The Weekend Review and President Hinckley

This weekend we got to go to utah and spend some time with Bret's parents and family. It was really quick and really fun. We loved getting to see the snow and also loving the fact that we didn't have to deal with the snow on a daily basis! It was nice to get to hang out and go to our old stomping grounds. I know that I say this a lot, but I miss our time at BYU. It is so fun and so wonderful! All of you cougars out there know what I am talking about! We got to go to Cafe Rio and Los Hermanos. I want to go to the BYU vball game but Reese got a little sick and too tired. We will just have to wait until they come to UCI.

This is the only picture from the weekend. That is how busy and all over the place we were! Reese and I at Los Hermanos. She LOVES guacamole! Can't you tell?

Last night my mom called to tell me that beloved President Hinckley had passed away. I was not sad, but happy for him. He loved his wife so dearly and he missed her and I know that they are now together continuing to do the Lord's work in the next life. I remember the first time I went to General Conference as a freshman at BYU and I got to be in his presence. I was so overwhelmed with the spirit and I will never forget his testimony and his kindness and humor. He will be remembered as the Prophet who greatly furthered the building of temples. I am so grateful that he worked so hard to bring temples to every area in the world. He is so wonderful and I am grateful that he was the prophet of my youth. He seemed like he could just be your friend and I felt his love for the church everytime he talked. This is his testimony and I love reading it over and over again.

Now, in conclusion, I hope that all of you will remember that on this Sabbath day you heard me bear my witness that this is God's holy work. The vision given the Prophet Joseph in the grove of Palmyra was not an imaginary thing. It was real. It occurred in the broad light of day. Both the Father and the Son spoke to the boy. He saw Them standing in the air above him. He heard Their voices. He gave heed to Their instruction.

It was the resurrected Lord who was introduced by His Father, the great God of the universe. For the first time in recorded history, both the Father and the Son appeared together to part the curtains and open this, the last and final dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times.

The Book of Mormon is all that it purports to be—a work recorded by prophets who lived anciently and whose words have come forth "to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations"

The priesthood has been restored under the hands of John the Baptist and Peter, James, and John. All the keys and authority pertaining to eternal life are exercised in this Church.

Joseph Smith was and is a prophet, the great Prophet of this dispensation. This Church, which carries the name of the Redeemer, is true.

I leave you my testimony, my witness, and my love for each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen."