Idols and Apostles

Actually, the "idol" has to do with a singing contest - not a statue. CEU decided to have their first "American Idol" contest on campus and I was asked to be a judge (hmmm, wonder how that happened!). Open auditions were held last Monday night, and the finalists competed during lunchtime the remaining days of the week, with one finalist being eliminated by popular vote each day. The judges critiqued these lunchtime performances; it was pretty fun - even when I was booed by the entire baseball team for "dissing" one of their players who was a finalist. During that week, Del had to fly to San Fransisco for a student activities conference that he was presenting sessions for. Another CEU advisor and two student body officers were with him, as they were attending workshops at the conference. There had been terrible fog in the city all week, delaying flights, and last night was no exception. As their 6:30 departure time passed and 8:30 was approaching, the tired CEU crew started complaining among themselves until one of the girls thought she recognized a lady sitting near the gate next to them. This girl had recently attended a fireside giving by Kristin Oaks - Dallin H. Oaks' wife - and thought that the lady looked just like her. Del encouraged the student to introduce herself, but the student wasn't certain if it was Sister Oaks or not, and the woman seemed deep in conversation with another lady seated next to her. Any doubts about this woman's identity vanished when Elder Dallin H. Oaks came walking around the corner, with the newest apostle - Elder Cook - in tow! Del, the students, and the other advisor hurried over to introduce themselves; after all, it's not everyday that you meet an apostle in person - let alone, two of them. The apostles and their wives were returning to Salt Lake City from a trip to Asia, and their flight was announced 2 minutes before Del's flight was finally called to board. As a result, Del and the students bumped into the church leaders again near the baggage claim, and Elder Oaks even gave Del a "high five" when he passed him in the hall!