Memories of General Conference

General Conference time is always special for us at home, and has been for several decades.  Yes, decades!  For Elder Parker and I have been married for over four decades.  It brought back thoughts of quilts, picture albums, shoe-shining, and baking treats on Saturday morning while trying to get six small children to stay happy in front of the TV.  It now has become a memory of our first few weeks as full time senior missionaries in Denmark.

We were able to watch some of the sessions with ward members, but most of them we watched on our laptop computer at our apartment, after the meetings, due to the eight-hour time change between Utah and Denmark.  We are still working on the Priesthood Session, but did greatly enjoy President Uchtdorf's talk on, "Lord, Is It I?" this morning before going to church.  It is a talk that should make all of us think closely concerning our own dedication and testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  It is now one of my favorites of all time.

President Uchtdorf has become one of the most loved and favorite speakers in the Church, and I have to smile as people still think that Elder Parker looks a bit like President Uchtdorf.  We had that mentioned often when we were temple workers in Provo.  It must have been the white suit and heavenly glow that accompanied Dad each week during those wonderful years of temple service!  We actually had one young returned missionary approach us in the Salt Lake Airport the morning we flew to Denmark, thinking Dad was President Uchtdorf!  If she was disappointed after speaking to us, she did not show it in the least...

One of my other favorite talks was President Monson"s message Sunday morning concerning "Walk as Jesus Walked."  We should follow His (Christ's) example and live as He lived.  Christ walked the paths of disappointment, temptation and pain, as do all of us mortals, but also the paths of obedience, service, prayer, and all the truths He taught in the Sermon on the Mount and through parables.  We must all be reminded at times to put Christ at the center of our lives.  There is no greater promise than that of eternal life as families.

Sister Ripa (from Oregon) transferred this week and we will miss her!  This was her first transfer as she has only been here a few months, but what an outstanding missionary.  She was one of our "trainers" if you will, as she was so helpful to make us feel welcome, know what was going on, help me know when to sing and not to sing in choir (Danish!), and was always asking if we needed help.  She was a wonderful piano player, and now I am sorry to say that I am the default.  I have begun to practice again after all these years...

Sister Parker and Kirsten Bokhonko of Aarhus Ward

The above two pictures are concerning my brother, Gordon Westenskow's, mission to Denmark almost 50 years ago.  He served here in Aarhus for about 11 months.  Sister Bokhonko remembers him well as he spent quite a bit of time in the home of her parents who loved to have the missionaries visit.  She showed us the page that Elder Westenskow had contributed to her memory book.  Notice that Gordon wrote, "See - not all missionaries are from Utah!!"  We lived in La Grande, Oregon, where we all grew up.  Today, many missionaries are still from Utah.  Sister Bokhonko (Thomson when Gordon knew the family) is still a great friend to the missionaries, and has all of us in her home often.  She has carried on the tradition of her parents over all these years.

Elder Parker in art exhibit of "whale plane."

I thought the grandkids would enjoy seeing this art exhibit near where we live.  It is a hump-back whale plane and kids can actually climb inside.  Kids and grandpas!