Temple Walk

While we were in the Missionary Training Center (MTC), we went out each morning and walked around the Provo temple block.  It was tough going as the enter walk was uphill until we got past the temple.  The walk back was obviously much easier as it was downhill.

 On our last day, we walked through the temple grounds and discovered the pink we had been seeing was thousands and roses blooming.  I love this photo except for the light post in the forefront.  

I have a great respect for the grounds crew who keep this place looking so beautiful.  I understand now what kind of work it takes to keep things looking so good.  

I also understand what it means to "dead head" and why it is so important.  I'm sure these roses and flowers are tended with great care.  

I can smell them from here.

MTC District

During our time in the MTC, we were split into districts.  We had two instructors as well.  One taught in the morning and the other taught in the afternoon.  We came to love these people in the short five days we spent with them.

 The Stewarts, Us, Sister Freeze, our morning instructor, the Carmens and the Allreds.

The Carmens going to Portland as the area medical director, the Allreds going to Barbados as public affairs specialists, Sister Farnsworth, us, and the Stewarts going to Canada.

It was a week full of spiritual growth and development!  I wish for everyone to experience this.

Martyrdom Day 175 Years Later

Today marks 175 years since the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith in Carthage.  Over the past two days I've worked with a group of people moving and setting up chairs for the ceremonies surrounding this event.  Yesterday it was moving chairs to Carthage.  Over 800 of them!  Today it was moving and setting up 300 chairs in the Smith family cemetery for the Community of Christ.  We've been asked to attend both.  Normally we wouldn't be available to go to the one held by the Community of Christ but we were asked by our district leaders to attend.  Thus a short day for me.

I read the above and look at the murals below and wonder.  By Joseph's own account he was a somewhat sober individual. Yet, he was just a boy.  Youth make decisions that aren't always the best.  Heck, adults do the same thing!  He was called of God.  I have been as well  Many times.  Obviously not as a prophet, but to do things that were difficult.  Every calling has not been easy to accept.  The decision to serve a mission was not made overnight nor was it necessarily an easy one.

What does the mural tell you about the kind of upbringing that Joseph had?

What do you see in Joseph's face?

Elder Oaks said, "The Prophet Joseph had no role models from whom he could learn how to be a prophet and leader of the Lord's people.  He learned from heavenly messengers and from the harvest of his unique spiritual gifts.  He had to rely on associates who had no role models either.  They struggled and learned together, and the Prophet's growth  was extremely rapid."

How did Joseph align himself with the Lord's will?
What do I need to change in my life to align myself to the Lord's will for me?
How will that change help me to represent Jesus Christ?

At times I have struggled in my life to align my will with that of the Lord.  In fact, sometimes I did whatever I wanted to do.  At this time in my life, I wear the Savior's name on my chest every single day.  It has been a privilege to do so.  As a missionary, it seems easier to align my will to His.  In turn representing the Savior has been something I didn't expect.  That's not right.  The feeling was something new and unexpected but wonderful!

I've always had a tender spot in my heart when I hear the account of the martyrdom.  I look at the mural and see a young innocent face that had no idea of the trials that lie ahead.  I am so thankful for the boy who sought an answer to a simple question.  So grateful for his call to be the Lord's prophet in this dispensation.  That reality was witnessed to me last week. I know it!

Elder Nielsen Visit

Last weekend, June 14-16, Elder S. Gifford Nielsen and his wife Wendy were here in Nauvoo for a mission tour.  We were privileged to meet with them on Friday morning before work and then again on Saturday evening. They were a lot of fun and entertaining along with bringing us some great messages.  I want to share the message I got.

One of the things he told us is that President Oaks said he knows President Nelson better than anyone as they've been sitting side by side in the Quorum of the Twelve since 1985.  He says that President Nelson has changed since the mantle of President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints has come to him.  He also said that President Nelson sees the future.  That is very evident to me in the inspired changes that have come over the past year.

There is a desire for us to be ONE as a people.  He went to the white board and drew an interesting graphic for us.  He says when the First Presidency sits together President Nelson sits in the middle with President Oaks on his right and President Eyring on his left.  When we look at them we see this:

O N E

  Oaks, Nelson, Eyring.
Think about that!
They are ONE.

The Savior helped people one by one.  In order for us to be like Him, we can't expect to do one good thing and have that be the cure for multitudes.  Each person needs personal ministering.  In fact,
 MINISTERING TO ALL = Missionary Work.
How easy did that just make your personal missionary effort?

When we give our wills to the Father, we can truly be one.  One is heart, might, mind and spirit.  I've been trying to do that very thing...give my will to that of the Father.

Another thing he talked about was enduring.  He said there is no need to endure to the end.  Just endure.  There is no end!  Simple words with a very profound meaning.  I love it!

Sons of Mosiah

Here's the next installment of the murals from the MTC.

 Can you feel the hope that the sons of Mosiah had as they went to preach the gospel?

 I wish you could feel the magnificence of these murals.  My pictures don't due justice. 

 Questions to ask yourself:

Has my heart been changed, and can I serve with the same desire as the sons of Mosiah?

What can you do to be a better disciple of Christ, and thus a more effective missionary?

Both in the MTC and here on this mission, we've been instructed several times about repentance.  It literally means "change" or "turn."  The sons of Mosiah had a definite change of heart after the angel appeared unto them.  I have never had an angel experience, but I have felt that mighty change in my life.  

When the sons of Mosiah looked down upon the Lamanite cities, did they ever dream that the people would change so much that they would rather die than take up the sword against another, even in defending themselves?  They were able to do amazing things because of their example.

As we begin this mission, it isn't about us.  It is about the good we can do. We may not be preaching each day, but we are learning and growing and being that example to others.

I feel that I am married to one of the sons of Mosiah.  My sweet husband had a mighty change of heart when he learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ.  He is a strength to me in ways he doesn't understand.  I'm thankful that he is my companion.  Not only as a missionary but for eternity!

One Week

I strap on this tool in the morning and feel like Mick Dundee from the movie Crocodile Dundee.  It isn't actually a knife like he carries in the movie.  It's more of a digger/cutter/planting tool.  The sheath is handy though.

 I've been on the watering truck each morning.  That's an easy job and kind of fun too.  We water all the potted plants on Mulholland as well as all those in old Nauvoo.  We also have some flower beds including the one at President Lusvardi's home.  Afterward we weed or pick up sticks and branches.

The weeding isn't bad. There are six of us and we talk or just work together.  The time goes by fast as we have a six hour day.  It sure is nice being done at noon every day.  

We take turns driving.  It's alphabetical so today was my day.  I think the biggest issue is the sisters don't like backing up the trailer to ditch our weeds in the firepit.  I've backed enough trailers in my life so it wasn't an issue.

Assignments

On Monday, June 10th, we arrived in Nauvoo, met with our mission president and a few other people to get much needed information.  We also received the keys to our condo.  What a nice place!  We are the first people to live in this newly remodeled place. It is spacious and beautiful!  In the evening, we had dinner with our district leaders the Nelsons.  They are wonderful!

On Tuesday we met with Jordan, our FM manager; Markus, the assistant manager and Richard who is our grounds man.  We were interviewed and asked about our skills.  Afterward we were given a tour of the greenhouses with Richard and then with Markus of all the buildings.  Wow is there a lot of buildings and equipment!  The FM missionaries are asked to work six hours a day except on Saturday and Sunday.  We even work on holidays without the paid employees.

This morning we had a mission training with President Lusvardi.  The Bailies came to the mission with us on Monday and each couple was asked to introduce themselves.  We learned prior to this meeting that briefly introducing yourself by President's standard is giving us each maybe a minute.  I think we each took 20 seconds.  In our training we learned some of the backstory on the British pageant.  President gave a shout out to the City of Joseph and explained where the stage was and how it looked.  That warmed my heart.  I thought, "Someone important remembers!"

After the training we went to the FM office and Markus and Richard gave us our assignments.  This usually takes several days to receive but apparently we are just in time to replace a couple of people.  Pat will be the new handyman.  Elder Nelson is currently the handyman and will be leaving at the end of July so Pat spent the morning with him learning the ropes.  Pat says he gets to see places that others will never see.  He was in the basement of the Browning gun shop and also in the attic of the Heber C. Kimball home.

I was given the assignment to work with the sisters who maintain the grounds.  There were four of them and now with Sister Bailie and I there are six.  However, Sisters Nelson and Christensen will be leaving at the end of July so we are their replacements.  Usually Jordan gives out these assignments but he is on his way to Salt Lake City for meetings so Markus and Richard did it instead.  Markus bore witness that the Lord provides just the people they need when they need them. I will be planting, weeding, picking up sticks, whatever it takes to make this place truly beautiful.   I have no doubt that this is where the Lord needs us at this time.  Even though we applied for this particular mission, it is where we are supposed to be.

I found this little guy on my way into the compound. Actually I've see a couple of these on a couple of different days.  This little snail reminded me of a cartoon snail with his shell on his back.  He's probably no bigger than my little fingernail.

We were also assigned to the Red cast for Sunset By the Mississippi.  Since we got here too late, we weren't expected to learn the songs and dances for the show.  Well, the Jensens are leaving in July so we will have the opportunity to replace them.  We will be seeing the show a lot and also going early to be taught by Sister Whiting.

This is a great place!  We are excited to be here with all these other missionaries. I never thought that at 58 and 56 years of age we would be serving a senior mission.  The Lord does work in a miraculous way!

Moses

While in the MTC (missionary training center) we were able to go to the new teaching building just to go see the murals on the walls.  There are 12 of them and I plan to share each one.  The first one we were able to sit and ponder over was Moses.  Each has a description along with it.  

There is no way my camera, or anyone else's for that matter, can capture these amazing pictures so you'll have to imagine how magnificent they are.

 As I sat in front of Moses looking out over the vast world that God created I thought how small and insignificant I really am.  God has this marvelous plan and he trusts me, little 'ol me, to share this with his children.

Ether 12:27 comes to mind.

And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

When I look at this mural I can see how small and weak I am but God will use me in whatever way he sees fit to bring about His eternal purposes.  I can become a stronger person and bear a witness of our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ in a more powerful way than before.

So my questions are:

How do you feel when you look at this mural?

Proportionately, why do you think that Moses appears to be so small in the mural?

How do you think Moses felt after viewing God's revelation to him?

After pondering over this beautiful mural, I felt God's love for me in an overwhelming way.

An Answer

For years we have wondered if we should or should not have Tom receive the Melchizedek priesthood.  I think it would be wonderful yet I've always been leary of whether or not we should.  That priesthood power is nothing to take lightly.  Could Tom understand the responsibility that accompanies it?  Should he enter the temple and make further covenants that he really doesn't understand?  Or would he?  Who am I to make that determination?

Today we had the opportunity to teach Elder and Sister Oram.  Interestingly, they picked the subject of faith to teach us.  We finished teaching them the lesson we prepared and they began their lesson.  In a strange turn of events, the subject of Tom came up.  I expressed my feelings about whether or not Tom should enter the sacred walls of the temple to do more than baptisms.  

As we talked, Elder Oram suggested that we sit down with the temple president and have him talk to Tom and follow his suggestion.  I told them about a sister that I used to serve with who has some mental limitations.  Her mother told me how Mandy has blossomed since working in the temple.  

I feel it was an answer to a question I have pondered for years.  My new question is, "Am I holding Tom back by not allowing him access to greater blessings?"  Is my faith insufficient that I am not allowing him opportunities that might make a huge difference in his life both mentally and spiritually?  Perhaps I need to repent and let my son grow in a way that only God knows he can grow.

In 18 months we will sit down with President Wilson and ask these questions.

MTC

Day one in the MTC was wonderful.  We spent most of the day with all the other missionaries that reported on June 3rd.  There were about 140 of us.  That’s a big group considering the week before was only a group of 30.

We knew there was a couple here that Pat knows.  Garth Parker was the FM manager in Iowa City.  He retired a few years back. When we went to our first meeting and when we went to sit down our things were right next to the Parkers.  At lunch we saw Elder and Sister Reed who served in the Marshfield Ward only a year ago.  We also served in the temple with them.  Then we ran into Jack and Leslie Louthain from Sturgeon Bay.  What a small world.

This morning we stood in front of the world map and took the traditional picture.

 Yesterday we were also given a couple to whom we would be their “Others”.  We are their others.  Our charge is to get to know them and prepare a 15 minute lesson to help them strengthen their conversion.  Our others are Richard and Sharon Oram.  We already love this couple dearly.  They live locally so we don’t usually see them after our day’s lessons are finished.
Tonight we had a devotional given by Elder and Sister Gerrit Gong.  It was wonderful.  Better yet, Elder and Sister Oram sat with us.  They are truly some amazing people!

We were split into districts yesterday and it came as no surprise to me that Elder Pleshek was called to be the district leader of District A.  We are blessed with the Allreds, the Stewart’s and Carmens.  Our instructors are Sister Freeze and Farnsworth.  This experience has been tremendous so far.  I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Two Special People

Here we are in Salt Lake City spending time with Andrew and Cierra.  We had a good day together shopping, eating, touring and making a special visit to Howard and Marjorie Sharp.  

When Pat was a young missionary, the Sharps were the couple who were serving as the Mission President couple in California San Bernardino.  Pat loved them immensely and upon returning from his mission thought he would never see them again.  

We reconnected with them at a mission reunion in 2000 when they returned from a mission to Russia. 

The. We reconnected again as he served as the president of the Palmyra temple when our family visited that area in 2006.

Since that time we have visited them on an annual basis as we came to Utah for General Conference. "They’ve met all of our children except Clare and her family.  Pat has said often how they molded and shaped him as his spiritual parents while on his mission.  

We haven’t seen them in two years and President has had some major health issues.  Still they both have such clear minds at 93 and 94 years old.  They have been married 72 years!

Looking at this once vibrant man with a witty sense of humor, he is frail. He didn’t get up to greet us but stayed in his chair for the duration of our visit.

As we were preparing to leave, Pat knelt in front of him and spoke tender words of love.  He in turn voiced that they most likely wouldn’t see one another again.  Tears for both of us.  

I am honored to have had the privilege to get to know them.  They are beautiful, amazing people whom I have come to love immensely..

Until we meet again...