Righteous Women

Dear Family and Loved Ones,

     Despite the very cold, windy, wet weather we had a great week! A few highlights were training with our new missionaries and mission leaders, “Mormal” for Mari, Sadie’s for Ben, Talent Show in Huntington Beach and a Young Adult missionary fireside.

     We have really enjoyed gathering our newest missionaries together for a “tune up” shortly after they arrive in the mission. Last week we had a tune up for the missionaries who had arrived just the week before and this past Tuesday we had a tune up with the missionaries who arrived seven weeks ago. It is amazing to see how well adjusted our new missionaries are and how quickly they adapt to their assignments and mission life. Their biggest complaint is they are tired – they work hard! Soon they will be used to their routine.

     Wednesday we trained the zone leaders and district leaders. It was fun to look around during lunch at this group of leaders. I realized how new they all are in the mission and what little experience they have - so many of our experienced older missionaries have finished their missions in the past few months. Our new mission leaders also noticed how young they all are. They are excited about their leadership assignments and are doing well. It is through new challenges and assignments in the Church that we grow and they are growing.

     Friday Mari had a date to “Mormal” (youth formal sponsored by several of the local stakes). Mari looked beautiful when her cute date picked her up. She was so nervous about pinning her date’s boutonniere on so I helped out :) All of the youth from our ward were invited for dinner at the Stake President’s house. Everyone gathered for photos first. It was fun to see all of the proud parents with their cameras. It was especially nice to see how great the youth looked. The theme of the dance was “An Evening in Paris” so Sister Ahlstrom prepared a delicious French themed meal. The dance was held at the Cerritos Civic Center and Mari said she had a great time!

     Ben also had a date Friday night but he was asked to go to the Sadie’s dance (girl’s choice) at the High School. The theme was Hunters and everyone came in costumes. Ben was a fox, his date wore camouflage. What a contrast between the Church dance and the school dance. Ted dropped Ben, his date and another couple off at the High School. He was shocked! Most of the costumes were very skimpy to say the least. It’s a very tough world that our kids are growing up in.

     Shelly and I went out to Huntington Beach for a stake talent show – it was AMAZING! Huntington Beach Stake is known for its musical talent. We really enjoyed every minute of the program. It was evident that countless hours were spent on preparing and practicing for the very special event. Hundreds of members of all ages participated.

     Tonight we spoke at a multi-stake young adult fireside. Ted helped one of our local stake presidents put the program together. They asked three of our missionaries who are converts and two newly baptized members from their stake to tell their conversion stories and testimonies. Ted and I both talked for a few minutes at the end. The testimonies of these young men were great! They were all so thankful to have the Gospel in their lives. It was interesting that in all but one case they became interested in the Church because of the influence of a female friend :)

     In 1979, President Spencer W. Kimball addressed the women of the Church At that time, he said: “Much of the major growth that is coming to the Church in the last days will come because many of the good women of the world (in whom there is often such an inner sense of spirituality) will be drawn to the Church in large numbers. This will happen to the degree that the women of the Church reflect righteousness and articulateness in their lives. … Thus it will be that female exemplars of the Church will be a significant force in both the numerical and the spiritual growth of the Church in the last days.”  

     This weekend we witnessed firsthand that a righteous, modest, faithful young woman can be an incredible influence for good. Her willingness to share the Gospel can produce miracles. As I consider the impact of three recent converts in our mission and the hundreds, even thousands of people they will teach here in Long Beach I’m grateful for three righteous women who made it all possible.


We love each of you,

The Long Beach Buberts