Last full week of Winter Semester
Monday, April 7, 2025
I loved this article about Conference:
The parable that multiple speakers mentioned during conference
By Emily Linder April 06, 2025 04:12 PM MDT
While speaking during the Saturday afternoon session of general conference, President Dallin H. Oaks observed that the Savior’s parable of the ten virgins had been “spoken of so frequently in this conference.”
Here are the four references to the parable given at the April 2025 general conference, in chronological order.
President Camille N. Johnson
In the Saturday morning session, Relief Society General President Camille N. Johnson testified that Jesus Christ will heal all afflictions in His time. And that while we wait to be healed, we can all seek spiritual healing.
“To be whole means to be complete and full. Much like the five wise virgins who had their lamps full with oil when the bridegroom came, we can be whole in Jesus Christ as we fill our lamps with the nourishing oil of conversion to Him. In that way, we are prepared for the symbolic wedding supper, His Second Coming,” she said. She went on to speak more of the parable for several more minutes.
Elder Sandino Roman
Elder Sandino Roman spoke in the Saturday afternoon session about how faith is an act of trust. He invited listeners to imagine they are explorers who need a lamp filled with oil to light their way:
“Your faithfulness to God and your constant interactions with Him are the fuel for your lantern. So, when you encounter dark and perilous situations, instead of walking towards them blindly, you will turn on your lamp filled with the oil of faith in Christ to shed glimmers of hope on the uncertain path. Your past experiences will increase your hope that the Lord will sustain you on your journey.”
Elder Dale G. Renlund
In the Saturday afternoon session, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke about following the Savior’s teachings to prepare for the Second Coming. He mentioned three parables in Matthew 25 that will help us prepare to meet the Savior.
Of the parable of the ten virgins, Elder Renlund taught:
“The essential lesson of this parable of the ten virgins is that we are wise when we accept the gospel, seek to have the Holy Ghost with us, and avoid deception. The five wise virgins could not help those without oil; no one can accept the gospel, take the Holy Ghost as a guide, and avoid deception on our behalf. We have to do this for ourselves.”
President Dallin H. Oaks
President Oaks spoke of the “divine helps” to guide us through our mortal journeys. Of the parable, he said:
“With so many powerful helps to guide us in our mortal journeys, it is disappointing that so many remain unprepared for their appointed meeting with our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. His parable of the ten virgins, spoken of so frequently in this conference, suggests that of those invited to meet Him, only half will be prepared.”
Monday, April 8, 2025
The day after Conference Weekend. It is a wonderful refresh button!
Regular Monday morning meetings still are held, they just look a little different. I am a little different. Continued with the necessary checking on students and helping with the last week of school, stresses and hiccups.
Then it was our final class with Elder and Sister Thompson at Ukulele. As a class we have been fortunate to have the experience to “see” ukulele music through Paka’s eyes. (Elder Thompson’s Hawaiian nickname, Paka)
Then we did a couple of songs:
Elder Thompson has provided many copies of music he has been available to us. More than that he made it possible for us. He simplified many, many songs for us to learn and enjoy.
Elder Hudnall had a beautiful oar made with his name and an ukulele engraved on it:
Tuesday, April 9, 2025
Beautiful Tuesday Morning! This week’s devotional started with an introduction to Holy Week:
The devotional began with this musical number:
We had a wonderful lunch after the devotional with our SW Intern Nephi Garcia and his friend Nikita. Pounders is always a fun lunch. We then had afternoon student appointments before our Temple appointment tonight:
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Rainy Morning:
Which created a day of rolling power outages. It was a dark, very warm day in the office, but today we had Lawngames arranged with the Dean of Students in the Aloha Center Plaza:
The rain gave us a 2 hour window and drowned us the rest of the day. Hope Squad team had their last class of Winter Semester 2025. Then we finished the day at “SA Bawat Patak” – A Choral Celebration with the BYUH Choirs:
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Early class today at 8am. Elder Hudnall helps with this social work class. I have my 9am staff meeting. Campus is still struggling with electrical and we have rolling brown outs across campus.
Our department planned a Cupcakes with CARES to help the students and staff have an opportunity to meet the CARES team and ask questions. Great Cupcakes TOO:
More student visits and a beautiful Social Work Department Graduate Dinner this evening.
Friday, April 11, 2025
When we get up before 6am we are rewarded with this:
This was a day full of students. It is the last day of class and there is no Internet or hot water in the boys hales. So it is a little scattered on campus. Students are trying to find spaces to connect to the Internet and get their studies done. I was able to locate and check on seven students today!
We then met with our Hope Squad Interns for an end of semester dinner at Pounders:
Saturday, April 12, 2025
What a great P-Day! Got all the chores done, errands and groceries from Kaneohe. Also a fun adventure with Sister Hall to look at Vintage Hawaiian Dresses in Wahiawa and a stop at HI Pie Bakery and Cafe:
Ended P-Day at the PCC volunteering in the Rain. (Gratefully No Wet Missionary Pictures)
Sunday, April 13, 2025
Fast Sunday for some wards. Our Stake held Stake Conference today and we held Fast Sunday the week before General Conference. We did have the opportunity to attend an Easter Community Celebration. The Senior Missionaries opened the meeting with our choir contribution:
It was a great meeting with the audience being the choirs that performed. Fun cookies for our mingling time. Beautiful Night!
