September 17 - Our Monday Devotional Talks

We spoke at the devotional today this morning at 7:30am.  The devotional was held in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in the chapel. We were first on the program and had reserved seats in the front. Our instructions were to prepare a 3 minute message that helps the other missionaries get to know us. We timed the messages and they were between 3 and 4 minutes long.  

I have attached the program and our messages.  Sister Tolman kept trying to take out the part where she said her maiden name was Senior but ending up leaving that in.  After the meeting one of the older sister missionaries came up to her and asked if she knew Lois Senior which of course she did.  It turns out the she worked with her at the Ensign School.  Her name is Vanja Watkins and she wrote the music for two Hymns  #81 Press Forward Saints and #300 Families Can Be Together Forever.

Devotional Program - Sep 17, 2018

Devotional Talk – Sister Tolman given Sep 17, 2018

My name is Lynne Senior Tolman.  My Maiden name is Senior. I was born here is Salt Lake City to goodly parents and my parents still live in the home I was raised in which is about 7 ½ minutes to the north west of here in Rose Park.  They are 90 years old and still active and busy members of their ward which has given me a good example throughout my life.   I attended West high school and from there went to college for two years.  During that time I met my husband, Glen.  I am so grateful for his love and strength and support during the 47 years that we have been married.

We have been blessed with 8 beautiful and amazing daughters and 15 wonderful grandchildren.  Our daughters have all graduated from Arizona State University and now some of our grandchildren are also starting college and serving missions.  It is with the love and support of our family that we were able to come on this mission.

I have served in primary for many years. I have served four times in the nursery.  I have served in other organizations as well but many of my years have been in individual contributor callings such as ward employment specialist, ward missionary, preparedness specialist and family history consultant.

I was blessed to be a church service missionary at the Mesa Cannery teaching cooking classes for five years.  I was also blessed to serve as a church service missionary at the Mesa Family Search Library for 10 months with my husband before we came on this mission.

In January of 2012 our oldest daughter passed away after a difficult 3 month struggle with cancer.  After losing her I became totally engrossed with family history and this helped me through the grief of losing her.  She has helped us from the other side as we have continued this work.

About ten years ago we were having some problems with our girls as they were the age when grown children pull away and become adults themselves.  Sometimes these times are hard and we were experiencing some of those times.  One day I discovered that I could draw children’s portraits.  I was amazed that I could do this because I had never been able to draw anything but stick figures.  As I was saying my prayers my Heavenly Father told me that this was a special gift that had been saved for this time in my life to help me through the challenges.  He let me know that because of this gift the girls would come to love and respect me and realize that I too had talents.  It took time but today my husband and I are very close with each of our girls and their families and we have seen the fulfillment of this blessing.  One of my daughters said “Mom you can’t go on a mission and leave these pictures on the wall where we can’t see them for 18 months” she then took them off of the wall and took them home with her.

I know that my Heavenly Father is aware of me as an individual and he cares about me.  I am grateful for this knowledge and that my elder brother Jesus Christ plays a very important part in my life each and every day.  I am grateful for the strength I receive as I read and study the Book of Mormon and continue to learn more of our Savior’s teaching through this powerful book.

This mission is also the fulfillment of a desire that I have had for many years. In the short time we have been here I have seen and felt the help from the other side as I have helped others.   I am grateful to be where my Heavenly Father wants me to be when he wants me to be here.

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen

Devotional Talk – Elder Tolman given Sep 17, 2018

I am Elder Glen Tolman.  Sister Lynne Tolman and I began our full-time missionary service at the Provo MTC on July 30th of this year.  We serve in the Help Services Zone on the 3rd Floor of the Family History Library.  We are so enjoying this opportunity to help others Discover, Gather and Connect with their families.

I grew up in Salt Lake City and like Nephi was born of goodly parents.  Participating in the church sports program in the 1960’s helped me stay active and involved in the church.  I continued as a participant, official and administrator in church sports at all levels until the 1990’s.  Because of this experience, I was able to work part-time for 10 years as a softball umpire and basketball and volleyball official retiring just a year ago.

I graduated from East High School in 1965 and attended the University of Utah for two years before serving a thirty-month mission in the South Pacific in what is now the Tahiti Papeete Mission. As missionaries we learned both French and Tahitian.

I continued my studies at University of Utah where I met my wife.  We were married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1971.  I graduated with a Masters Degree in Mathematics in 1973 and entered the Computer Software development industry working for Ford Tractor Operations just north of Detroit Michigan.  We spent eight years there and loved it but missed having a temple nearby and wanted to be closer to family.   I obtained employment with Motorola in Arizona and we moved to Tempe in 1981. I retired in early 2005.  This gave me more time to be with family, play golf, vacation, and serve in the church.  Since 2005 we have rarely missed our goal of weekly temple attendance. 

Our life changed in June 2012.  I had served over four years as High Priest Group Leader and loved that calling.  The stake president met with us and issued the call to be Stake Family History Center Director and serve on the Stake High Council.  I was totally surprised as I had no experience in family history research but I accepted and Sister Tolman served with me for three and a half years.  This ended up being a wonderful experience and a great blessing for us as just a few months later FamilySearch FamilyTree was launched and we grew up with this amazing new resource and loved helping others find success in Family History.  

I was released in December 2015 and was called as Stake Executive Secretary.  This didn’t stop our involvement in personal Family History work and helping others.  In August of last year, we began preparations to serve a full-time mission together.  Within a month we were asked to serve in the Mesa FamIlySearch Library which we did for ten months before starting our mission here.  We considered where to serve and after meeting with Elder Ted Hodges in January of this year, we decided our preference would be to serve in the Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission. We received our call in April.

I am so grateful for my family: my dear eternal companion and our eight daughters and their families.  They are a great blessing in my life.  I have a testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  I testify that Joseph Smith is the prophet of the restoration.  I testify that President Russell M. Nelson is the Lord’s prophet today. I love reading and studying the Book of Mormon each day and testify of its truthfulness.  I know that Heavenly Father lives.  I testify that Jesus Christ is His Son and Savior of the world.  I have felt His love and forgiveness. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.