Senior Conference

Our senior conference started out with breakfast at the Hansens....and it was a feast of a breakfast!  We can't keep this up or we'll all be buying new wardrobes.  There were 10 of us at the table, and it is a joy to be with this group of people.

We came to the center right after breakfast, not knowing beforehand what was on the docket.  We were all standing around waiting to go into the classroom where our conference would officially convene, when a tall handsome man appeared through the door.  As Elder Hansen pointed out, it was amazing to see the reaction of all of the sisters as they lined up with cameras to get a picture with Thomas Kofod.  Of course I was one of the fans.

Brother Kofod with Sister Middlemas and me!

We all finally settled down and our conference began with an opening hymn and a prayer. Immediately Elder Hansen turned the time over to Brother Kofod.  He is articulate in Danish or English and happily for me and most of the female seniors, he spoke in English.  He spoke without notes.  It is impossible to describe his bearing and mien and expression....but I will try.

He speaks humbly, quietly, gently, almost deferentially, yet he speaks with clarity and conviction.  He has beautiful blue eyes that mist up occasionally as he speaks of things close to his heart.  He has been a member for 20 years, and as you may know played the part of Jesus Christ in the legacy films.  Elder Hansen requested that he tell us a little bit about that and he did, but only a little bit and I would love to hear more.

I believe he has been an actor all his adult life.  When Keith Merrill began the Legacy films for the Church, he was asked to use an actor who was an active member of the Church and strong in the faith, and so a search began.  Brother Kofod knew nothing about it, because he and his wife did not have a computer (he said they could not afford one) nor did they have access to email.  

On precisely the same day that they got a computer and set up an email account, they received their first email from a good friend in the states who had heard about the search for an actor and thought he was the man.  So they replied that he was interested.  It sounds like it was an incredible experience for him.

He told us a little bit about the journey he has come on...he is the only member of his extended family.  Neither of his parents, nor any of his three sisters are members....and he sometimes wonders why he is so fortunate because he feels that they are all better individuals that he is.

What a sweet story he told!  His father was always supportive of him but never interested in the church.  One day Brother Kofod asked his father why he wasn't interested, and he said "Because I am afraid."

His father passed away 2 1/2 years ago, and he got to him soon after he died.  His father was at work and simply leaned against a door and slid to the floor, and died immediately.  He had a little time alone with him ...he knelt on the floor beside him, kissed him and promised him that he would be visited by missionaries who would teach him at whatever speed he was ready for, and they would not push anything on to him.  And then he added, "And you won't be afraid."

Then Brother Kofod added, "And if it is at all possible, could you just let me know?"

Some time later Brother Kofod was sitting in stake conference listening to the speaker, and in his mind he saw his father standing above the floor, in white.  He reached out his hand to his son and said, "I am ready."  Brother Kofod was astonished and emotional, and then the same thing happened again.

He bore a beautiful testimony about the help we receive from the other side of the veil.

This is lengthy, but I must share with you another story he told.  A few years ago, he was one week away from a performance he was in....he was tired, his time was stretched tight and he was sick.  One night his little son was sick and he got up with him to comfort him.  As he was trying to soothe the child, he thought to himself rather petulantly, "I'm tired and I need rest....just please go to sleep!"

At that moment he suddenly felt surrounded by the most beautiful feeling of love, and he looked at his little boy and wondered if Heavenly Father could possibly love him (Brother Kofod) as much as Brother Kofod loved his little boy. And at that moment it was as if our Father whispered to him that He loves him more than he is capable of imagining.....as He loves all of His children.

It was a marvelous talk, followed by beautiful testimonies from several senior missionaries who will be leaving for home within the next two months, as well as some of the others who will be staying.  Our dear mission president and his wife both addressed us, and then we had a delightful lunch and visiting o'plenty.

If you thought about it a couple of seconds, you might guess what happened after lunch....SK organized a CRUD game!  I think everyone enjoyed themselves at it.  It was nowhere near as noisy as when the young people play....and it proved to be a much more "gentle-manly" game.

Sister Swena just got an amazing shot and you can see the varied reactions from (l to r) Elder Middlemas, Elder Koestor, Sister Middlemas, Elder Garriot

 It was a grand day.  Several of the out of town missionaries went to a temple session in the evening....I baked cakes for tomorrow!  We said goodbye.  We may not ever see some of those dear people again in this life.  But it was so wonderful to have time together to share some of our concerns, our worries, our joys and our faith in our very different missionary callings.

What a blessing it is to serve with so many outstanding individuals!