As we step into Holy Week (Semana Santa), we can follow along with the days leading to our Savior’s crucifixion and triumphant resurrection. It was a lovely week as we stepped back into our service at the Palmyra temple. This week we had two new couples who are starting their year long mission at the temple; the Allred’s and the Dayton’s. The Dayton’s are our new neighbors on the other side of the house. I was also given the opportunity to train a new worker who serves as an Historic Site missionary. It is a wonderful blessing to overlap with the incoming missionaries!

We are seeing many new people at the temple this week due to Spring Break in schools. As I spoke to one family, they mentioned how surprised they are at the many different types of missions there are for senior missionaries. I remember thinking the same thing last year as I met many senior missionaries along our path. There are hundreds of diverse, flexible senior missionary opportunities. They may be full-time or part-time and can be tailored to specific skills and interests, often focused on humanitarian aid, education, Church operations, and family history. I love that service is available while living at home or traveling to locations worldwide.

Key Types of Senior Missionary Opportunities

• Humanitarian Aid: Providing humanitarian aid, welfare, and self-reliance services.
• Family History & Temple: Working with FamilySearch (in-person or online) or serving in temples.
• Education & Training: Assisting with BYU-Pathway Worldwide, Seminaries and Institutes, or education programs.
• Mission & Area Office: Serving in administration, legal, or mission office roles.
• Member Support & Member Leader Support: Assisting with local unit needs, member engagement, and mission offices.
• Church Operations & Facilities: Working at bishops’ storehouses, canneries, farms, ranches, and maintaining property.
• Healthcare & Specialized Professionals: Supporting medical missions or using specialized skills for specific church needs.
• Visitor Centers & Historic Sites: Guiding and interacting with the public

There are so many ways to add fulfillment to your life and we have certainly enjoyed our year in Palmyra. I was really nervous about being sent to a city or metropolitan area and have thoroughly loved being in a rural setting. If you are thinking about service, there are so many opportunities that, certainly, something will suit your needs.

We were looking forward to General Conference again. Before the Saturday morning session, Erik and I headed south to the Peter Whitmer farm and to Sauder’s (Mennonite store). We needed to be back by noon for the first session (EDT). Our first stop was Sauder’s and while I would have loved to have taken time to check out everything, I was pressured to get hopping and move along quickly, getting what we needed. Sauder’s is a large store and they have a mezzanine level with a railing where they hang quilts for sale. The quilts are so pretty and are priced at an amazingly low cost. My friend Sister Annette Moser (FM missionary) went to Sauder’s with her husband and purchased all the quilts on display, not once but again and again. She ended up buying 40 queen size quilts. The Moser’s do have 37 grandchildren and these quilts will be a legacy gift to them and the Moser’s children. I told Annette, that she was my hero! She replied, “I appreciate the talents that you quilter’s have and this is the way that I can support you.”

I’m pretty sure that Erik has kept me out of Sauder’s so that I don’t buy any quilts! I did get my Bee Cream and other groceries that we needed so that I could prepare food for Conference weekend. From Sauder’s, we went to the Whitmer farm. This is a unique building because the Visitor’s Center is attached to the Fayette Ward building. I was more curious about the church building and as I wandered, I saw artwork that I have never seen in any other church building. Bishop Thibert was there setting up the chapel in case anyone needed to see Conference at the church. The Bishop and I visited for awhile and he explained how their congregation is involved with the community. He took me to the display cases where photos show the work that has been done.

One of the service projects was done at the Ovid Union Cemetery. The Young Men from the Fayette Ward went every week last summer to restore headstones and clean the cemetery. These young men bonded and worked side by side to create a lasting memory for themselves and the community.

The project was so successful that they have been asked to help at three other cemeteries. For some of the headstones, they had to excavate them and prepare a new foundation for the headstone while cleaning and for some putting headstones back together.

The Ward also participates in a canned food drive (ExtravaCANza), organized by the local Rotary Club. Each organization that brings cans, creates a design out of the cans and Fayette Ward has won two years in a row! They have photos of their designs and it’s amazing. Maybe this year will be their third win.

We drove home and were set up within a couple of minutes for watching conference. Sessions are streamed in over 70 languages. The feat to put on this type of event is massive. I loved the theme of Easter and the opportunity to participate in a Solemn Assembly. As the speakers each gave their talks, I was impressed by the feeling that each and everyone of them experiences trials and hardships and some are so hard to imagine going through. They are not exempt from the problems that everyone faces in their lives. The inspiration comes as they tell how they are handling the problems and what is getting them through it. The common denominator is Jesus Christ. By faith in him, we can face all adversity. Elder Ulisses Soares said, “Remaining connected to the True Vine is not merely desirable; it is essential.”

The night before His suffering and death, Jesus Christ declared, “I am the true vine … ye are the branches” (John 15:1, 5). Through this “beautiful and moving” metaphor, the Savior taught that He is the true, trusted and essential source of spiritual nourishment.

“Therefore, just as the branches cannot bear fruit of themselves unless they remain connected to the vine, neither can we reach our full spiritual measure unless we abide in Him and His gospel.”

Abiding in Christ is a constant, conscious and sacred choice. It doesn’t remove life’s burdens, but through His grace, those burdens are made lighter.

“As we place ourselves in His loving care and take upon us His yoke, we receive the spiritual power to endure and overcome the trials, weaknesses and sorrows of mortality — burdens often too heavy to bear without His redeeming help and healing influence.”

The world is full of voices, some good, some lacking in substance and some that deceive. Over time, these voices can grow into “tangled vines” that lead to spiritual loss and sorrow.

“In a world of many voices, remaining connected to the True Vine is not merely desirable; it is essential to our spiritual survival.”

This is part of just one of the talks delivered at General Conference. I love to reread each talk and be able to more fully study and get more understanding of the messages. In fact that was a directive given to us by our prophet, President Oaks, to reread and study these talks.

We ate Cowboy Caviar while watching General Conference. Plus we had leftover jello salad from the Missionary Easter dinner. After the Saturday sessions, we gathered at the Hill Cumorah Visitor Center for a dinner and program. The first wave of Sister missionaries had just arrived. One of the Sisters has been assigned to the Edmonton Canada mission after her four months of service at the Historic Sites. Keep an eye out for Sister Dever! The program after supper was so wonderful. We sat with the new temple missionaries and later someone asked where they were serving and Sister Allred replied. “We’re the God Squad! We’re at the temple!”

Erik rose and was able to catch this sunrise photo from our parking lot. Plus I want to share this photo of us at the Washington D.C. temple.

The memes and GIFS come out so quickly about themes and talks of Conference. One of my favorites is Will Ferrell, “Everybody love everybody!! Come on!!” A play on what President Oaks is asking of us. Be kind and get along!

Cowboy Caviar With Fresh Lime Dressing

We love this served with tortilla chips. Erik has freeze-dried this to take backpacking. This was our Conference snack on Sunday.

Above all, follow the Savior and be kind to everyone. We don’t know what anyone is going through as evidenced by the speakers in General Conference. We clean up, dress up and put on our happy faces even though inside we may feel like curling into a ball and hiding in a corner. I know that the best cure for my ills is to serve and help others. This takes away my pains and helps me to feel more connected to the Savior.

Spring is hopefully on it’s way. It’s coming in fits and spurts but one day it will be here, just like our Savior’s return to govern our earth. Have a beautiful week!