The Start of the Holidays

The Larsens at Thanksgiving

The Holiday Table

Our last blog had many photos of food.  We have begun to think about the family around the Thanksgiving table.  It won’t necessarily be the special Turkey, Cranberry sauce, garlic potatoes, gravy, candied yams, or sherbet (none of which is found in Denmark) that we will miss, but the smiling faces of our wonderful family.  The chatter in the kitchen and the hum of activity in all the other rooms is what we will long for.  We will make do, and be thankful for our time here.  The Christmas lights at the Temple will be lit next week.

Our good friends Verner and Eika Olsen whom we work with in the Temple have a grand daughter who is a major star with the Royal Danish Ballet.  We have heard some very inspiring stories of her rise to fame.  Several weeks ago there was a full-page article with photos about her in one of the major daily Danish news papers.  Because of the long-standing reputation of the Royal Danish Ballet in the World, the Danes are very proud of it’s achievements.  As a result, this young star is very well known and respected throughout the country.  In news paper articles and television interviews she is always asked about her religion.  The fact that she is very forthcoming in her expressions of being a faithful “Mormon” is of great interest to many people.  She is newly married and is expecting her first child in the Spring, so she is not dancing in the coming Ballet season.  This is also of great interest to the Danish Public and she has many opportunities to give answers about the importance of the Family.  She does not belong to our Ward so we have not met her yet.

We had our Stake Conference this week, and I was very impressed with the genuine heartfelt expressions of faith by those who spoke.  As usual, I was very impressed with the Saturday evening session.  We heard from a returned missionary and a young man who had just received his mission call.  Both gave excellent talks which reflected their humility and their intelligence.  I continue to be impressed with the difference between the Church members confidence and leadership in Denmark now and those of 45 years ago.  At one point in the conference the Mission President asked all who were on missions or had been on missions to stand.  At least 75% of the congregation was standing (about 500).  Second and third generations of families with returned missionaries is what is making the difference.  The Stake Relief Society President spoke about her discovery of the Gospel.  At 17 she went to the US as an exchange student.  She expected to go to California or Florida.  When the letter came it was for an assignment to Utah.  She said she didn’t know anything about Utah, and out in the countryside where she grew up they didn’t know about the Mormons.  In retrospect she now sees that letter as her Mission Call; not to preach the Gospel, but to learn of the Gospel.  She was the second speaker who told of finding the truth as an exchange student in Utah.  The most impressive talk on Saturday evening was a young women from the Amager Ward.  Her subject was “putting Christ in her life”.  She spoke of caring for the “least of these”.  She read from the “Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”.  Most of the congregation was in tears for most of the talk, because she spoke with humility and confidence.  I felt a real genuineness about how she spoke and presented herself.  The next day I mentioned to Verner Olsen how impressed I was with one of the talks on Saturday, and he said “that was my grand daughter, the ballet dancer”.  It is true, she is very impressive.

Kransekage

I became a 74 year old man this past week, and received many greetings from my friends on Facebook.  Thanks to all of you.  I told Norma that we could make a big deal out of my birthday next year when I turn 75, but this year we should just keep it quiet.  We did remember the day with a little Kransekage.  I remember this as a tradition from the past here in Denmark, that we would receive a Kransekage ring for birthdays.  We didn’t find a Kransekage ring, but just a small “log”.  The logs cost about $4.50 each.  Kransekage is a ¾ inch diameter log of marzipan with a ¼ inch of cake around it and a little icing along the top.  We divided it in half and that was enough for each of us.  It tasted very good, but too rich for one meal.

We have both been called as Coordinators in the Temple.  This is a very different calling than in the larger Temples.  We never know which Temple Workers will be there on a particular day nor how many patrons will come, so we need to “think on our feet”.  We’ve learned over the past 6 years that in the Temple, "it always works out", so we don’t worry, and "it always works out". 

Until next time.

Love,

Mom & Dad

Elder & Sister Larsen