Blessings of the Sabbath

     I always look forward to Sunday, but since we've been here, you never know quite what to expect.  Our Branch was  planning to watch the Saturday sessions of Conference today, since the power outage didn't allow us to do that last Sunday. So Lynn spent most of Saturday at the church trying to get the technical things set up to view Conference.   Late Saturday, we received word that we would be able to view Elder Holland's address to the people in Pretoria, prior to his coming to Johannesburg to conduct a Missionary Conference this coming Thursday.  We were excited about that, because we thought we wouldn't have the opportunity to hear his address.

      In my personal prayer and in our couple prayer, we prayed that the technical aspects would allow us to have the proceedings go as planned.  We arranged to be at the church at 8:00 to set up for the webcast instead of the Conference video.  On our drive to the Church, we encountered several intersections where the robots weren't working.  We were a little afraid that when we got to the Church we might find that, once again, we had no power.  (If there is a power problem somewhere, they work on the lines on Sunday)  As we entered the church, our worst fears were true--there was, in fact, no power!  We could hardly believe it!  This was a replay of last Sunday!  I started rehearsing in my mind how we would do what, without any power or anyone prepared to speak or teach since we were supposed to be watching conference.  I immediately said another prayer.  I must admit that a surge of disappointment went through me as I was so looking forward to hearing Elder Holland.

     About 30 minutes later, the power flickered on!  Hooray!  As I walked to the car to get some of the equipment out, my eyes swelled with tears to know that Heavenly Father had heard and answered our prayers.  After several minutes of several men working with cords, plugs, computers, projectors, etc., we began to see a bit of the prelude songs being sung at the conference.  That was only for a brief moment before everything stopped.  Try as they might, they could not get the sound to come up, it just kept buffering.  The internet was too slow to stream both the audio and the sound at the same time.  A message came up to the effect that the internet was too busy to pick it up.  Members were starting to saunter in.  ( Being on time isn't common in this area)  We waited a while longer, still nothing!  I said another silent prayer that we would at least be able to get conference, if not Elder Elder Holland's address, because we had some inactive members there, and I didn't want them to be discouraged and not come again.

     Once again, I realized my prayers had been heard as I heard the Tabernacle Choir sing and the organ begin to play.  I don't know how many dozen times throughout my life I have heard that same sound, but it never sounded as sweet as it did today.  As President Eyring got up to open the Conference, my eyes filled with tears once again just to be able to be a part of this Conference, and to know that our equipment was finally working so that we could be able to see the conference recordings.  We take so much for granted in the States each time we flip on a switch and we have power, or turn on the T V or radio and we're able to see and hear conference.  I felt guilty thinking of all the times I had turned on the radio or TV to listen to conference as I went about my household duties, with no regard as what others have to go through to make it possible for us.  I have just always taken for granted that conference would always be there at my command.

     Even though we only had time to listen to one session today because of a Baptism scheduled after our Church time, I was grateful to hear the talks that were given.  They seemed to be so fitting for some of our inactive members who decided to come today.  I hope they felt as inspired as I did, and will have the desire to "feast upon the word" again next Sunday.  We are so blessed to be members of this great Church and to be able to hear our General Authorities speak to us on the things that our Heavenly Father wants us to know.  I feel so blessed to be able to be a part of this great work in helping to strengthen the members in this part of our Savior's vineyard.