General Conference talks were inspirational. One of my personal favorites was by Dale G. Renlund.1 He told a story about their family’s dog – a tiny, black, toy poodle named Lady.
He shared, “Lady was smart, energetic, and great at fetching
a ball. She was willing to retrieve a ball anytime, anyplace, and for as long
as anyone was willing to throw one.”
He explained how one day he threw 2 balls, a blue one and a yellow one. His story about the result provided a bit of a parallel to some of our experiences as we prepared for this mission, and felt like too many things demanded our attention too often, and for too much time. It seemed exhausting and a little overwhelming.
We stored the majority of our possesions, and brought some things we knew we use regularly.
Elder Ames tells it this way:
Well, we thought we brought everything we would ever need; BUT
once all the boxes were empty and put away, we started making lists. Then we took those lists and went
shopping. We were missing basics like
our salt shaker and pepper grinder – we brought the pepper corns but no grinder! We went and bought the smallest can of
pepper. We needed a mandoline to prepare
vegetables. Surely there had been enough
room in one of those boxes for a mandoline!
While we did not find all the list items, we did purchase a mandoline, and several other essentials. We unsuccessfully
shopped many times for a good can opener. Although our apartment is furnished nicely
the can opener had chips in a partially bent blade.
In truth we hadn’t yet found a can opener which would meet
our standards when one evening Sister Ames asked me what was in the box behind
the chair. I responded knowingly that it
was just another box of videos. (VHS tapes to digitize at no cost at the FamilySearch
center, in our ‘spare’ time. We brought too many of those!)
However, I stopped whatever it was that I was doing and went and opened the box. It was not videos.
Right near the top was our super useful can opener. We also
found the salt shaker and pepper grinder (we hadn’t bought one of those because
the ones we found cost a lot and that’s a lot of pepper). We found our mixer and all its attachments
(that had not made it onto our shopping list yet.) There were two turn tables of stuff everyone
needs in the kitchen, and we now have two mandolines - we will probably use the
old one. We had purchased a mini muffin
pan, that Sister Ames was already missing, and now have 3 - there were 2 in the
box.
Sometimes when I’m counting the blessings I ask the Lord to show me the ones I am missing – the blessings I have that I don’t even know that I have - like that box. It had been sitting behind the chair for three weeks full of stuff that we needed, or need, or will need. Now, I look around to see what I might see and think about each thing and about how it might be a blessing.
I wonder if there are other missing boxes - boxes which I
need to open.”
Elder Renlund sympathized: “I cannot add more time to your
days or eliminate the many concerns modern life brings. But I can offer this
counsel: Not all matters are of equal value, …2” and he then suggested the
teachings of scriptures and prophets.
Our late prophet, “President Russell M. Nelson taught, ‘Whatever
questions or problems you have, the answer is always found in the life and
teachings of Jesus Christ.’3
“And President Dallin H. Oaks, the Lord’s living
prophet today, simply declared, ‘Jesus Christ is the way.’4
“You need not be like our little dog, Lady—confused,
discouraged, and overwhelmed—when facing too many balls; you do not need to
crawl back to bed and cower. Instead, keep your eye on the ball. Focus on
the Savior. Seek for the “precious gifts His Atonement can impart.” Then
you can joyfully and confidently sing with the children:
‘I will trust
in Jesus. I will hear His call.
He will never
leave me, even when I fall.
Jesus gives
me power, lifts and comforts me,
Helping me to live and grow
eternally.’5
Because Jesus Christ completed the Atonement, He has the
power to help you along your earthly journey and to redeem you from death, both
physical and spiritual. Celebrate the joyous message of Easter every day by
reflecting every day on the blessings you receive because of Him.6 ‘Open
wide your broken heart and let your Savior in!’”7
2. Dallin H. Oaks, “Good, Better, Best,” Liahona, Nov. 2007, 104–8.
3. Russell M. Nelson, “The Answer Is Always Jesus Christ,” Liahona, May 2023, 127.
4. “‘Jesus Christ Is the Way,’ President Oaks Says in First Interview as Church President,” Church News, Oct. 16, 2025, thechurchnews.com.
5. “I Will Walk with Jesus,” Hymns for Home and Church, Gospel Library.
6. Dallin H. Oaks, “What Has Our Savior Done for Us?,” Liahona, May 2021, 75–77.
7. “Behold the Wounds in Jesus’ Hands,” Hymns for Home and Church, Gospel Library.
