers—old and young—will serve one another in a new, holier way. Elders quorums will be strengthened to bless the lives of men, women, and children throughout the world. Relief Society sisters will continue to minister in their unique and loving way, extending opportunities to younger sisters to join them as appropriately assigned. [What? This sounds strange.-v]

Our message to the world is simple and sincere: we invite all of God’s children on both sides of the veil to come unto their Savior, receive the blessings of the holy temple, have enduring joy, and qualify for eternal life.2 [Nice invite. I'll take that enduring joy, please.-v]

Eventual exaltation requires our complete fidelity now to covenants we make and ordinances we receive in the house of the Lord. At this time, we have 159 functioning temples, and more are under construction. We want to bring temples closer to the expanding membership of the Church. So we are now pleased to announce plans to construct seven more temples. Those temples will be located in the following locations: Salta, Argentina; Bengaluru, India; Managua, Nicaragua; Cagayan de Oro, Philippines; Layton, Utah; Richmond, Virginia; and a major city yet to be determined in Russia.

My dear brothers and sisters, construction of these temples may not change your life, but your time in the temple surely will. In that spirit, I bless you to identify those things you can set aside so you can spend more time in the temple. I bless you with greater harmony and love in your homes and a deeper desire to care for your eternal family relationships. I bless you with increased faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and a greater ability to follow Him as His true disciples.

I bless you to raise your voice in testimony, as I do now, that we are engaged in the work of Almighty God! Jesus is the Christ. This is His Church, which He directs through His anointed servants. I so testify, with my expression of love for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

- Q about died 2 weeks ago when I asked him to lead the music. He will play but “please don't make me stand up there and sing!” V- so cute! He blushed/ flushed red as he explained. We have challenges enough when we must face them, no sense in forcing an unnecessary one. I led.

-I took him a bag of candy root beer barrels after church. I wanted to honor him.

Elder Ryan understands about nerves! “We received a referral from a member of another ward in the city and he really is looking for a church and she told him to find the local missionaries and it was us and he found our number haha we haven't met with him yet but he's very shy and nervous about going to church. He wants to though but just the nerves. We just need to meet with him once and then things will progress from there!"

8- I got to pray to end SS and to start priesthood today. I felt less nervous about that than I did leading the rest song in sacrament meeting: The Star Spangled Banner. We have done 4 patriotic hymns in the last 3 weeks. Do you know 4?

9- Elder Brock showed us his name tag that had his name and Jesus Christ together on the same tag. Cool. What an honor.

10- Pres CameronT set up two fans blowing cool air in from the hallway during priesthood. No fanfare. Just service. Good man.

God bless you in your service.

Vern