Digrity - Zone Conference

With about seventy percent of the mission's young missionaries assigned here in Phnom Penh, President Christensen decided that Zone Conferences during Khmer New Year was a great use of their time. They held Zone Conference for the North Zone on Wednesday and for the South and East Zones today. We always enjoy rubbing elbows with the young missionaries and hearing what the Lord is directing President Christensen concerning the mission. In previous Zone Conferences he has taught about being a Deliberate Disciples and the importance of truly studying the scriptures. This Zone Conference they taught about the importance of the Book of Mormon and be "Digrity", which is a combined word using Dignify and Grit.

President Christensen expressed to all of us the importance of reading the Book of Mormon every day of our lives. He said that if we would read it every day he would never have to worry about any of us. It is when we stop reading that he worries. He shared the teachings of President Ezra Taft Benson from thirty years ago. At the end he bore a strong and fervent testimony of the Book of Mormon.

The Assistants to the President talked about our Mission Culture and said that we have a Cowboy Culture here in Cambodia and Cowboys have grit. But we needed to add dignity to our grit in a number of important ways, they shared four important ones:

1. Living quarters - they taught us to clean our living quarters every preparation day.
2. Personal conduct - we must strive to represent the Lord and rise to a higher plain.
3. Language - we should watch using slang even in our apartments and with other missionaries.
4. Physical appearance - we need to make sure that we are clean and well groomed.

This evening was the farewell dinner for Elder & Sister Meinzer. They do not leave until Monday evening, but the Spencers were in town and we were all available, so we went this evening. There were lots of good memories and laughs. They are a great couple and will be missed.