Bloggernacle Back Bench: 2013 LDS Church curriculum

Power pick 2: On the one-year anniversary of two missionaries deaths, this mission president’s wife reflects in “Sometimes You Weep.” The entire mission held a training conference over the weekend and they took a moment to remember the elders: “November 8, 2012, marked the one year anniversary of the bike/auto accident that took the lives of two dedicated missionaries, Elder Derek Walker and Elder Trevor Strong. Our assistants, President Trayner, and I spent the day training nearly ninety missionaries. It was the last day of a three-day training. By the time the meetings were over, we all agreed that they were among the best training meetings that we had had in a long time ... As we finished the last meeting, we acknowledged the anniversary of the accident and bore testimony that Derek and Trevor live on, doing what they loved doing in the Texas McAllen Mission — teaching others the gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 4:6). We felt Elder Strong and Elder Walker's influence with us that day. Elder Harris (who survived the accident) bore testimony of the strong commitment of his companions.” And then, “That evening, President and I visited the scene of the accident. A local bikers club has erected a memorial at the site. We added our flowers to the monument and reflected on the good that these missionaries did during their short lives. Even after their deaths, hearts were touched, and families were brought into the church. Now — yes, even now, a year later — not a day goes by when I don't think of them.” So touching.

Techie tip: I’ve mentioned the opportunity you have to order patriarchal blessings of your early ancestors from the LDS Church, and I just loved the idea as spotlighted by this blogger. He shares some of the powerful spiritual language found within his ancestor’s blessing — who happened to be an apostle — and then says, “The prophetic elements of today's blessings ... have to be considered remarkable. That LDS youth continue to seek out patriarchs in order to be guided by these ‘life roadmaps’ bears testimony that patriarchal blessings are powerful personal documents. And that I, as an adult, continue to be occasionally moved by my own — and now my ancestor's — patriarchal blessing(s), shows the value to be found in them as well.” Wow. Click in to see more and to find the more information about “Ordering Patriarchal Blessings” of your own early ancestors. Awesome.

Emily Warburton Jensen loves searching through the LDS blog world for developments and testimonies that best capture the ever-evolving LDS online experience. Email: ejensen@desnews.com