Friends, Old and New

Yesterday, Friday the 12th, was a typical St. George Utah Temple Visitors' Center and Historical Sites Mission day so I'll describe it.  Personal study at 6:30 am, companionship study at 7:30 am, open the Brigham Young winter home by 8:50 am, greet guests and teach them about the history and the home and the restored gospel of Christ until the next couple comes to replace us at 1:00 pm.

We had a delightful diversion that morning--there is usually something unusual to experience each day.   A local dentist/grapevine expert comes each year to prune the grapevines at the Brigham home and at the Hamblin home.  Tom Robinson and another Senior couple, Elder and Sister Hadfield were there pruning away when we arrived.  Tom gave me a mallet--not a hammer but a shoot from the vine that was cut for re-planting.   It'll go back in the garden.  I was enthralled as Tom removed vine after vine, pruning mercilessly.  It was necessary for the well being of the old plant and the new ones next to it. He knew exactly what was best to remove and to keep.   Just like the Lord does with us.  Heavenly Father is the master gardener and He prunes and purges for the wellbeing of His children.  If only we were as submissive as the grapevine.

That afternoon we attended the temple. Afterwards I emailed guests who I have started gospel conversations with.  One is a Lutheran Seminary student who keeps me on my toes with doctrinal questions. I'm glad that he's asking.

That night I had assignments to conduct the music and read the script for the I Am a Mormon video we showed at the Tabernacle Why I Believe Fireside.  The video was about Ceclie Pelouse, spoken in French.  I read the English translation as we showed the video to an audience of about 600.  They were there to hear T. C. Christensen speak.  He is the director, writer and cinematographer for many LDS themed movies such as Forever Strong, The Testaments, 17 Miracles, all the really good ones.

All in all an inspiring day.  So many outstanding people come into our lives as we serve here--friends, new and old, missionaries we serve with, celebrities, seekers of truth.  They serve us and we, them.  That's what this and every mission is about--sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed as we serve where ever the Lord plants us.  I feel truly blessed.

Elder and Sister Hadfield

Tom Robinson and the mallet

Pruning

Elder Clinger and guests at the Brigham Young Winter Home

The House of the Lord

Filmmaker T. C. Christensen, Tab frieside, Feb. 12

Artist Julie Rogers--Tab frieside, Feb. 5, 2016

One of her pieces--"Determination"

The Douglas 50th Anniversary Party in Vegas, Jan. 30th

We say good bye to the Fullers and Burts

Brett and Connor, children of Frank Corbin, old Westminster friend, visit the annex

One of 6 different monthly meetings, the Tabernacle Committee, Burts, Clingers, Dooleys, Rasmussens, Elders Ercanbrack and Cleverly (taking the picture) Feb. 1

Vacated Visitors' Center

It started with taking down the Christmas decorations. That was easy.  But a 6--8 week remodel of the Temple Visitors' Center started on the 4th of January and that required a bit more taking down.  The missionaries were in charge of clearing out anything we wanted to keep--copies of the Book of Mormon in 77 languages, office equipment, literature we use at the historic sites, all pictures on the walls, anything in closets, drawers and back rooms.  It all had to get tucked into nooks and crannies  at the historic sites before the work crew came in to strip floors walls, bathrooms and take down several displays.  We are losing The Savior of the World display along with the Book of Mormon display table.  The Family History desk is going and so is a mail and storage room.  We will have another teaching center instead!  Yay!  More opportunity to teach the gospel!  The workers said it is just one of 4 VC's they are doing in an 8 month period.  They just finished Mesa AZ,  then on to Oakland CA, and Honolulu HI after us.  Some before and after pictures below:

I undecorated the bottom of the Why I Believe Tree

Sisters Schnieder and Banda did the top.

Sisters Ercanbrack and Cleverly deal with the center pieces.

What the Christus room looks like now

Gutted Book of Mormon display

Former Savior of the World display

Former Book of Mormon Display

With the Visitors' Center out of commission we don't get a vacation.  We serve at the Annex on VC shift days. It's a small room just north of the VC that highlights the building of the temple.  Senior Elders used to work there alone but now the Sisters join their husbands for  the 4 to 6 hour shift. 

I love to bear testimony of the temple, the house of God.  

The Annex with Christmas lights

Oh, come let us adore Him at the temple.

Christmas Comes to Dixie

The seasons change and the temperatures fall and I am still amazed that the original settlers lived with extremes in heat, snow, floods, droughts and were happy to do so because they were asked by a prophet of God.  Many came because Brigham Young asked them to grow cotton.  It worked and we still grow it today to give guests an idea of what it was like.  The growing season has ended but here are some photos from October.

These pics are at Jacob Hamblin's home.  We picked this and a lot more.  Local ladies come and get some to card and spin the way the pioneers did.

It does snow here but last year we had about 2 inches total after three snowfalls.  What it does mercilessly is leaf-fall!  This is about two inches in two hours and only the first fall of about a dozen so far.  You are looking at our front door the morning after the night of the first freeze.  Below is a shot of Brigham Young's Winter home during a blustery afternoon.  The colors were so vivid and the scene so lovely, I had to share.  

We missionaries spent three very early mornings as a group working on decorations at all the sites.  A committee was in charge but we all got a taste of Christmas decorating.   Elder Clinger is admiring the lights outside the Tabernacle that are put there by the city.

Sister Clinger loves the sound of the organ in the Tabernacle and even her playing sounds acceptable with the wonderful acoustics President Young had built in.  He asked the Saints to build the Tabernacle large enough to hold 2000 but Miles Romney, the Supervising architect said it would be too large to keep the acoustics in tact.  So it was built 56x106 feet to hold 1200.  We just got that many in the building for a concert by the Southern Utah Heritage Choir and it sounded great!

  



























Family came for Thanksgiving and we turned it in to a Thanksmas celebration because we won't be together on Christmas.  Here is Jubal carving the turkey, goodies left for Santa, all gathered on Mom and Dad's bed before the entrance in to the living room where Santa had obviously been!  It was a joyful few days.  Senior missonaries are not under the same policies as the younger Elders and Sisters.  We can see family as  often as we like!

(Bottom left)Sisters Lau, McNaughton, Sanders, Borba, Hooson, Pilling, Schneider, Parton
(Top left) Crane, Meneses, Mervar.

Here are a few Visitors' Center images including some of the Sisters that come and go on transfer day which happens every six weeks.  It is a very emotional day with a lot of activity and anticipation.  They learn to love their comps, their areas and their investigators and the VC assignment.
Then they go outbound or home and we all shed tears.

Sister Quintanilla

Sister Clark

The Kaona's come back to visit from Hawaii.

The end of a busy 9 to 9 day at the VC

So Much to Say

I will try to highlight the last few weeks in pictures.  They are worth thousands of words!  On November 6 we had a surprise visit from a celebrity.  He spoke at Zone Meeting and his testimony was as powerful as his music.

Yup.  Recently Returned Missionary David Archeleta.  He was in town to do a concert at the Tuacahn outdoor theater.  One of the many perks that have come with this amazing mission! He spoke of miracles that come when we invite others to come to Christ.  He sang "I Believe in Christ" and "Come, Come Ye Saints", a cappella.  It was thrilling.  

Elder and Sister Gifford from Ogden left for home, and Elder and Sister Danguy from Lyon, France and Sister and Elder Hancock from Seattle Washington joined our ranks.  It is always bitter sweet when we say goodbye to our fellows.  They impact our mission experience so much.  

 Giffords

 Danguys

Hancocks 

Our new mission friends are always amazing though.  The Danguys have brought the most beautiful spirit with them and are learning English with incredible speed, and the Hancocks are the founders of a charitable organization called MamasHands.  Google it.  You will be impressed by the caliber of people the Lord calls on missions.

Remember the busses we get from France? Hence--the Danguys are here.  The bus season is over now though.  But I had to include a final picture that stresses just how much the bus tourists flock to our Visitors' Center.

You may not be able to see them all but there were five at one time that day!

A tidbit from the Brigham Young Winter home: here's our famous Mulberry tree.  It is over 150 years old and in the National Registry of Historic Trees.  See the inscription?  Tree surgeons saved it's life in 1972, on Valentines Day as a matter of fact, by cementing in a turn buckle that goes clear through the tree on either side and by surrounding the branches with cable because it was splitting.  Now it will probably live another 150 years.  Brigham could have sat with grandchildren under it.  It's a landmark and one of the favorite spots on the property.

It's also a symbol of the atonement to me.   As we allow the Savior to heal, repair and shore up our weakness, we become stronger that we were.   His love makes us whole.  

One of the series of paintings depicting the Saviors pre, post, and mortal life, in the basement of the Tabernacle.  Another wonderful exhibit to see when you come.  I hope you are all coming soon.  We would LOVE a visit! And finally, some farewell shots of some of our amazing Sisters at the VC.  They play with my camera when I am not looking!

 They are not only adorable and smart and beautiful and darling but spiritual powerhouses!  How blessed we are to be working with them.