My New BFF

Last weekend our stake was involved in a 21 stake women's auxiliary training meeting.  Our stake happened to be the "host" stake which meant that the meetings were held in the Simi stake center and that the church leaders visiting were staying overnight in Simi and had a few hours to spend in Simi before their meetings.  Apparently they had spent the prior two days visiting other areas in southern California so that all of the stake leaders in southern california had been trained in a matter of three days. 

Before their meetings, the church leaders wanted to make one one one visits to people "who could benefit" from their visits.  As a young women's presidency we prayed about young women who could benefit from a visit from Sister Elaine Dalton, the YW General President, in their home.  Some young women didn't want a visit, some young women never answerd their phones, some young women never called back, but the day before we finally had three names.

I begged my way into accompanying our stake YW president and Sister Dalton on their visits. (Actually, I earned my spot, since I found one of the YW to visit.)

I was first impressed with Sister Dalton because she came out of the hotel with just a small purse and her scriptures.  We picked her up at four and I knew she wasn't going back to the hotel room until about 10:00, but that's all she needed.  As we started going to the first home it was really cute because Sis. Dalton wasn't sure what was going on.  She had been so busy the past two days she wasn't sure if she was going to do focus groups, one on one visits, or what time her next meeting started.  She was searching through her purse when we told her we were doing one on one visits, she was looking for something to give to the girls.  She felt bad she didn't have anything, and she felt a little flustered  as she asked us to say a prayer together before the first house.

When we started with our first visit, she just talked with the young woman we were visiting, trying to get to know her, and just kept telling her how remarkable she was and was impressed with everything this girl was doing in her life.  The spirit was very strong as Sis. Dalton told her she didn't have anything to leave her with except for the most important thing that she had, her testimony.  Sis. Dalton bore her testimony and asked the young woman to bear her testimony.  Then she asked the mom to bear her testimony.  I was getting a little stressed because we were on a pretty tight schedule and we were spending way too long at the first house, but after we left Sis. Dalton said "we couldn't leave that house until the mother bore her testimony and said what she needed to say."  

The second house was a totally different experience.  It turned out that in the second house the dad needed the visit more than the young woman.  Sis. Dalton listened to the spirit and reached out to the father.   It was amazing to see the spirit work and to see someone so in tune with the spirit to know exactly how to direct her words so that he was reached.  She invited the family to come and visit her if they're ever in Salt Lake. How cool!

The third house she called her "joyous" visit.   She met a beautiful family with three generations of women.  Turns out that everyone in the family heard and learned something different from her visit, especially the less active grandmother who just happened to fly in that morning. The grandmother said she had never felt the spirit so strong in her whole life as she did during that visit.

I learned how important it is to stay close to the spirit so that we can hear the Lord tell us what to do, and how to do it. I learned that true teaching and learning comes from ministering one on one.  It was an amazing experience, and I'm so grateful for the chance I had to spend with Sis. Dalton (my new BFF).  It has changed me.