The Malad Stake held their Semi-Annual Stake Conference which included three sessions on Saturday, June 8th and Sunday June 9th.  By invitation, various members of the stake attended the opening leadership session which was led by Area Authority Elder David Frischkencht.

President David R Jensen, President of the Malad Stake, opened the Saturday afternoon adult session.  He began with thoughts of “daily spiritual experiences,” a directive given by President Russle M Nelson from his April 2022 General Conference address, “Spiritual Momentum.”  “Many of us think we only need to worship once a week, on the Sabbath,” President Jensen began, “but President Nelson has invited us to experience worshiping on a daily basis.  I would ask you, what are the things you can do to make this happen in your life and in your home?”

As there are many ways to worship on a daily basis, President Jensen shared a few particular examples that all members could employee, including listening to or playing the sacred hymns often, kneeling in fervent prayer daily, frequently taking time for scripture study, weekly partaking of the sacrament, and constantly finding time for temple worship.   

  Expounding on temple worship, President Jensen encouraged all members to have a “current and active temple recommend.”  He advised that not only should temple goers be sure that their recommend is not expired but that it is something that is being used as often as possible.  Sharing personal experiences, President Jensen promised that temple worship will bring peace and rest and that it is a place where members can feel Heavenly Father’s great love for them.

Sister Kristy Elison, currently serving as the young women’s president of the Holbrook Ward, was asked to speak on how she was helping prepare her youth to make temple covenants.  She shared that her first step was to teach by example as she has made and kept her sacred temple covenants.  Then as a leader she is helping them to attend the temple as they do proxy baptisms for the dead. Other things she suggests that leaders and parents can do to help prepare youth to attend the temple are to have a picture of the temple in each home, go to church every Sunday, attend weekday activities, teach them to love as Christ did, and to recognize the Spirit.

Following Sister Eliason was Brother Tyrell Neal from the 4th Ward Bishopric, who spoke helping the young men and young women to prepare to attend the temple and then serve full-time missions.  He said, “We have a sacred responsibility to help our families and young men and women to prepare for temple covenants and to serve as missionaries.” He shared seven ways to do so, including setting a strong example, fostering a love for the scriptures, creating a spirit of prayer, encouraging service, attending the temple, fostering communication and praying for the children.

Sister ShaNae Blaisdell shared her recent temple endowment and sealing experience.  She began by saying, “I don’t have the words to tell you how amazing and joyous I felt that day having our children in the temple and knowing that our family is an eternal family.  Being sealed in the temple was a goal they had since they were married, and while it took time, they recognized the blessing of a loving Heavenly Father.  She shared that while there were times that it seemed easy to accomplish and others that seemed extremely hard, but always she felt loved and guided along their path to the temple.  “I felt so much happiness and relief as I was finally able to take the steps and make those covenants with our Heavenly Father.”

First Counselor of the Malad Stake Presidency, President Jason Sperry, shared that his address was in response to a prompting he had had to speak about those loved ones that are struggling with their faith and their testimony.  His hopes were that he could provide some counsel for many that are experiencing this.   

He first pointed out that rather than calling such an experience a “faith crisis” he would consider it a faith journey.  “Because we have questions,” he said, “we do not necessarily have a crisis.  We all have questions of all kinds.  We are on a journey.  And if we face it with faith first, come to the Savior first, over time these things will be resolved.”  Using the example from Mark chapter 5, he suggested that members with questions or problems, to find a solution within the power of Jesus Christ.

Sharing a series of principles, he taught to first seek answers to gospel questions, by going to reputable, researched, faith filled true sources.  Secondly, he taught, to allow questions about the gospel to increase rather than decrease your faith.  Finally, he shared to seek answers to gospel questions with faith and a sincere desire to believe.  

In the event that a loved one steps away from the church and the gospel, President Sperry encouraged members to continue to share your love with them.  But just because they might have stumbled on their faith journey, others don’t have to too. He concluded by saying, “Go forward with faith.  Hold on to the ground you have already won.  There is nothing that says you have to give up your faith because you have questions.  Reach out to touch the Savior as often as you can and He will heal you as he has healed me.”

The concluding speaker of the evening session was the presiding authority Elder Frischkencht.  Elder Frischknecht posed a question to those attending, asking, “How has the Lord manifested Himself to you in His holy house?”  First sharing among themselves and then with the group as a whole, the members attending gave personal experiences that they had known in the temple.

Encouraging the members to take increased time for temple worship, Elder Frischkencht gave four ways to do so.  First by simply going more often.  Next, members can attend the temple longer with each visit.  Thirdly, he suggested for members to invite someone else to go with them that wouldn’t have otherwise.  And lastly, think of someone who can’t currently go to the temple and help them return to the temple.  “During different stages of our life, our temple plan will be different.  But we need to have a temple plan.”

Elder Frischknecht ended by bearing testimony to the incredible blessing that will come as members strive to increase their time in the temple.  He testified that those that attend the temple will more fully become one with God as they attend the temple and make and keep sacred covenants.

Sunday morning, the members gathered for the final session of the Stake Conference.  Following stake business and a musical number by women of the Malad Stake, President Jensen gave the opening remarks.  He reminded the members attending of the commission all followers of Jesus Christ have been given to love one another.  “Most of us profess to love God.  The challenge I have observed is oftentimes loving our neighbor,” President Jensen said.  

He continued, “Brothers and sisters, if we are obedient to the commandment to love our neighbors, there will be no disputations, contentions, nor hatred between us.  We will not speak ill of one another, but will treat each other with kindness and respect, realizing that each one of us is a child of God.  Love should have no boundaries... Life is about the connections we make with one another and the kindness we extend.  It is not about how much we have but how we treat others, especially when we think they have nothing to offer us.”  

Several members throughout the Stake were invited to speak on their favorite line of the hymn, I know that My Redeemer Lives.  Sister Holgate of the Second Ward chose the line, “He lives my kind, wise Heavenly Friend.”  She recalled how her testimony and relationship with her Savior developed over the years until she truly came to know and trust Him.  

Brother Isaac Bird from the Holbrook Primary spoke of his favorite phrase, “He lives to bless me with his love.”  Brother Bird has recognized God’s love in his life as he has witnessed a number of miracles.  He also sees God’s love in the gift of his eternal family.

Recent graduate and member of the Fourth Ward, Sister Addler Garrett expounded upon her favorite line, “He lives to guide me with his eye,” explaining that she felt that those words meant that there was always someone that had her back.  In her life, she has learned that with His perspective, Heavenly Father will guide her, especially when she doesn’t know what choice she should make.

Brother Del Williams shared an experience he had as he served in the Air Force as a pilot. Despite being in the midst of extremely intense and dangerous circumstances, he knew he could rely on the Lord to help him carry out his missions and bring him safely there, much like his favorite line of I Know that My Redeemer Lives- “He lives to bring me safely there.” 

Following the singing of I Know that My Redeemer Lives by the congregation for the intermediate hymn, Sister Lisa Wright of the St. John Ward spoke of how her family study of the Book of Mormon has helped them develop their testimonies of Jesus Christ and stay on the covenant path.  She started by illustrating how imperfect and messy her family scripture study can be with six kids that come and go with waning focus and many distractions.  She said, “We wondered, why do we continue to have these sort of dysfunctional family scripture studies?”  Answering her own question she admitted, “It's because we want to have the Savior’s influence in our lives and in our children’s lives...  Even if your scripture study is messy like mine is, by opening the Book of Mormon, you are inviting the Savior into your and into your life.”

Elder Frischknecht was once again the final speaker of the morning session.  Before taking to the pulpit, he invited his wife to bear her testimony.  Teaching from the Book of Mormon, he taught of covenants with the Lord, that as His followers receive Him, He in turn will receive them.  Further teaching this principle, he used the story of Alma and Amulek as they were among the Zoramites.  They, like many others, pointed out what they considered to be the problem that kept them from worshiping the Lord.

After reading the solution the ancient missionaries gave to the Zoramites problem, Elder Frichknecht said, “The problem always is, where are we in relation to the Savior?  Whatever we think is the problem, the real issue is, do we know Jesus Christ and who is to each of us personally?”

He concluded by teaching that as Jesus Christ is made the center of our focus instead of our problems, doubts and questions, all things begin to fall into place.  “Everything will take their place in the context of truth, in the context of revelation, in the context of Heavenly Father’s plan and in the context of
Jesus Christ.”