Friday, April 3, 1970

Another zone conference today. My humble observation would call it the best of eight I have attended here in Brazil. We met, elders from the zones of Meier and Cascadura, in the Tijuca chapel at 8:30, in fasting to be prepared for the spiritual feast to be offered. President and Sister Johnson were attending.

Highlights of the day were the testimony session, in which hearts and souls were opened and shared, in which the Spirit was strongly felt, in which happiness hung heavy in the air; President Johnson’s inspired counsel and instruction; and a learning activity designed to start us in our study of the Doctrine and Covenants, which begins this week. The project was to rewrite any revelation from the modern book of scripture, trying to improve upon what the Lord had said, in accordance with the Lord’s challenge as registered in section 67, demonstrating once again that it is the work of God and not of man.

A panel discussion spoke of inspiring members to give referrals, how to share the work, how to prayerfully discern the lineage, and what is an effective prayer. I had the opportunity to present the last of these four topics. An innovation in this conference was the giving of spirituality reports by the district leaders instead of a report on hours and figures.

Elder Ronald Ferrin, Cascadura zone leader, conducted the morning session and Elder Paul Reidlinger, Meier zone leader, the afternoon session. Elder Michael Knight, assistant to the President, spoke on how to make lemonade. Whenever we get a lemon, a problem, we can at least make it into lemonade. “The Prayer of Faith” was the theme of still another talk. Elder Fischer provided a beautiful violin solo.

President Johnson related to us a sad, a shocking incident. A very sharp elder, whom I had the pleasure of knowing, was recently excommunicated and sent home because of moral transgression. To learn of the incident was a sting. As President Johnson explained the necessary details, I could feel and see the greatness of the President’s soul, the bigness of his heart. I do not care to record here the young man’s name. In regard for him we can let that be forgotten. Hopefully, he may repent and make all square with the Lord and with the Church and with himself.