Stake Young Women Conference

On March 14, 2015 the Young Women in our stake attended a long awaited and long planned for event to celebrate this years Young Women Theme: 

Embark In The Service of God

President Joy Hafen with counselors Leesa Washburn, Margaret Ferrin, Jackie Heagy and an excellent hardworking committee arranged for an exceptional conference that inspired all to rededicate their lives to service in the Lord's Kingdom here on the earth.

Upon entering the festive archway into the building they were greeted by the leaders wearing matching "stewardess" blouses who distributed leis (with hugs) 

and "passports" which contained the program outline. 

They were well taught by Elder Bruce Hafen and Sister Marie Hafen as the keynote speakers who related uplifting stories of their mission service and gave much encouragement. They introduced a new song, "Day By Day" which had been newly translated into English and put to music. Wonderful thoughts by President G. Andrew Barfuss summarized the testimonies borne and the girls were excused according to the stamps on their passports to different rotating breakout sessions.

Tamara Hall: Finding the Treasure Inside You

Vance Downs: Refuse to Sink Your Standards

Steve Mason: Q&A Guy Panel

Following the breakout sessions the girls were delighted to find a delicious lunch served in the cultural hall which had been transformed into an island paradise. Wonderful day!

Each breakout classroom had been decorated

Leesa Washburn and Tina Daniels

Sailboat Serving Tables

Even the trash bins were decorated!

Keep Paddling

KEEP PADDLING

A series of four framed prints painted by the late Thomas Cole in 1842 entitled "The Voyage of Life" hang in our home. The paintings depict an allegory of the four stages of human life: infancy, youth, manhood, and old age. In these paintings a voyager travels in a canoe on the River of Life.

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He begins his journey in infancy on a calm river with lush green surroundings accompanied by an angel. 

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As a youth, the river bends and turns with adventure and a magnificent castle in the sky. The angel is looking on. 

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As a man, the voyager looks up praying as he helplessly goes through the treacherous rapids with the angel watching from afar. The last painting depicts an old man in a worn and weathered canoe, being led upward toward heavenly light by the guardian angel who has been present since the voyage began.

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Two weeks ago my wife and I paddled with our son and his family through the Boundary Water Lakes of Northern Minnesota. They are pristine and beautiful, just like they have been for eons of time. These lakes border Canada and are numbered in the thousands. In our small canoes we crossed several wilderness lakes and streams, paddling stroke after stroke. At times with the winds in front of us, it seemed that we were going nowhere. When the winds shifted to our sides, waves rocked the little canoes almost to a tipping point. Our grandsons sat trustingly in the center of the boats while we paddled. The journey was exhausting yet wonderful. It was worth it!

Bearskin Lake

In a way, we are all voyagers on the River of Life, paddling one stroke at time, with angels looking on. Faith, hope, trust and gratitude are only a few of the things we experience and rely on as we paddle away. Who can doubt the trust and faith of the young infant born into a family to be loved, fed, clothed, taught and protected. They are an heritage of the Lord and rely on loving parents and others to paddle for them. The youth have hope for bigger and better, energy for exploration and adventure. Those in the middle years of the voyage are sometimes just holding on as they pray to the Lord and trust in Him to make it through life's rough waters. As we near the end of our journey our gratitude unto the Lord swells within us as we come to a realization of how dependent we are on Him.

Alma speaking to his son Helaman said, "O my son Helaman, behold, thou art in thy youth, and therefore, I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day" (Alma 36:3).

Nephi tells us, " Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20).

Portaging

Challenges will continue throughout our journey. Our arms may tire as we steadfastly paddle through life's turbulent waters. If we remember to feast upon the word of Christ we will learn His doctrine. It will brighten our hope, replenish our strength and increase our determination to endure. May we 'keep paddling' to the best of our ability and submissively trust in Him whose Atonement is all encompassing.

Michael L. Beus, Farmington North Stake Presidency