Written by Carter. I very much enjoyed watching General Conference and have enjoyed “digesting” the talks one at a time since then.  As I thought and prayed how to approach “internalizing” the general conference teachings, I realized that my approach is so “Carter”! Our children say I’m “predictable” — and I guess I am. I’m grateful for a loving Heavenly Father, Who gives me guidance that fits so well into my personality and “season” of life!
Easter was wonderful. I’m grateful for the witness from the Holy Ghost to my spirit that Jesus has indeed risen from the dead! What a beautiful thought that is! I’ve written some very personal thoughts on that topic…and hope to share some of that in the future.

I sure have enjoyed watching the first three episodes of Season 2 of The Chosen. I’m grateful for everyone who has helped that project move forward. It has helped me see the New Testament and Jesus Christ from a different perspective. I feel closer to Christ because of it.

We attended “Pasifika,” (I think it’s spelled that way because of how they use certain letters of the alphabet in some Pacific languages). It was a celebration of the different Pacific islands: their peoples, dances, foods, etc. I spent a lot of time in an exhibit where they shared a theory about how New Zealand was discovered by people from Hawaiki: that they followed the migration of flocks of godwits, birds that migrate from Alaska to NZ every September — up to 7,000 miles of it without stopping! They also showed how the ancient mariners used the stars to navigate.
The area presidency held a devotional where they shared some of their insights from General Conference. It was enlightening to try to see things through their eyes. A couple of highlights:

• “When a prophet quotes another prophet …or a scripture …pay special attention!”
• “The Book of Moroni [in the Book of Mormon] is mostly the story of a single adult.”
• Because of COVID, the total number of baptisms in the world went down in 2020. However, in the Pacífic Area, the number of baptism per missionary actually increased in 2020!
• They showed a video clip of a woman who was feeling bitter about her recent divorce. She felt her ex-husband should have to “pay” for his poor choices. She received the impression, “I have already paid that price; would you have it paid twice?” That clip helped me look at forgiveness with a different perspective.

I met today with a man from India who was interested in learning more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had an interesting conversation. He had many questions. I gave him a copy of the Book of Mormon, which he said he would read.

I learned to meditate several years ago. It has been helpful, but I didn’t find it to be a “spiritual” practice, per se. Thinking of Pres. Oaks’ talk from several years ago, when he mentioned that there are things that are “good, better and best” — and that God wants us to look for the “best” in life — I have been looking for a “better” (or “best”) way to meditate, focusing upon God and Christ. This has been an enlightening process.

We had a new member lesson with Sarah and a young couple from Brazil who are members of the Church. It was on the Plan of Salvation. The Spirit was present. I’m grateful for God’s perfect plan for His children!

We are praying that the way will be opened for us to visit Fiji on the way home from our mission in June. We understand that this is “impossible,” but we are asking anyway. I told Faye this morning that “God could do that before breakfast…if it were His will.” I confess that I want to do that to help heal from Ashton’s suicide…but I wonder if there is some good that we can also do for others there during this process?

Look at the last part of this video about President Nelson’s first three years of ministry as God’s living prophet. It’s the part where the members in Fiji sang at the end of a meeting when he was there. They are singing the Fijian farewell song. I like to imagine Ashton singing the bass part in that song. Made me cry!

One of the speakers in church meetings today shared this quote: “New beginnings are sometimes disguised as painful endings.” I love that thought! When I heard of a challenge a friend was facing, I said to Faye, “I wonder how God will consecrate this affliction for their gain?”