September 25, 2014

We have not written for almost 2 weeks. We have to be more diligent, or when we get home, this "little journal" will have big spaces and we will never remember what took place.

I think we mentioned that we were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting a couple of weeks ago. It was a bit of a stretch for us, but Heavenly Father knew it would be good for us, and it was! Some really good things have happened from that opportunity.  After we spoke, the people in the ward were SO friendly and kind.  It was like we were finally members of the ward.  So amazing.

Someone commented to me when we first got here that we would need to reach out to the members, because they wouldn't reach out to us, given that the ward is at least 98% Polynesian . So we have tried, one at a time. We have had some success, and made some connections and some people were friendly to us.  After our talk, it was SO much the opposite, and it continued to be the same last week.  We are so grateful.  It's like it just broke the ice or something.

We had a another very nice experience last Sunday in Church.  In R.S. the teacher gave me a quote to read, before she began her lesson. That has never happened before.  So I read through the quote ahead of time. Tears came so quickly!  It was an exact answer to our prayers of late.

I read the quote to Ray when we got home and he said, "no way"!  So I let him read it. Way cool for both of us, and the quote came from a prophet!  We are blessed with tender mercies, and sometimes God signs them with His 'Divine Signature' so we know exactly where they came from. (Gerald Lund wrote an awesome book by that title and it is wonderful).

If we are diligent about following what the quote actually said to us, it will change our lives in many happy ways. Forever, but especially now.

Last Saturday, we came into the office for a bit and then headed to Featherdale Animal Park.  We took lots of pictures, but they may not get on the blog till next week, as we leave tomorrow (Saturday) for a speaking assignment that is 5 hours away, so Ray may not get to the pics today.

 


It was a fun day.  It was really a zoo, but it was great to see birds and animals that we have never seen before. It was a good day.

This week has gone VERY fast.  We have learned a lot of new things and we are adapting to reporting to a different boss once again.  It's good for us. 

Last night we headed up to the Blue Mountains to take pictures and quotes from 105 kids plus leaders on a Pioneer Trek.  We saw the most beautiful places, as we had not been that far into the Blues before. 

It was SO well organized and it was fun to see the large group, setting up camp and building fires.  We hope it ends up being a good article.  It will take at least two weeks to get it up. We have to say here, that the natural surroundings for a trek in Australia is WAY different than a trek in say . . . Wyoming!! They were in a fantastic, beautiful, awesome spot as they made camp last night.There is no way to describe those mountains. Lots better than any of the shots in "The Man from Snowy River'.

Tonight we are having a man from the Temple Department in SLC over for dinner.  He is here for a couple of weeks, and staying in Temple Housing, so it will be nice to cook him a dinner.  The Archibald's (the legal couple) are also coming, so it will be fun. They say he has a very interesting story.

Last Monday we cooked dinner for FHE for a group of 21.  We had creamy Italian chicken (thanks for the Good Seasoning Mix Spen and Beck) and mashed potatoes. They don't have them here. It's ALWAYs rice or pasta. We got raves and raves!  It was so interesting.  Such a simple thing to make Americans so happy!

We love the news from family!  It keeps us going here.  Thank you all! I have to say that all the marathons and triathalons make us very tired. But good for you! We'll just have to go with the 'mission marathon', which certainly has it's own rewards,  but also sometimes leaves us very tired at the end of the day. It is  wonderful as well, and we wouldn't trade it for anything. 

And friends are so good to keep in touch as well.  It's great to know what is happening in the Ward and Stake and also in all those families back home who we feel so connected to. Our prayers are with all of you, family and friends, really!

We are happy, and yet the yearning for "the usual" is almost over whelming at times.  We don't know if that will ever go away. We miss people there, but for now, we are blessed with some nice people here, who make the days pass more quickly than they otherwise might.

We love you all, so much. You have no idea.

September 12, 2014 / Indian Ocean and Perth

We had a very interesting week!  We just got back from Perth last night, having spent 6 days away from our little Sydney office.  It was a little of a shock to realize that our place here has become a comfort zone. Along with that, we also felt like we were on a bit of a work vacation, and that was a good feeling too.

We flew to Perth last Saturday (a 5 hour flight) and arrived in time to check into our room, find out we had no internet service there, walk up the street to grab a very late burger and get ready for bed.  The next day, we woke up to pouring rain and very stiff winds.

A Public Affairs person in Perth had suggested the hotel for it's reasonable prices, and although, it had a few little glitches, it was right across the street from the Indian Ocean!  The air smelled like San Diego and we had to assume the ocean was beautiful, but we couldn't tell for sure. We headed for Sacrament Meeting about 30 minutes away, in-land. 

 After church, we were able to meet with the Stake President about Public Affairs. It was interesting. They had submitted one article from Perth since we have been here, and it was a great one. A Family Values Award with some great inter-faith wove in and wonderful pictures, along with 900 people in attendance. It kind of felt as if they felt like they were done for a while.

We hope we were a good influence in encouraging him to get his people doing more, as some stakes will send two a month or even more, when there is a really good PA person in the Stake.

We then drove for about 90 minutes to a Stake house where we were never able to get an appointment with the Stake President via e-mail, and had decided to just drop off a PA packet and hope it helped.  As we headed up the side walk, a man stopped us and asked if he could help us.  (missionary badges are magic that way).

He was a counselor in the Stake Presidency, standing visiting with his just barely called PA person for their stake.  We all went right into the Stake Offices for a visit.  It was amazing to get to know this newly called person and feel some excitement from him. The counselor was very kind and helpful.  Then, in walks another brother, and he is Stake Presidency counselor over PA for the Stake. We all 5 had a very good visit.  We left feeling like we had just had several tender mercies in one place.

We then headed for another Stake building, but were only able to give a packet to a high councilman, and asked him to tell the President that we would be in touch.  We felt a little down hearted, but, it beat a blank.

The next stake house was . . . wait for it. . . a blank!  It was no longer the Stake Center and no one would take the packet.  The Stake Young Women's President and R.S. President were there in a meeting, but didn't think they would see the President for several weeks.  I think we will have to mail that one. We were discouraged.

All in all, it was a really good day. You can't win them all, and we decided the contacts we did make were good ones.  There are always those investigators who don't show up to church when they say they will, right?  So we're good.

We got back to the hotel at almost dark, but got to ride down to the ocean and see it. Still raining, but it looked amazing.  More green than any ocean we had ever seen.  A walking trail that went all along the coast line.  Fantastic, just to see it, rain and all.

Monday night we took the Rajahs, the Multi Stake Public Affairs Coordinator to dinner at a place they had picked out.  It was in a place called Hillary's Harbor.  A buffet that was unlike any we had ever seen.  Many more choices than the Roof in SLC.  MANY more.

It was delightful. They even had an octopus salad with the little tiny whole octipi (?) on top.  I asked Sister Rajah how she liked them and she said oh, with all the things in the salad, to off set the taste, I really enjoy them but, they do have a weird sort of crunch to them. 

Daniel and Malar Rajah at dinner in Perth

I decided I wasn't that adventuresome!  But I almost did.  It was the "weird crunch" remark that did me in. That and the fact that they were grey and extremely un- attractive.

We had a great visit with them and we felt so good about that.  We really think, having met face to face, that it will make a difference in the number of articles that come from the whole area.  And it's nice to put a face with the names we see on e-mail responses.

Tuesday, late afternoon, the rain stopped a bit and the sun peeks out for a couple of hours and we are able to drive down the beach and then take a long walk on that wonderful path.  It was glorious.  We put our feet in the water and gathered some sea shells.  Just heavenly!

The Indian Ocean

Tuesday evening (raining and winding again) we go to the multi-stake council meeting.  So fun to meet all of these people, the ones who are really in the trenches!  Some of them are so good at sending reports and photos and quotes of events.

The idea of having missionaries meet them in person and form a relationship, is so they will really want to be involved more, and feel some responsibility to go to work in their area.  Planning interfaith gatherings and putting together helping hand opportunities etc.

We pray it works.

Wednesday morning, Phil Baker, the PA person who got us our hotel, picked us up to show us Perth!  We walked through a 1,000 acre park in the middle of the city, with bridges over the Swan River and statues of important people in Perth History and lots and lots of wild flowers!  Fantastic!  Then he took us down and put us on a boat so we could enjoy the sights and the 50 million dollar homes on the river.  90 minutes of just watching. . . and the sun was out!  We know more about Perth now after 5 days, than we know about Sydney.  We just won't remember it!

Elder and Sister Allen with the fishing fleet behind them

Elder and Sister Allen with Phil Baker at the boat docks

After boat ride down the Swan River in Perth

It was a great trip.  We both decided if we were to live in Australia, we would choose Perth.  The roads are wider and the beauties are still all there.  Its quieter, calmer.  It's like the difference between New York City and Boise.

We really loved the people we met.  Phil especially.  He is our age, but seems younger, and is all about Public Affairs and meeting people and getting the work to go forward.  He loves Australia and it shows. A real Australian treasure . . . there isn't a question he can't answer. The trip was a really good one.

We are scheduled to go to Adelaide in October for the same thing.  It will be much less daunting than this one was.  It was SO out of my comfort zone. . . not so far out of Ray's.

Wednesday evening we were happy to be able to attend the Perth Temple.  It is a beautiful new building with the most fantastic chandelier we have ever seen.  It was a wonderful, peaceful evening.

While we were in Perth, we received an e-mail on the Church phone, which doesn't need internet, to speak in Church Sunday in our ward. Wow, there is always something, and we count our blessings most of the time.  We sure are getting stretched to the max sometimes.

It has been a long day in the office, and probably another long one Saturday, to try to make up for what didn't get done while we were gone.  I think it may be to make up for the 90 minute boat ride and long walk on the beach!  In that case, it was totally, totally worth it!

We keep busy, we stay happy, we enjoy each other and sometimes, we still can't believe we are actually in Australia. . . even now.

Ray said to me on the airplane, coming back, "Remember the last time we flew into Sydney?"  I did, with a bit of a shudder.  We were total Zombies then, and totally scared and clueless. The jet lag was so real. Now we are so much better!  Still clueless, but better!

We count our blessings at this point, that we can be stretched beyond any normal capacity, and still be really happy!  It's a spiritual thing and it is wonderful!

We miss you all, but we are doing OK and like the work, no, LOVE the work! We are grateful for our blessings, most of whom, we're related to! We love you ALL and miss you still!

September 3, 2014

We received some good news today. . . or potential good news.  Rashika, David and Devmini Ranasinghe (the family from India) have set October 10th, 2014 for their baptismal date.  We are all crossing our fingers, because you never know with investigators, but it is still very good news. Happy News! Please remember them in your prayers, as he is out of town until the first week in October. This could really happen!

Rashika, David and Devmini with a Australian footballer (center)

This Friday, September 5th is our 45th wedding anniversary!  Seems like a big one, so we thought we'd mention it!  It really doesn't seem like it's been that long!!! I'm sure that's what some one who is 98 says about their age! But it's been a great journey and we are happy to be here together.  Wherever we are!

We are a bit excited for a totally unrelated reason.  We leave for Perth to do some training there this Saturday, September 6th and will be back the following Wednesday Evening.  It is a 4 hour flight and the first one we've taken since we arrived here.  We think it took us that long to be able to get on a plane again, so the timing is perfect.  We hope to meet with the area seventy there, Elder Meurs and 4 stake presidents, about Public Affairs.  Then we go to a multi-stake PA council meeting. See how things are working and hope to light a fire about the importance of this work.  We have all the feelings and the statistics and quotes; the question is, can we put it across with the spirit that SHOULD accompany it.  So, while your praying for the Ranasinghe's, say one for us as well.  We so want to do what we should there!!!

In October, we fly to Adelaide to do exactly the same thing, but with different people. This weekend will be a good practice, but we hope it's more than that.  Given Elder Bednar's talk a couple of weeks ago, we really are more excited about Public Affairs than we even have been up to now.  

We had such a good Sunday yesterday in our ward.  The meetings were just good. In Sacrament Meeting the bishopric spoke.  The bishops talk just touched us, it was about marriage.  He talked about how we should never become too accustomed to another person loving us.  His point being that we should always take care of our spouse and not take them for granted.  He spoke with so much emotion, that we had to wonder if he doesn't have more than a few marriages in trouble.  The spirit was very strong as he spoke and it was a very nice reminder to appreciate what we have.

Priesthood and R.S were combined for the fifth Sunday.  It was all about family councils and FHE and was very well done by the bishopric.  Big day for them, we're sure.  The best part was that they handed out a LARGE, laminated copy of 2 Nephi 31:20 for each couple.  We brought it right home and put it on the door to our wardrobe.  So we can see it every day.  Brings us very quickly to what is important in life. We are so glad to have it.

Ward Scripture and Pat's whole clothing wardrobe

We have to share the honest truth here, for what it's worth.  When we left our flat Sunday morning, neither of us felt we wanted to stay for the entire block time.  Not a lot was said, we just both felt that way.  So after Sacrament Meeting, we stayed in the chapel for a bit, and as we walked by Sunday school, which is also on the way down the hall to the parking lot, we decided to go in.  Didn't want to, but we got that gentle nudge.Then we decided that we would stay for Priesthood opening exercises and then leave.  We soon discovered, as they were moving chairs, that it was going to be combined, we took a seat.

As I said, the meeting was really good, we sat by an Island couple who were very friendly to us and had a nice visit.  About 3/4 through the meeting I turned to Ray and said, I don't have a headache for the first time in 4 days and it feels so great!!  Ahhh.  The blessings of being obedient, even against your worst desires.  I didn't make that connection, but Ray did. Great lesson there for us, as we were sorely tempted.  They don't need us there, we don't have a specific job there, so it's easy to consider lapsing. . . but, we need to be there!

We are writing a bit early, because we will be gone over the weekend, but this is a plenty long post as it is! We love you all, and hope we don't bore anyone too much!

Just some extra pictures:

Sister Allen and Sister Moore on Pat's Birthday

Senior Missionaries after a hard day in the office at Pancakes on the Rocks

Deer in the headlights Elder Allen and cute Sister Allen 

Our fearless boss, Alan Wakeley, with bowler hat we bought him, knocking on  #10 Downing Street in London.  He will be back in September after 4 months extended leave.

Our favorite bird the Kookaburra.  It has a wonderful voice. 

The Ropes Crossing Ward after ward conference.  Prize to anyone who can find Elder and Sister Allen

August 26th 2014

So, over a week has passed since we last wrote.  It has been busy, as facts and quotes from events all around Australia have been coming in.  We love these Public Affairs people in the wards, branches and stakes around the country. They are so good.  We have been writing their events into article form, and actually have 6 articles saved for the future, which we haven't been able to do much of, up to now.  It's a good feeling. And a blessing.

We went to Mudgee last weekend to speak in a small branch there.  It is the most beautiful, quaint city.  And the drive there is even better.  It is about 4 hours away from our little flat and goes through lots of farmlands and vineyards and Kangaroo crossing signs.  Those signs are for real, as we sadly passed a few dead ones on the side of the road, just as we see deer back home.  Made us feel so bad.

We have a question for those of you who are better at the internet than we are --which is just about anyone!  We passed a herd of cows who were all black, except. . . from their tummy up around their back is a bout a 10 inch strip if white. Circles their body completely. All the herd was the same and they were beautiful.  We were too far away to get a picture, but the strip is perfectly straight and even.  We think Heavenly Father must be good at coloring in the lines. Any grandchild want to take this research on for us??

We loved the branch in Mudgee.  There were 11 members there, plus two Elders who work in the area, and us!  It is amazing that even with the small numbers, the spirit was so strong and the lessons so good.  There was a beautiful piano there, but no one to play it. They sang hymns to a CD and we kid you not, the sound was as strong and true as any congregation we've ever heard. He DOES make up for what we lack, even in numbers. So much spirit in that room, and so much kindness. It was a little building, converted from a small home and sits on 5 acres for future growth. With such a large, beautiful, town, you just have to imagine there are people out there, waiting for the truth. We're going to pray for those Elders!

Mudgee Branch Members

Elders Leintiner and Taylor  (Elder Taylor is Dixie Moss's nephew)

We had FHE with the couple missionaries last night.  It's always a nice evening and a good dinner. We had Pavlova last night for the first time, with all kinds of fresh fruit!  It was really good! 
They are a good group of couples.  All of us so different and yet the same. So many stories to share and they come out one by one, usually not in the large group. (We are having them over 4 at a time to get to know them better).
It is of great interest to us that, though every couple have a different assignment, (even the Moores in Public Affairs have a different job, they don't have anything to do with the website) and yet, we all feel like we were called to exactly the right place for the exactly the right purpose. (of course, who would ever think Australia wasn't the right place???) Says something about Heavenly Father and his hand in the missionary program that 10 couples are doing what they enjoy in one way or another.  Not one of them, however, would have said that in the first 3 months.

Another thing about the couples here.  There are two couples who are on their mission with their second spouse.  All four original spouses have died and here they are married again and serving a mission and going forward.  Their stories are so sad from the past, and so happy in the present.  They have been through SO much, and come out on top.  It's interesting that they can talk about their first partners and have tears about what happened to them, and then talk about their present partner with love and respect and happiness. They truly are pioneers in their own lives.  Trying to blaze a new trail. 

It makes us feel so grateful to be on this mission together and not have that particular challenge. Some of their grown-up children aren't happy about the situation.  I find that sad.  

We never know what life has in store, or what we'll be asked to do, but we are grateful for the gospel and the peace it brings to those who go through such tough trials.  He strengthens us and tests us in all  things, members and non- members alike.  No one is immune to those really difficult challenges.  I think it was Sheri Dew who said, something like: if you haven't had a long term challenge that feels absolutely impossible to carry, wait a bit, it will come!  That is so sadly true.

On a different note, we figure by the time we get to Oct, 2015, we will be really adequate missionaries!! Until then, it is a still a learning curve. We certainly learn a lot from other missionaries here. 
We have to say though, that we still learn the most  from those back in the states and in Beirut, who support us in every way.  We love you friends and family and learn from your every e-mail and face-time.  Thank you , thank you!  We love you.

P.S. To those who have been trying to face-time us, our I-Pad is fixed and we can now here it ring again.  YES!!!

August 17, 2014

It seems in some ways that this has been the busiest week yet.  After our training with Richard Hunter last week, we had to do some catch up with the work we had missed. It kept us going in a big way.  Plus, it is Family History month in Australia.  We had so wanted to have a few articles about it on the website this month, and we were waiting for quotes on a couple of articles, and more information on a couple more.  So for the first part of the month, we were just waiting!  And waiting.  We were getting really worried that nothing would come in till September!  That wouldn't have been awful, but we just had this as a bit of a goal! 

About the time we mentioned this to Richard during a conference call, everything just started pouring in!  It was just the best thing. So,we did 4 articles in one week, and sent them in to be approved!  2 more to be written. Can't begin to tell you the feelings about Family History that flooded in as well.  But we'll try. 

Last Wednesday, night, we went to the temple.  I had a name of a lady from England who was born in 1655. ( Elizabeth was her 1st name, but I cannot remember her last. Her first two ordinances were done in Provo, Utah in 2008.  The last two were done on August 13th, 2014 in the Sydney Temple.  The person who had submitted her name is fromTasmania!  I sat there and looked at that card for the longest time! Look how long she had waited to get the first two done?  And then to wait again 6 more years to have it all done! I hope the day was as sweet for her as it was for me. That was the beginning.  

The next day was when those quotes and facts came in e-mail after e-mail, and some in phone calls.  It was so great. I spent one entire day on Thursday writing stories and submitting them for approval! 

Then this crazy thought occurred to us, that should have entered our brains sooner in the month.  The Roberts, a couple from West Kaysville, are here in the Family History Center to submit one million names from Australian cemeteries to Salt Lake for indexing.  One Million!  In 18 months.  No one will come the replace the Roberts when they leave, it was a one time assignment, just for these names. We decided to do a story on them, and while it may not go on the website in August, they don't head for home until October, and we want to get it up before that! There are some great pictures of them as they scan these cards and on breaks they open some and read about them.  There is so much more to this story, and we'll link you to the website when it goes up. More than just one million names, they hare one million people, who will now have their names available to have their work done.

Last night, Saturday here, I couldn't sleep until after midnight. Finally went to bed and slept till 4:00 a.m.! So unusual, because I had taken something at midnight to make sure I finally slept.  That usually gives me 8 hours.

At 4:00, I was wide awake, AGAIN! Went into the living room and said, OK, what is it I'm suppose to be doing?  I finally settled with the September Ensign and, what do I read first, but an article on Family History, page 24.  We are drawn to what is going on in our lives! It's a great article!

Then I read President Monsons message on page 4, 'Hastening the Work'. (I thought it would be on missionary work, and it was, but richer) Oh my goodness.  With the Elizabeth from England on my mind, and members of our families who have passed on, it was really, really a sweet experience. A President Monson quote from that article seemed especially profound to me:   

"The Lord has never, to my knowledge!, indicated that His work is confined to mortality. Rather, His work embraces eternity. I believe He is hastening His work in the spirit world. I also believe that The Lord, through His servants there, is preparing many spirits to receive the gospel. Our job is to search out our dead and then go to the temple to perform the sacred ordinances that will bring to those beyond the veil the same opportunities we have."

"Every good Latter-day Saint in the spirit world is busy, said President Brigham Young. What are they doing there? They are preaching all the time, and preparing the way for us to hasten our work in building temples here and elsewhere."

"Through our efforts in their behalf the chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them,will clear away, that light may shine upon them,and they will hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their children here, and will rejoice in your performance of these duties." 

"There are millions of spirit children of our Heavenly Father who never heard the name of Jesus Christ before dying and going into the spirit world.  But now they have been taught the gospel and are awaiting the day when you and I will do the research necessary to clear the way so that we can go into the house of The Lord and perform for them the work that they themselves cannot do."

That isn't the whole article, but the parts that spoke to me. "That light may shine upon them".  Wow, makes doing Family History work so real!  We have often wondered what we will do when we get home, after being pretty busy here.  I think Family History may be our answer. 

I share this, so it will be in our journal, when we look back, and wonder what we should do, going forward.

All in all, a very good week.  We keep busy, the weeks pass, and we learn things that may never have touched us back home.  We need the stretching. 

We are so grateful for the e- mails that come from all of you!  One particularly nice one came from Karl West, as the High Priest Group Leader in the Fairfiield Ward, about Ann Clark and her miraculous progress after suffering from a wicked fall. We have been praying for her, and putting her and Elwood's name in the temple here, as all of her ward has, and it made us so happy to hear the news. What a blessing!

Love to you all, we miss you, and our hearts are with you. Please don't forget us, you are on our minds and on our hearts even in the busiest of times.  We love you!

August 8th 2014

Went a few days past a week this time, but not without reason.  Our boss here in Australia, (Alan Wakeley) is still gone over-seas until September 19th.  The ultimate boss (and Alan's boss) Richard Hunter came over from New Zealand, to spend a few days in the office.

Elder and Sister Moore, Richard Hunter, and us!

He is planning a Pacific Affairs Training Conference for all people in Public Affairs in November on the Gold Coast. There are to be attendees from NZ.  and Au. A few weeks ago, we sent in suggestions for themes and a possible agenda for the weekend.  (Pat's idea - "Come and See" was selected. Ray)

We spent this week with him, going over those plans as well as talking about Mormon Newsroom and the work in this office.  It was nice to have someone who has a past and a future in this work here in the Pacific Area, look over our shoulders and offer short-cuts and suggestions.  We just didn't have enough time with Alan before he left, and we learned a few things that will make our lives easier going forward.

Richard talked with the Moores and us, and the five of us spent quite a few hours together. Tuesday and Wednesday were good, full days with him.  Thursday morning, however, We started at 8:00 a.m. in the conference room, and he added a whole other layer to mix.

He began by having us read a scripture with him. D&C 118:3. "Let the residue continue to preach from that hour, and if they will do this in all lowliness of heart, in meakness and humility, and long suffereing, I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that I will provide for their families and an effectual door shall be opened for the, from henceforth".

He was kind enough to liken that scripture to senior missionary couples. He teared up, and Leslie and I teared up and the sweetest feelings entered in. "An effectual door"!  I like that. I don't mind being residue at all, with a promise like that. It was one of those moments when you just know Heavenly Father is aware of you.  Everyone has them, but I must admit that the intensity of that moment will be with us for a long, long time.

He continued by talking about Public Affairs, and his feel for it. Richard is from Australia, but has done Public Affairs work for the Church here in Sydney, Hong Kong, Salt Lake City and now, Auckland New Zealand.  He has 5 children, ages 3 to 14, and is the one of the most genuine men we have ever met.

He went from sharing his feelings about the work, to giving a bit of a history about PA in the Church.  Apparently Neal A. Maxwell was the first person with an actual Public Affairs title. (I don't think that surprises me at all). Then Russell M. Neilson, M. Russell Ballard and now L. Tom Perry. As  he spoke, the spirit was so strong that our eyes stung a bit. 

Richard talked about a near perfect example of Public Affairs in action being Ammon and Aaron and King Lamoni and his father. It all started when Ammon just wanted to serve the King. (not convert him). Then a proclamation of religious freedom was eventually sent to the Lamanites.  A relationship of service is where it began, just reaching out to serve an opinion leader. And ending up effecting an entire nation as a bridge was built and the word was spread.