Elder Oaks Comes to Japan

As I last mentioned, we were waiting in the hotel lobby when Elder Oaks and his entourage were escorted in.  One of the General Authorities accompanying him recognized that we two couples were senior missionaries and insisted on our being introduced to the apostle.  We were reticent to bother him but were glad that his assistant persisted.  Elder Oaks was so very gracious and personal, which made this "private introduction" very special.  We knew we'd be seeing him tomorrow, 

but that would be along with 170 other missionaries.

We, the Johnsens, and the Donahoes (the Area medical doctor and wife) had a wonderful visit and dinner there at the hotel.  Elder Donahoe is basically on call to meet the medical needs of all missionaries serving in Japan, Korea, Guam, and Micronesia.  All missionaries are directed to contact their mission president's wife first should they have any questions or problems.  Once she determines it is beyond her ability to address properly, the issue is then escalated to the Area doctor.  If need be, he will travel, accompanied by his wife, to attend to that missionary.  There is also another Area doctor called to address emotional/psychological issues.  It was really a very interesting evening as we three senior missionary couples

shared our experiences here in Japan.

After dinner Elder G and I headed up to our room, the Japanese Suite.  We had had the option to select this style of room and decided, "Why not!"

Is this an awesome room or what!  Note how the chairs sit flush to the carpet.  Like, we're supposed to sit on them?  And if we did, we'd never get back up, right?!

Actually, since I'm writing this at the computer, I must have gotten back up!   The flooring is what is called "tatami mats," which is typical of the old-style flooring in Japanese homes.  Rooms are measured by number of tatamis (1 meter X 2 meters), not square meters.  This area was 8 tatamis big.  Of course, shoes are never worn on tatami mats, and slippers are usually furnished as replacements in the entry hall.

This photo shows the "living area" of the suite.

While we were at dinner, the maid came in and changed the "eating area" to the "sleeping area."

Elder G sporting the yukata (cotton bathrobe) furnished by the hotel.

I, in my matching yukata, staring at the two quilts over the futons and wondering
 how I was going to get down there to go to sleep!

Well, the room was truly beautiful, but not all that comfortable.  Try getting up in the middle of the night and having to crawl over to the coffee table in order to pull yourself up!  What a joke!  But it was a worthwhile joke, and we are glad we gave it the old college try!  (Although, people in college wouldn't have any problem with this type of room!)  

We said our goodbyes to one of my favorite Japanese woodblock paintings and to the Japanese rock garden just outside our window and headed for the temple annex where the conference was being held.  We were instructed to be there 30 minutes early and seated reverently in anticipation of this exceptional event.

The conference was certainly everything we expected!  First of all, Elder Oaks had ALL 170+ missionaries file by him, shake his hand, and tell where they were from.  He and his wife were very personable and gracious to all!  What was especially interesting was that his wife had served her mission here in Sendai, Japan, years ago!  I'm sure that gave the missionaries even more reason to love her!  She spoke, Elder Halstrom (of the Presidency of the First Quorum of the Seventy) and his wife spoke, as well as our Mission President and his wife.  All gave outstanding talks.

Elder Oaks related an experience when he had spoken at Harvard University to over 350 people in attendance, including various leaders of other churches.  His talk was titled "The Only True Church" in which he taught that we are not alone in having truth; it's just that we have the fullness of truth.  There are truths in all religions and philosophies, but there is only one place with all the truths that have been revealed so far.  He was bold, and he encouraged us all to be likewise!

After speaking at length, he turned the time over to a question-and-answer period.  He then had each missionary with a question stand up with a microphone and state his question, to which Elder Oaks replied so capably that it was as if he had been aware ahead of time what the questions would be.  Each question was answered with solid gospel insight supported by scripture.  It was so impressive and wonderful to be there to experience his knowledge and testimony!

At one time his former Justice of the Utah Supreme Court experience played into a comment.  He was talking about the need to involve the Lord when making big decisions in life.  His son had neglected to do so regarding an upcoming employment opportunity and said he would pray about it that afternoon before needing to reply the next day.  His comment?  "Son, you should have been praying about this weeks ago.  You don't send a subpoena to God!"  It was really cute the way he said it.

Anyway, it was a wonderful experience to be with him as well as all the other leaders and the other 170+ missionaries!  It was a very spiritually rewarding day, and we were very blessed to get that experience since visitors of that caliber do not come through a mission all that often.  We wished him and his party well as they headed off to Sapporo, Japan, and then on to other Asian countries. 

Sayonara, Elder Oaks!