Coming to Know Him - You’re Invited!
Oil painting for our journals by Elder Charter.
Zone conference week is always wonderful. President Quinn and I enjoy being with each of our missionaries. This week we shared an exciting announcement! You’re invited to join in on it too. Let me explain….
Zone Conference in Eureka
Coming to Know Him
Dear sweet missionaries President Quinn and I spend so much time thinking about your lifelong discipleship that if brainwaves earned frequent-flier miles, we’d be back to our Deloitte days of Premier 1K status by now. Why is it we want you to come to know our Savior and be His lifelong disciple? Because the Prophet personally asked us—and because we love you. We can testify that being His lifelong disciple brings joy and happiness now and exaltation later!
We came up with an idea to help deepen your discipleship! I’ll begin with one of Jesus’s parables.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
During April 2025 general conference the Parable of the Ten Virgins was talked about five times—clearly something to take note of. It is a beautiful parable full of much symbolism.
The wise virgins with oil in their lamps were prepared for the bridegroom. When He came, they trimmed their lamps and went in with Him to the marriage. The door was shut.
“Afterward came also the other virgins, Saying Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.” - Matthew 25: 11-12 (The Joseph Smith translation states “Verily I say unto you, Ye know me not.”)
The oil in the lamps wasn’t transactional with the Savior counting how many drops they had. It was about who the wise virgins had become and their relationship with the Savior.
Oil = truly knowing the Savior and becoming like Him.
President Nelson in his April Conference talk spoke of the Savior coming again and how we can be prepared and confident to welcome Him! This is exciting! Our Savior is coming again! This is not just a story we like to tell. It’s going to happen. And we, like the wise virgins, can be ready!
I want to share with you a favorite scripture passage about His second coming:
1 Thessalonians 5 : 1-8
Children of Light, Not Night
Paul reminded the Thessalonians that the Second Coming arrives “as a thief in the night,” but then adds, “Ye are all the children of light… and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness… let us watch and be sober.”
When I was young, “thief in the night” sounded scary to me. I am grateful to read Paul’s words because now I picture a bright day and beautiful reunion, not burglars with masks. You and I as children of the light will be prepared and ready for that great day, so let us watch and be sober.
My lamp filling moment
Years ago, illness left me flat. I could hardly pick my head up off my pillow. I felt weak, discouraged, and unsure of what lay ahead. In that difficult season, I turned to the Savior for the guidance, strength, and hope I desperately needed. I prayed as I never had before! As I leaned more fully on Him, my Savior, my faith began to grow- and with it came personal moments of tutoring and comfort from the Spirit. I came across books to read, and found doctors to consult with. I started to understand the important lessons that were there for me to learn and I began to see a path forward of healing. Drop by drop I knew my Savior was at my side.
The return of our Savior
At that time, one Sunday in church the congregation sang, I Believe in Christ, when we sung the line: “I believe in Christ, so come what may, I’ll stand with Him at that great day!” Something stirred deep within my soul. That simple line filled me with determination and joy. In that moment I realized that no matter what happens in my life, I know he will stand by me and when He comes again, I will have the sacred opportunity to stand by Him at his side, to welcome Him. I will say to others. I’m with Him! I know Him. He is my Savior!
I look forward to that great day when we will stand strong and celebrate His return!
Journals for our missionaries
Your Turn: Coming to Know Him Journal
As we thought about how to encourage you on your life journey of Coming to Know Him, we considered handing you tiny clay lamps, but oil dripping through transfers felt like a bad idea. Instead, you’re getting a “Coming to Know Him” journal featuring a beautiful painting by Elder Charter—look for the light coming from the Savior’s face and the nail prints in His hands (Isaiah 49:16).
How it works
Each Monday the CASRM newsletter and my blog will include a short, doable journal prompt.
The journal entries = oil. Over time the pages—and your souls will be full.
Family and friends can join the journey. All of the moms will have another way to feel closer to her missionary son or daughter
May this journal become a sacred space filled with faith, obedience, repentance, love, and joy—drop by drop as you come to know Him!
We love you. Keep the lamps lit.
President & Sister Quinn
Family and friends you are invited to join us! Obtain a journal and follow our weekly prompts. Below is the first prompt for your Coming to Know Him Journal. Please copy the prompt in your journal and then answer the prompt. THANK YOU!!
Here are some photos from the week! Enjoy
Elders Cherry, Grover, Schwieder, and Joaquin
Elders Payne, Fuchs, Joaquin
The vehicle crew! Elder and Sister Ritchie with Elder and Sister Frodsham - thank you for servicing all the missionaries’ vehicles!
Sister Moon, Hermanas Jones, and Haroldsen
Lunch in Ukiaha Sisters Doner and Johnson in front.
Elders Griguhn, Gardner, Hall, Bracken, Latham, Bro. Rick Isrig, Elders Sellers, Finger, Oh, Largey, Hsu, Ritchie, Swenson
Elder Largey and Hall
Sisters Watson, Allen, Siino, and Hawkins
Elders Graves, Gardner, Bass, and Brown
Elders Ririe, Sudweeks, Hassan, Young, Chandler, Yacktman, and Farnsworth
Elders Braithwaite, Hunt, McIntyre, and Gulbranson
Sister Risser, Hermana Brimhall, Sisters Bartlett, and Freeman
President Quinn with Elder Young - wearing his “interview” tie
Sister Musashino and Allen - building cleaning assignments after zone conference
Sisters Hankins, Drying, Dunlap, Hermanas Austin & Merrill, Sisters Gordon, Kai, and Thueson.
Sisters Scott, Youngberg, Curtis, Hermana Grose, Sisters Stangland, Steinfeldt, and Knotts
Sisters Ashton, Beattie, Hermanas Dalby, Miles, Nix, and Campbell.
Elders Jensen, Platt, and Clements
President Quinn walking down the hallway of the church building on Wrentham Ave in Vacaville, turning off lights, finishing a long and fulfilling day of zone conferences and visiting with missionaries.
