General Conference

We had General Conference this week so of course it was a good week. I was very grateful to hear all wonderful talks and to gain guidance and answers to things I have had on my mind. On Tuesday we helped down at the Modjeska house in the canyon and then we helped a member in our ward to move out his old dental office and into his new one and then we picked oranges with the youth for mutual. It was fun way to get to know the young men better and to build a bond with them. After the orange picking part they had all of the young men and young women get together and we sang the EFY medley in preparation for one of the boy's mission farewell. The Spirit is always so strong during that song and it was especially powerful to sing about being the Lord's missionaries as a missionary. Saturday morning we helped a single lady and her son move and it ended up causing us to miss the morning session of General Conference but we were happy to help the member in our ward and we are going to watch conference tonight with the family we are having dinner with so it all works out. Pedro and Peter Castillo both made it the Priesthood session of conference. I don't know quite how much each of them got out of it but the Spirit was there so if nothing else they felt that. Last night we went by a potential investigator who has a boyfriend who is a less active member and in the course of our discussion we were able to ask her if she would be interested in learning more and she told us that she would like to know more and then to our surprise her boyfriend actually voiced his support of us teaching her so hopefully we can begin seeing miracles there. This week we are hoping to get in with the Castillos to watch a couple of the talks from conference that we feel would have a good impact on the progress of the family. Saturday night was also transfer calls night. Elder Mann goes home at the end of this transfer (May 16) and I go home three weeks later (June 6th) midway through the next transfer, so we figured we would end up with a third companion so that our area wouldn't end up with two people who know nothing about the area. We weren't wrong about the third companion, but its not at all who we would have guessed. We are going to be joined by Elder Tree, my former companion from the Laguna Hills 3rd ward. Besides the fun of getting somebody I have already been companions with, he also goes home with Elder Mann so that means that when they go home things will get crazy for me and the area. But we are excited and its what the Lord wants so we are going to do it.

In addition to a challenge for each of you to take a chance to watch or listen to General conference (you can find it at this link https://www.lds.org/general-conference?cid=HP_SU_2-4-2017_dPFD_fGC_xLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng) I would also encourage each of  you to check out this year's Easter initiative #PrinceofPeace (you can find this one at https://www.mormon.org/) It is a powerful video that talks about the role of our Savior Jesus Christ as the Prince of Peace and how His Atonement can bring us peace. Watch it, apply it, and share it with others. I'm so grateful that Easter is coming up and that we will have the chance to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. I know that He lives and loves each and every one of us. I know that because He lives no problem we face needs to stay a problem. Through His Atonement we have the ultimate source of strength, hope, and of course peace. If we follow Him and strive to be like Him we can have true happiness in this life and a fullness of joy in the life to come!

love

Elder Cheever