Farewell To Elder Scott

I announced for the first time this week (when you hold up the TOUR sign and speak with the microphone). I didn't volunteer though, I was forced into it! Haha. The announcing coordinators called and asked me to do it. How could I say no?

So much has happened this week, I don't know where do start. I feel like I am in the heart of the church and I get to participate in so many fantastic opportunities. I am just so thankful.

I'll just start with last Wednesday. Have you all heard about the new Church History Museum that will be opening Sept. 30th? I know it's taken forever for it to open, but the creators have been working hard! Some people (including the sisters) had the special opportunity last Wed. to have a look at the museum before it opens tomorrow. There are SO many exhibits. We only had an hour and a half so it was really hard to take it all in. It is really amazing. By the way, there is a NEW short movie of The First Vision. I invite all to go if you can! It's awesome!

This week has been busy with the General Women's Conference and Elder Richard G. Scott's funeral. So to begin with the Women's meeting, I wasn't able to go because generally sisters only go once throughout their mission. I have only been able to watch half of the conference, but from what I have seen it is wonderful! So it was so fun last Saturday seeing all the moms and daughters coming out of the meeting. It was just a wave of beautiful daughters of God with the light of Christ shining in their eyes! I can't wait for this coming weekend. From what I hear people are EVERYWHERE. There will be no shortage of people to talk to.

I have had so many spiritually uplifting experiences this week with visitors I've met on the square. For example, I was in the Tabernacle welcoming people when I saw a lady sitting on one of the benches. I felt like I should talk to her. So I went up and said hi and we started talking. I learned that she had been inactive for a lot of her life but she was starting to come back. She said that there was a point when she acted like she knew better than God and she turned her back on Him. She felt guilty for all that she had done in the past. I just watched a portion of the Women's Conference earlier that day, and I was able to testify to her of her divine worth she has and that no matter what she has done, the Lord loves her and is proud she's coming back. Towards the end of the conversation she looked me hard in the eyes and said twice, "Don't ever turn your back on God." I was so thankful I was able to talk to her. We both felt the Spirit and were uplifted.

I am officially in my second transfer! Dad, to answer your question about how we get reassigned...the APs do the majority of the work where they reassign missionaries to different companions, housing, and assignments. But of course the President has his part in it too. 

Each zone has a specific assignment in the mission. One is texting out requested tours to the sisters, another is serving on Welfare Square or at the Beehive House, and another is scheduling motorcoach tours (there are a few more assignments, but those are the main ones). We have district meetings once a week, and zone meetings once a transfer. I will send a picture sometime of what my schedule looks like. Everything has to be really structured.

I am so excited to share with you my experience at Elder Richard G. Scott's funeral. I felt so, so honored to be a part of it. So the Square was completely closed down for the morning, due to security reasons, so the sisters were able to attend. The morning started off with transfer conference, and since the Square was shutdown, we had it in a theater of the basement in the Church History Museum (it was pretty awesome!). After the conference, we got in line to go through security to get into the Square. I was seated on the right side of the balcony--from the view of the organ. It was so cool seeing Nathan Call's name on the program as one of the casket bearers! I was not able to see him or his family, but I knew they were there! 

I have never been in the presence of President Monson and all His apostles before. Seeing all of them up on the stand made me think how we have no idea of how much they give of themselves to the work. It makes me want to try my hardest to help them, and the Lord, by sharing the gospel.

I felt so blessed to be a part of Elder Scott's funeral. What a special apostle and man. I loved his outlook on the passing away of his wife. He never asked God why he took her, he just wanted to know what he could learn from it. There were so many wonderful stories shared in honor of Him. What a legacy he has left behind. 

The spirit was so wonderful. When the Mormon Tabernacle choir closed the meeting with "Come Thou Fount", I felt like I experienced a little bit of what heaven must be like. They sing like angels!

Well, I miss you all! Keep on keeping on! Prepare a question(s) for conference! I know the Lord will answer you through one of the talks.

oxox

Sister Butler

P.S. I have seen uncle Craig almost everyday this week! He was doing a lot of work helping to set up the Tabernacle for the funeral. 

P.S.S. I ate at the Lion House Pantry this week (got a free coupon because I "passed off" giving tours) and they have the best food ever. If you are passing by here you HAVE to eat there. Oh, and Sister Wixom (primary general president) stopped by for a bite with her family. I was in good company. :)