Sunday, July 26, 2009
Pioneers, Builders of the Nations
We are thankful for a 4 day, much needed weekend. I'll never be able to catch up the last sixweeks, so I will just have to begin from today with what I remember. Most days are 10 to 13 hours from when we leave the front door to when we return. Elder Smith is usually able to finish earlier than I am. When we get back to our aparment, I am just too tired to write. We have truly loved all the pioneer commemorations here including picnics, the Tabernacle Choir concert in the Conference Center, singing in the Elijah Choir pioneer concert, watching the Pioneer Days of '47 Parade from right outside the front door of our apartment on the 24th, and even performing with 4 other couples singing pioneer songs and dancing the Virginia Reel on stage for our branch of about 400+ missionaries (a real first for Elder Smith!). Glenn did a part of the narration and played a hand drum. We must never forget our pioneer heritage, the sacrifices made for future generations, and the legacy of faith left to us. I know we must write our own stories and make sure, in this world of depravity and declining values, that our children and grandchildren and all those who follow will have these stories of faith and testimony to carry with them in their hearts.
Our former mission president, Ronald T. and Linda Halverson, invited the administration zone and spouses to their beautiful cabin outside of Morgan, Utah. What a picturesque setting on the bend of a river that winds around their rustic cabin surrounded by giant trees, rolling green grass, and a trout filled pond.There were about 40 of us, and we had a marvelous time.
President H deep-fried in a big pot 300 huge shrimp and with steaks on the grill and yummy homemade rolls, baked potatoes, salads, it was a feast like no other. We shot skeet (Do I have that right?) and I got one with a 16 guage (missed a bunch!). We went on a pioneer "trek" by car and followed the Mormon trail. What a beautiful place at the backside of Big Mountain where Mary Fielding Smith's ox died and where Johnson's Army camped, the rock wall the Mormons built on top of the pass to fend off the army should they begin shooting. President H was telling the story to a group of people once with Elder M. Russell Ballard present. Elder Ballard cheerfully and politely corrected him and said that it was Mary Fielding Smith herself who annointed the ox and restored it to life. The ox got back on its feet and pulled their wagon on to the Salt Lake Valley, beating the captain who didn't want her on the trip in the first place by about two hours. Many of you know the story but have not known that it was she who blessed the ox and raised it up. We stopped to see the Overland Trail way station, way off the road, the original little building that people have kept up and are living in - not members of the Church. The pouring down rain stopped right before we returned to the cabin and dampened everything but our spirits. The evening concluded with Pres. Tom Davis, counselor in the presidency, reciting his hilarious cowboy poems and Elder Marvin Kuchar, Training Zone leader and retired BYU chemistry prof, showing us slides and telling us more intimate details of the mummys he was sent to Egypt to study. Absolutely fascinating. It was a beautiful, memorable trip.
Our new mission president is Dennis E. Simmons and his wife Carolyn. He is a former member of he 2nd Quorum of Seventy, mission preident in Africa, and president of the Logan Temle. They are really lovely people. My first two weeks in the mission office, Sister Simmons and Sister Staples, the assistant secretary, were out with pneumonia. What a time I had!!!
One day we were returning to the Joseph Smith Bldg underground from the cafeteria when we stopped on the sidewalk by the door for the cart carrying Presient Eyring, President Uctdorf, and Elder Oaks to go by. What a treat to share big waves and smiles, especially from Pres. Uctdorf.
On the lighter side, we enjoy finding good places to eat. There is a new food court going in across the street in the refurbished high-rise. Right now only McDonald's (of course) and a really good Chinese place are there. MMMM. On the Fourth of July we drove up the mountain north of us and watched fireworks going off all across the valley from the grassy park of a stake center there. I was glad we had a blanket and jacket. (Eat your heart out, Mesa!) The weather is great for me, but the Utah natives think it is beastly hot. In the winter, you can be the ones laughing, Mesa. Too cold for me! We love to go on impromptu trips driving through the many beautiful canyons. (You'd think we have lots of time on our hands. We don't!)
How wonderful to see all the Temples here. Elder Smith went to the Bountiful Temple last week with the new missionaries on their Go Forth day. He said it is his favorite. I was too busy in admin zone to go. Next time!
This weekend we drove to Ogden to the beautiful 1918 era home that my nephew and his wife, Greg and Melanie Schern, just bought. What a Norman Rockwell house and neighborhood. It was just wonderful to see them, two other nieces and their families and 8 of our great-nieces and nephews. Elder Smith said it was the "family fix" we needed. We had a cook-out, told stories and laughed our heads off. Yesterday we all met at the open house of the beautiful new Oquirrh Mountain Temple in South Jordan. What a sweet experience. We hope you all will have the opportunity to visit a temple open house.
An update on our grandson, Danny Branch, for whom so many of you prayed and fasted for so long. He is continuing to recover and make progress at his parents' home in Mesa. Another miracle was manifested when he was able to baptize his wife Ashley all by himself on June 20. He had to immerse her twice, and he was shaking, but he did it, and most wonderful of all, SHE did it! We have no words to express our gratitude for the goodness of our Heavenly Father. There is nothing more important or more precious than the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Light of Christ, and ultimately the blessings of His Holy House, which we all seek, and most all people would if they knew where to find it. (See p. 73 of July Ensign) I believed it then, and I know it now with all my heart.
Our former mission president, Ronald T. and Linda Halverson, invited the administration zone and spouses to their beautiful cabin outside of Morgan, Utah. What a picturesque setting on the bend of a river that winds around their rustic cabin surrounded by giant trees, rolling green grass, and a trout filled pond.There were about 40 of us, and we had a marvelous time.
President H deep-fried in a big pot 300 huge shrimp and with steaks on the grill and yummy homemade rolls, baked potatoes, salads, it was a feast like no other. We shot skeet (Do I have that right?) and I got one with a 16 guage (missed a bunch!). We went on a pioneer "trek" by car and followed the Mormon trail. What a beautiful place at the backside of Big Mountain where Mary Fielding Smith's ox died and where Johnson's Army camped, the rock wall the Mormons built on top of the pass to fend off the army should they begin shooting. President H was telling the story to a group of people once with Elder M. Russell Ballard present. Elder Ballard cheerfully and politely corrected him and said that it was Mary Fielding Smith herself who annointed the ox and restored it to life. The ox got back on its feet and pulled their wagon on to the Salt Lake Valley, beating the captain who didn't want her on the trip in the first place by about two hours. Many of you know the story but have not known that it was she who blessed the ox and raised it up. We stopped to see the Overland Trail way station, way off the road, the original little building that people have kept up and are living in - not members of the Church. The pouring down rain stopped right before we returned to the cabin and dampened everything but our spirits. The evening concluded with Pres. Tom Davis, counselor in the presidency, reciting his hilarious cowboy poems and Elder Marvin Kuchar, Training Zone leader and retired BYU chemistry prof, showing us slides and telling us more intimate details of the mummys he was sent to Egypt to study. Absolutely fascinating. It was a beautiful, memorable trip.
Our new mission president is Dennis E. Simmons and his wife Carolyn. He is a former member of he 2nd Quorum of Seventy, mission preident in Africa, and president of the Logan Temle. They are really lovely people. My first two weeks in the mission office, Sister Simmons and Sister Staples, the assistant secretary, were out with pneumonia. What a time I had!!!
One day we were returning to the Joseph Smith Bldg underground from the cafeteria when we stopped on the sidewalk by the door for the cart carrying Presient Eyring, President Uctdorf, and Elder Oaks to go by. What a treat to share big waves and smiles, especially from Pres. Uctdorf.
On the lighter side, we enjoy finding good places to eat. There is a new food court going in across the street in the refurbished high-rise. Right now only McDonald's (of course) and a really good Chinese place are there. MMMM. On the Fourth of July we drove up the mountain north of us and watched fireworks going off all across the valley from the grassy park of a stake center there. I was glad we had a blanket and jacket. (Eat your heart out, Mesa!) The weather is great for me, but the Utah natives think it is beastly hot. In the winter, you can be the ones laughing, Mesa. Too cold for me! We love to go on impromptu trips driving through the many beautiful canyons. (You'd think we have lots of time on our hands. We don't!)
How wonderful to see all the Temples here. Elder Smith went to the Bountiful Temple last week with the new missionaries on their Go Forth day. He said it is his favorite. I was too busy in admin zone to go. Next time!
This weekend we drove to Ogden to the beautiful 1918 era home that my nephew and his wife, Greg and Melanie Schern, just bought. What a Norman Rockwell house and neighborhood. It was just wonderful to see them, two other nieces and their families and 8 of our great-nieces and nephews. Elder Smith said it was the "family fix" we needed. We had a cook-out, told stories and laughed our heads off. Yesterday we all met at the open house of the beautiful new Oquirrh Mountain Temple in South Jordan. What a sweet experience. We hope you all will have the opportunity to visit a temple open house.
An update on our grandson, Danny Branch, for whom so many of you prayed and fasted for so long. He is continuing to recover and make progress at his parents' home in Mesa. Another miracle was manifested when he was able to baptize his wife Ashley all by himself on June 20. He had to immerse her twice, and he was shaking, but he did it, and most wonderful of all, SHE did it! We have no words to express our gratitude for the goodness of our Heavenly Father. There is nothing more important or more precious than the Living Water, the Bread of Life, the Light of Christ, and ultimately the blessings of His Holy House, which we all seek, and most all people would if they knew where to find it. (See p. 73 of July Ensign) I believed it then, and I know it now with all my heart.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
