Another General Conference is upon us and I realise that I have still not managed to share the photographs from our Mission Reunion at the Marriott Hotel, SLC in April 2008. I'm hoping that you will all agree "better late than never". It seems like a good time to reminisce about the evening we spent reminiscing about our mission! President and Sister Crouch and the Ancient of Days Zone (our much loved Senior Couples) very kindly hosted the mission reunion. You may recall that it was shortly after General Conference last year that President Crouch sent out the first "save the date" e-mail to ensure that we would all pencil in to our [Franklin Day Planners] diaries the Mission Reunion. It also allowed those coming from a little further afield to make travel arrangements etc. So the evening of Friday 4 April rolled around and I and many others who are not local rolled into town! It has been suggested (thanks Sister Craig) that an account of the evening would be nice for those who were not able to attend. I will do my best based on my recollections and the many e-mails and conversations afterwards. Feel free to fill in the gaps! Upon arrival at the hotel it was both amusing and touching to see the old mission roles resumed: Elder and Sister Barr and Elder and Sister Lee were the financial and mission secretaries in my time and probably for most of the missionaries in attendance. Indeed they were the ones assigned the task of signing everybody in and ensuring we all had name tags (no flags, but oddly nice to be wearing a name tag of sorts again!). A fine job they did too as there were A LOT of senior couples, sisters, husbands and even a few babies to check in! President and Sister Crouch were at the door greeting each of us as we entered a la our beautiful early morning Sacrament meetings. I used to call it the "grip and grin" but this evening it was more of a joyous embrace and ear to ear smile ;) Not at all like that one! Once inside it was just stunning to see so many friends greet each other with such happiness and excitement. It was fun to meet husbands and husbands to be and babies! It was also exciting to see how many had been so blessed as to have been able to make the trip to SLC. There was a wonderful buffet supper and plenty of opportunity to chat and catch up one with another. President and Sister Crouch had organised a short programme for all of us missionaries to enjoy. You may recall several fervent pleas for photographs - these were put together into a slideshow for all to see what we have been up to in recent times. The soundtrack to the slide show was a Greatest Hits of Temple Square compilation with music provided by the Temple Square choir and those brave and willing souls who participated in the 24 July 2004 Pioneer Day Early Morning Spectacular. Remember that? President McAllister put together a lovely slide show of the Senior Couples and images from our mission. It reminded me a little of the departing sisters slideshow (although this time I could actually see the images because I was not crying like a prep school girl). President Crouch had 3 sisters (forgive me for not remembering who, Ragsdale, Howden and X. Martinez perhaps?) lead us in our recitations. That's right - My Missionary Commission, The Standard of Truth and Doctrine & Covenants Section 4. Whilst a few of us may have had a stumble or two along the way I think we amazed ourselves at how well we remembered them. Somehow it just comes flooding back in such a setting with such company. President and Sister Crouch spoke to us and reminded us all of how blessed we are to have served at Temple Square. The Lord loves Temple Square - and so do we! What an honour and privilege to have served there!
A huge thank you to President and Sister Crouch and all of the Senior Couples for organising this evening. Please see the link below for photos of the evening. http://www.slide.com/r/MruCHUK07z9IX467jHerPp4FR8PqbDAj?previous_view=mscd_embedded_url&view=original | 
