Elder Richard Scott - from Shauna

From: Shauna McConkie 
Date: Sun, Sep 20, 2009 at 4:24 PM
Subject: RE: Sec.130:12
To: Colleen  Stout

We just returned from a stake conference in Greenville with Elder Richard Scott and we heard about that scripture from Elder Posey, a Seventy from South Carolina. He turned it around and said what an honor it was to be a state mentioned in the D & C!  It was rather humorous!  It was quite a weekend and our second weekend in a row away from home.  Last week it was Charleston and we stayed at a Marriott Courtyard about 6 miles from the stake center.  This week we stayed at a Marriott Courtyard about 1 mile from the stake center.  It makes it very handy when we have to drive back and forth several times on both Saturday and Sunday AND they have a very nice breakfast included so we don't have to go out to eat.  Sam was in Chicago last weekend visiting Greg and Annalisa so didn't make the Charleston trip but he did go with us this time and had a great time.  We had two meals with Elder Scott and he even gave Sam a big hug.  Elder Posey knows Sam quite well and went with us to one of his basketball games in North Augusta, S.C. (he lives there right on the border of Augusta, GA where they play the Master's Tournament)   Elder Posey owns a very nice funeral home in Augusta and drives the most beautiful black Cadillac you've ever seen - probably used for business and pleasure.  We work with him frequently and really enjoy our relationship.  He also served as a mission president in Texas about 18 years ago.
Sam didn't end up staying at the hotel because there was an apt. with four missionaries just 7 miles away and he could sleep on their floor as easily as on our floor.....just a lot more fun!  He took our car and came back in time for breakfast this morning.  

Elder Scott was in rare form and did all sorts of different things that I have not seen done before.  When the choir performed, he got up and went over the side of the podium and stood a few steps down so he could observe them.  He also called two young Laurels up and asked them all sorts of questions about their families and standards and modesty etc. and then had them both bear testimony.  It was likely a bit scary for them.  We saw two full zones of missionaries because we attended another stake conference after the first.  Both are great stakes and one stake president is from Montreal and speaks French as his first language (convert).  The other is a 1979 graduate of Orem High School....Gary Kunzler....great guy.  They both work at the huge Michelin Tire headquarters in Greenville.
This week may be a little slower than usual.  I do have 10 missionaries coming to spend the night on Tues. because they won a baptizing goal.  I will feed them dinner on Tuesday after they and Sam all go to the temple.  On Wednesday they want to go to the Columbia Zoo and Sam may go with them again.  I think after I feed them breakfast on Wednesday I may only see them again for a few minutes when they come to gather their things.  Only problem is that now I have 10 beds worth of bedding to re-do for the next group of missionaries who will be coming in but Chris will likely end up doing it.  On Wednesday night I am doing something totally different and a first since our arrival.....I am going with the office sisters to The King and I at a playhouse downtown Columbia.  It sounds like fun.  I am also taking another sister to the General Women's Meeting at the stake center on Saturday evening.  We speak at a ward up in Greenwood next Sunday which is a little lame since we were just at stake conference with this ward today.  I didn't actually speak in the stake conference with Elder Scott.....just Steve at the priesthood leadership meeting but I did speak at the other stake conference.  Sam also leaves for SLC next Tuesday and I will be driving him up to Charlotte, NC for the flight....(much less expensive).  He'll be gone for two weeks and will buy his missionary suits and shoes while he is there.  This is really getting too long.  I hope you are both well.  I bet the leaves are changing and the valley is starting to look beautiful.  The leaves change here but much later.  Love you both, Shauna