Tokyo: Conference brings together more than 800 single adults
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TOKYO
"Stop Waiting and Start Moving!" was the conference theme and the message given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve and his wife, Sister Kristen Oaks, to more than 800 members at the All-Japan Single Adult Conference held at the Tokyo Olympic Memorial Center on Monday through Wednesday, Sept. 21-23.
For the conference, planned under the direction of Elder Gary E. Stevenson of the Seventy and Asia North Area president, Japanese-speaking singles ages 30 and up traveled from all over Japan, as well as from the United States and Europe.
Brother Takao Miyazawa from Belle Island, Mich., commented that the conference was "full of wonderful direction for the single adults and also for the leadership."
Having both experienced periods of their adult life without a companion, Elder and Sister Oaks were uniquely qualified to counsel with the single adults in this conference. Elder Oaks' first wife, June, died in 1998. He married Kristen Meredith McMain in 2000. She had never been married.
Elder Oaks recalled President Hinckley's comment that he regretted the sometimes-labeling of an important group in the Church as "singles," rather than seeing them as individuals. Elder Oaks added that even though single adult members of the Church may not have all the blessings they desire now, they are very much equal to married members in two important ways: one, their love for God and, two, their love for their fellow men.
He suggested that they may even have the advantage over married members in their time available to express their love through service, adding, "The quality of your service can be as great as anyone's."
The secondary theme for the conference was "Calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come" (see Mosiah 4:11).
Elder Oaks stressed that when individuals have done all that they are able, they can rely on God's love, that the Savior will make up the difference in His own way and in His own time.
Sister Oaks frequently shared the pulpit with her husband. As a returned missionary from the Japan Sendai Mission, she delighted the audience and challenged the translators several times by breaking into Japanese for a few sentences and then returning to English.
She encouraged everyone to assume that their being single is God's plan for them right now. She also added that the plan could change as a result of new friends made at the conference but not to worry about it. She encouraged everyone to just enjoy, mingle, lift, love and edify each other.
A dominant theme for the three-day conference was: It is good to plan one's life but also to realize that, married or single, very few people ever have their lives go according to the plans they make. Elder and Sister Oaks used their own lives as illustrations.
Both encouraged the conferencegoers to make their plans, but to not be alarmed when the Lord's plan differs from theirs.
"We need to trust Him and stay close to the Spirit so when life takes an unexpected turn, we can cope, continue and still contribute," they explained.
Some of the attendees at the conference were so pleased with the comfortable tone set by Elder and Sister Oaks that they remarked it was like having a visit with them in their own living rooms.
Elder and Sister Oaks shared a home video showing them harvesting vegetables with their grandchildren. They talked of lessons learned from their garden. They reminded all that "you cannot get zucchini if you plant cucumbers." They spoke of reaping what is sowed, literally and figuratively. There was also a great endorsement of the joy that comes from hard work and accomplishment.
Additional time with Elder and Sister Oaks was available on Monday evening as they moved among a number of small family home evening groups. The next morning, Elder Oaks spoke to the brethren while Sister Oaks spoke to the sisters in separate locations.
Mikiko Uchida of the Shizuoka Japan Stake, commented, "It was such a privilege to have Elder and Sister Oaks as our guests and to feel the special spirit they carry."
The conference also featured an opportunity to select from 24 seminars with subjects including flower arranging, history of the Church in Japan, communication skills, leadership principles, manners and appearance, financial management, enjoying the scriptures, child raising, entrepreneurship, sharing the gospel, health maintenance, temple work, individual and group counseling and more.
The final day's main event was a session presented by Elder Stevenson together with his wife, Sister Lesa Stevenson. Attendees were not only amazed to hear about a helicopter crash that Elder Stevenson survived but were also provided wisdom on keeping balance in their lives. All who attended had the opportunity during the session to use a special graphic to evaluate their own life's balance and make a plan to correct any important facet of their lives that was at risk of neglect.
