October 4, 2026

General Conference

We received a TV screen from our mission housing coordinators and after some work, prayers, and finding we had actually brought a Firestick, we got it connected and we were able to watch General Conference. It was wonderful and the music was powerful. Every talk focused on our relationship with Jesus Christ and our need to love God and our neighbor. We were taught to look for divine opportunities every day. The new primary general president invited us to learn the name of someone who may not get noticed and say hello to them or acknowledge them.

We have a friend in Africa who wants to watch General Conference. He is a member of another religion with great faith in Jesus Christ. We are looking forward to hearing of his experience and what he will feel. We know that Pres. Oakes is God’s representative on earth & are so gratefu for him & the Apostles & other leaders of the Church.

We also know that through our covenants with the Savior and our obedience, we are truly blessed. We see little miracles every day if we look for them. We are finding that here.

In studying self reliance this week, we found this quote: Self Reliance is a principle of salvation, “Whatever causes us to be dependent on someone else for decisions or resources we could provide for ourselves weakens us spiritually and retards our growth toward what the gospel plan intends us to be.” We know this is true.

We traveled to Abilene getting together with most of the senior couples in our mission along with the Mission President & his wife. It was

good being together with all of them. We went through the Dwight D Eisenhower Museum. It was so interesting to see his humble beginnings & how he became a trusted world leader in World War II. He later became President of the United States.

We also got to see the world’s largest belt buckle and the Greyhound Hall of Fame!

Today at the park Farrell saw this plant in the water and thought it would make a good art print with a little processing.

We happened to be downtown and got to see the homecoming parade. Everyone shows up for these. The band was amazing with a school of 300 students.

This week we also received a calling in the Branch for which we are very excited. We were called to be Early Morning Seminary Teachers and we have about 12 students. These youth are amazing. We start teaching in a week.