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!