Sister Barbara Thompson

Five friends & I went to Nyssa, ID on Saturday to hear Barbara Thompson, 2 nd counselor in the General Relief Society speak (that is our women’s group at church) at a combined 3 Stake women’s conference.

Sis Thompson received a bachelors degree in social work from Brigham Young University and later, she received a masters degree in social work from the University of Utah. She served a mission in Germany & then worked in social work for the Utah Department of Human Services for 30 years. After retiring, she served as the executive director of The Christmas Box International, an international organization that serves abused and/or neglected children. (Wikipedia)

Sis Thompson talked about the Donner party (look it up on Wikipedia, excellent reading) of 90 people that were caught in a snow storm for several months (resorted to cannibalism) and only about 40 people survived. One of the journals read, Virginia Reed “Don’t take no short cuts.”

Sis Thompson told us about Moses 6:32 Enoch, choosing to serve & flee obstacles. Moses 7 talks about Zion and how to become a Zion people, how to have a City of Holiness. She discussed Alma 30 & how Korihor lead away women so we need to protect ourselves. We then listed the usual ways:

Scripture Study ~ read 2 Nephi 32 to “feast upon the words of Christ”

Prayer ~ Alma 34, pray over your houses, crops and you will have power over your enemies

Temples ~ She said people came 20 hours to get to the temple in El Salvador & couldn’t get in as it was full and too busy, they were turned away. They are now building more temples there. D&C 97 says the temple is a place of thanksgiving, of instruction & you can understand the ministry. She said in John A Widstoe’s talk Oct 1920 it talks about how to get revelation in or out of the temple.

FHE

Keep the commandments

Magnify your calling

Service ~ Stay close to the Lord by doing service

She told us to listen to Virginia Reed & “Stay on the path”. She said we can be like Moses and walk with god. She called us “precious daughters”. She said President Monson prays for the women in the church. She wants us to build a City of Holiness so we can have safety forever.

Following her talk La Crecia & I went up to speak to her. She gave us a hug. She asked where we were from and we told her La Grande and she said we must be having fun & I said shopping and donuts. She said she liked donuts too.

Afterward we went to Jo Ann’s fabric & then ate at Denny’s & finally, alas we had to come home…