President Nelson would like to meet with you and your wife!

 

At 12:20pm my cell rang, it was Paul. There was a long pause then he said you sitting down? 

What they called!! Your joking! No, I wouldn’t joke about this! We have been asked to meet with President Nelson. What, we are meeting with the prophet?

Paul was out of his office when he got the call. He noticed the 240 prefix and immediately picked up his phone. It was President Nelson’s secretary asking if we could meet with President Nelson on Thursday, October 14, 2021 – that’s in 2 days!! 

The day has come. We both dressed in our Sunday best and drove slowly towards downtown and tried to process and prepare and wrap our heads around what this interview could mean for us.  We arrived at the church office building and parked underneath. We walked to the specific entrance and checked in with security. We were told to walk the long hallway (again) and go to the first floor where President Nelson’s secretary will meet us. We got to the first floor and were asked to wait in the foyer. President Nelson’s secretary came and escorted us to President Nelson’s office where he was standing all smiles with his arms outstretched waiting and warmly greeted us. He gave me a hug and he asked us to sit on the couch. He looked at us and said he would like to extend a call to us to serve as mission president and wife. 

He then went on and said a few things then came back to the call and asked if we would be willing to accept the call. We said yes! 

He then noticed that Paul and I were holding hands and said that’s what this church is all about, families and returning to God as families! He said that if you don’t know the scriptures or the language or anything else, the only thing you need to show is that you love, honor and respect each other.  He said that we are preparing for the second coming of the Lord and this missionary work is the most important work we can do. He commented about how we are working to build the temple. You could see the Salt Lake Temple construction right outside his window. How beautiful that is and will be when it’s all completed.  He told us this call will change our lives, and Paul said that we had made a covenant many years ago that changed our lives. President Nelson agreed. 

He told us that we were not to share this call that we had just received with anyone. 

We asked if it would be ok if we told our children, as we had a son and his family that lived in Tennessee, that was coming out in a few weeks for a visit and we would like to tell our children when they are all together. He gave us permission to do so, but they were not to share it with anyone!! 

He then said that we should get our assignment by Christmas and that we were to let the church announce our call. 

This will be a long couple of months to wait to get our assignment. 

Now my curiosity is in gear wondering where we will serve!

Near the end of the interview he told Paul to pick the most beautiful rose from the flower arrangement that was on the table and to give it to me! I got a yellow rose from Paul and the prophet!! 

He then asked if we had our camera and if we would like a picture. Of course!!! I had said to Paul on the way up that I wanted a picture with him and would it be ok to ask? I didn’t have to ask because it was President Nelson’s suggestion! He then called his secretary in to take our picture and even told us where to stand for this picture! 

Oh how we LOVE President Nelson! He was so cute, so very attentive and loving!!

We left President Nelson’s office and walked to our car without saying anything. We got into our car and the questions began. What in the world do we do now? How do we tell the kids? What about work? What about our house? How can we ever leave the kids and grandkids - not to mention our little one who will arrive the first of October? Who will handle our finances while we are gone? Talk about being overwhelmed!! 

At one point in our meeting with President Nelson, He looked directly into my eyes and asked "are you willing to let God prevail in your life" I answered yes! 

When we arrived home it was very late as we had gone straight to the MTC for our Thursday night meetings. We are very humbled and overwhelmed. How am I going to do this? I will do my best President Nelson to do just what you have asked and let God prevail in my life, for I know if I do so my family and I will be blessed. We got in bed, and prayed for peace.