I had an amazing (past) weekend, one that I will not easily forget. On Friday, September 25, we, Debbie and I, left for Utah. Sister Bednar invited the executive office down to SLC for lunch with her and then gave us tickets for the Women’s broadcast. Others who had served in the executive office were also invited. Debbie and I left about 1:00 pm to drive to the Downtown Marriott. Betty and Kathy were already there. Vickie and Wendy were coming down together. It was an uneventful drive, other than I had to keep the conversation going all the while.
We arrived at the Marriott and checked in. When we were coming down from our room to get more things from the car, we found out that the whole Louisville Cardinal Football team was staying at the Marriott. They were going to play University of Utah the next day. There were ‘big’ football players everywhere.
That evening we all went to dinner at Market Street Grill. We were also joined by JoAnn. President Wheelwright paid her way so she could come and be with us. We laughed and shared stories and had a great time. Debbie and I had to drive JoAnn back to her daughter’s place in Sandy.
Saturday morning we arose and went to the 8:00 session at the SLC temple. I had never gone through a session in the SLC temple. I had let Gene and Joeleen know that I was going to be there and if I could see that that would be great. It was a wonderful session and I so enjoyed being there with my sisters in Zion. While we were sitting in the celestial room, Gene came in to say hi. He was able to answer some questions about the temple for all of us. He also showed us Wilford Woodruff’s rooms where he had an apartment in the temple at one time. He showed us some sealing rooms and a staircase that is not in use any more. I marveled at the workmanship in the temple and how it has been preserved. I also marveled at the foresight of President Brigham Young in building the temple. It is large, laid out well and the craftsmanship is amazing. I never did get to see Joeleen but it was a wonderful day.
It was then to JB’s for breakfast together and on to the hotel to change clothes. Kathy had to go and pick up Sister Clark at the airport. We went to distribution and walked downtown. We also met Nikki Nelson, who used to be Elder Bednar’s secretary. We went to the hotel, changed clothes, checked out and went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to kill some time. JoAnn and Wilma also joined us there.
At the appropriate time, we walked over to the Lion House to meet Sister Bednar for lunch/dinner. It was about 3:00 when we met. Sharon Hall, Julie Hobbs, Shauna Swainston (Elder Bednar’s current secretary), met us there and we proceeded to eat. We went through a cafeteria style line and then proceeded up to a room that Sister Bednar had reserved. When we got inside, Elder Bednar was there waiting for us. What a wonderful surprise. He did not eat with us but proceeded to visit and answer any questions we had. We took pictures and asked questions and were taught by an apostle of the Lord.
Elder Bednar reminded us to do good wherever we go. To do our callings but not over do our callings. Whenever he travels, he always looks for the ‘one.’ We should all be searching for the one person we can serve and make a difference in their lives. He and Susan both told how his calling has changed their lives. They work hard, however, to maintain their family ties. They make it a point to schedule a get-away each year with all of their family members.
After our meal, Shauna arranged for us to go to the Administration Building to use the restrooms, because the ones in the conference center would be so busy. We all kind of split up and used the restrooms on each floor. I went with Shauna to the third floor. When we finished she asked if we would like to see Elder Bednar’s office. WOW! Yes of course. We walked to the southwest corner but when she reached into her purse for the key, it was not there. So we got to see where it was but not inside. We then started to walk over to the conference center. When we were down in the basement, we boarded the carts to ride through the tunnel. The tunnel goes under the temple, Main Street, and under the conference center. We got there and entered in through the back doors, of which is the way general authorities enter to sit on the stand for conference. When we were ushered to our seats, I ended up on the left hand side (facing the podium) second row back. Those on the stand were President Monson, President Uchtdorf, President Eyring, Elder Anderson, Elder Nelson and Elder Hafen. Elder Nelson came down to where we were seating because he had what looked like several granddaughters there. His wife Wendy Watson Nelson was also there. Of course with Sister Bednar and Sister Clark there, he came over to say hello. Sister Bednar introduced him to all of us as her BYU-Idaho sisters and he shook all of our hands. Sister Sherrie Dew came in also and sat two rows behind us. She also greeting Sister Bednar and in turn met all of us. She expressed how much she loves BYU-I and how she has a niece currently here and she also is also loving her experience here. The Primary general president came and shook hands also.
I was sitting next to Nikki Nelson who was the president’s secretary for many years. When she saw Elder (president of Ricks College) Hafen sitting on the stand, she got up and caught his eye. He came down off the stand and shook hands with just our row. I was able to tell him I was Joe Woolf’s daughter. I was the one he sent the email to about dad. He told me how much he loved my dad and what a good person he was. He asked about my mom and how she was doing. When I told him my mom passed away last year, he offered his condolences and then said ‘what a wonderful blessing because they were together.’ It was truly a wonderful moment in my life to meet and shake hands with so many wonderful, righteous men and women.
Being at the broadcast was also great. Sister Beck reminded sisters about doing good where ever they go. She talked about visiting teaching and serving one another. I have a mental note to bring up her talk and read it again. Her two counselors spoke and President Eyring. It was a wonderful evening.
We said our goodbyes to everyone and Debbie and I went back to the Marriott, changed clothes and headed home. We had been given parking passes for under the Church Office Building but we chose to stay where we were because of the traffic and because we didn’t know our way out of downtown from the Conference Center. We chose to stay at the Marriott because we knew our way to the freeway from there. It ended up being a really good choice because we had no problem at all. We got home to Rexburg about midnight.
We arrived at the Marriott and checked in. When we were coming down from our room to get more things from the car, we found out that the whole Louisville Cardinal Football team was staying at the Marriott. They were going to play University of Utah the next day. There were ‘big’ football players everywhere.
That evening we all went to dinner at Market Street Grill. We were also joined by JoAnn. President Wheelwright paid her way so she could come and be with us. We laughed and shared stories and had a great time. Debbie and I had to drive JoAnn back to her daughter’s place in Sandy.
Saturday morning we arose and went to the 8:00 session at the SLC temple. I had never gone through a session in the SLC temple. I had let Gene and Joeleen know that I was going to be there and if I could see that that would be great. It was a wonderful session and I so enjoyed being there with my sisters in Zion. While we were sitting in the celestial room, Gene came in to say hi. He was able to answer some questions about the temple for all of us. He also showed us Wilford Woodruff’s rooms where he had an apartment in the temple at one time. He showed us some sealing rooms and a staircase that is not in use any more. I marveled at the workmanship in the temple and how it has been preserved. I also marveled at the foresight of President Brigham Young in building the temple. It is large, laid out well and the craftsmanship is amazing. I never did get to see Joeleen but it was a wonderful day.
It was then to JB’s for breakfast together and on to the hotel to change clothes. Kathy had to go and pick up Sister Clark at the airport. We went to distribution and walked downtown. We also met Nikki Nelson, who used to be Elder Bednar’s secretary. We went to the hotel, changed clothes, checked out and went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building to kill some time. JoAnn and Wilma also joined us there.
At the appropriate time, we walked over to the Lion House to meet Sister Bednar for lunch/dinner. It was about 3:00 when we met. Sharon Hall, Julie Hobbs, Shauna Swainston (Elder Bednar’s current secretary), met us there and we proceeded to eat. We went through a cafeteria style line and then proceeded up to a room that Sister Bednar had reserved. When we got inside, Elder Bednar was there waiting for us. What a wonderful surprise. He did not eat with us but proceeded to visit and answer any questions we had. We took pictures and asked questions and were taught by an apostle of the Lord.
Elder Bednar reminded us to do good wherever we go. To do our callings but not over do our callings. Whenever he travels, he always looks for the ‘one.’ We should all be searching for the one person we can serve and make a difference in their lives. He and Susan both told how his calling has changed their lives. They work hard, however, to maintain their family ties. They make it a point to schedule a get-away each year with all of their family members.
After our meal, Shauna arranged for us to go to the Administration Building to use the restrooms, because the ones in the conference center would be so busy. We all kind of split up and used the restrooms on each floor. I went with Shauna to the third floor. When we finished she asked if we would like to see Elder Bednar’s office. WOW! Yes of course. We walked to the southwest corner but when she reached into her purse for the key, it was not there. So we got to see where it was but not inside. We then started to walk over to the conference center. When we were down in the basement, we boarded the carts to ride through the tunnel. The tunnel goes under the temple, Main Street, and under the conference center. We got there and entered in through the back doors, of which is the way general authorities enter to sit on the stand for conference. When we were ushered to our seats, I ended up on the left hand side (facing the podium) second row back. Those on the stand were President Monson, President Uchtdorf, President Eyring, Elder Anderson, Elder Nelson and Elder Hafen. Elder Nelson came down to where we were seating because he had what looked like several granddaughters there. His wife Wendy Watson Nelson was also there. Of course with Sister Bednar and Sister Clark there, he came over to say hello. Sister Bednar introduced him to all of us as her BYU-Idaho sisters and he shook all of our hands. Sister Sherrie Dew came in also and sat two rows behind us. She also greeting Sister Bednar and in turn met all of us. She expressed how much she loves BYU-I and how she has a niece currently here and she also is also loving her experience here. The Primary general president came and shook hands also.
I was sitting next to Nikki Nelson who was the president’s secretary for many years. When she saw Elder (president of Ricks College) Hafen sitting on the stand, she got up and caught his eye. He came down off the stand and shook hands with just our row. I was able to tell him I was Joe Woolf’s daughter. I was the one he sent the email to about dad. He told me how much he loved my dad and what a good person he was. He asked about my mom and how she was doing. When I told him my mom passed away last year, he offered his condolences and then said ‘what a wonderful blessing because they were together.’ It was truly a wonderful moment in my life to meet and shake hands with so many wonderful, righteous men and women.
Being at the broadcast was also great. Sister Beck reminded sisters about doing good where ever they go. She talked about visiting teaching and serving one another. I have a mental note to bring up her talk and read it again. Her two counselors spoke and President Eyring. It was a wonderful evening.
We said our goodbyes to everyone and Debbie and I went back to the Marriott, changed clothes and headed home. We had been given parking passes for under the Church Office Building but we chose to stay where we were because of the traffic and because we didn’t know our way out of downtown from the Conference Center. We chose to stay at the Marriott because we knew our way to the freeway from there. It ended up being a really good choice because we had no problem at all. We got home to Rexburg about midnight.
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