This was a busy week with many different things happening. But we would like to concentrate on a Mission Conference that we attended on Saturday, May 4, 2013. Although words cannot do justice to the feelings that Sister Warner and I had (and have) of this sacred experience, one could never forget the spirit in which we felt (and still do). In fact, we still get those "spiritual goosebumps" as our thoughts return to what we felt and to what was articulated in that meeting. The meeting was held at the Stake Center, in Iowa City, Iowa. Again, we were reminded that this Stake Center was built on the exact spot in which the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies departed, during that fatal winter.

The Meeting:

Presiding: Elder Neil L. Anderson - of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Conducting: President Dirk O. Jergensen - President of the Iowa Des Moines Mission

General Authorities in Attendance:

L. Whitney Clayton - of the Presidency of the Seventy

Elder Edward Dube (pronounced doo bay) - of the First Quorum of the Seventy

Elder Michael Reael - of the Seventy

The meeting began at 9:30AM, but we were asked to be in our seats promptly at 8:30AM, to spiritually prepare ourselves to receive personal revelation. We all (235 Missionaries) sat in our individual Districts and Zones. (We are a part of the Manchester District and the Cedar Rapids Zone). As we prepared, we could literally feel the spirit manifesting itself in strength and frequency. As Sister Warner and I anticipated the arrival of Elder Anderson, we had butterflies flying around in our stomachs and we then knew that we were in for a very rare experience.

Elder Anderson and the others arrived at 9:15AM and as they entered the chapel, we stood in reverence. The spirit was electrifying! They proceeded immediately to their seats, as they greeted us with hand waves, etc. Pres. Jergensen then stood and said that Elder Anderson and the others had a strong desire to shake each of our hands. Row by row we filed to a make- shift stage in the front of the chapel. We could hardly contain our excitement. As we neared the stage, we noticed that the steps were rather steep and as Sister Warner began to ascend the steps, Elder Anderson reached out his hand to assist her. He said, "Sister Warner, I'm sorry that we've made you climb these steps today." As he shook my hand, he simply said, "Elder Warner, I am glad that your good wife brought you today." I wanted to laugh, but couldn't bring myself to do so. We went on to shake the hands of all of the other visiting General Authorities. When I got to Elder Clayton, he said, "Elder Warner, I think I recognize you from the San Diego area" and he chuckled. I have met him several times in different meetings. He is from the Orange County area. It was also a great pleasure to shake President and Sister Jergensen's hands. They are wonderful servants of the Lord and they continually express their love for the saints of the Poway Stake. They will return home on July 1, after serving for three years and this Mission will then be presided over by Pres. Jensen.

At promptly 9:30AM, the meeting commenced. President Jergensen welcomed each of us and of course, welcomed our much anticipated, General Authorities.

First to speak was Sister Laurie Jergensen. She was brief, but to the point. She asked us one question; "do you love your missionary companion?" That was an easy question for me to answer, as I love mine very much!! She reminded us that this love was vital in order to be about the Lord's work and that we were to do all that was necessary to improve upon the love and respect that we have for our companions. She also asked us to always remember the following: 1) We are sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, 2) The Lord sent each of us to this mission for a very specific reason, or for perhaps, just one person that needs to hear the gospel and 3) we are duly, ordained representatives of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

President Jergensen spoke next (extemporaneously) - he expressed his love for his missionaries. He talked a great deal about the Book of Mormon. Last week, the President went on a teaching assignment with a companionship of Elders and he asked the investigator about his feelings for this wonderful book? The investigator remarked, “It answers questions for my soul. There is a plan and it is for me!" He expressed his desire for each of us to be exactly obedient and promised us that if we were, we would be blessed through the eternities.

Next to speak was Elder Duba - He is from Africa, has kind of a British accent and is very funny. He joined the Church in 1984, in Qua Qua, Africa. In 1981, he was given a Book of Mormon by a good sister and he sheepishly said he used it to put a potted plant on for three years, before he decided to read the book. He walked down to a train depot and sat and read the entire book. He found out where the closest congregation met and went to church for the first time in 1984. It was fast Sunday and for a moment, he thought it to be very weird. Then after two sisters bore their testimonies, he stood up from the very back row and bore his. (Said he didn't even walk up to the microphone. He shouted for joy and told the saints that they did not really understand what they had in the Book of Mormon, that their lives would be blessed when they knew. He then said, "I wondered what I had just said and sheepishly sat down." He had to call and beg the missionaries to come and teach "Eddie Dube." They came and he was baptized in 1984.

Elder L. Whitney Clayton spoke next and began his remarks with the following statement: (which Sister Warner and I shall never forget). He said, "When Elder Anderson walked into this room this morning, the last dispensation walked into the room with him because he holds all of the keys to the last dispensation and he is a Prophet of God!" It was powerful, it was spiritually moving, and it was true!! He then brought up the Jergensen's (who he has known since 1973) and asked the missionaries to say one thing that they admired about these two great people. He had to cut it short, as so many had good things to say about their president and his great wife. He concluded his talk with the following remarks, "work hard and be good and people will listen to you. Be balanced, lovable, capable and hard working and the windows of heaven will be opened to you." (I think that the windows were already opened).

Elder Neil L. Anderson - he said that the Sr. Couples need more recognition for the great work that they do. (Don’t know about that, but this work is the best!!) "Life goes on a very long time, stay close to the Lord. Ask yourself where you will be 20 years from now and move towards that goal. Be patient with yourself. (Did he say the P word)? Be a little better every day, be hard on yourself, but be patient too! He said he learned from Elder Dube to be a good hugger and that hugging men used to be unnatural for him. He said, "Those that are good huggers love the people and the gospel. Learn to express your love and feelings." He talked about being so young within the twelve. He is only 62! He said Elder Packer told him. "Neil, enjoy your youth while you have it." He taught several principles from PMG and it was wonderful. He said, "Don’t you ever think for a moment that you don't have eons of understanding about Christ that other religions do not have. Testify of the Resurrection because the merits, mercy and grace of Christ brought about the Resurrection. Get your investigators through the process of repentance, because even if they do not get baptized, they will feel something and you will have done a good work. There are more missionaries coming! Just yesterday, I personally assigned 252 missionaries to their areas and the Twelve assigned 1400 this week alone. He then closed by saying, "One day we will kneel at the feet of the Savior and He will embrace us. He will see your face and if we have done our best, He will accept us unto His own. I am a special witness of the Savior and make to mistake, I do hold all of the priesthood keys and I leave my apostolic blessing with each of you and I am so grateful to be in this great work with you."

What a wonderful day, one of which we will never forget!!

Mormon Handcart Park

By way of explanation of all the photos of the Mormon Handcart Park.......we became acquainted with the spirit of those Faithful Saints as they prepared for their 'Faith in every Footstep" toward their Promised Land.

After our wonderful, spiritual feast with all of the Missionaries of the Des Moines Iowa Mission and the once in a life time meeting, for many of us, of an Apostle of the Lord, members of the Seventies and our Devoted Mission President Jergensen and his beloved wife, Sister Jergensen, we decided to visit the areas where many of the Handcart Companies began their trek to Salt Lake. The Iowa City Stake Center was where they had their tent city and about a mile away was where the handcarts were being prepared, which is now part of the University of Iowa. There is a main street named Mormon Trek Blvd. which leads to the Mormon Handcart Park!!! I Love Church History and so I talked everyone into visiting the park while we were here in Iowa City.

It had stopped raining and so we set out on our own spiritual trek to walk the 2 miles of the park (not the 1800 miles from Nauvoo to Salt Lake), dressed in our very best Church clothes and Sister Warner in her heels. This proved to be not the most comfortable walk, but I was determined to feel of the spirit of these Faithful Saints and so we pressed forward. Our Company consisted of the old couple not the odd couple, Elder and Sister Warner, Elder Hunsaker, Elder Belliston of the Manchester Branch and Elder Tanner and Elder Wadsworth of the Fayette Branch, which we serve with as well.

We took pictures at each stop and read all the plaques and learned that in 1856, the ill-fated Martin and Willie Handcart Companies left from this site later than they had expected and not as prepared as they should have been. But they left with all the faith and spirit needed for members of this newly Restored Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 1500 hundred Saints left in different companies from this site and the Stake Center, some buried behind in graves, yet their spirits traveled on.

None of these Faithful Saints realized the true Legacy they left behind, as this area is now protected by the people of Iowa City, who the majority are not of our Faith, but they respect the Courage and Legacy of these early Pioneers. We will never know how we influence the lives of so many people we come in contact with, it is by our example that we leave our legacy behind.

As we reached the end of the trail, we reflected on the sacrifices of these courageous Faith-driven Saints that through their trials they became

acquainted with God, making it possible for Christ's Church to flourish throughout the world.

As we began our trek back to the car, a little black raincloud appeared above us which began to open-up and Heaven poured out it's blessing upon us and we were washed clean. We began to run back to the car and being that I did not wear my running shoes and was afraid I would slip and fall, I trotted down the incline laughing all the way. My laugh was of pure JOY, because I became acquainted with the Saints. I felt a little bit of their discomforts but I also felt their overwhelming JOY of the Truthfulness of the Gospel, of their Testimonies and of their undeniable strength and Love of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I raised my face to the heavens and thanked my Father in Heaven for his precious gospel and for my Testimony of it, laughing and crying the whole way down to the car. Hence the picture of all of us soaked to the skin and Sister Warner with black eyes,(mascara) not only from the rain but from my tears of Joy, with The Holy Priesthood surrounding me both physically and spiritually as was done so many years ago for those Faithful Saints.

Come Come Ye Saints........All is Well........All is Well!!!!!

Love to All,

Sister Laura Warner and Elder Craig Warner