gregnelson

@Latterdaytruth Those days were crucibles in which we learned how to trust the Lord. God bless this who served in post-Soviet Russia, I loved my opportunity to be there and those people taught me more than anything I taught them.

12 weeks after landing in Russia, I was given an assignment that changed my life. I remember hearing the notorious ringtone of my mission president and knowing what it likely meant… training out of training. I answered the call and my mission president said: “Elder, the Lord wants you to train a new missionary. I want you to know that this call doesn’t come out of necessity, but from revelation.” I was overwhelmed. To add more, I was called to serve in the local branch presidency in a branch with less than 10 active members. I remember saying goodbye to my trainer and hello to my new trainee. To my surprise, I knew him from high school! But as I sat on the train back to our area, I had serious doubts. Did I speak the language good enough? Did I have the bandwidth to train, continue learning myself, and serve in the branch? In response to a million prayers offered on a 4 hour train ride, I remember a clear answer: “this is what you were born to do.” That answer pierced my soul. My doubts disintegrated and were replaced by confidence. Even though I didn’t know what I was doing, I did everything I could to be exactly obedient and help my trainee. Many days, even after hours of calling, we had blank planners. We would quite literally be “led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things we should do.” My trainee helped me when I was afraid to talk to people or got nervous, and we learned together. I learned to conduct sacrament meeting, and spoke almost weekly. My abilities in the Russian language accelerated. It was a refiner’s fire. More importantly, my personal study time became my solace. One hour of spiritual feasting that I wished would never end. Relying on the Savior, I grew despite my many mistakes. While I likely could have trained better or done more, the Lord built me. Because of those transfers, I am a better man today. Then, God sent @PeacemakingSt to the area to clean up the mess I had made:) I am so grateful for the continued opportunities to grow in service in the Lord’s church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

@stevemagness One of our boys developed a bit later in HS and did XC/Track at a JC and had an amazing experience. We just provided opportunities for him to do well, supported him, told him we love him whatever he is doing. Lots of hard work and great coaches made a huge difference.

If you want to "raise a D1 athlete" here's what works: 1. Stop trying to raise a D1 athlete Support your kid. Let them play whatever they want to play. Drive them to practice But it's got to come from them. They've got to want it. You can't force it. 2. Have great genetics

@bmariner 100%, great insight and I only know a bit of the Erda side, not the church’s perspective. Thanks for sharing that. As someone who works at COB, hopefully that Erda reputation doesn’t spread to other departments. 🙂

I wasn't involved in the process but at the time I held a county government post and was a fly on a lot of walls. The church did not expect the opposition and made changes to how they do and communicate things based on Erda. Erda is legendary in the COB for all the worst reasons.

The original Tooele Valley Temple was to be built next to an existing pioneer cemetery, which would have been preserved and incorporated into the temple grounds. Unfortunately the town-- yes, the pioneer town of Erda freaking Utah-- rejected the entire project and the Deseret Peak Temple was ultimately built in Tooele.

@bmariner Agreed, a choice was made by local residents and ultimately they chose to reject it. I remember speaking with my stake president, who worked with so many to ensure that all the facts were available and with the church - I don’t envy what he went through.

@GregDNelson I mean, however you slice it, ultimately Erda rejected the temple. It wasn't moved. The entire project was canceled and built in another location.

@wizardofemerald @bmariner It is on the grounds where the Erda chapel is, west of the drive-in. You can visit it any time you want. Our ward had meetings in that building until our new chapel was finished in January.

@bmariner As far as I know pioneer cemetery do not exist anymore only that sign Bates Fort or am I mistake?

@stackerco @Eternal_Saints_ @grok This is mostly true, he is a good man.

@Eternal_Saints_ @grok who is Robert Norman and why was he a threat to the LDS church?

This was a leaked slide from the LDS Church in a presentation titled “Area Business Weekends” from December 2015. Look at the top left next to Ordain Women. Do you really still think the Church’s lawsuit against John Dehlin is just about copyright?

@Eternal_Saints_ @stackerco Bob Norman is a retired Institute teacher/director and former mission president. He is living a quiet life now in rural central Utah

@stackerco Interesting that John has a smaller bubble than Denver Snuffer. Who is Robert Norman?

@wolfstrength Same, habit by now

I’m such barbell guy that even when unloading a plate loaded machine with its own internal plate storage such that there’s no chance of the thing ever tipping over, I still never let the difference between the sides get to more than two 45 pound plates

@Manhattva He could read the phone book and I would be mesmerized.

I am once again, humbly requesting that Elder Kearon narrate a reading of the Book of Mormon for everyone in the world to download and hear.

@SquatUniversity The cue that helped me most with RDLs is imagining there is a string attached to my butt and someone is pulling it from the back. And then they let go and I snap back up.

Her first time doing RDLs!😩

@ThrillaRilla369 Ghosts and Goblins

For those who played video games between 1985 and 1995, what's the video game from that time that sticks with you the most, and why

@sam_gzstrength This is me - 385 bench and 525 squat but only a 485 dead. I train hard for deadlifts but it doesn’t move or feel as natural as the other two.

Good benchers are typically good squatters. Can be bad at deadlifts. T-Rex builds A good deadlifter can be absolute poverty at the other lifts. Lanky with Monkey arms with good leverages Not that I would know anything, about that

@ZionsCampfire Had the same thing happen in our family after our son and his family moved to TN. After visiting them and attending a service, I am so grateful for this pastor and the service he provides for these men and their families. Love them and encourage them, they will be OK.

My son who, after serving a mission, decided that some random "Church of Christ" was better for him and his wife(I blame her), sent us a 40-min Sunday sermon from the pastor. In those 40 minutes, Jesus Christ was NOT MENTIONED ONE TIME! But yeah, we're not Christians

@tvheidihatch We felt the house shake in Stansbury Park.

So did we all just feel an earthquake? Waiting for USGS data ...

@Zion_GPT Taking guests through in a few weeks, humbled and eagerly awaiting.

I was invited to visit the Salt Lake City Temple Visitors Center. No photos allowed, (signed a waiver) and probably not many details I should share. But I’ve never cried in an LDS Visitors Center… before today. Friends prepare for your mind to be blown. (In a few months)

@MyLordBebo One of my favorite cities, wish I could have seen it.

🇷🇺 A rare optical phenomenon, "forest of light" in St. Petersburg It's -15°C (5°F) there with high 83% humidity under cloudy skies, making the air feel like a damp -19°C

@LargeInStature_ You wouldn’t believe the things FS is doing not only with auto tree building but a number of other things like determining where and what custodians have the extant records in countries. However, accurate tree conclusions require clean record data- that is the challenge now.

Why can't we just apply AI to FamilySearch and get all the work we've done thus far squared away? Get all those trees linked together?

@TheEXECUTlONER_ We have 15 and I cannot imagine life without any of them. They are a blessing (with lots of challenges though).

That equates to being pregnant for 7 1/2 years! She still looks like she’s in her 30’s- incredible! Larger families were a normal thing back in the day. I come from a family of 6 & my mom from a family of 7. I have 2 of my own & have no idea how in the heck they did it! 😆

@CoachZ_ARKANSAS Was at the game in Provo and Arkansas was great that day, BYU had no answer for them.

Wishing Coach Pitt and Jamie all the very best. They did a lot of good and made a positive impact on many here. My favorite Coach Pittman team wins 1. Texas blowout in 2021 2. Tennessee #4 in nation 2024 3. At LSU in Overtime 2021 4. At Florida 2023 5. At Brigham Young 2022 6. Penn State Outback Bowl 21-22 7. Texas A&M in Arlington 2021