If you go anywhere with Patricia you will always be early because she wants to get a good seat. This was taken Friday morning when I was standing in line to get in the Marriott Center, Patricia went back to the car for my glasses and I met this lady named Kim Ward. Kim was from Long Beach and was telling me that her husband had Ward Furniture. As I said I remember Ward Furniture Patricia walked up, seeing the back of Kim and said, "Ward Furniture! Kim?!" Kim was in her ward in Long Beach. They had a good talk down memory lane where Patricia and Kim caught up from 25 years ago.
During one of the breaks Mary Bohnam brought Marjorie McLaughlin over to where we sat to say hi. Marjorie was my Relief Society pres when we lived in the Riviera Ward in Torrance. Patricia was in that ward longer , for twelve years I think before they moved ot Idaho. Marjorie has since moved to the Provo area and loves it. I hadn't seen Marjorie in 8 years when Chuck and I ran into her last year in Costco then this last time at women's conference. This is the first time I have seen Marjorie with her hair short, I like it Marjorie!
This is Carol Chase with Marjorie. Carol was also in the Rivera Ward but since that ward has been dissolved she's in the Torrance Ward now. It was fun to see Carol, she was with her (I think 6) sisters and they all sure look alike. They gather from all over to be together at women's conference what a great tradition.
We were told not to take any flash photography of the prophet and this was taken without using a flash. It's not good quality but I wanted President Monson to be in my camera. Cecil O Samuelson, the President of BYU, is sitting to his left. He was of course wonderful to hear. He spoke about finding joy in the journey of life but the best part of hearing him speak was the personal witness I received that he is our living prophet and receives revelation for us as a church today. I wasn't expecting this little gift yet I'm so thankful my Father in Heaven knew I needed it and that I was open to receive it.
We also heard from Julie B Beck, the Relief Society General President. She talked about how simple the gospel is and told us not to complicate it so that we forget what we are really about.
I have met Julie Beck on a couple of occasions when she spoke to our Torrance Stake Young Women. Then she remembered Michelle and I when we went to a General Young Women's meeting in the tabernacle. I saw her standing alone on the floor for a moment and took the opportunity to speak to her, just as I went down someone else stepped up to her so I stood aside and Sheri Dew walked over to say something to Sister Beck. So I talked with Sheri Dew for a brief minute. The I spoke with Sister Beck. She remembered Torrance Stake and Bonnie Checketts our StakeYoung Women's President who had her speak. I think she was being polite when she said she remembered me but that is ok. We had a brief exchange and I told her I was so happy that she was the RS General Pres. in these times because she could be able to bridge the gap and change from Young Women's to Relief Society. We talked about the large number of Young women who get lost in in-activity during that transition. She told me that they need something to do and she is setting that in place. Yeah!!! What an awesome lady!
Anyway, no, I didn't get a photo of me with Sister Dew or Beck, it felt a little funny to ask them besides my camera was sitting in my seat.
At first I wasn't real excited about attending BYU Women's Conference but I am now. What a spiritual feast! I received more than I ever expected to receive. I highly recommend this event for any woman of faith as it was also very empowering. There is a lady who is a member of royalty from one of the United Arab Emerit nations who comes every year because she loves women's conference. She is acknowledged each general session yet I was never able to catch her name other than "Her highness ..." I plan on attending next year and the year after and so on and so on.
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