Articles and Tabernacle Events

To say that today was quiet at the Jacob Hamblin home is an understatement.  Kids are all back in school, temperatures are 108+, and it was Monday: the makings of an opportunity to get a lot of reading done--or--write my newspaper articles, which is what I did!  I get to spread the news to the community about events at the Historic St. George Tabernacle.  Yes, that's part of this mission and one of my assignments.  Do you see the hand of the Lord here?  I spent 7 years working in Stake Public Relations before our mission--2 of those as a media specialist.  I was amazed I was given this media assignment on the mission.  No one here knew I had done that, except the Lord. I am counting my blessings.  So today I wrote about a Saturday organ recital, a Friday evening motivational speaker and a Wednesday concert. I'll submit them to a dozen or so media outlets to be published two weeks from now.  It's fun and a kick to see the articles show up in the newspapers.  We, the Visitors' Center Senior Missionaries,  are starting a new concert and lecture series that will begin in September and run through April of next year called "Why I Believe" and have commitments from some well-known names to participate: Sheri Dew, Elaine Dalton, Jon Schmidt (The Piano Guys), Merrill Osmond, Mark Eubank, Southern Utah Heritage Choir and Elder Gary Coleman to name a few.  The objective is "to strengthen faith in Jesus Christ, build testimonies, and increase missionary opportunities." They will be SRO (standing room only) events.  I feel so blessed to be here and share in these wonderful opportunities.

   Beth, during a visit, playing the Tabernacle pipe organ and Emma enthralled with the sound.

Elder Bednar at Stake Conference

August 17, 2015


Elder David Bednar, an apostle, spoke at our local church Stake Conference last week.  Yes, it was packed!  He is so personable and wise.  We were on duty at the Visitors' Center Sunday morning so we missed that meeting.  On Saturday evening he reminded us that unity is a prerequisite to revelation, that the power of Godliness is manifest in the ordinances, and as covenant saints we have agency only to choose good and serve each other, not to do whatever we want.  A lot to think about. I believe the organization of the church is inspired and the words of the apostles and prophets will save us from needless suffering if heeded.  It was a blessing to be there. It was also a blessing to be at the Visitors' Center on Sunday morning (9 to 3 shift). We hosted 4 touring busses with French visitors who took 10 French copies of the Book of Mormon home with them. That day we also shared 4 German, 4 Dutch, 1 Japanese and 2 English copies of the Book of Mormon.  We are flooding the earth with the truths of the restored gospel as President Ezra Taft Benson asked.  It makes me happy!

At the Visitors' center

Elder Bednar

The Sites: Where We Serve

A little background:  Elder Clinger and I serve for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Utah St. George Mission with our primary assignment at the St. George Temple Visitors' Center and Historic Sites.  The historic sites are the Brigham Young Winter home in St. George, the Jacob Hamblin Home in Santa Clara and the St. George Tabernacle. That makes four sites, including the Visitors' Center at the temple, that we spend the day at on a rotating basis.  The sites are owned by The Church and have been dedicated for the purpose of sharing our faith and our story.  It is an amazing privilege to represent the Lord and the saints who first settled here.  They are in a class of people that is hard to relate to.  They were selfless, untiring, courageous, sacrificing, committed, industrious and hard-working beyond belief.  They gave us a legacy that we may one day have to live up to.  As Latter-day Saints we should plan on it.

Tabernacle, Hamblin Home, Young Home, Visitors' Center

(Top to bottom)

Starting My Blog on a Busy Day

Finally!  I've begun the blog! It's about time! :  )

Tabernacle Clock Tower

I am so thankful for a daughter and friends who have helped me to start a blog about our mission.   We will have been in the St George Utah Mission for 9 months of our 18 month commitment come August 10, 2015.  Better late than never?!  Our special assignment is the St. George Temple Visitors' Center and Church Historic Sites.  So many wonderful things have happened and maybe I will be able to revisit some of them but I felt it best to begin where I am now. 

This mission has been so enlightening and uplifting, I often ask myself, "Where's the sacrifice?"  Then we have days like today and I remember!  After a busy morning working on Tabernacle event articles for the local newspaper and music for an upcoming Visitors' Center program, Elder Clinger and I spent 5 hours speaking non-stop with more than 140 people touring the Brigham Young  house.  That's a long time to be on your feet, going up and down stairs, without a break for food or bathroom for us seniors!  But we did it!  We felt like a fellow senior missionary, Sister Susan Easton Black Durrant, who described days like this as: "Don't call the ambulance, call the morgue!" But the sentiments that have stayed with me and fill my heart now are the love we felt for the amazing people we met, the awe over stories some shared of their pioneer ancestors, and the joy we had in being able to share the gospel with interested friends of the church who took copies of the Book of Mormon home with them.  It's a great life!

Brigham's front door.  Welcome!