Senior Missionaries and Some Cool Stories
Monday was Labor Day. We had planned a fun day, with the Rome Sisters, to hike to Pixley Falls and then have a Shish-Ka-Bob cookout. Well what is it they say about the best plans? Yup! It rained us out. We didn't hike but we still wanted to eat shish-ka-bobs so we fired up the coals and got ready to cook. Unfortunately we bought an off brand of charcoal and guess what-wouldn't even get hot. We did get enough of a second flame to give a bit of taste to the skewered meat and veggies and then finished them off under the broiler. Man, so frustrating. The Sisters brought the most amazing dessert for us to eat. It's called S'Mores Crack and we could not stop eating it. I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I'm dying to make it but then I will eat the whole pan! Here's the recipe-you might want it! BUT beware! It is ridiculously addictive!
Tuesday was the beginning of our Senior Missionary Retreat in Palmyra. We were so very excited to spend some time getting to know the other Senior Missionaries in our mission. We walked in the morning and then I came home to make homemade rolls. I had tried some homemade honey butter the night before and it turned out so good. And the rolls? Well what can I say! Everyone went nuts for them!
We had the most wonderful catered breakfast on Wednesday. It was a perfect way to start our adventurous day. We had fresh fruit, baked French toast with New York maple syrup, sausage links, muffins, and roasted potatoes. Don't you think food tastes so much better when you don't have to fix it or clean it up? We jumped into our cars and headed for the Peter Whitmer Farm in Fayette. This is where some of the translating took place, where Joseph and Emma stayed for a bit, and where the church was formally organized. April 6, 1830 was the date. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was organized and the Lord's church was finally back on earth-never to be taken again.
There are wonderful miracles that surround this time in church history. One of them is when Joseph and Oliver were in Harmony and needed to come back to Fayette, David wanted to go to bring them back. His father told him that he couldn't go-that the fields had to be plowed, and the plaster of Paris sowed into the dirt. He told him that if this is the Lord's work then he would make things happen. David worked in the field and by night had not gotten very far. Discouraged, he said a prayer and went to bed and when he went outside the next morning to get back to work, the work was completely done. Peter told David to go and bring them back. The Lord had spoken. He knew that a miracle had happened.
They divided us in half for the tour. L-R Us, Elder and Sister Ladle, Elder and Sister Fleming, Elder and Sister Rudd, Elder and Sister Murray, Elder and Sister Beadles
These great missionaries give their all for the work of salvation. They are amazing! This beautiful sculpture is inside the visitor's center.
After the Peter Whitmer Farm we headed to the Hill Cumorah. We took the tour and watched the video and some rode up in the rain to see the monument, but we were running late for our appointment at the Sacred Grove so we hurried off to get there.
Needless to say, the farm house and the frame house are wonderful to see. The farm house is a replica but the frame house that Alvin built is 80% original. We loved seeing the room that the Angel Moroni visited that wonderful night. But did you know that Joseph was tutored by Moroni for at least 22 times over the next 4 years. That is the number documented. They think maybe it was even more. Of course Joseph wouldn't be left to figure things out on his own. He had the companionship of someone who knew everything. We had the chance to walk into the Sacred Grove and feel the peace there. Something that I had never thought of before, we always see pictures and movies that show the beautiful green of the grove but did you know that in early spring there are no leaves on any trees here. It was completely void of leaves on the beautiful morning.
That evening, most had headed back to their rooms but a few of us scared up a game of Xtreme UNO. Holy cow. Trying to keep straight on what we were supposed to be doing and when was a challenge. We had a blast and got a little loud. These people have quickly become our friends and we love them.
This is how it looked this past week. It is not how it looked for the first vision! Isn't it so pretty!
We headed back to "The Hill" that's what they call Cumorah around here, for a special hour with the head of CES in this area. We were excited to hear a bit about the restoration that maybe we don't all know. Have you every heard of the Vision in the Night Sky? I had never heard of it before. It is a vision that Brigham Young and Heber C Kimball had on the night that Joseph received the plates. They did not know each other. They had not heard of Jospeh Smith, and yet this vision opened to them and some of their family. Once they joined the church and met each other and started talking they knew that this vision was a mighty vision. Here is the link to read about it. It is truly remarkable. living-in-a-chapter-of-history
He also asked us why September was important for Joseph to receive the plates. Do you know why September? Is it something that even matters? Everything matters and everything points to Jesus Christ. The end of September is the Feast of the Trumpets or a festival known as Rosh-Hashanah. It is a feast that celebrates the covenant-when Abraham found the ram to sacrifice instead of Isaac. Just like Jesus Christ was the sacrifice in place of each of us. The trumpet that they blow is the horn of a ram. This feast leads them to Yom Kippur-the Day of Atonement. So cool. All of this can be found in the Joseph Smith Papers.
He told us many great and wonderful stories but the time went way too fast. We could have listened for hours. We headed to our last stop-the E B Grandin Printing shop. We loved our time there as well. Mike's Grandpa Jolley was a typesetter and it has always intrigued Mike. There were many miracles surrounding the publishing of the Book of Mormon as well. They printed 5,000 copies for $3,000 paid for by Martin Harris. It took them 17 months to print and bind that many books. Today, there are over 176 million copies in 100 different languages. I love how the work just keeps moving forward.
We had a delicious catered dinner of prime rib, chicken cordon blue, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, green salad, rolls, and cannoli. What a treat!
Thursday morning was a temple session. We were excited to have President and Sister Gentry join us in the temple. Afterwards we took some pictures and then we headed over to the Stake Center for a little meeting. President and Sister Gentry are so kind, told us how much we are needed and loved, and gave us a little gift. Each of us have a new apron with New York Syracuse Mission embroidered on the front and the book about the story of The Fighting Preacher. We are so happy. We headed into Palmyra to get food and ice cream at the Palmyra Chill and Grill but we were so sad and disappointed that their fall hours are from 3-8 in the afternoon and evening. We really wanted some of that ice cream. We ended up at the Athenian Restaurant with Elder and Sister Rudd and had the most delightful time with them.
Home to teach our Book of Mormon class. It was such a great lesson. We taught the very first part of Ammon and King Lamoni-just up to where Lamoni believes that Ammon is the Great Spirit and wants to invite him in but he durst not! We talked about all the things Ammon did before he ever opened his mouth the teach. (Kind of that Love, Share, Invite kind of thing) And we talked about how when we know Jesus Christ, we want to invite Him in-He is not scary or threatening-He is just love! We will continue with the story this week.
On Friday we ran back to the Mission Office to grab a couple of things that we were wanting for our home. We wanted a couple of little tables and some white boards and bulletin boards. We stopped at our favorite little Amish Farm and bought green beans. The office missionaries wanted some too so we bought about everything they had and took them to the office. While we were there, they asked us to go to dinner with them. So we really wined and dined all week. We actually went to Longhorn Steak House because the Elder in charge of picking for the week likes plain good food. While we were waiting for them to arrive Mike had a little "car envy" going on so I had to grab a picture. Check out this car. It a Corvette from the 50's! Nice!
The rest of our weekend was filled with Stake Conference sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The Spirit taught us and it was awesome. We love when the Spirit teaches. We are enjoying being here and can't believe how fast time seems to be moving. We are almost a 6 months. Where did that time go? We are excited to see some color coming very quickly and will share pictures of the leaves. Know that we love our Heavenly Father and are so thankful for all He has blessed us with. We love our Savior, Jesus Christ. We know He lives! We know He has bought us with an awful price and we are forever thankful. We are so honored to wear His name on our hearts and on our lips. We love you all. Have a most wonderful week.
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