Stake Conference Twitter Notes
November 9, 2014 1 Comment
Here are my twitter notes from our Stake Conference held November 9, 2014. Sunday included a broadcast from SLC.
Dad is just in the other room.
November 18, 2012 10 Comments
NOTE: My father-in-law, Paul J. Puffer passed away on November 5th. He was a great man with a very strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I had the incredible honor of speaking at his funeral. With the permission of my mother-in-law, I have posted the text of this talk here.
As a brief intro, my name is Troy Parker. Paul Puffer is my father-in-law. As Dad would tell the story (and I’ll call him Dad from here on out) he paid me to marry his third daughter, Jill. Of course, he only said that to make me feel like I measured up. Read more of this post
Age adjustments, phone calls and answered prayers
October 13, 2012 3 Comments
Anyone who follows me on Twitter (@LDSTroy) or my blog knows that I love to tweet during General Conference (#LDSConf). I admit, with some nerdy embarrassment, that I have been a part of the #TwitterStake since its beginning. Not only is it a way for me to take notes but I get to see everyone else’s notes. There are more “notes” than anyone could ever read but at the very least, it keeps me awake and alert through all of conference.
So when Conference started and President Thomas S. Monson offered his opening remarks, I was listening and tweeting – for a few seconds. When his comments switched to missionary work and the age adjustment for both young men (18) and young women (19), I was stunned.
No really. Change IS good.
September 30, 2012 3 Comments
One of the buildings where I teach seminary.
Ok, I’m back. I know, I know. “Where the heck have you been?”
It has been an eventful several months and the common theme has been “change.” The Parkers have truly entered into a new chapter of life. As I have mentioned before, change is  part of life. And frankly, it aint for sissies!
Christian, our oldest is off to BYU-I. Josh, our youngest is loving his freshman year of high school. I have started teaching, full-time, for Seminaries & Institutes and am still adjusting to my new calling. Jill’s father (and boss) has retired and Jill has started working for her brother Steve. Jill’s father has just finished his second round of chemo therapy and Bronco Mendenhall crushed my over-the-top confidence in the BYU coaching staff with his ludicrous play call at Boise State. Indeed, life is changing.
But with new experiences comes new fodder for blog posts. I have struggled with my new schedule. Finding time to do everything I need to do, let alone things I want to do, is very difficult. You all know the feeling.
But, I’m going to give it a try. So bookmark the page, stay tuned and forgive for brief spurts of silence. Know that I’m probably trying to deal with the newest life change or that Bronco just decided to go for two.
A year ago today. A photo essay about the Holy Lands.
March 30, 2012 Leave a comment
A year ago this and next week, Jill and I, along with her parents, experienced the trip of a life time. A number of my posts have recounted the experiences we had in the Holy Lands. In fact, one was even published in the Church News and expressed the sentiment that you don’t have to go to the Holy Lands to experience deep spiritual feelings. One can walk where Jesus walked right here in holy temples. One can come to know Jesus is the son of God right where one stands.
The Miracle of the Shampoo
March 27, 2012 1 Comment
The Oregon City Stake just celebrated its 40th anniversary. One thing you need to know about the Oregon City Stake is that we don’t do things small. So as the 40th year of the Stake existence approached, a go-getter sister (aren’t they all) was called and a committee formed. The result was a wonderfully delightful evening of reminiscing and reacquainting. It reminded me of what I’m sure the Sons of Mosiah felt when they were reunited after years of being a part in the service of God. Read more of this post
Lessons Learned – Part 2
January 21, 2011 3 Comments
"Family Council" Debriefing after activity.
EDITOR’SÂ NOTE: This is Part 2 of a two part post. Click for Part 1
4. Give them a seat at the table. An opportunity to lead.
One of the most impactive ingredients for our youth conferences was allowing, even empowering our youth to help plan and carry them out. They had real input into what would be taught and discussed. I have multiple examples of going into planning meetings thinking I knew exactly what I wanted done for a specific event only to leave the same meeting having changed or at least adjusted the event because of the input of the youth. They know what they need, we just need to listen.
Lessons Learned from “Our Quest” for the Family – Part 1
January 20, 2011 3 Comments
The Tribes of "Our Quest"
In June of 2010, I was privilege to be involved in our Stake’s youth conference. We do “stake” youth conferences every two years to give our wards an opportunity to do their own; to build their own identity and unity. Two years prior, we had embarked in our first pioneer Trek. Many youth throughout the church have gone on these pioneer reenactments and I still have yet to hear major negative comments about any of them. They are always spiritual feasts where our youth not only learn about pioneers, sacrifice, testimony and the love of God but they get to experience it. They are spiritual highlights for both youth and adults.
"The Things of My Soul" 