General Conference Weekend

Going through security.

We were posing for our picture for the ensign. Haha.

Panoramic shot! [Of the Tabernacle and Christus visitor center on Temple Square.]

This sweet sister is a recent convert from San Jose, CA. Her initial contact with the church was with a temple square sister. I found out she was coming to Temple Square and we were able to go on a tour together. She has such a strong testimony of this gospel!

Look who I ran into! We just happened to run into each other because they saw me around the flag pole area. All of sisters were gathered together to sing Called to Serve after the morning conference session adjourned.

We got to go to the Saturday afternoon session. The missionaries from the MTC made up the choir that session. It was the BEST to sing Called to Serve as our intermediate hymn. We could see President Monson waving his hands a long with the music.

Dear family,

I hope you were able to enjoy conference! Please email me what you liked about it, what your favorite talks were etc. I would love to hear. 😃

Sister O'Reilly and I were able to attend the Saturday afternoon session and it was wonderful! One of my favorite talks was by Elder Oaks. He spoke about missionary work and I loved the specific steps he gives us in how we can share the gospel. He shared that success in missionary work is when we invite, not based off the answer we receive.

But this weekend was even crazier than usual. I love having so many people here. I think my first conference was really overwhelming, but now I love being with so many members, and some nonmembers. We actually had an interesting encounter with someone who doesn't want to associate with the church any more. We said hello to maybe a forty year old man and a his friend, and the first thing he said was something like, "I don't want to be preached to. I already made one of your sisters cry." That was a little surprising, but we still talked with him about where he's from why, he's here etc. He shared with us about why he didn't agree with the church; he didn't agree with the "added scripture" and how we are the only ones who have prophets. We just testified of things we both believed and tried to help him feel the Spirit. We ended our conversation but later he saw us and said, "Thanks for making me feel good by talking to me, and thanks for not pushing." It was such stark contrast from when we first started talking to him, but we were grateful that he was able to have a positive experience.

After conference we had a special testimony meeting with the mission. At the end of the meeting a couple of sisters sang the song from Ephraim's Rescue called My Kindness Shall Not Depart from Thee. I don't think there was a dry eye in the room. It felt like they were angels singing to us. I will try to send the video. Ahh!! I wish you all could hear it.

I had some really cool experiences on Monday evening. We were at a desk assignment and I noticed a man who looked like he kind of wanted to talk. We chatted about this and that for a few minutes, and then he opened up and said that he has been less-active for about a year, ever since he got home from his mission. He said some things happened and it just made him fall. He shared that there are people who are reaching out to him to help him come back, but it is just so hard. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I said, "I know that if God wanted you to know anything right now, it would be that he loves you." I sensed a great struggle in him and that he had been through some challenging things. But I also felt that God was aware and loved him.

Later, I talked with two other gentlemen about the restoration of the gospel. I was so surprised because people don't usually want to stop and listen. But they were both really interested. They both took a Book of Mormon and I got their info to stay in touch. So many miracles happened at our desk assignment! I felt so blessed!

I'm sad to say, but sickness has struck again! I think after our crazy week and all of the sisters being sick, it rubbed off of Sister O'Reilly. She's had an awful cold, but she has been a trooper. She only has a couple more weeks until she finishes her mission so I'm praying and hoping that she will recover quickly!

I hope you enjoy all the pictures! I love you and have a GREAT week!

xoxoxo,

Sister Butler