A Special Sunday In Queens NY

Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, were in New York City this past weekend for Saturday Meetings with Priesthood Leaders. Elder Holland spoke in Manhattan Sunday, and after 23 years, an Apostle, Elder L. Tom Perry, visited the Queens Stake, for a special Stake Conference. Our regular conference was held just three weeks ago. The Woodside Stake Center has a huge gym that was packed with excited saints, with overflow in the Primary and Relief Society rooms as well as the chapel. Elder Perry spoke of moving his young family back East and being called to serve as a branch president in Queens. He also helped to obtain the property that the Rego Park Building is on. He told the members that it was a miracle to see how much the Church has grown here. He spoke from his heart and it was warm and so nostalgic. He shared several stories and my favorite was a memory from when he was 8 years old.

Elder Perry's father was a bishop who helped to raise the funds for a new building. He invited President Grant to come dedicate the building on a whim, and the Prophet accepted. He remembered President Grant pulling up in front of his home, and his mother told him that he and his younger brother's manners where not refined enough for them to eat with the Prophet, so they ate in the kitchen! After dinner Sister Perry knew that President Grant was tired from traveling and offered him a guestroom so he could have a nap. Bishop Perry also tired, lay down in his room for a rest. Sister Perry sent her two young sons down to the Church to save her a seat. She busily cleaned up her kitchen and headed for the Church arriving just before the dedication was to begin. When she saw that her husband and President Grant weren't there, she quietly asked Tom to run home and get them. Elder Perry said he quickly woke his father, and when his father saw what time it was he told him to hurry and waken President Grant. He said he had great respect for the Prophet and was scared to wake him. He gently shook his arm and he said President Grant quickly sat up on the side of the bed and tucked him under his arm. He can't remember what President Grant said to him, but he remembered the love in his eyes and the kindness of his face.

Elder Perry testified that our living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson is the most loving and kind prophet we have ever had in the Church. He said if he has time on a Sunday, he visits a rest home and reaches out to the residents there. Elder Perry bore a powerful testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of His gospel here on earth. Joseph Smith, Restored the gospel and translated the Book of Mormon, here in upstate New York. How thankful we are to have been here and to have seen the saints prepare for this memorable visit. This is sure to be one of our top ten experiences. Pictured above, Queens Stake President David Duffy and Elder L. Tom Perry, as they greet Conference visitors. Our Institute students were surprised Elder Perry was so tall and Anita Maharaj said, "He shook my hand, and said he was glad to be with me." She was so thrilled and happy!

The bittersweet part of Sunday for us was saying goodbye to Elder Jemmett, one of our zone leaders. He and Elder McLean paid us a special visit and enjoyed Sunday dinner at our pad. Notice their Fall ties. The Spanish speaking, Woodside Ward, sang Faith in Every Footstep, at the Conference and all the men wore matching ties! These two elders have spent considerable time in Woodside and we think they are the best. I neglected to get a picture of Elder Jemmett and Sister Cunliffe with President and Sister Bennion at Zone Conference, my tradition. However, we enjoyed their testimonies and have watched both of them serve so valiantly here. Sister Cunliffe, has grown in so many ways. We always appreciated her welcoming hugs and helpful spirit in our district. Along the way she amazed me with her American Sign Language abilities. Elder Jemmett is one who is so easy to know, happy and he represents the best of Idaho for sure. President Bennion said he never heard any thing that was not 100% positive from each of Elder Jemmett's companions. As I'm writing today, Elder Jemmett and Sister Cunliffe are flying home to Idaho and Utah. They were both pretty excited for Thanksgiving Day with their families. Elder Jemmett will attend BYU-I in January, and be there when we get home. We look forward to that reunion. Thanks for serving with us. How blessed we have been by your leadership and direction, and most of all your example of goodness. We love you and will miss you here.