BLOG 50, SEP 18 - 24, 2023
STEVE PACKER’S SIBLING CHAT
Steve’s sibs all showed
up Monday night for their sib chat. It was so good to see each of his siblings
and listen to their conversation. I feel blessed having these amazing people in
our lives. We love them dearly!
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| Steve's wonderful siblings - top right, Brent Packer and his wife, Sandy, bottom row, left to right, Anita Herway (Tom not present), Suzanne Stott, and Scott Packer |
SURPRISE CALL FROM MALIYAH
Monday, halfway during Steve’s
sibs chat, Maliyah called out of the blue and I quickly left to go in another room
and had a wonderful visit with her. It was her P-day and I was blessed to have
her call and light up my life. Her spirit is so alive and so filled with joy
from her experiences with the Missouri Historic Sites, focused on Liberty Jail
and the Visitor Center, but leaving four days later for CA for the rest of her
mission.
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| Surprise video phone chat with Maliyah, and the last one while in Missouri. She's pure joy! |
TUESDAY MISSIONARY DEPARTING DEVOTIONAL
Every six weeks a group of
missionaries depart after their great service as missionaries and the mission
receives new and fresh missionaries to serve.
At these devotionals,
there is instruction by the AP’s and then each of the departing missionaries share
their testimonies and gratitude for their amazing experiences. I took a few
notes that were inspiring.
- Remember and write down daily your spiritual moments.
- Always be motivated by love.
- Choose to enjoy every step and part of your mission.
- Serve more and turn outward, being a giver helped them overcome challenges.
- Alma’s mighty change of heart is what we are all working on.
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| Elder Keiser - giving a touching departing testimony. He was such an amazing missionary in our district. |
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| Elder Needham - though he was never in our Zone, because we know his family back home we connected with him several times. His testimony was so beautiful. |
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| Elder Loisel, AP, and from our Paris Stake, where his father is the Stake President. At one-point Elder Loisel was our District Leader. His testimony was wonderful and powerful. |
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| Always a beautiful and stirring testimony from our Mission Leaders, President and Sister Léporé. |
WALKS IN THE PARK THIS WEEK
We loved our walks this week and we are feeling that Fall is just around the corner, through the weather, the flowers dying off, and leaves beginning to turn slowly.
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| An iPhone image isn't bad on such a glorious morning! One morning, we sat on one of the benches and watched in awe the beauty before our eyes. |
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| Taking my pro camera one morning, I was determined to capture one of my most favorite flowers in the Botanical Garden, knowing that this was the only one in bloom, with only two buds left in the season. I then captured a few more, seen below. |
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| Another beautiful walk in the park! |
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| Such tiny but beautiful flowers! |
200 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
On September 21 of this
year, the church celebrated the 200th anniversary of when Joseph
Smith was visited by the angel Moroni. President Russell M Nelson, our beloved
prophet, shared these thoughts among many more.
“I have reflected many
times on the miracle of the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Today we
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the angel Moroni’s first visit to the
Prophet Joseph Smith. What a remarkable visitation this was! Moroni was a
messenger sent from God to teach Joseph Smith about the work that God had for
him to do. Moroni became one of Joseph’s major tutors.
On his first visit,
Moroni told Joseph Smith that “there was a book deposited, written upon gold
plates, giving an account of the former inhabitants of this continent. … the
fulness of the everlasting gospel was contained in it, as delivered by the
Savior to the ancient inhabitants.”
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| 200th Anniversary of Moroni appearing to Joseph Smith. |
TIME FOR NEW CAR FROM THE MISSION
Every 2-3 years the
mission trades out the cars for new ones. It was our turn to get a new car. It’s
a little longer, very new, very comfortable and we’re not complaining.
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| Our old car, as we were taking it to the office for the required exchange. |
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| The new car, both are hybrids. There is a bit more room in this car and very comfortable! |
We enjoyed a lovely Zoom visit
with the Brother and Sister Herzog who will be coming to this mission in March
of next year and had a lot of questions concerning packing needs. They are going
to be a wonderful blessing wherever they serve (secretly we pray they come to
Lyon to take our place).
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| Troy and Carol Herzog, coming to this mission, in March of next year. They had a lot of questions on what to start preparing for. |
SUNDAY WORSHIP
We relished a beautiful Sacrament
and Priesthood and Relief Society meetings. We always enjoy meeting with the members,
but most of all, renewing our covenants with the Lord is what means the most.
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| Sisters Ferrari and Stewart - we were blessed that they were not transferred and will be staying with us for another 6 weeks. |
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| From my side of the car, while we were driving home from church, I took this shot. There is no other way to take it, as there is no place to stop on the bridge. |
Video Chat with Becca and boys
Wednesday, we had a fun video
chat with Becca and the boys. Henry and Mason are so fun, very active and love
playing with each other. They will blow kisses to us, call us Papa and Mémé and
they love their mom and dad.
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| It was so fun trying to capture these kids together with their mom, so this was about as good as it would be but love these cuties so much and miss them terribly, as they keep growing so fast. Mason in his mom's lap, with Henry playing with his truck. |
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| Henry stopped for a quick screenshot photo. |
Jaron is a wonderful
composer and took the chance to compose a youth song. Not sure if it has a
title yet, but I’ll call it, “I Will Look Unto Christ.” It is beautiful,
and the arrangement, the accompaniment and his voice were amazing. It’s so rewarding
to see how his talents continue to grow and how he offers them to serve the
Lord. Not sure if he’s willing to have me share it yet, so I won’t.
Aaliyah
and Jaron’s solo/duet performance at the Assembly Hall and Jaron singing his
new composition.
Jaron was asked this last
Thursday if he could fill two cancelation spots at the Assembly Hall
performance schedule for Friday, the very next day. He accepted and quickly
tried to put something together that night. As he was rehearsing, Aaliyah came
in and started singing with him. He decided to ask Aaliyah if she would be
willing to perform with him on this program. This cute nearly 7-year-old, eagerly
accepted. I think this was her first time singing a solo in public. She sang solo
on the first verse and Jaron on the second verse of, I’m Trying to Be Like
Jesus and then they joined together on the last phrase. So absolutely precious.
Jaron then sang his new
composition and accompanied himself. Not sure who kindly recorded it for him,
but so grateful to have seen and heard them perform.
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| Aaliyah singing the first verse as a solo, Jaron singing the second verse while playing the piano and then joining together at the very end. So proud of this sweet nearly 7-year-old next month. |
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| Aaliyah in front of the Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City. |
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| Aaliyah with her dad, Jaron, in front of the Conference Center. |
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| Aaliyah sitting in Jaron's office. |
Aaliyah meeting Herbert Klopfer
After their performance,
Jaron took Aaliyah to the cafeteria at the Church Office Building for lunch. Every
day at noon, our dear friend, Herbert Klopfer, and Jaron’s cubicle neighbor in
the Church Office Building, plays the piano at the cafeteria. He’s amazing and
at about 86 ish, doesn’t skip a beat! We all love eating there, because of him.
Jaron took Aaliyah over
to meet Herbert and Herbert told her that he and I were very dear friends. She later
shared that very conversation with me on their way home. Such priceless and
memorable experiences for these sweet tender children.
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| During the lunch in the Church Office Building's cafeteria, Jaron and Aaliyah had a sweet visit with Herbert Klopfer. He told Aaliyah that he and her grandma are dear friends. She was sure to tell me that. |
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| Aaliyah with Herbert Klopfer. He plays the piano in the cafeteria every day for an hour. My favorite time to go there was when he was playing. |
Maliyah’s
layover in Salt Lake airport surprise!
Camille sent this to me on Friday…
“Look who ran into each other at the airport this
morning! I’m so jealous! It’s funny because we knew they would be both in Salt
Lake today, but Duck‘s original flight plans were going to be there at a
different time than Maliyah. But then last night, Duck got an email
notification of some technical problems with his airplane and so he could
choose some different flight stuff… At the time he didn’t even think about the
fact that Maliyah was there, he just picked a different flight, and it just so
happened that they landed almost at the same time, and they take off two hours
later almost at the same time!”
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| A surprise visit with Maliyah and her dad in the Salt Lake airport. How perfect! |
Maliyah leaves for California, the next part of her mission
On Friday morning,
Maliyah with her dear companion, Sister Tew left for San José, CA for the rest
of her mission, after having spent 4 months serving in the Missouri Historical
Sites. Those 4 months were life changing for her and for all she gifted others with
wonderful tours. She’ll take her experiences, knowledge and testimony with her
as now she begins the proselyting part of her mission in California. She’s so
grateful that she and Sister Tew are heading out together to CA for the same
mission.
Sister Maliyah Duckworth
“During these past 4
months I've learned...
♡ God knows me and knows what (and
who) I need
♡ "By small and simple things are
great things brought to pass" -Alma 37:6
♡ God prepares people. Especially for
missionaries. They're out there, and they need us.
♡ I can do hard things. (Through
Christ)
♡ Even the hardest of times, most
difficult of circumstances, or most intense trials, cannot separate us from our
loving Heavenly Father and His watchful care. What could've been a time of
despair for Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, instead became a season of faith.
♡ "The joy we feel has little to
do with the circumstances of our lives, and everything to do with the focus of
our lives" (that focus is Jesus Christ) -President Russel M. Nelson
♡ The truth of God WILL go forth, and
NOTHING will stop it!! #truthwillprevail
♡ Jesus Christ is the ONLY source of
pure joy, pure peace, pure love, and pure life. He is the way. He is the
reason. He is our healer, our redeemer, our brother, our advocate, our
salvation, our everything. He is MY everything. When nothing else stays, He
does. He never changes. His love never changes. I've loved sharing that with
each person that's come to the historic sites (through the history of the
Saints especially), and I can't wait to share that with the people of San José!
That's just the tiniest
fraction of things I've learned here, but for time’s sake, I'll leave it at
that.”
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| Sister Tew, Maliyah and other sisters who share this great opportunity to give tours at the Historic Liberty Jail. |
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| Sister Tew and Maliyah - such dear friends and companions. I recently learned that Sister Tew is a triplet, and her two other sisters are also serving missions elsewhere. |
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| Liberty Jail with Maliyah, Sister Tew and other sisters. |
Elder Kyson Duckworth
“Ready for a spiritual
thought?
I'm literally living a
spiritual thought...
Okay, Jeremiah chapter 1.
My mission president
shared this with us and I thought it was really neat and insightful. This whole
week I've been studying about how to gain confidence in the work I do and this
just topped it off.
4 Then the word of the Lord came unto me,
saying,
5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew
thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I
ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I
cannot speak: for I am a child.
Okay, I can see
Jeremiah's concern here. He's very young and is afraid of not knowing what to
say....
oh wait.....
hold up ...... that's me!
let's move on;
7 ¶ But the Lord said
unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send
thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.
8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am
with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
9 Then the Lord put forth his hand and
touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy
mouth.
My mission president
(President Snyder) read these verses, and then gave us some really neat insight
to them. Think about this...
God literally created you
personally and individually. You are formed by the genetics of a GOD. You live
in a earth, universe and solar system created by a living God. And when you
doubt yourself, or any of your abilities, do you know who you're really doubting?
You're doubting God. When you have those doubts of not feeling worthy enough or
don't have something to contribute, God says you do! And he knows you do,
because he knows what you are truly capable of inside, because he created you
and gave you your strengths and weaknesses, so that when we turn to him for
help in faith he may "make weak things strong."
So I guess just never
doubt yourself. Never doubt God. He's the ultimate team-mate in this life, and
with him on our side you can make it through all of life's challenges.
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| Kyson in the home of members, treating them to ice cream, made his day! |
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| More ice cream for Kyson and Elder Willougby (ZL), on exchanges. |
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| Kyson attending the Curitiba Brazil temple. |
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| Mission Wide Conference. |
SHARING CHURCH RESOURCES FIRST WEEK – AMAZING!
With our first week
behind us for the online courses, we are so grateful for how well everything
has gone. We are up 161 people registered now in 16 different courses, and
still climbing. These courses are filled with so much value and we’re grateful
for the success of this first week.
GOSPEL STUDY REVIEW
Book of Mormon
- Rejection of truth does not make the Lord’s and our prophet’s words void. We are accountable to stand up for truth and doctrine and continue to share these truths.
- The Lord allows famines and challenges to turn our lives towards Him.
- We must put all our trust in the Lord, in order for us to prosper in His eyes.
- Our daily actions for good will supply us with everlasting life.
- Our riches can keep us from the things of righteousness and not able to find eternal happiness.
- A true sense of belief in Christ causes repentance.
- The joy that comes from a admission of fault and sins and repentance, causes our hearts to turn to God and can’t be compared to anything else.
Come Follow Me
- Always seek ways to serve, give and share of our abundance and lovingly give of our time towards others.
- Have charity in all things.
- Give of our time, our means, and everything which the Lord has blessed us with.
- Our faith causes us to rejoice with gratitude and our good deeds and efforts can glorify God and His gospel.
- Look at our “thorns” (trials) as blessings in disguise, which will help us learn how mindful the Lord is of us and our needs.
- Keep the gospel simple by not crowding it with outside distractions and fluff.
- Focus on the basics of the gospel and stay in tune to His truths and stay on the course with the Lord and our living prophet.
- The Lord’s grace is amazing and when we turn to Him continually, we will receive more grace than we can imagine.
Conclusion:
There isn’t a day that Steve
and I don’t think upon the love of and for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the
sweetest love we have for each other, and that we have for our precious family
and for all the tremendous blessings we’ve been given as we serve the Lord from
a far distance.
Our hearts are often tender
with all the challenges that are affecting those around us, or for those back
home, or in the world, but we have confidence beyond anything else that the Lord
is aware of each of us, each of you! He knows you, He knows your needs, He
knows your hearts and He knows that you have incredible goodness and potential,
especially as you lean on Him, as you reach out for His help, His mercy and
grace, and trust Him.
With all our love,
Elder et Sœur
Packer Grandpère et Mémé
801-336-6153
(Steve’s)
801-564-1332 (Renée’s)
Address below: Please include the name and address as stated.
Les Missionaires –
PACKERS
59 rue Bossuet
69006 Lyon FRANCE
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