By Joanna Ekenes
jme6@email.byu.edu
Many people use general conference weekend as a time to get together with old mission companions.
Although most of these reunions are held for only a few years after the missionaries return, some missionaries continue to hold reunions more than 30 years after returning from the mission field.
President Don C. Wood coordinated this weekend's reunion for the 1960-1964 Northwestern States Mission.
'This is the first reunion we have had in 40 years,' Wood said. 'Many of these missionaries have never attended a reunion.'
Wood said that at the time he served, the mission covered Washington, Oregon and Idaho.
He said that he started planning and organizing the reunion in February, and much of the time was spent trying to track down 600 missionaries who had served.
The reunion was a two-day affair. Wood said on Friday that around 70 people had attended, and that he expected 450-500 people for Saturday's program.
Friday's activities included going to see 'The Testaments: Of One Fold and One Shepherd' and afterward attending the temple.
'I have never had a more wonderful experience in the temple, than I did attending it today with these missionaries,' Wood said. 'Many of them have not seen each other for 38-40 years, and at first, most of them did not recognize each other.'
He said that once introductions were made, the room exploded with conversation.
'I think that from now on, people are going to try and do this more often,' Wood said.
In addition to the attendees who came from all over the United States, one person came from Australia to attend the Northwestern States reunion.
Woods said that the six discussions now taught by missionaries world-wide were developed in the Northwestern States mission while he served.
'In 1961, the discussions were adopted church-wide,' he said.
The growth of the church that has taken place since that time is amazing, Wood said.
'The Idaho Falls temple was the only temple in the mission at the time,' he said. 'Now, there are five temples in that area.'
Steve Orgill was a missionary in the Northern States Mission almost thirty years ago, and organized a reunion last weekend for the missionaries who served under Presidents Kimball and Welling between the years 1970-1974.
Orgill said that when he was a missionary, the Northern States Mission covered Illinois, most of Wisconsin, the upper part of Michigan and parts of Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Tennessee and Arkansas.
'I believe that our nearest operating temple was the Salt Lake temple,' Orgill said.
According to Orgill, this reunion is the first major one to take place in over 25 years.
'Of everyone we invited, only two people said they wouldn't be able to come,' Orgill said.
He said that 12 years ago a few people tried to hold a reunion, but it never happened.
'What really sparked this reunion was the passing of President Wellings' wife,' he said. 'A lot of people showed up for her funeral this last year, and we decided to get together.'
Orgill said that a unique thing about the Northern States Mission was the amount of church history that has taken place in the area.
Allen Smith served in the Northern States Mission under President Leo J. Muir. For several years, Smith has helped organize a reunion for the missionaries who served under President Muir from 1939-1943.
'We had over 600 missionaries who served during that time period,' Smith said.
Smith said that in the last couple of years, they have had 40-50 people attending the reunion, which they hold two or three times a year.
He said that some people come from as far away as Canada to attend the reunion.
He said that one of the biggest differences in the church in the northern states then and now is that the temple is more accessible now.
'Back then, we were in the Salt Lake temple district,' he said. 'Now, there are three or four temples. It is wonderful.'
The Taiwan Taipei mission under President Jackson from 1971-1974 has held a reunion every conference weekend since returning.
Lynn Smith was a missionary under President Jackson, and worked to coordinate the mission this year.
Smith's wife said that the reunion's program usually consists of President Jackson giving an update on what is going on in Asia, and then a chance to socialize and have refreshments.
Some of these missionaries are planing to take a tour of Asia with Jackson when he retires next year.
Carol Thomas and her husband Sterling both served in the West Germany mission under Presidents Hunt and McIntire between the years of 1959 and 1965.
Like Smith, the Thomas' have been attending reunions every conference time since returning from the mission.
Thomas said that the reunion consists of a dinner and fireside, and that although many of the people who attend are from Utah -- some travel from as far away as California or North Carolina.
'We even have a sister who has come from Germany the last several years,' Thomas said. 'I was her first companion. She still does not speak English.'
Thomas said that they arrange for her to stay with a person who speaks German and can help with translating.
Missionaries who served in Norway under President Gosta Berling from 1972-1975 still meet at a yearly reunion to look at slides, share memories and eat Norwegian treats.