At the Prophet's Feet

Ours and 54 other stakes were visited (via satellite) by Pres Hinckley yesterday. The Lynnwood stake center was packed to capacity -- the parking lot was full to the gills, with cars double parked along every lane. It reminded me of the way we'd pack the parking lots for church in Japan. Like a giant Tetris puzzle. Luckily we were at the front of our row and were able to dart out without waiting for the giant puzzle to unfold itself.

The meeting itself was an interesting hybrid of general and stake conference. Pres Hinckley and those who spoke with him (Elder Hales, Bishop McMullen, and some others) were addressing all 54 stakes in Washington. The talks were all excellent, just a little generic. I think it's really up to me to try to listen deeply and learn from the spirit what it is I'm to take away. Listening to the spirit's whisperings is never easy with two little kids scrambling in your lap and at your feet, but here's what I can remember:

Elder Hales talked about listening to the spirit and bringing the spirit into our homes. He talked about the importance of temple attendance.

Pres Hinckley spoke about the restoration of the church and the priesthood. He spoke of the necessity of the restoration and the meaning of having a living prophet on the face of the earth. It wasn't an especially long talk (he even started it out by saying we were probably going to be leaving early) but it was vintage Pres Hinckley - simple, direct, eloquent. He closed his talk by thanking us all for our prayers on his behalf, requesting that we continue to pray for him--reminding us that he's 98 yrs old and needs the Lord's strength to carry on. What a powerful, humble, giant of a man!

So I am left with a few questions after this. Why has Pres Hinckley decided that holding satellite regional stake conferences is more effective than stake conferences presided by local leaders? It's not like we got to shake hands with general authorities and feel their spirit in person (always an exhilirating experience). But that will still happen every other year. And why would Pres Hinckley choose, of all the possible topics he could choose, to speak about the restoration of the Gospel and the restoration of the priesthood? Perhaps because that is what is centrally different about our church and any other church, and should be the foundation of all the "What is a Mormon" discussions swirling around us these days?

If nothing else, I'm committed to think about these things until I've learned what the spirit intends...I'll keep you "posted" when that time comes.