Young Single Adults

It was so much fun playing that trivia game in preparation of General Conference last Monday night in the Single Ward's Family Home Evening (FHE). Even more, I found that just knowing more about these men, caused me to listen more intently to their words at Conference time. For though I know that what I heard was merely God's word spoken by the mouth of His chosen servants, I know that everything these men said, they not only believe, but they also live.

In my last post I shared facts about the First Presidency of the Church. Now in the spirit of getting to know these great men who have been called of God to lead this Church I would like to continue by sharing a few trivia facts that you may or may not have known before about the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons):

President Boyd K. Packer (President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) is quite talented in woodcarving, and painting, and illustrating. At one time he even considered becoming a professional artist. You can see some of his work online as a past exhibit at the Church's Museum of History and Art.

Early on in his mission Elder L. Tom Perry felt that he needed more practice in teaching the gospel. So every night he would sneak down to the kitchen and practice teaching to the local mouse. The morning after he taught the discussion on Baptism by immersion, he discovered that in the night the mouse had drowned in a bowl of water.

While in college, Elder Russell M. Nelson's friends tried to convince him to try out as the leading man in the school musical; he claimed he was too busy. That was until he saw who the leading lady was to be. Three years later, Elder Nelson married that leading lady whose name was Dantzel White.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks was a boy when he found his interest in the radio while working as a sweep in a radio repair shop. He had earned his radio/telephone license before he was even sixteen. Later he became a regular announcer at a radio company. As a side note, Elder Oaks met his wife while he was announcing a high school basketball game.

Elder M. Russell Ballard had a hard time convincing his wife to marry him. According to him,

"She was not only beautiful, but had a sparkling personality. I knew from the beginning that I wanted to marry her, but she didn't share the same feelings. It was a little hard convincing her. I kid her now that getting her to marry me was the greatest sales job I ever did." (see Elder M. Russell Ballard: True to the Faith," Ensign, Mar. 1986)

Having graduated with a degree in business administration, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin became a very prominent businessman (in Salt Lake City, Utah), and even served as the president of a trade association in Utah before becoming a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

Having graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Elder Richard G. Scott went on to do his postgraduate work in Nuclear Engineering. He did much in this field. In the latter part of his career and before his call to the First Quorum of the Seventy, he acted as a private consultant in the nuclear industry.

With a love of baseball, and a very good arm, Elder Robert D. Hales became a great pitcher. He played on the school team while attending college at the University of Utah, until an injury ended his carrier.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland was an All-American boy who loved sports of every kind. In High School, he lettered in football, basketball, track, and baseball.

Growing up in a home where his mother was not particularly active and his father was not even a member, Elder David A. Bednar held true to his faith. Later in his life after having faithfully served a full-time mission for the church, Elder Bednar had the privilege of being able to baptize his own father.

Elder Quentin L. Cook was once taken out to lunch by some of the partners of the Law firm he had just applied to work at. During this meal, the senior partner offered him an alcoholic drink. Both times he declined. The second time He did so, Elder Cook informed the senior partner that he did not drink because he was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons). Elder Cook did receive an offer from that law firm. Then months later that same senior partner confided that the alcohol was a test, for he has seen on the resume that Elder Cook had served an LDS mission, and had determined to hire him only if Elder Cook was true to the teachings of his church. (See Called to Serve: Elder Quentin L. Cook, November 2007 New Era)

*Elder D. Todd Christofferson our newest Apostle graduated with a Bachelors degree from BYU and then graduated with a law degree from Duke University. During the Watergate Controversy, Elder Christofferson was working as a clerk for Judge John Sirica in Washington D.C. When asked about this time He remarked that,

"It was a unique way to start a legal career," he said. "It gave me, interestingly enough, a great deal of added faith in government. I saw there in action many, many good people who did the right thing and restored the equilibrium and constitutional balance of the United States." New LDS Apostle, an ex-lawyer, anxious to serve By Peggy Fletcher Stack and Jessica Ravitz, The Salt Lake Tribune

I hope you all enjoyed these fun and interesting facts regarding these most amazing men who have been called of God, to be Prophets, Seers, and Revelators, whom we are so blessed to have. I encourage all to learn more about these General Authorities of the Church, and in doing so read the messages they have delivered to us from God. If we will listen to their words and apply them in our lives then we will be blessed in more ways then we can now imagine.

Right now my calling in my Singles Ward is to be a member of the Family Home Evening committee. This means that I help plan our weekly F.H.E., for the singles adults, who would not have the opportunity to attend in with their family or roommates. Normally, our Family Home Evenings consist of a lesson, an activity, socializing, and a treat. Our numbers fluctuate every week, (we could have anywhere from five to 45 singles) so our actives have to be flexible.

Prior to General Conference coming this last weekend, last week's Family Home Evening activity and lesson was combined. We (the Family Home Evening Committee) thought that it could be fun to prepare for General Conference by having a trivia game to get to know the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and First Presidency of the Church.

To prepare for our game we set up fourteen chairs in a line and taped the names of each of the members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve (I left one seat blank in honor of our new Apostle who would be presented to us the upcoming weekend). Then we broke into two teams. Every round, each team had to choose someone to stand behind the tape on the floor, a short distance from the chairs. A trivia fact would be read, and the representative from each team would have to run and sit down in the chair with the name of the Apostle or Prophet whom the trivia fact was about. With much laughing and fun we explored the lives if these Fourteen amazing men of God.

In the spirit of getting to know these amazing men, here are a few trivia facts that you may or may not have known before about the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormons):

President Thomas S. Monson first met his wife, while attending a "Hello Dance" at the University of Utah. (See October 2004 New Era, The Message: Whom Shall I Marry? By President Thomas S. Monson)

President Henry B. Eyring's father was the brother of the late President Spencer W. Kimball's wife. Making President Eyring the nephew of the twelfth President of the Church.

Though President Dieter F. Uchtdorf is known as our German Apostle, he was actually born in Czechoslovakia.

Due to the size of this post I have broken it into two posts. Read FHE Conference Trivia Night Part 2 to learn about the incredible men who form the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

About 93 years ago, the First Presidency of the Church, had a growing concern about the degeneration of families across the world. So, in a formal letter to the church, they instituted Family Home Evenings (FHE)

"We advise and urge the inauguration of a 'Home Evening' throughout the church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home and teach them the word of the Lord. . . . 'Home Evening' should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture-reading, family topics and specific instruction on the principles of the gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligations of children to parents, the home, the Church, society and the nation. For the smaller children appropriate recitations, songs, stories and games may be introduced. Light refreshments of such a nature as may be largely prepared in the home might be served.

If the Saints obey this counsel, we promise that great blessings will result. Love at home and obedience to parents will increase. Faith will be developed in the hearts of the youth of Israel, and they will gain power to combat the evil influence and temptations which beset them." (First Presidency letter, 27 April 1915 — Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose)

Growing up, I always knew that Sunday meant attending church, and Monday night meant Family Home Evening. Come 6:00 P.M. on Monday night it was officially family time. My father always presided, and conducted over Family Home Evening (FHE.) We would take turns choosing the opening and closing songs. My father always chose someone to pray, and then the time was turned over to whoever was giving that week's lesson. Afterwards, we sometimes had an activity and almost always had a dessert (which often was homemade pop corn.)

Looking back, I am so thankful for the institution of family home evening. I learned so much through those weekly lessons, but even more, I can see how much stronger my family is because of the time spent together. I know this is something I will continue someday with my husband and children. For, I want my future family to be strong and untied.

What about right now? I have noticed that too often, Single Adults are seemingly in between worlds. We are no longer a small child or youth to be governed, and cared for by our parents. More often than not, we do not even live under our parent's roof, anymore. And yet, we have not married and begun a family of our own. Where does family home evening fit in with us?

There are two really good talks given which I recommend reading on the subject. One is written by a single adult and the other by a widow living alone. Both talks from the Ensign show how Family Home Evening can be done even if you are alone.

Family Home Evening for One - Judyth F. Barton

Family Home Evening for One - Bette J. Theriot

Right now, as my current calling, I have the privilege of being a member of my Singles Ward's Family Home Evening Committee. Since some of the singles in our ward live at home and attend FHE with their families, and some choose to have a private FHE with their roommates, the number who attends the ward FHE varies from week to week. We get on average anywhere from 7-25 people who come. Yet, even if we only had three or five people attending, it would still be worth it. It is not the number of people who attend, the perfection of the lesson, or even the grandness of the activities which matter. What matters is that we do it. That we come together in the eyes of God, to teach, learn, enjoy, and come closer to each other and to our Lord.

The same blessings, I received in my family, through participation in a weekly Family Home Evening, I have seen wrought in my Singles Ward. This is because the promised blessings of God are real and are available to all of us no matter our circumstance as long as we are obedient to the commandment upon which the blessing is predicated (D&C 130:20-21).

"Family home evening is for everyone. It is for families with parents and children, for families with just one parent, and for parents who have no children at home. It is for home evening groups of single adults and for those who live alone or with roommates. . . . Regular participation in family home evening will develop increased personal worth, family unity, love for our fellow men, and trust in our Father in heaven." (Family Home Evening, 1976 — Spencer W. Kimball, N. Eldon Tanner, and Marion G. Romney)