Friday, August 26, 2011
Sacred Grove Tour
Tuesday was a special day, when we were taken on a guided tour of some of the sacred sites with Pres. and Sister Christianson and the 5 new missionaries and Elder and Sister Jones (from Centerville, UT). We started at the grave site of Alvin Smith, the oldest brother of Joseph Jr. It is located just north of the 4 church corner on Main Street in Palmyra. It is on top of a small hill. Alvin died as a result of a bad diagnoses from a Doctor. The medicine given actually caused a blockage in his intestine and resulted in gangrene. The preachers of the time told the Smith family that their son was lost because he had not been baptized. That caused Joseph Sr. to stop going to church. That subject weighed heavily on the entire family. It probably contributed to Joseph's questions about a true church.
We then drove to the Martin Harris farm two miles down the road, and turned around. Two senior missionary couples live there but there are no tours. We next went to the Sacred Grove. We started our tour in the Welcome Center and then went into the Log Cabin where the Smiths first lived. This cabin was actually rebuilt in 2000 on the exact spot of the original one. It was so interesting standing in the upstairs bedroom where Moroni appeared to Joseph Jr. It was easy to imagine how amazing that experience was. Pictures: top Pres. Christianson, Elder Gudgell (nephew of Brent Gudgell who was formerly in our Ward), The "Apostle" tree.
We then walked out the back door of the cabin and to the Sacred Grove, about 200 feet away. We then walked into the newer part of the grove that was planted in about 1970. That area serves as a buffer between the outside world and the original parts of the grove. We walked back along the trail having various things described to us. We saw the 230+ year old “Witness trees” (which probably witnessed the First Vision), “the 12 Apostle tree” and other unique trees. We were given 10 minutes to go off alone in the grove and pray. We were all challenged to have a Sacred Grove Experience. Each of you can have that type of experience wherever you are. Find a quiet place, sit down, pray and contemplate. Ponder how the Lord has blessed you and what His atonement means to you. May the Lord bless you in all that you do.
We then drove to the Martin Harris farm two miles down the road, and turned around. Two senior missionary couples live there but there are no tours. We next went to the Sacred Grove. We started our tour in the Welcome Center and then went into the Log Cabin where the Smiths first lived. This cabin was actually rebuilt in 2000 on the exact spot of the original one. It was so interesting standing in the upstairs bedroom where Moroni appeared to Joseph Jr. It was easy to imagine how amazing that experience was. Pictures: top Pres. Christianson, Elder Gudgell (nephew of Brent Gudgell who was formerly in our Ward), The "Apostle" tree.
We then walked out the back door of the cabin and to the Sacred Grove, about 200 feet away. We then walked into the newer part of the grove that was planted in about 1970. That area serves as a buffer between the outside world and the original parts of the grove. We walked back along the trail having various things described to us. We saw the 230+ year old “Witness trees” (which probably witnessed the First Vision), “the 12 Apostle tree” and other unique trees. We were given 10 minutes to go off alone in the grove and pray. We were all challenged to have a Sacred Grove Experience. Each of you can have that type of experience wherever you are. Find a quiet place, sit down, pray and contemplate. Ponder how the Lord has blessed you and what His atonement means to you. May the Lord bless you in all that you do.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Half Way Through August
It is so amazing to think that we have already been on our mission for one month. True, we have not been in New York quite three weeks yet, but yet we feel quite comfortable here already.
This has been a somewhat normal week of working in the mission office. We have both been able to sharpen our skills and are getting better. I pay bills and Kae does the correspondence and travel letters, etc. On Sunday night we drove 1.2 hours to the Dansville area to deliver some mail that had been overlooked. The two sisters there were grateful for the visit. While there they took us to a less active member's home. We had a nice visit with a darker sister and her two daughters. Two of them had amazing conversion or testimony stories. The older daughter had a personal experience of light in the Sacred Grove.
Thursday during the day Kent took his bike to the Erie Canal and rode alongside it for 1/2 mile. On Friday Kae and I walked along the canal in a different location in Pittsford. Thursday night we drove to the Palmyra Temple for a session. Kent was set-apart as a veil worker. After we move to the John Young home we will be ordinance workers. This temple has a wonderful large window in the foyer that overlooks the Sacred Grove. There are stained glass windows elsewhere with a tree theme. We are including a few more pictures of the area in this report.
This next week we have missionaries coming in and others leaving, hence transfers will be going on. On Tuesday our mission president will take us along as he gives his welcome tour of the sites to the new missionaries. He is a former Institute Instructor and Vice President of Utah Valley Univ. He has also conducted church history tours for years. We are looking forward to the tour.
Last night we watched church videos, including Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration. We were reminded of the persecutions that took place and the great faith that most of the saints displayed to survive and prosper. We all encounter our own trials and it is our faith that will pull us through. It is so great being on a mission and being able to be part of the work here in the "cradle of the restoration".
This has been a somewhat normal week of working in the mission office. We have both been able to sharpen our skills and are getting better. I pay bills and Kae does the correspondence and travel letters, etc. On Sunday night we drove 1.2 hours to the Dansville area to deliver some mail that had been overlooked. The two sisters there were grateful for the visit. While there they took us to a less active member's home. We had a nice visit with a darker sister and her two daughters. Two of them had amazing conversion or testimony stories. The older daughter had a personal experience of light in the Sacred Grove.
Thursday during the day Kent took his bike to the Erie Canal and rode alongside it for 1/2 mile. On Friday Kae and I walked along the canal in a different location in Pittsford. Thursday night we drove to the Palmyra Temple for a session. Kent was set-apart as a veil worker. After we move to the John Young home we will be ordinance workers. This temple has a wonderful large window in the foyer that overlooks the Sacred Grove. There are stained glass windows elsewhere with a tree theme. We are including a few more pictures of the area in this report.
This next week we have missionaries coming in and others leaving, hence transfers will be going on. On Tuesday our mission president will take us along as he gives his welcome tour of the sites to the new missionaries. He is a former Institute Instructor and Vice President of Utah Valley Univ. He has also conducted church history tours for years. We are looking forward to the tour.
Last night we watched church videos, including Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration. We were reminded of the persecutions that took place and the great faith that most of the saints displayed to survive and prosper. We all encounter our own trials and it is our faith that will pull us through. It is so great being on a mission and being able to be part of the work here in the "cradle of the restoration".
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Week Two In New York Was Great
Week two is history today and now for the quick review. We worked in the mission office on Monday, getting more instruction on our duties. Tuesday through Friday was filled with Zone Conferences. We first held conference for the Rochester Zone at the Westfall church location. Two of us senior couples inspected missionary cars in the parking lot. We started in a light drizzle, but it soon got heavier. Sister Servoss would sit in the car with a checklist of items, while I would check tire pressure, fluids, lights, etc. I tried to hold an umbrella over my shoulder while I checked the oil dip stick. By the time we finished, I had the back of my shirt soaked. Elder Jensen was drenched to the bone. He and his wife soon left so he could change clothes. We helped provide snacks for the missionaries, then assisted with the luncheon (provided by members). In the afternoon we were introduced to the Zone and then had the pleasure of sitting in the class to hear the wonderful, inspired instruction from President Jack R. Christianson.
On Wednesday we went to Canandaigua (can an day gwa) for the Palmyra South Zone Conference. Once again we inspected cars, this time it was sunny. It was so interesting seeing all of the young missionaries. This city is located on the edge of a large lake of the same name. It was about 35 miles southwest of Rochester. This Zone has only one senior couple and 12 young sisters, and 14 Elders. These sisters are half of the sister missionary staff at the Historical Sites. In the evening we returned to our apartment, ate and decided to drive to Lake Ontario, since we knew it was 4 miles away and we had not yet seen it. We arrived at the beach and walked down onto the sand. The sun was about to set and the sky was so amazing. We asked another couple some questions about the lake and soon had become friends. The husband, Don, was born in Palmyra, and knows a little about the LDS Church. His wife is from Dutch ancestors. They did not have a camera, so I took a number of pictures and said that we would share them via email. When we started for the car to get a notebook, they suggested that we just follow them home. Cathy wanted to show us her flower garden. We had a wonderful tour of their beautiful yard and started a nice friendship.
Thursday was the Zone Conference for the Palmyra North Zone. It was held in the large beautiful chapel in Palmyra, near the temple. The church has put extra care and money into this building (and how appropriate due to its location). We helped with the car inspections again, once again in sunny weather. The cars are all new or maybe 3 years old. The Zone Leaders (ZL’s) and Assistants to the President (AP’s) have pick-ups. There is going to be a lot of snow here and they need good vehicles. The other half of the site sisters are in this zone. They all work about 4 days a week at the sites, and then the rest of the time in some neighboring city. Some cousins of ours from California, Robin Moody Harper, husband Jim, and children Amber, and Johnathan met us at the church. Elder Servoss went with them to see the temple and the small visitor’s center at the Sacred Grove. Later we met them back at the Palmyra Inn and chatted.
Friday was the long drive of 75 miles to Buffalo. We had the Buffalo Zone Conference there. We met another senior couple from Salt Lake, the Gibbys. I knew Elder Gibby back when I worked with traffic controllers and he was with the Utah Dept. of Transportation. He and his wife have a handicapped daughter here with them. It is wonderful that they are still able to serve here.
After the conference we decided that Niagara Falls was just too close to miss (about 17 miles). We drove there and had a picnic on a bench near the rapids. We then made the walk across a bridge and over the rapids. They lead to the nearby falls. We were soon viewing the amazing falls of Niagara. The American Falls are first, and plummet to the river far below. From the observation deck we could see the people below, near the base of the falls. They were on the ‘Cave of the Winds’ tour. Kae and I did that a number of years ago. Your admission gives you a yellow rain poncho and a pair of plastic sandals that you wear to keep mostly dry. There is an elevator that takes you to the river’s edge below and then a board walk that takes you near the base of the falls. We next walked over to the larger, Horseshoe falls. We offered to take a picture for a family and soon had a conversation going with the 20 year old son. He walked with us to the falls, while Elder Servoss found out that he was interested in what our church believed. He gave a quick synopsis of the restored church and how it differs from other Christian churches. We told him about the Book of Mormon and its testimony of Christ and recommended that he check out the church websites. It was an amazing 10 minute experience. Opportunities are all around us, we just need to open our mouths.
On Wednesday we went to Canandaigua (can an day gwa) for the Palmyra South Zone Conference. Once again we inspected cars, this time it was sunny. It was so interesting seeing all of the young missionaries. This city is located on the edge of a large lake of the same name. It was about 35 miles southwest of Rochester. This Zone has only one senior couple and 12 young sisters, and 14 Elders. These sisters are half of the sister missionary staff at the Historical Sites. In the evening we returned to our apartment, ate and decided to drive to Lake Ontario, since we knew it was 4 miles away and we had not yet seen it. We arrived at the beach and walked down onto the sand. The sun was about to set and the sky was so amazing. We asked another couple some questions about the lake and soon had become friends. The husband, Don, was born in Palmyra, and knows a little about the LDS Church. His wife is from Dutch ancestors. They did not have a camera, so I took a number of pictures and said that we would share them via email. When we started for the car to get a notebook, they suggested that we just follow them home. Cathy wanted to show us her flower garden. We had a wonderful tour of their beautiful yard and started a nice friendship.
Thursday was the Zone Conference for the Palmyra North Zone. It was held in the large beautiful chapel in Palmyra, near the temple. The church has put extra care and money into this building (and how appropriate due to its location). We helped with the car inspections again, once again in sunny weather. The cars are all new or maybe 3 years old. The Zone Leaders (ZL’s) and Assistants to the President (AP’s) have pick-ups. There is going to be a lot of snow here and they need good vehicles. The other half of the site sisters are in this zone. They all work about 4 days a week at the sites, and then the rest of the time in some neighboring city. Some cousins of ours from California, Robin Moody Harper, husband Jim, and children Amber, and Johnathan met us at the church. Elder Servoss went with them to see the temple and the small visitor’s center at the Sacred Grove. Later we met them back at the Palmyra Inn and chatted.
Friday was the long drive of 75 miles to Buffalo. We had the Buffalo Zone Conference there. We met another senior couple from Salt Lake, the Gibbys. I knew Elder Gibby back when I worked with traffic controllers and he was with the Utah Dept. of Transportation. He and his wife have a handicapped daughter here with them. It is wonderful that they are still able to serve here.
After the conference we decided that Niagara Falls was just too close to miss (about 17 miles). We drove there and had a picnic on a bench near the rapids. We then made the walk across a bridge and over the rapids. They lead to the nearby falls. We were soon viewing the amazing falls of Niagara. The American Falls are first, and plummet to the river far below. From the observation deck we could see the people below, near the base of the falls. They were on the ‘Cave of the Winds’ tour. Kae and I did that a number of years ago. Your admission gives you a yellow rain poncho and a pair of plastic sandals that you wear to keep mostly dry. There is an elevator that takes you to the river’s edge below and then a board walk that takes you near the base of the falls. We next walked over to the larger, Horseshoe falls. We offered to take a picture for a family and soon had a conversation going with the 20 year old son. He walked with us to the falls, while Elder Servoss found out that he was interested in what our church believed. He gave a quick synopsis of the restored church and how it differs from other Christian churches. We told him about the Book of Mormon and its testimony of Christ and recommended that he check out the church websites. It was an amazing 10 minute experience. Opportunities are all around us, we just need to open our mouths.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Mission Arrival and First Days in New York
We are happy to finally be here in New York. We want to share our first few days here with you:
Wednesday was our day to move into our temporary apartment in west Rochester. We also spent time shopping for food and a few necessities. That night we made our first visit to Palmyra, this trip, to attend a missionary meeting at the Hill Cummorah Visitors Center. It was great to meet the 15 senior couples who work at the historical sites and the 34 young sisters. There was no time to see any of the sites that night.
On Thursday and Friday we spent our time in the office learning our respective duties. Elder Servoss will be the financial secretary and Sister Servoss will be the secretary over correspondence, newsletters, travel. We were glad that we had the four days of training in Provo. We are starting to feel comfortable with our assignments. That night we drove out to the John Young home in Menden for a senior couples pot-luck dinner. We got to see couples again that we had met on Wednesday night. This is the home that we will move into in a month or so. It is in a beautiful setting in the country. We will tell more about it later. After dinner we walked to the site where Brigham Young was baptized. We also went to the cemetery where the father of Heber C. Kimball and grandfather of Spencer W. Kimball is buried. We also visited the Tomlinson Inn, where Brigham and his brother Phineas met Samuel Smith and were sold a Book of Mormon. These last two places are within a mile of our next residence.
On Saturday we made another trip to Palmyra (about 25 miles from our present apartment). We attended a temple session and then went back into the village of Palmyra to have lunch. We then toured the Grandin Press building, where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were published. It was very interesting to see how the first copies were printed and bound in 1830. We then went back to the Sacred Grove and walked along a path through that sacred spot. There were a few rain drops falling and that made the walk very interesting. Next we drove a few miles to the Hill Cummorah. We drove to the top of the hill to where the Moroni statue is. Elder Servoss chose to walk back to the visitors center along the forested path. He tried to imagine what Joseph saw that wonderful day on the hill.
Today, Sunday, we drove to Pittsford to attend church. The Pittsford Ward is a large building, like you would see in Utah. Those members were very friendly and we enjoyed our time there. We may be assigned to another Ward or Branch once we move closer. The Ward building is only about a mile from our mission office (and both are about 17 miles from our present apartment).
We look forward to the coming week. We have four Zone Conferences this week, and we will be involved with them all. I will help inspect the 40 vehicles that we have. We look forward to meeting more of the young missionaries. Those that we have met so far are outstanding. It seemed a little odd to see the Assistants to the President (AP’s) driving a grey Ford Silverado pick-up. Mostly there are cars, but at least one of the Zone Leaders also have a truck. It should be an interesting week.
A mission is a wonderful place to be and we so love being able to serve once again. The gospel is true and we are thrilled to be here in the cradle of the restoration area.
Wednesday was our day to move into our temporary apartment in west Rochester. We also spent time shopping for food and a few necessities. That night we made our first visit to Palmyra, this trip, to attend a missionary meeting at the Hill Cummorah Visitors Center. It was great to meet the 15 senior couples who work at the historical sites and the 34 young sisters. There was no time to see any of the sites that night.
On Thursday and Friday we spent our time in the office learning our respective duties. Elder Servoss will be the financial secretary and Sister Servoss will be the secretary over correspondence, newsletters, travel. We were glad that we had the four days of training in Provo. We are starting to feel comfortable with our assignments. That night we drove out to the John Young home in Menden for a senior couples pot-luck dinner. We got to see couples again that we had met on Wednesday night. This is the home that we will move into in a month or so. It is in a beautiful setting in the country. We will tell more about it later. After dinner we walked to the site where Brigham Young was baptized. We also went to the cemetery where the father of Heber C. Kimball and grandfather of Spencer W. Kimball is buried. We also visited the Tomlinson Inn, where Brigham and his brother Phineas met Samuel Smith and were sold a Book of Mormon. These last two places are within a mile of our next residence.
On Saturday we made another trip to Palmyra (about 25 miles from our present apartment). We attended a temple session and then went back into the village of Palmyra to have lunch. We then toured the Grandin Press building, where the first copies of the Book of Mormon were published. It was very interesting to see how the first copies were printed and bound in 1830. We then went back to the Sacred Grove and walked along a path through that sacred spot. There were a few rain drops falling and that made the walk very interesting. Next we drove a few miles to the Hill Cummorah. We drove to the top of the hill to where the Moroni statue is. Elder Servoss chose to walk back to the visitors center along the forested path. He tried to imagine what Joseph saw that wonderful day on the hill.
Today, Sunday, we drove to Pittsford to attend church. The Pittsford Ward is a large building, like you would see in Utah. Those members were very friendly and we enjoyed our time there. We may be assigned to another Ward or Branch once we move closer. The Ward building is only about a mile from our mission office (and both are about 17 miles from our present apartment).
We look forward to the coming week. We have four Zone Conferences this week, and we will be involved with them all. I will help inspect the 40 vehicles that we have. We look forward to meeting more of the young missionaries. Those that we have met so far are outstanding. It seemed a little odd to see the Assistants to the President (AP’s) driving a grey Ford Silverado pick-up. Mostly there are cars, but at least one of the Zone Leaders also have a truck. It should be an interesting week.
A mission is a wonderful place to be and we so love being able to serve once again. The gospel is true and we are thrilled to be here in the cradle of the restoration area.
Friday, August 5, 2011
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