It's in the Genes

When I was 12 year old, my dad was serving in the Stake Presidency in the Fresno California West Stake. (A Stake is similar to a Catholic Diocese.) We were having a semi-annual Stake meeting called Stake Conference. This is where all the members of the LDS church in that Stake get together for combined meetings. Anyway....This particular Stake Conference was special because a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was coming to release the current Stake Presidency from service and ask new men to serve in that capacity. We have a lay ministry and all leadership service is provided voluntarily when asked to serve.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks was the member of the Quorum of the Twelve who was coming to perform this change of leadership. Saturday morning he conducted interviews to meet the local Priesthood leaders to find out who should be the new leaders of our Stake. That afternoon, before the Adult session was to be held, there was going to be a special dinner with the present leadership and their wives. My family set up the room for this dinner. My dad and brothers set up the tables and chairs. Then my mom and I came in to set the tables and make everything look pretty.

My mom and I were working in a room next to the kitchen. As she and I were working, a man walked into the room and asked me for a glass of water. I looked up and Elder Oaks was standing in the room. I smiled and told him that wouldn't be a problem. I got a glass and poured him a drink of water. He asked me my name and I told him it was Emily Tree. He laughed and said that somewhere we must be related. Oaks and Tree were almost the same since an Oak is a Tree. He thanked my for the water, handed me the glass when he was finished, and left.

Today, my baby brother sent the picture at the end of the post. He is serving as a missionary in Mexico City, Mexico right now. This photo made me think of my experience with Elder Oaks and I thought how neat it was that Brother #4 got to meet him also.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks shaking hands with Elder Jared T. Tree
Mexico City, Mexico
2012