"Why don't we treat the Book of Mormon like we do our cell phones?" Elder F. Michael Watson challenged attendees at the Sunday session of the Suva Fiji Stake Conference on 6 November 2011. "What if we read the Book of Mormon at least an hour day, like our cell phone?" he asked. "Would we run back for our Book of Mormon if we forgot it at home, like we do our cell phone?"
These were some of the thought-provoking questions raised by the Church leader, a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy and Pacific Area Presidency as he met with members and guests attending the Stake Conference at the Suva Fiji Stake Centre.
Elder Watson referred to the Old Testament in 1 Samuel Chapter 3 where the Lord called the young lad Samuel three times until Eli realized who it was that was calling. Eli then told Samuel what to say the next time he heard the voice call him. The next time the voice called, Samuel answered, "Speak for thy servant heareth."
Elder Watson said too many times we forget to listen.
Then he spoke about the blessings of children and how they are the generation of the future.
He spoke about the blessings of parents. "No-one can measure the responsibilities of a mother to her children; fathers need to lead their families righteously; and wives were to be equal partners with their husbands in rearing their families."
Elder Watson also touched on the importance of going to the temple. He illustrated with an example of when he and Sister Watson served in Africa. There was only one temple that covered 35 countries. Because of that when members did visit the temple it was usually for one time only.
He hoped the Suva Fiji Stake members were taking the opportunity to visit the temple often because it was not far compared to what the African members had to go through.
He said temples were being built to get closer to the people.
Around 600 members and guests attended the Sunday Conference in which Elder Watson presided over the meeting.
Elder Watson is visiting members, missionaries and others in Fiji, New Caledonia and Vanuatu this week.