November

I see I have put these posts in 'upside-down' order. Maybe that's because I've been so long since I have 'posted' that I forgot how. Anyway, I want to add a picture from Thanksgiving. Alisyn and Anna came to Ivins on Monday and spent the days till Thanksgiving cleaning our house, shopping for the Thanksgiving meal---and even putting the final touches on the Brigham decorations. It was such a delightful time for us! Then Mike and his family, Erik and his family and finally Eric and Darrin and Darrin's brother arrived. We had such a good time visiting and eating. Elder Hansen and I still had missionary shifts to do--but they came to visit us when they could. This picture is Grandma enjoying a surprise visit with grandkids at the Visitor Center.

November 2008--continued

November was also when we began getting ready to decorate Brigham Young's Winter Home. Elder Hansen and I were in charge---so we decided to to decorate with a Victorian Theme---which hadn't been done before. It was extra work to gather everything and get it all in place, but, we felt good about the whole project. One of the great things we did was to make the Home smell like Christmas. I also loved the kitchen--we had it making and baking gingerbread men. The helper's room was making handmade gifts and Amelia's room was wrapping gifts. We had the extra bonus of snow for Christmas!

I believe this did help with the missionary efforts--many people were involved and brought their friends and family to Brigham's to enjoy the Christmas Spirit with us.

November 2008

November was a very important month for our family. Anna and Darrin were married in the Salt Lake Temple on the 8th with a reception in Lindon. It was so very fun to be with family and friends for this beautiful and important event! Senior Missionaries are allowed to go to immediate family weddings--so we did. Anna and Alisyn did all the planning and work to present the fun reception. The nieces and nephews had a special room with lots of things to do so they wouldn't get bored....they didn't. We took some of the breads, which were part of the refreshments for the reception, back to St. George and shared them with the missionaries--since they couldn't come. I highly recommend a Wedding while you are on your mission!

October 2008

Elder Hansen is ready to start his missionary work for the day. Our chitolpa tree (behind him) bloomed all summer long. We put another one on the other side of the front yard....they have been beautiful this year. He keeps our front and back yards well groomed and cared for even with all the hours we spend doing missionary work every day.



Elder Hansen uses his 'down-time' at Jacob Hamblin's to study. They keep reference books at all the sites for us to study. We really like the Jacob Hamblin site---it is more like the 'every-day' pioneer homes. They were industrious and persevering and never lost faith.



It's a slow day at the Visitor Center.....however, Elder Hansen wakes up quickly when someone comes in. He is very good at getting to know people quickly and being able to teach them what they want/need to know. He is getting the reputation among the missionaries as the one to go to when you need facts and details---about anything.

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October weather is the reason people live in St. George---the weather is beautiful, the temperature is perfect and there is so much to do here! It is Cultural Month and we have 15 EXTRA events in the Tabernacle. This community REALLY works to keep everyone happily busy and united in good things.

We just finished the 26 mile Marathon on the 4th of October. It is the first time in 25 years that it rained on the runners the whole day. Many people came into the Visitor Center to get out of the rain and chill. The finish line for the race is a park one block away from the Temple Visitor Center. There were over 5,000 runners who actually finished. One fellow I talked to has run three 100 mile races....I don't know how many 26 mile ones he has done. It must take alot of time.

Then we have two weeks of the Huntsman Senior Games in October. There will be more than 7,000 athletes---and they all have support teams. We think there will be an increase of visitors at our Center and the Historic Sites.

The past couple of weeks I have met two different couples who knew Gail and/or Gary. One was Richard Peterson's scoutmaster in Inkom. Richard Peterson was Gail's first husband. The other knew Gary when he was a chiropractor in Pocatello.

We had General Conference Broadcast at the Visitor Center. A few guests came but mostly the missionaries enjoyed the sessions. Every time we listen to Conference we all say--'that is exactly what we needed to hear.' It will be great to read the Conference Ensign.

We are getting excited to go to Salt Lake for Anna and Darrin's wedding. We got permission to go from the Mission President---because it is out of our mission. He is fine with our attending to family. It will be wonderful to see the family again and to celebrate together!

I want to thank you for your encouragement on our mission. We are glad it is a happy experience for you, too. We love you all!

September 2008

July brought the HOT weather....usually in the high 90's up to 105 degrees. That didn't stop people from coming to St. George.

One group we especially enjoyed were about 15 orphans from Kenya. They were between 10 to maybe 15 years old. They were traveling around America trying to get donations to help the orphans in Kenya. They anticipated their trip through America would take about 3 months.

One of their traveling-leaders was a LDS Branch President in Kenya. He had personally adopted many orphans, though he is not well-to-do. They had contacted Church members and were referred to places where they could perform and they usually stayed with Church members, though most children and escorts were not LDS. Arrangements were made for them to stay with members of our home ward in Ivins. Their Branch President was escorted throughout their stay by our good friends, the Boyles--with whom he also stayed. He kept saying---'this home is like a king's palace.' BrotherBoyle took him to do Temple sessions and they took a private tour of the Temple. He was so thrilled with everything!

The children were given a chance to perform at the pre-show at Tuacahn a couple of nights. They sang beautifully!!

We were going to be at the Brigham Young Winter Home when they planned to take a tour there. So, Elder Hansen and I decided to be prepared. I made little snack-sized packets with a flower of Dixie cotton( grown at Jacob Hamblin's), a pamphlet of the Brigham Young Home and a note of encouragement and love for each of them. Elder Hansen decided to share the almonds from the little trees in our back yard.

So, when they arrived, Elder Hansen explained about Brigham Young and the Cotton Mission pioneers. They sat with their arms folded and listened intently. Then Elder Hansen took them into the Brigham Young Home. In the parlor he asked the children to gather under the picture of Brigham Young that was made for his 75th birthday, which he had celebrated in St. George. He told how the people of St. George had a parade and sang two songs especially written for the occassion, and how the children dressed in their best and sang for their prophet. Then he asked them if they would sing for Brigham Young in this same room where the children had celebrated him so long ago. The children sang 'I Am a Child of God'---all verses, in English. It was a very touching moment for the missionaries---we hope for them, too.

Then, he took them outside to continue the tour. One of the nut trees the pioneers grew in Dixie were almonds. On the back patio, near the almond trees, he explained how to get the almonds out of the pod and crack the shell. He had picked the almonds that morning, so they were fresh---you could open them with your fingers. He had a five gallen bucket of nuts and an empty one for the shells. They gathered around and ate every nut---in a very short time!

When they had to go, we handed them the packets and shook hands and gave hugs as they climbed back onto their bus. It was a happy day for us!

It made me think again of what we choose to do with the precious time we have to live here on earth. Some people have spent their lives in unselfish service to others--it doesn't matter how much money they have or how smart they are. These are the people who can smile and be at peace because they know they are doing what God asks us to do---love one another.

Highlights for July and August

Our director has reported that the month of July was our best month ever for referrals. That included 2006 and 2007. I think having the sculptures got us in the mode of testifying and helping our guests feel the spirit. We have had more guests, single families, from Europe and other countries than ever before. The European 'euro' has helped that--more power against the American dollar.

When we visit with a single family we can get to know them better. That helps us to say things that will fit their situation and personal interest. I think that personal attention helps when we try to give them a desire to learn more about the Book of Mormon and the Church.

Elder Hansen is very good at making presentations and has received several 'green cards.' (A green card is a personal referral from someone who would like missionaries to deliver a Book of Mormon to their home and teach them about it.) It is the best kind of referral.

I am not so bold in my presentations and probably lose opportunities for referrals. But, on the 5th of August, Elder Hansen's birthday, we were in the Tabernacle. It was my turn to greet our guests when two young men came in. They were around 30 years old. They were from Italy and could speak just a little English--asked me to speak slowly and they could then understand.
They were Catholic. They were excited when I explained our Eternal Families doctrine. So I gave them the 'Family Proclamation' in Italian. Before they left that morning they left me a green card and were glad to expect a Book of Mormon delivered to them at home in Italy. I will follow up with them and hope they gain a testimony. They said they would read the Book of Mormon.

I had a happy experience at Jacob Hamblin's Home. A couple arrived to show their granddaughter around before they went to Tuacahn's 'Les Miserables.' She had been to EFY in Las Vegas and was returning home to Layton. I found out the couple, the Pattersons, had served a mission in New Zealand---where a couple from our own Red Cliff's Ward are now serving. They said they knew them---the Duckworth's actually came to replace them when they were released to come home. Jacob's is fun now because the peaches and grapes are ripe and OH! so delicious! Our guests are invited to go pick a few to enjoy---which they do.

Then we learned that the new couple missionaries that will come in October (I think) are from our own Red Cliffs Ward. They moved here in January so we haven't met them, the Parkers---until they came to the Visitor Center and we got a chance to say hello. It will be nice to have mission friends in our own ward.

I had a very sweet experience in the Visitor Center when I met a family from Layton who were showing their mother around Utah. She is from Bolivia and has been a member for many years. She loves the Temple and has had to sacrifice much to ever go there. She is visiting in Utah for a few months and during that time she has volunteered in the Temple cafeteria just so she can be in the Temple. She doesn't speak much English but she came to me and I told her how wonderful it was that she is so strong and good. We embraced and felt a sweet spirit---I hope she felt my love and encouragement.

A grandmother and granddaughter from Veyo came to the Visitor Center and wanted to see our new dvd, 'Pioneer Miracle.' It is 13 minutes long so they were ok to wait for it to end. They started to work on the family history computer. Well, someone started the next movie and they didn't get included. They were ok to wait again to watch it from the beginning. I told them I would watch out for them and be sure they got in next. Six people and a wheelchair came and wanted to see it and I had to get someone to help me get it started---which I did---and forgot the Grandma again! When I realized, I ran over and brought them in---they only missed the opening credits. I was feeling like quite a failure. When the Grandma and granddaughter came out they were so elated. They had talked with the other people in the theater and found things in common. When I apologized---they thanked me. They had found a family member on the family history computer and were going to go home and get his work done. She told me that if they hadn't waited they would not have found him. So, when we are trying to do the best we can, though mistakes happen, the Lord knows how to turn it into a wonderful experience.

But, the very best experience we have had this month was getting the news that our Anna will be married to Darrin Frank the 8th of November in the Salt Lake Temple. They have known each other for six years and have been good friends--so this isn't a 'quick' relationship---it has developed. We have permission to go to the wedding, though it is out of our mission, because it is immediate family. Alisyn and Anna have done most of the planning already---not much left for me to do but go about being a good and happy missionary.

Until next time, remember where blessings come from. We are greatly blessed!

Healing Power of Jesus Christ Sculptures by Angela Johnson

We have been busy with sculptures for the past few weeks. I decided to include all of them for you to see. Thanks to Anna for these wonderful pictures taken during the display in our Visitor Center. The explanations where taken from the pedestal text that Angela wrote for each one. She told us that each text was inspired.

Angela Johnson came twice to meet with the missionaries. She wanted us to understand how she came to create the sculptures. She had been an opera singer for 20 years and decided to change careers about ten years ago. She has four children and grandchildren, now she is 52 years old. She felt inspired to try clay, though she had no training in sculpting. Her experiments convinced she could do it and she recognized she had a gift.

I believe that her success came because she decided to use her gift from God to testify of her love for Him and His love for us. She received inspiration and she says 'intelligence in my hands.' 'Free to Choose' was one of her earliest works. The first sculpture she did in this series dedicated to Jesus' Healing Power was "Be Not Afraid" which had a lot of personal meaning to her. She feels strongly that the world needs strength to not shut God out and wanted to help someone feel God's love for them through her sculpting gift.

The first display of this series was in clay at the Mesa Temple Visitor Center. Ours was the first display of the sculptures in bronze. They will be displayed in Oakland Temple Visitor Center from 1 August to 1 January 2009. We do not know where they will go after that.

'Be Thou Clean'

"And it came to pass, when He was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy, who, seeing Jesus, fell on his face and besought Him saying, 'Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me clean.' And He put forth His hand and touched him saying, 'I will, be thou clean.' And immediately the leprosy departed from him." Luke 5:12-13

Outward sickness has obvious need of healing. But what of the sicknesses of the heart; loneliness, sin, fear or anger? Each of us, like the man afflicted with leprosy, must fall in humility at the feet of Jesus and plead for healing.

'Master, Say On'

When Simon the Pharisee invited Jesus to eat with him, a woman came to Jesus and anointed His feet and washed them with her tears. Simon, knowing this woman's sins, wondered how Jesus could allow the woman to touch Him. Jesus' response to Simon is a lesson to us all.

"Seest thou this woman?...Thou gavest me no water for my feet, but she hath washed my feet with tears and wiped them with the hairs of her head...My head with oil thou didst not anoint, but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment...Her sins, which are many, are forgiven...And He said to the woman, 'Thy faith hath saved thee, go in peace."

Luke 7:44, 46-47, 50

'Lazarus, Come Forth'

"Then said Martha unto Jesus, 'Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know that even now whatsoever Thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee.' Jesus saith unto her, 'Thy brother shall rise again.' Martha saith unto Him, 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said unto her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live." John11:21-25

Lazarus was not resurrected at this time, his spirit was returned to his physical body in this miracle Jesus performed.

'One Thing Is Needful'

"A certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to Him and said, 'Lord, doest thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.' And Jesus answered and said unto her, 'Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42

Through His loving words to Martha, Christ invites each of us to refocus on what is most needful. This 'good part' cannot be taken from us.

'Oh My Father'

"And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God." Luke 6:12

"Messiah though He was, He was profoundly conscious of His dependence upon the Father, whose work He had come to do." James E. Talmage

Jesus' meekness and all-consuming love for His Father in Heaven is the perfect example for us in our own upward reaching. Prayer is the loving communion between a perfect loving Father and His child.

'Because of Love'

"But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5

"Father save me from this hour; but for this cause came I unto this hour. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:27, 32







'Come Unto Me'

As the Apostle Paul taught, 'But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

The Savior of mankind personified the divine attributes of strength, love, compassion and mercy. All who come unto Him will feel His tender love for them.

'This Is My Beloved Son'

God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith in 1820. Joseph describes this experience in his own words.

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me...When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other, 'This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!" Joseph Smith History 1:16-17

'It Is I, Be Not Afraid'

"And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, 'It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, 'Be of good cheer. It is I, be not afraid." Matthew 14:26-27

Fear is one of the most powerful and common human emotions. But it is the opposite of faith. Faith in Jesus Christ gives us strength to face and conquer the challenges life brings. Having faith in Jesus Christ means relying completely on Him, knowing that even though you do not understand all things---He does.








'His Gathering'

"O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart."
3 Nephi 10:8

Will we have the humility and wisdom to live so that we can know the exquisite joy of being 'gathered' by Christ?

'Let He That Is Without Sin'

"Master, this woman was taken in adultery. Now Moses in the law commanded us that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?'...But Jesus stooped down and with his finger wrote on the ground as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, 'He that is without sin among you, let him cast a stone at her'...and they...being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one...When Jesus had lifted up himself and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, 'Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?' She said, 'No man, Lord.' And Jesus said unto her, 'Neither do I condemn thee. Go and sin no more." John 8:4-7, 9-11

'Reach in Faith'

After His resurrection Jesus appeared to the apostles on several occasions. The first time, the apostle Thomas was not present, and he refused to believe that Jesus had been resurrected until he could see and touch Him himself. When Thomas finally did see Jesus, the Savior taught an important lesson.

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John20:29

One day we will see our Savior face to face, but until then He asks us to reach out to Him in faith and believe.

'Free to Choose'

"Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves---to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life."
2 Nephi 10:23

Each of us starts life in a family. Regardless of our circumstances, the choices we make then lead us into paths of darkness or light. The figures on the downward path of darkness represent shame, repentance, despair and pride. Those on the upward path of light represent bearing one another's burdens, joy in Christ, feasting upon the work, enduring to the end and marriage is ordained of God.

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Our experiences with these sculptures has been significant to us. We had the sculptures from mid-March till the end of June--15 weeks. During this time the missionaries conducted tours for 33,179 guests. We were able to identify just over 1,000 as non-members, though we couldn't know this number for sure--there were probably many more. We know that most of these people were able to feel the sweet spirit of the Savior's love conveyed by the missionaries and the sculptures themselves. Angela Johnson has a beautiful gift and as she turned the gift over to the Lord in gratitude of her love for Him, He was able to use her talent as a very powerful testimony of His message to 'Come Unto Him.'

Almost every tour that Elder Hansen or I conducted had a spirit of love and peace and appreciation for the Savior and what He offers to us. Usually people had tears in their eyes and some shared sweet, special experiences they have had when in tune with the Spirit and love of Jesus Christ.

Now we must close this wonderful, fulfilling chapter of our mission and move on.