WASHINGTON D.C. SOUTH MISSION: BYU MANAGEMENT DINNER WITH THE MARRIOTTS

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

BYU MANAGEMENT DINNER WITH THE MARRIOTTS

We get invited to the most wonderful events here in this mission. The BYU management Society was holding their 26th annual Gala Dinner of the Washington DC, Chapter. We belong to this in Las Vegas also and enjoy these in events there. But they try to get 50-100 people to attend. Here in this area, there are so many BYU graduates that there are usually between 500 and 800 that attend.

On Saturday, April 24, 2010 we attended this Gala at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. "This Society is the premier alumni organization for the Marriott School of Management, friends of BYU, and business and government professionals. It was established to extend the values and influence of the Marriott School and BYU through out the world. This global organization has chapters in nearly 20 countries and 40 US cities. Membership is open to all with a shared desire for professional advancement, high ethical standards, service and lifelong learning."

President and I felt honored to be with so many wonderful people. We had the great honor of being invited by Elder Marriott and sat at his table with he and his wife, the temple President Tingey and his wife, Stake President Harrison and this wife.

The invited guest speaker was Orson Scott Card. He was delightful, the food was gourmet, and the company a real treat.

This is Elder and Sis Marriott and our table and Sis. Tingey.

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Stephanie Smith Fireside

Last Sunday evening we were privileged to attend a fireside in the mission. It was held at a beautiful old chapel in McLean. One of the pictures shows the inside of the chapel and the wood beams on the very steep-pitched ceiling of the room. The gym is under the chapel in the basement. I have never seen a floorplan like this one. Very unique. This fireside hosted Sister Stephanie Smith. Her story was in the Ensign sometime in the last year. She has a remarkable conversion story. She has held very high government positions and at one time was 5th in command at the CIA. She said something at the first of her talk that I wrote down: she said, "I've been on some remarkable adventures. But no adventure in my lifetime has been as extraordinary and life-changing as my path to conversion and baptism in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints. She then told about her introduction to the church. She was at a time in her life with tremendous worldly success achieved after clawing her way to the top without any regard for others, and she felt her life was shattering into a million pieces. At this time she turned to a colleague she admired who was a member of the church. He told her two things. That her Heavenly Father knew her by name and loved her and that Heavenly Father had a plan for her success. The next day he sent her a map to the temple visitor center. She told how when the missionary sisters came to her door, she didn't think she could relate to these young women. The first thing they did was ask if they could sing to her. They sang,"I am a Child of God." That was the beginning of her conversion, a long a beautiful story. You can read it on the web at Meridian Magazine. Her testimony was a real inspiration to me. There were over 350 people there and she does a great missionary work speaking to investigators. What a blessing to have heard her and felt her spirit.

Chelsea Our recent Convert

We have met the sweetest young sister. Chelsea is amazing. She joined the church during the last year and has an incredible testimony also. She never misses any missionary function and we were able to take her with us to the Stephanie Smith Fireside. She also came to the mission home a few weeks ago and we had family night. She gave the lesson and is was unbelievable. She is hoping to go on a mission next year. What a great young woman. This is a picture of her with Elders Ganaway and Gifford.