February 12, 2015


I remember when we first moved to Peterson in December of 1979,
the snow was deep and the county rarely plowed Morgan Valley Drive.  It was not unusual for us to drive down the lane with a foot of snow on it and out on to Morgan Valley Drive, it not having been plowed.  The snow would pack down over the months and it would be beautiful, white and slick.  I always felt it would be fun to have a horse drawn sleigh to take advantage of the packed snow on the roads.  Spring and the thaw however would make the roads full of icy potholes and very hard to drive on.  

The roads here in Vermont  snow pack and ice very fast.  Each time it snows it takes a while for the plows to get out and get the roads plowed.  It is white and beautifully treacherous.  Driving up Dairy Hill  Road to the visitor center would be very hard if we didn't have all wheel drive. There are some cars that try and don't make the steep incline.  I do prefer the white to the sand and salt they use to keep the roads driveable. The cars in Vermont are very dirty during the winter.

LDS Lane after a snowfall

We have taken some drives recently that have taken us to some beautiful little towns.  We went to Tunbridge, a very prominent town in the early history of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy his wife.

There are many covered bridges in Vermont.  Tunbridge has several.  I often wondered "why cover the bridge?'  I can see that it might be because of all the ice.  They are very sturdy in structure.

Covered bridge in Tunbridge, Vermont

I am sure that when spring comes we will enjoy the green of this Green Mountain State.

We have enjoyed the town of Hannover, New Hampshire, the home of Dartmouth College.  It is a fun town.  I love the old architecture of the buildings and the beauty of the grounds.

One of the buildings at Dartmouth College

Just across the Connecticut River is a little town called Norwich. It is quaint and has some Churches that remind me of the song the "Little Brown Church in the Vale."  

Little Gray Church in Norwich

The day we were here was especially fun.  We were looking for the last home that Joseph Sr and Lucy's family lived in before they moved to Palmyra.  Diana was on the phone with us and encouraged me to post some of these pictures on Instagram.  So I did.  She stayed with us while we tried to find the roads to be on and while we made several turn arounds, it was truly fun to have her with us in that car that day.

We did find the house.  The front is original.  They have built on in the back; most houses in Vermont do build on.  It is still rural and they would have farmed the surrounding property. A very fun find.

This is the rented home that Joseph Sr. and Lucy Smith lived in for three years before moving to Palmyra NY 

I took a picture of it in the snow but found this one and it showed the house better.

We have had some amazing experiences here.  Most of them having to do with feeling our Father in Heaven's spirit. This is a blessed place.  I know it.

When  the sun shines after a snow storm the air is extremely cold.  This day it was -15 degrees.

  

Search, Ponder, and Pray

Roger and I spoke in Church on Sunday.  It was an interesting experience. While I prepared what I would say, my heart kept coming back to prayer.  I was given the conference talk by Elder Richard G. Scott, in the April 2014 conference, titled "I Have Given You an Example".  I have been loving my scripture study; it has given me guidance over the years. 

I thought over the things I had read. I wondered how I could be so blessed with experiences that helped me grow to be who I am.

I felt some specific things in my life needed to be told to this congregation that we are learning to love.  I told them how prayer is an important part of my life, that from the time I was a small child prayer has guided me.  I knew that God would answer my prayers because He had done so many times before. I have had times that the answers to my prayers came so fast after I had said them that it would startle me.  I also know that sometimes it has taken a long time to get an answer, and sometimes that answer is NO. So I have been evaluating my prayers and the sincerity of them.

The wonderful missionaries we are working with: From left to right:

The Ogden's, The Harmon's, The Osborn's, The Petersen's, The Mooney's

Tuesday was our first Zone Conference for our Mission.  It was held at the Church by the Visitor Center. It was moving to see so many young Elders and Sisters who are giving a year and a half to two years of their young lives to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. What a blessing they are to the Lord and to their parents who have the faith to send them on missions.  

President Stoker is an amazing man.  He truly emulates Christ-like attributes.  He centered our learning experience on Search, Ponder and Pray.  I felt that because of our talks on Sunday that I was prepared to be taught.  

I love 3 Nephi 17:3, After Jesus appears to the Nephites he speaks many things to them, then he says: "Therefore, go ye unto your homes and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow and I come unto you again."  He tells them to go home and PRAY about the things they have learned.  It is amazing that the Savior wants us to pray about the things He has said that we might know for ourselves from the Father.

The Bible Dictionary says about prayer:  "As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part....Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other.  The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others the blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them."

Elder and Sister Ogden, Elder and Sister Harmon, Elder and Sister Osborn, Us, Elder and Sister Mooney

The Harmon's and Mooney's take care of the grounds the rest of us do the tours etc.

The night before Anne died she told Ward that she needed to make some phone calls. Ward dialed and Anne bore solemn testimony to her beloved friends.  I am not sure what she said to each of them, but on the day of her funeral, when we were leaving the cemetery, her sweet friend from California, Amber Wong, came up to a group of us and said "Anne called me on Friday and said God has a plan for me. Do you know what it is?"

Yes I do know, I wish I had been able to tell her at that moment. We were so caught up with the funeral and the day, but the moment was lost.  I hope Amber has found her answer.  It is an important one.

I have been blessed these past three days.  I have felt my
Savior's love and my "mind of understanding" has  been opened and my Testimony of God and Jesus Christ has increased.

Cold!

We were told that we needed to prepare for the cold.  I figured I have lived in the Utah mountains with cold air, lots of snow and ice.  I was sure I would do just fine.  I did, for a while, then it came.

With Christmas over and the New Year upon us I thought we were doing well.  The numbers of visitors did not slow down even up until New Years night.  Roger spent a lot of time outside inviting visitors into the residence to have cookies and cider.  He thought he could do this with just his suit coat on.  He got soooo cold. Luckily we had put his overcoat in the car.  A very smart thing to do. We have spent most of our time inside.  

Just as everyone helped decorate before we got here. We all helped un-decorate after New Years.

Lauren was worried about our little Christmas tree, but this is the one we saw everyday.

Notice the Angel Moroni as the tree topper.

Although it didn't take long, it took energy.  We had to put away all the Nativities, the Christmas tree, the garlands and switch the pictures on the walls.

The pictures on the walls changed with the New Year

On Saturday night we left the center and it was raining.  In the night it snowed making it icy and slick.  We got a call early on Sunday morning telling us that Church had been moved from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  That was not a problem for us; we just made the adjustment.  Our meetings were good.  Just when we finished singing the opening song in Relief Society the Bishop came in and told us that church was over. We needed to get home before it was too icy to drive.  The temperature had dropped 15* in 10 minutes.

We all were OK with that.  The people who live here know what to expect under all these different circumstances. I am glad they know.

Monday morning we drove up to the Visitors Center and Roger and I were in awe.  It has been hard to describe what the snow looks like.  Maybe seven minute icing, melted marshmallow cream, satin draped across the world, maybe even shiney milk white glass or white ice.

I had  to take this picture from inside the car because the window was frozen shut.

What ever the description it is beautiful. As I walked into the center this morning I leaned over to touch this beauty and it was as smooth as silk, but very cold.

I have bought some really warm socks and I wear a sweater all the time.  

I am amazed at the beauty of this world that was created for us.

We are blessed in the most incredible ways.

The Christmas SeasNeon

This Christmas season has been one of wonder, surprise, and awe.  I have met and visited with more people than ever before.  The children have come with wonder in their eyes at the lights and the magic 3D glasses, the treats and the animals.  The teens have come just to partake of the beauty that the lights show.  The adults have loved it all.  Watching the kids of all ages love the Christmas season has been fun for me.

We have had people say "Who is this Joseph Smith?" One woman asked who the picture above the fireplace was; Roger explained,  "it is the Lord Jesus Christ."  She said, "Oh, I thought it might be. I have heard of Him."  We have a lighted simulation of a covered bridge.  It is everyone's favorite.  One couple, who looked down on their luck and hard in their countenances, came into the residence where we have refreshments, and said "We have walked through the covered bridge; do you know there is a special spirit there? We would like to stay there forever." There is a way they can feel this all the time.  They must seek for Christ in their lives.

The Joseph Smith Birthplace Monument

There is a quote by Joseph B. Wirthlin of the the Council of the Twelve Apostles;   

 "Next to Bethlehem where the Savior was born, this site, the Birthplace of Joseph Smith, is one of the most sacred spots on the face of the earth, and if we are worthy, we would see the angels that hover over the trees protecting this spot and those who are here."

I know this to be true.  I have felt the spirit of the Lord moving me in ways to greet and love all of his children who have come here. I know he is no respecter of persons and I am blessed to be able to bear testimony of Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith bears solemn testimony of the Savior also along with Sidney Ridgdon:

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!

For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father-

That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters of God."

I know this to be true!  It is the hastening of the work!

December 15, 2014

Today is special. We have two birthdays in our family.  Elisabeth was born in our old age and quickly became a wonderful blessing to us. Emily is 20 today and is serving a mission teaching the people in Lima, Peru, of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

                               HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

I thought today I should document our living accommodations, since we are praying for a change to something above ground.

The fourplex we live in is on Carron Circle in South Royalton.
(Phil), upstairs to the left, smokes, mostly outside, but a lot and loves to talk to Roger about being a Vietnam Vet. The woman (Merideth) upstairs, from us has a grandchild on the weekends. The running and jumping that children do, sometimes sounds like she is coming through the ceiling. She is nice to us but does not like the other neighbors. The man that lives across the hall from us owns a Pizza place in Royalton and is gone most of the time.  He is not very noisy but has not won Merideth over.  They all need the gospel in their lives, but are not interested.

We have basically four rooms, seven steps and you can be in any of the rooms. 

The living room.  We have three recliners, each look like they came from a Goodwill store.  They are clean, I know because I have cleaned them. The computer is acting as our TV right now.

The kitchen is barely adequate.  The stove is new but the fridge is making a sound like an airplane flying through the room each time it turns on.  The table and chairs are nice (the nicest furniture we have).  The little machine on the floor to the left is a dehumidifier. I guess they become a coveted commodity in the summer.

The bedroom is mostly bed.  There are about 18 inches that surround the bed.  There is a little ledge that goes along the outside wall that we put some of out things on (watches, phones, etc.)

We do have a second bedroom that is a little smaller than the master.

This is our Christmas Tree for this year.  It is small but we have two absolutely beautiful trees we see and are around most of the time. We will be spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at the Visitors Center.  We look forward to this wonderful way to spend our Christmas.

We are keeping our eyes open for an apartment above ground.  I love the light that can come into my house when I can keep the window covers open. 

We have had a very busy time since coming to Vermont.  We usually have a six hour shift each day to greet people and take tours through the Visitors Center.  This Joseph Smith Memorial Birthplace has a special spirit about it.  It is set in the mountains, surrounded by forests.  

New England is just what I thought it would be.  The mountains are not the tower craggy type in wide open spaces that we can see from our home in Utah, rather they are rolling with trees, and small towns nestled in among the trees. 

At Christmas time, for the month of December, the Visitors Center is lighted up just like Temple Square in Salt Lake (only on a smaller scale).  People come from all over New England to see these lights.  Thursday and Friday nights after Thanksgiving, we had the lighting ceremony and program.  The local Stakes put on a live Nativity each of those nights. They were touching.  This is open to the public and over 750 people attended the two nights. There are many now who come and drive by to see the lights and if they stop and come in. We have cookies and cider for them.

 
This picture shows a very few lights.  The white lights in the back are made to look like a covered bridge.

I love this nativity in front of the monument.  It looks cold with the snow.

These cute little animals are here too for the little kids to touch.

I am loving this experience.

(This is Roger.)  I have been studying the history of this monument since coming here.  The question is: exactly where was the Prophet born?  A great Master's thesis was done by Keith Erekson.  Junius H. Wells was appointed by the First Presidency to determine the exact location of the birth before the Church purchased the property.

Brother Wells did his research well.  Joseph and his mother, Lucy Mack Smith, both said Joseph was born in Sharon, Winsor County, Vermont.  But determining the exact spot was tough because the county line between Sharon and South Royalton ran right through the Smith Cabin.   So, it came down to whether Joseph was born in the bedroom (Sharon County) or the kitchen (South Royalton).

The controversy has never been settled.  But, since both Joseph and Lucy said it was Sharon, I guess Joseph was born in the bedroom.

We are here!  The road was long, long, long, but the Lord cleared the way each day.  There were mornings when we would start out and the sky would be cloudy and looking like a storm was coming; then the clouds would part and the sun would shine and we would drive on dry roads.

We saw many things:

Trucks

Signs: like Des Moines, Iowa

Beautiful farms and country sides

Wonderful Kirtland Ohio

We are happy to be here in little South Royalton, Vermont.