13 December 2014 (Elder Christofferson)

I know it's only been a week, actually 6 days, since I wrote last, but I need to get some of this down before I forget. As I said earlier Sister Slade and I went to Atlanta GA. for training and a Christmas get together. And as I said Sister Slade had a extra trip planned. We both love Christmas shows and festivals, so she planned a night at a "resort" of sorts and we went to the "fantasy of lights". It was a festival with Christmas booths, gifts and food. Part of the experience was a trolley ride throught the golf course, which was decorated with thousands of lights. We had a good time. Here are some pictures of the festival. The first 4 are inside a pavilion.

 These next few are from the fantasy of lights, and as usual the pictures never do justice to the real thing. But imagine life size fixtures.

We really enjoyed it.
The training in Atlanta was good and it was good to see the other missionaries. I learned a little more about ldsjobs.com. We had an opportunity to interact with each other about our different service areas and learn how to be more effective employment specialist. I hope to be able to implement the new gained knowledge. From this I think we will plan to visit more of the outlining stakes in our mission. President Craven has agreed to help us accomplish this. We love President and Sister Craven, I believe they are the best mission Couple we could possiblely have. We arrived back "home" Friday afternoon and later met with the other 2 couples in our complex for our weekly FHE. We hold it on Fridays because it is easier. I tell ya it's been exciting.
Now about today Saturday 13 December 2014 (Elder Christofferson).
Elder Christofferson was assigned to attend a stake conference in Winston - Salem, NC. President Craven asked Elder Christofferson if he would speak to all 260 missionaries this morning at the NC Central Stake building. So we all arrived at 0830 to await Elder Christofferson at 0900. He came in and stood at the front of the stand with President and Sister Craven, President and Sister Cheney (counselor in NCCM). President and Sister Baker (NC Central Stake) and President and Sister Hall (NC South Stake) sat on the stand. Then all 260, plus senior couples (orderly) walked up and shook hands with Elder Christofferson and the others. That's a feat to see. I wish I could tell you all Elder Christofferson said, but I can't, he sopke for about 1 1/2 hrs. So I will simply say it was an amazing, wonderful, inspiring, experience. He asked the missionaries if they had questions and he answered them completely, sincerely and personally. He taught great principles and how they applied to him and us. The young missionaries asked the questions, as it should be. However in my mind I thought if I could, what would I say. I thought "what is the greatest gift given to man"? At first it sounds simple to answer. I thought in my mind what it would be, then I came up with this riddle in my mind. It isn't easy because there are many great gifts and my answer may not be yours or it doesn't take away any gift of importance. I wrote it down for a talk later, but here it is (only the question) If you, whoever you are, read this and can answer it, give me your answer either by text or email (if you know me you know how to get a hold of me). I am really interested in your answer. Here is the riddle:
From the Father came a great gift, from the Son came a great gift. Without the first gift the second does not happen, without the second gift the first would become irrelevant, with both gifts comes the greatest gift [ This is the greatest gift that can be conferred on intelligent beings, to live forever and never be destroyed (DBY, 96). [Brigham Young]

It is written that the greatest gift God can bestow upon man is the gift of eternal life.] [Priesthood manual] (This quote answers only what the greatest gift is.)

What's the answer to the riddle?  I will give my answer later.  Tonight we have been invited to President Hall's house for a dinner/BBQ. Thanks and keep the faith.