Hi all,
I felt that you might like to read Tom's talk from Stake Conference. It really was exceptional. And you all missed it.
Session presided by Elder Teixeira
Presence of Elder Boutoille
Conducted by President Herway
His talk:
I want to tell a few stories. Then I will be ready to move on to my next calling in the Lord's Church.
When I was called as Stake President the Area President at the time asked me if there was any reason why he shouldn't call me as Stake President. I told him I had three very good reasons.
First, I told him I am on short term contracts and my present contract expires in six months. He told me if the lord wants you to stay he will work it out so you can stay.
Second, I told him my ability to speak French is limited. I can understand, but I don't have much practice speaking the language. He said you can learn French. This will be a good opportunity for you to improve your French.
The third excuse I gave to the Area President was that I was an American and the majority of the members in our Stake are Belgian. He told me you are not an American. You are a child of God. That is your true, eternal identity. You were born in America. But when we leave this life it won't matter where we were born. We will have only one identity. So I was left without any excuses and I was ready to accept the new calling and see what my Heavenly Father had in store for me.
I have learned so much from each of my callings in the Church. Being Stake President was not the hardest calling I have ever had. The hardest calling I ever had was as Deacon's Quorum Advisor to the meanest bunch of Deacons who ever walked the earth.
Anita and I had just moved into the Ward in Virginia when I was called to be the Deacons Quorum Advisor. I didn't know it at the time but they had been through three Deacon Quorum Advisors before me and they had all quit. They couldn't find anyone who would teach these boys, so they grabbed me as soon as I moved in before I could learn about these boys.
There were 10 of them. They would never listen to me. They would laugh and make fun of what I said. They would throw things at me when my back was turned. One time they locked me out of the room and wouldn't let me back in the classroom. They were 12 and 13 year old criminals.
But I didn't give up. I was determined to teach them.
I finally decided that I had to adjust my teaching style. First, I had to let them have fun together. I wanted them to like coming to Church and being together. Second, I couldn't react to their bad actions. This is exactly what they wanted. Third I realized that I had to take advantage of the moments they gave me to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. So I started to prepare the lessons in short 10 second sound bites. In between their laughing and talking I would throw out an idea and I would keep throwing it at them each time there was a break in the action.
After awhile it started to work. They knew they weren't going to drive me away so they started quieting down and they began to respond to the ideas I presented. Finally after about a year I was released and was given a calling in the Elder Quorum. I thought that was the last I would ever see of those boys. I was wrong. I didn't realize how the Lord works.
Four years later I was called to be the Bishop of these boys. They were Priests now. So I was their Priest's Quorum President. It was my job to prepare these boys to go on missions. I realized why I was given that calling as Deacon's Quorum Advisor. I knew these boys and they knew their Bishop. By the time they left the Priests Quorum they knew the gospel of Jesus Christ and understood clearly what they needed to do with their lives. They knew the joy of serving others. They all served missions.
Brother and sisters this is the way the Lord works. Don't give up on Him until you have learned the lesson He is trying to teach you. Be patient and wait on the Lord until you have received the blessing from Him for your faithfulness.
I have learned something from every calling I have had in the Church of Jesus Christ. What have I learned from this calling?
I have leaned some French. One of the first times I sustained anyone in French was in the Mons Ward. The Bishop at the time was Don Kroenen if you remember Don. He was a sweet little Canadian who loved everyone. Since Mons is bi-lingual Ward I presented the names for sustaining a new Elders Quorum Presidency first in French then in English. I was feeling pretty proud of myself for speaking in both languages. So I asked the Quorum which was better, by French or my English? To which Don replied, "I don't know President. They are both pretty bad!" Thank you for being so kind and patient with someone who can't speak French or English (according to Don).
I have learned that the faithful members of the Church here in Belgium are celestial beings. No one will ever be able to convince me that they are not. I have a testimony of this fact. You are amazing. I am so grateful for how good you have been to me. How patient you have been with me. How supportive you have been of me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
You are not perfect. No one is. But you are as good as it gets. They don't get any better than you. It was a privilege and joy to be your Stake President. I enjoyed every minute.
My favorite part of this calling was the Temple Recommend interviews. As I listened to your answers to my questions I realized your faithfulness and your sacrifices to keep the commandments and following the Savior. I was able almost to feel the love your Heavenly Father has for you. He loves you very much. He wants you to see that each trial, each problem you must overcome is necessary for your growth and progression.
I won't get to exhort you again as your leader so I am going to take advantage of my last chance.
Keep going to the temple. Keep going to the temple as Ward families with your youth and your loved ones. I love the temple. I don't begin to know everything that goes on in the temple. Most of what takes place in the temple occurs on the other side of the veil where we ca't see it. But it is real. These people are real. The work you do for them has a tremendous impact upon them. My wife keeps a list of every name she has ever done temple work for. She expects them to meet her when she leaves this life and thank her for what she did for them. She has the right vision of this work. Don't let anybody or anything keep you from going to the temple often. You will be blessed.
Do your HT and VT. Visiting the members in their homes every month representing the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the greatest blessings you will ever have. It is the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the best way I know to develop the pure love of Jesus Christ. You will receive revelation for those you visit and you develop a love for them as you serve them. You need this blessing.
I have loved this calling. You have made it so easy for me. I gained so much from your testimonies, your sacrifices, your examples and your strength in living a celestial law in a telestial kingdom.
I want to thank Anita for her patience and support. I want to thank my brothers Marc, Mike, Xavier and Andre, (and Yvan, Patrick and Jorge before them). I always looked forward to our Presidency meetings on Wed night. We were truly one. It was a great feeling. I think this is what I will miss the most about this wonderful calling.
I testify to you that we are brothers and sisters. We all have one very important thing in common. We have a Father in Heaven who knows an loves each of us. His work and His glory is to bring us back into His presence. He has a plan for us to return to Him and live with Him forever. This plan is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is called the plan of happiness. It is the most important thing in my life. It has brought me so much joy. It has brought me more blessings than I could ever have imagined possible. It has brought me you. I will always be grateful to Him for this precious gift.
I hope you enjoyed. Now onward...
