Called to Serve

By Greg:

This past week has been an incredible experience for us.  After spending a couple of weeks finding, renting and furnishing missionary apartments, we were able to see the end result as we welcomed 22 new Elders and Sisters into the mission.  I am sorry that I did not take pictures of this, it really was incredible!

This is a picture of me preaching a sermon in "the grove" in Nauvoo.  Debi will talk about our trip to Nauvoo with Joni.

 

We were asked to join in the receiving effort.  President Keyes, our mission president, called the senior office staff together and gave us some counsel.  We could tell that something was weighing on his mind as he taught us RULE # 1: Take care of the missionaries—make certain they are safe.  RULE # 2: Take care of the Mission (and by extension the Church).  RULE # 3: Never let rule number 2 get ahead of rule number 1.  We later realized that he was really concerned about what was going on in the Philippines, and perhaps how he would react to some emergency if it happened here.

 

He gave us an example of his rules.  He said a while back he was impressed that a set of sisters needed to change apartments.  There was some push back from the staff because it meant that we might have to pay some money to get out of the lease.  We all were taught that impressions and inspiration from a mission president trumps all other concerns.  This was great counsel.  He said this is not a business. Some of us have to start thinking with our hearts more, and our heads less.

 

As I said, we received 22 new missionaries.  Sister Haws and I took our truck to the airport.  We all had different missionaries to pick up.  They all did not come on the same flight.  In fact, some were coming from the Mexico City MTC.  Some are what we call “visa waiters” in that they are called to either Brazil or India, but their visas have not come through, so they will serve here until they do.  The Brazilians usually take a few months; the ones called to India sometimes take a year.  In the meantime they are Missouri Independence Missionaries.  We do not distinguish them in anyway.

 

We got our missionary.  It was fun to be on this side.  There were no farewell tears of goodbye, only happiness, excitement and a lot of apprehension.

 

We all gathered at the Temple and then the new missionaries went to the Liberty Jail.  We met back up later at the President’s house.  The Senior Missionaries who are part of the office staff join in the orientation meeting and give instruction regarding finance, cars, housing, phones, medical etc.  The new missionaries all introduced themselves and told where they were from and why they had come on this mission.  This was so touching. Then we left them and they had their pictures taken with President and Sister Keyes, had dinner and interviews.

 

In the morning we all gathered at the Stake Center.  All the missionaries that were being transferred were also there.  It was wild.  Everyone was greeting former companions, the sisters were hugging each other, and it was a site of pure joy!

 

We took two sisters to their area.  One of them was new.  She is from South Korea.  She and her companion are opening a new area in one of our new apartments.  We took them to Walmart, then to lunch and then helped them get settled.  They will share a car with the Elders.  We do not have enough cars so many areas share; some have two cars for three sets.  Then we bid them goodbye and good luck.  I felt like we were leaving a daughter at college for the first time.  I had a lump in my throat, but they seemed confident.

 

It is such a blessing to be part of this great work.  We will do more of this when we go into the office full time; sometime in February or March.

 

By Debi:

 

Last Saturday Greg and I were on the war path.  We set out to visit the homes of 25 Young Single Adults in one long day.  We have been off doing other assignments for a while and we have really gotten behind.  As we were hunting for addresses I thought about visiting three sisters in a month.  I decided I would never complain about visiting teaching again.  Three or four sisters in a month sound a lot better than 25 in a day. I am happy to report that we did it.  We went to all 25 homes.  It was our best day ever.

 

Two weeks ago our daughter Joni came to visit us.  Her very kind husband kept the kids at home and let Joni come for four days.  Greg and I were so excited.  It is not very often that we have alone time with one of our daughters since they have all married and have children.

 

We picked up Joni at the Kansas City airport late Friday night and brought her to our humble apartment.  After a good night rest we headed out to see the historical sites.  We took her to Richmond to see the 3 Witness monument and the graves of David Whitmer and Oliver Cowdery. 

The picture is at the cemetery where David Whitmer is buried.  We also wanted to show the bright red tree in the background.  It was so beautiful. This picture does not do the tree justice.

We then drove up to the Far West Temple site.  We made a quick stop at the cute Far West bookstore that is owned and operated by a member of our Church. Joni got some cute souvenirs for her family there. 

We stopped for a short time at the site of the Haun's mill massacre.

We then started our journey to Nauvoo.  Now some of you might be wondering if that is in our mission.  No, it is not.  President Keyes gave us permission to take Joni to Nauvoo because she spent a semester in Nauvoo while she attended BYU and she really wanted to go back and see the temple finished. 

 

 

Saturday afternoon we were able to go to the Nauvoo Temple and attend a session there.  It was the first time for all of us.  The Temple is so beautiful and somehow they have made it feel like the original temple.  We loved it there and the murals painted on the walls were so gorgeous.   After the session we took pictures of the Mississippi River and the town from the Temple hill. 

This picture is from the temple steps looking out over the river.  The statues of Joseph and Hyrum on their horses is just in front of the temple.

 

This is a replica of a ferry boat that took wagons and animals across the river.

 

 

 

We are told we should not spend so much time looking back, but look forward.  We wondered as the Saints stood at this very spot, how much time did they spend looking back at the City of Nauvoo, the beautiful temple, and their hopes and dreams.  Did they have any idea what they were looking forward to?  Do we? 

 

 

That night the town of Nauvoo had a pumpkin walk down Main Street.  The senior missionaries made yummy kettle corn and handed it out to everyone for free.  We had a great time.  We also ate dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel restaurant and had their grand buffet.

 

 

 

Sunday morning we went to church and met Sister Susan Easton Black Durrant and her new husband Elder George Durrant.  They know J.B. and several of our girls took her class at BYU.  She invited us to dinner and we were very happy but nervous to accept.
 

We attended the Senior Missionary sacrament meeting.  The chapel was completely full as was 2/3 of the cultural hall.  They were all senior missionaries!  With the Visitor Center couples, and the Temple Missionaries, and the FM Missionaries, this was quite a sight. 

We spent the day walking all through the Nauvoo Pioneer town.  We took a lot of time walking the trail of Hope to the Mississippi river reading all of the journal entries. We went to the shops and heard all of the history and stories from the Senior Missionaries.  The weather was beautiful and the leaves were all turning.  Some looked like they were on fire.  It was a perfect day. 
 

 

We had a great dinner with the Durrant’s and we enjoyed their company so much.  Sister Durrant is a great cook and I know that she is a great teacher.  What an amazing person.  Elder Durrant is a sealer in the Nauvoo temple and they are on a mission there as temple missionaries.  Just a side note, Elder Durrant knows my brother-in-law, Warren Johnson.  They worked together for the Church for many years.  He loves Warren and he told us that Warren named all of his children after him.  Actually, Warren and my sister Mickie, did name their last son, George Whitfield Johnson.

We also visited the Carthage Jail.  This is a very solemn place that always brings strong emptions.

 

The brethren were in the room in the picture below when the mob burst in.  Hyrum died here from a gunshot to his face.  Joseph was shot and fell out the window behind us and landed near the well in the above picture.  There he died.

 

Monday we headed back to Missouri.  We went to Adam-ondi-ahman on the way back to Independence and spent a lot of time there.  It is beautiful there and we really felt the spirit.

 

Tuesday morning we took Joni to the Liberty Jail and Visitor Center and spent an hour or so learning about the jail and the suffering and heartache that the Prophet Joseph Smith and others who were locked up there for 5 months.  That was a special experience to share with Joni. 

 

We then took her to the airport and said our goodbyes.  It was so fun to have Joni here but it made me very homesick.  I can see why the young missionaries shouldn’t see their families while they are on their missions.

 

Missouri and Illinois are so full of the Church Historical sites.  It is amazing to be here and to see and learn about the early Saints.  We are thankful for their sacrifices so we can be here enjoying our mission in the year of 2013.

 At our home in Hooper we have a David Jackson painting hanging above our fireplace.  It is of the first Nauvoo temple.  The setting is much like this picture of the second Nauvoo temple.

 

 

 

Stand in Holy Places

Zions Camp, Missionary Apartments and Gigi



There is lots of road construction here, but they have a sense of humor

By Debi:

 

I am back! I have been in West Virginia for ten days.  Our daughter delivered her sweet baby girl on October 31^st.  We now have a Halloween baby.  I have to say she is the cutest little goblin I have ever seen.  I know that some might say I am prejudice but I am sure I am right this time.

 

I had a great time holding down the fort while my daughter went to the hospital.  Aurora, 3 years old, and Dash, 19 months old, kept me very busy.  We played hide and seek, house, and hours of swinging in the back yard.

 

Millie and Robert brought home a beautiful baby girl named Georgia (nickname Gigi).  Even though she was three weeks early she weighed 7 lb. 14 oz. and 21 inches long.  Two days later she was readmitted to the hospital with a very serious case of jaundice.  I stayed with Millie and Georgia while Robert stayed home with the children.  It was a very special night for me.  I held little Gigi’s hand for most of the night. As long as I held her hand she was quiet and calm, but if I let go, she would start to become restless and agitated.  I am so grateful for the strength I received to be able to give the support needed throughout the night. The Lord knows and loves us and does support us in our times of need.

 

Mother and baby are now home and doing great. I love this little family and I will forever be grateful for this wonderful experience with my family.

 

There is no rest for the weary.  The morning after I flew back to our mission Greg and I went to the Liberty Stake girl’s camp for a day of service. The new girl’s camp is called “Zion’s Camp”.

It is on property that the early Saints owned and lived on.  It is also near the site where Joseph and Hyrum were tricked into coming out to meet with General Lucas.  They were arrested and sentenced to hang in the morning.  Through the determined support of General Doniphan they were not shot on the spot but were arrested and taken to Independence and then eventually to the Liberty Jail.  Greg and I are so amazed how almost every area we visit is filled with Church history.  What a solemn feeling we felt as we stood on the very site of Joseph Smith’s arrest and we pondered the feelings and heartbreak that he must have felt. This new girl’s camp is in a beautiful place full of history. It will be a great blessing to the Young Women and the members in this area for many years to come.

 

Distance does make the heart grow fonder.  Since I have been back Greg has spoiled me with his love and attention.   While I was away I missed celebrating our 40^th anniversary. So Greg took me to a very nice restaurant last night and we had a wonderful time being together.

I am so thankful for Greg and his love and devotion.  Not only has he been my companion on our mission but he has been my companion for 40 years during the good and the hard times of our journey here on earth.  I am looking forward to many more years and then onto the eternities.

 

By Greg:

 

Sometimes I am so stupid.  Friday night I was to pick Debi up at the airport when she arrived at 11:00 pm.  Well, I had a meeting from 7 to 9:30 sort of close to the airport.  The KCI is way north and I did not know what to do so I went to a big building near there and waited in the parking lot next to a big pond.  While there I listened to “The Savage Report” on the radio.  I think I actually fell asleep.  When I woke I realized the cabin lights were also on.  I thought, “Oh Crap! (Sorry, that’s what I thought). I have probably run my battery down.” Sure enough, it would not start.  No one was around for a jump, and it was 10:45.  How could I get to Debi?  Then I remembered that this is why I have AAA.  I called, thank goodness my GPS map still worked so I could tell them where I was and soon Mel’s Towing came and jumped me at 11:15 and Debi called at 11:20 and I was there at her gate just like nothing had happened.  I considered not telling her, but, hey, crisis plus time equals humor.

 

I spent the entire time Debi was gone with Elder Lillywhite.  We have been trying to locate and rent 8 apartments, each in a different city, and stock them with furniture.  I have gone with him to thrift stores, estate sales, more thrift stores, yard sales, more thrift stores and second hand furniture stores.  We do not buy used mattresses, so we are now best friends with the local “cheap mattresses for sale-still in box” guys.  We are also on a first name basis with the used appliance guys. We put washers and dryers in apartments that have hook-ups. This is what our "Bat Cave" looks like on the inside.

 

President Keyes has instructed us to find clean, safe apartments that do not overlook swimming pools or other distractions.  He wants them to have plenty of natural light (he has found dark basements lead to depression in some missionaries).  Each set needs two beds.  They must sleep in the same room, but in separate beds.  They each need a desk and a good study chair, as well as a dining table of some kind, with chairs.  We also try to give each set a couch, a dresser, a book case and perhaps some soft chairs.  We have found a lot of lazy-boys.  We hope that means the chairs, not the Elders.  We also stock them with all the kitchen and bathroom stuff.  Each set also gets an ironing board, an iron, toilet brush and a vacuum.  We hope they know how to use each.  I come home very tired each night.  I don’t know how Elder Lillywhite (I call him either Chief or Captain o’ my Captain) does it.  He is truly a great soul! Debi has been wondering what I have been doing.  I keep talking about our "Cave" so she has gone looking for me.  Actually we don't know what this is, but it looked pretty cool.  It is probably a storm shelter of some kind.

 

We were at the Stake Center working in the “Bat Cave” and we realized that there was a big event going on.  It was in the middle of the day.  I inquired and found out one of our members died and it was his funeral.  He is a Polynesian and was part of a family that had 14 children.  He was in his early 40s and suffered a heart attack.  The entire group of people attending seemed like Polynesians.  There is a sizable group of Pacific Islanders living here.  Anyway, they hired a horse drawn hearse to take him from the Church to the cemetery.  I took this picture as they were setting up.

 

After 10 days of lifting and moving furniture, we went to the girls camp (they are calling it Zions Camp) and spent a few hours lifting and hauling logs.  Debi built this pile of logs almost as tall as she is.  It gave us a special appreciation for the early pioneers who cleared this land with axes and hand saws.  The men were using chain saws and free missionary labor.  Their plan is to make this a mini-Heber camp.  It is a great place and a great plan.

 

The real Zions camp was a group of 229 Latter-day Saint men who answered the call to travel the 1,000 miles from Kirtland to Missouri.  The Saints had been instructed by the then Govenor, David Dunklin of Missouri that if they gathered together a sufficient group of men he would join them with the Missouri militia and help restore the Saints to their lands in Jackson County.  Joseph Smith received a revelation (Section 103) to call men to this service.

 

They were engaged during May and June of 1834.  This was Joseph’s third visit to Missouri.  The average age of the men was 29, the youngest was 16, but one man was 79. 

 

When word reached the Old Settlers that a Mormon army was on its way all “heck” broke loose.  The Missouri Mob/Militia gathered to meet the Mormon Camp/Militia at Fishing River.  This would have been a terrible battle except a fierce storm arose and the Missourians dispersed.

 

This is near the Fishing River site.

 

The Governor withdrew his offer and eventually the Camp disbanded.  While they were waiting for further instructions a cholera epidemic broke out killing 13 of the camp.

 

Most historians point to the fact that 8 of the original 12 apostles were in the camp.  All of the original council of Seventies was in the camp.  Also, this was a great training experience. 

 

The Lord later told Joseph that the land around Far West was Holy.  This new camp is very close to the Far West Temple site.  The Liberty Stake motto for their Young Women is “Stand in Holy Places”.  This is a fitting challenge for all of us!

Also, they had Tee Shirts that said their girls were "On Fire".

 

Perhaps many of the things we do in live, even the really hard things, are "training" for something to come.  The brethren learned a lot about moving people and things in Zions Camp.  Also, they learned to follow their leader.  This was not easy for Americans in the early 1800s.  These people were, by nature, very independent.  But if they were to become "one" as the Lord called them to be, they needed to submit their will to that of the Lord.  Much of what we do is to help us to do this as well.  Even girls camps are focused on this training.  I hope we are all on fire and that we all stand in holy places.

 

Prophets, Royals, Jawhawkers, Bushwhackers and Bandits

By Greg:

Debi is still on family leave.  After a short scare, and a day back in the hospital, mother and baby are doing well.  Debi reports that she has been able to get a few hours sleep as well.

Meanwhile, I am working hard with Elder Lillywhite finding, renting and stocking with furniture, apartments for Elders and Sisters.  I have also been thinking about a few things.

When Joseph Smith was visited by Angel Moroni he was told that his "name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues. or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people."  In the deep dark recesses of Liberty Jail the Lord whispered to him "The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision, and hell shall rage against thee; while the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand."  So it is clear, that to some Joseph is the Lord's prophet in this dispensation, while to others, he is at the other end of the spectrum.

I am pretty sure that there are at least a hundred men in this town who would happily kill us if it were still legal.  I know that this was Halloween, but this was  outside a bar across the street from the public square here in Jackson County:

I have been trying to find out why the Kansas City baseball team is called the Royals.  I am from Hooper and I attended Roy High School, in Roy, Utah.  When I went there it was a brand new school (I went there its second year) and we were still in the process of establishing traditions.  Those responsible for choosing our mascot decided on the Roy High Royal.  We adopted the Crown and the Royal Lion.  We had Royal Guardsmen, Royalairs, and our outstanding football players wore black armbands as they were knighted "Black Knights".  They painted a cool crown and lion in the jump circle on the basketball floor and at dances we put up a fence around it so we would not step on the crown as we danced. It was to become a serious tradition:  Do not tread on the Crown!

 No one seemed to care that America had fought the revolutionary War to overcome the Royal class distinction and establish a country where we were all part of "we the people", hey, we were Royal.  We stood and shouted, "We're from Roy and we couldn't be prouder, if you can't here us now. we'll yell a little louder!" It did not matter that some of us were actually from Hooper.

So why the Kansas City Royals? 

I Goggled the question:  Why are the Kansas City Royals called the Royals?  The answer:  They are named after the big livestock show that is held annually in Kansas City called the American Royal Livestock Show.  Now that should have put the question to a rest, but not for me.  I needed to know why the livestock show was called "Royal".  Further, I have noticed that there are several things around here with "Royal" ties.  There is King Street and also Queen Street.  And, of course. there is the Queen City Motel, right here in Independence.

In the early 1980s, I attended a two week income tax couse of study at the University of Illinois.  After I was done, Debi flew to St. Louis and met me and we had a nice trip.  We "took the slow road home" and passed through here and toured the Church history sites.  One night we had just left the Liberty Jail and took the back road to Independence.  The only motel we could find was the Queen City Motel.  It looks even better now than it did then.  The only thing I can say is that I fell asleep, but Debi did not.  She realized that they were renting the room next to us "by the hour".  Still, why the Queen City"?

So I Goggled the American Royal Livestock Show.  Now I already knew that most of the huge ranches in Wyoming and Colorado in the early days were owned by Englishmen.  So it stands to reason that as they began importing breeding stock they would want to show them off, and sell bulls.  Hence, the Kansas City Show.  It began in 1899.  There had been a similar show in London held for years.  It was called the "Royal Livestock Show." So they started calling this one the "American Royal Livestock Show".  The show sponsored a "farm" baseball club and called it, yes, the Royals.  Oh, they also started the Future Farmers of America.

Now, we know all about the problems the Mormons had in Jackson County with the old time settlers.  Even thought they talked the talk about living in a republic and having freedoms, those in the mobs only believed that freedoms applied to themselves.  That sounds a little like "Royals" to me.  The Mormons arrived in 1831 and were pretty much driven out by 1839.  Then the highborn Missourian had to look elsewhere to find an inferior people.  In the 1850s they found what they were looking for.

Missouri was a slave state, and most of the people in Missouri below the river came from Southern States.  Jackson County is below the river.  West of here, Kansas wanted to join the Union.  But the big question was:  Would Kansas be a slave or a free state?  Congress said, "Let the people of Kansas decide." Well, the Jackson County boys went to their fathers and asked, "What can we do?"  And they said, "Well, we drove out the Mormons, you can do the same to the Free-soilers" (those who favored a free state).  So they got on their horses, took their guns, their torches and their liquor and went over to Kansas to persuade the people to vote for slavery.  The problem was there were groups in the north raising money to help northerners pay the $1.25 per acre to actually settle in Kansas.  When it came time to vote, they were residents.  The Missourian were "residents for a day". 

The Missourians were called Bushwhackers.  They burned houses, shot people, stole animals and pretty much did to the people in Kansas what they wanted.  But, the people in Kansas fought back.  They were called Jayhawkers.  They crossed into Missouri, stole back their horses (and a few to pay expenses) as well as liberated slaves.  They also looted, burned and killed.  This border war was really terrible. Today I was in Harrisonville, Mo. and I saw this painting on the wall in the downtown area: 

In case you can not read this or make out what is depicted, this shows Kansas Jayhawkers in blue Union uniforms looting and shooting in the town square of Harrisonville, Missouri.

Well this border war continued until it became legal to kill each other.  Both sides were delighted to have the Civil War finally come and let others join in the fight.  The problem in Missouri was it did not secede from the Union.  So the Jackson County boys (who were pro-slavery, pro-secession) expanded their fight to those who were Unionists and opposed secession.  Many of them were their cousins, brothers and even sons/fathers.  The sad thing is the men on the trigger end of the guns actually knew most of the men on the barrel ends.

One of the Bushwhacker leaders that became a Confederate Colonel was a man named William Clarke Quantrill.  This guy was a bad man (unless you think he was a great man).  Remember, one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.  I don't think I would go into the Golden Corral here in Jackson County and yell slanderous things about him.   Quantrill generally liked killing people.  And, he did not fight fair.  He and his men were guerillas.  There are three main rules to guerilla fighting: 1) always be on the offensive; 2) never fight on your enemies terms; and 3) in between attacks, return to normal life and blend in to the general population.  This has been used by many to a great advantage. 

Well, he really ticked off the Union Generals who like picking a battleground, setting a time to begin and fighting it out.  So in frustration they decided to fight back issuing what was called General Order 11.  They determined that the residents of Jackson County were aiding and abetting the terrorists.  So they attacked the civilian population and burned their homes, barns, fields and businesses.

Alexander Doniphan was a leading citizen in Missouri, a lawyer and was also a military leader.  His law partner, David Atchison was also a militia leader and would later be a US Senator, and a leader of a group of Bushwhackers.  The Saints did not have money to pay all of their legal fees so it was proposed to offer the lawyers land in Jackson County.  Joseph Smith, as a friend of Doniphan said:

"I advise you not to take that Jackson County land in payment of the debt.  God's wrath hangs over Jackson County.  God's people have been ruthlessly driven from it, and you will live to see the day when it will be visited by fire and sword.  The Lord of Hosts will sweep it with the besom of destruction.  The fields and farms and houses will be destroyed, and only the chimneys will be left to mark the desolation."

After the Civil War Doniphan attested that the prophesy had been fulfilled, especially following the issuance of General Order 11.  Most historians agree that few if any counties suffered more destruction during the Civil War than did Jackson County Missouri.

After the War it was no longer legal to kill people, but some of them really liked it, so they kept it up.  Quantrill and his men became bandits.  They were joined by two young brothers from north of here.  There names were Frank and Jesse James.  They attacked Northern Carpetbaggers, banks that were foreclosing on farms, and railroads, who were seen as the oppressors of all.

Jesse was caught and killed in St. Joseph, having been betrayed by one of his own men.  But Frank James and William Quantrill were both caught and brought here to Independence for trial.  They were in "jail" but it was more like a hotel.  They were tried by a jury of their peers and found not guilty and released.  Again, one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter.

I think the Devil is a terrorist, the ultimate gruella fighter.  He is always on the offense.  He does not play fair or ever fight on an open field.  And his workers try to hide in the general population so that they will not be found in the daylight.  But beware, God has a General Order that one day will be issued, and all who aid and abet the Devil will suffer wrath.

But, we also have an army on the field.  I am so impressed with the young missionaries that I have met.  Yes, they are good at moving furniture, and eating at Arbys, but they are endowed with power and are the front line of defense and are out there every day!  God bless them all.

Which Church to Join?

By Greg:

Well here is another post.  My children all know when I am left alone because I start to wax eloquent and then I get weird.  Well, I can feel myself slipping.

With my main companion gone, I have been assigned to help Elder Lillywhite with apartment acquisition and furnishing.  He is my now senior companion (he is 70, I am only 61).

Yesterday we started at 8:30 in the morning and ended after 8:00 pm. We found a new apartment to station some elders in Warsaw, Mo.  We will move them out of Clinton.  We found a new apartment for sisters who will move to Clinton.  We will give up the current elder's apartment.  We furnished the new sisters apartment with new beds and all of the other stuff they will need. It felt like moving one of my daughters into a student apartment at BYU.  Clinton is either the beginning or the end of the KATY trail, depending on how you look at it.  Warsaw is about an hour beyond that and is in the area known as the Lakes of the Ozarks.  There are lots of lakes and it was so beautiful with the fall leaves and the calm waters.  If the Elders can fellowship the right people they might get to fish from the shore.

We got back to the office at 5:00, and we were tired, but it was just in time to jump in my truck and go one hour north to Cameron and look for a home for another set of sisters.  On the next transfer (November 12) we need 8 new apartments.  We looked at a couple of options, but decided on a little house.  Again, we will move the Elders to the house and the sisters will get their current apartment.  We made it clear that the elders need to move out and clean it before the sisters arrive.

I have a lead on a couple of other apartments that we will look at on Monday.  This is a big job, but I am happy to help.

I took today and did a real P-day.  I got a hair cut, lubed and washed the truck, went shopping, did my wash (well, actually I went to the cleaners) cleaned the apartment (not to Debi's standard however--but after looking at these Elder's apartment--mine is Temple Ready!). In the afternoon I decided to take a walk.  I walked up to the Town Square and the Temple Lot.  It is not far, but the loop I walked took 2 hours.

I am still amazed at all the different churches.  When Joseph arrived in Far West in the spring of 1838 the Lord changed the name of the Church.  They were the Church of Christ before that April 26, 1838.  In Section 115 it reads: "For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints".

Well, if you go to the temple lot and look in all directions you can see:

The Visitor Center for our Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Then there is the "Temple" of the former Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, now known as the Community of Christ.  I think the names were too confusing for even them, but they still believe in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, but the look past some of both, and apparently section 115.

I was on the temple lot looking  south and east at our visitor's center and the RLDS (sorry, they will always be that to me) Temple was to my left (north of our visitor's center) and their tabernacle was to my right, just west of us on the same street.

They hold their meetings in their tabernacle, but their temple is for worship and reflection.  It is a symbol of peace, which is one of their major themes.  This is a big plaque on the wall of the temple proclaiming peace.

Also, in the plaza there is this cool statue where the man and his child is "beating swords into plow shares and spears into pruning hooks" as the prophets have dreamed of.

Just behind me was another "slinter group" known as the Church of Christ.  Also called the Church of Christ-Temple Lot.  Their main purpose is to own and hold the temple lot.  They have a white church.

Just north and across the street from the Temple Lot folks is what is called the Stone Church, which is one of the original RLDS buildings in the area.  This was their headquarters before the Tabernacle was constructed.

Now it gets a little tricky.  West of the Stone Church is another building that has this name: The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Around the corner I found the Restoration Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Now I walked east a couple of blocks and was back near the town square.  Here I found another panoramic view of churches.

The 1st Christian Church.  This is cool because the followers of Jesus were first call Christians at Antioch.  So if this really is the 1st Christian Church, it is really old.

Without moving from the interception I saw the 1st Presbyterian Church.  I thought it was also cool, as it was the first.  They are proud of the fact that they held together during the American Civil War, not like their neighbors, the Baptists. They also claim Harry met Bess here in Sunday School.  They do not mention that Harry Truman was not a member of this church.

 

 

Not to be outdone is the First United Methodist church, ever!

 



 

Joseph said they teach for doctrines the philosophes of men mingled with scripture.  Well they have expanded to self defense.

 

 

Then, of course, their is the First Baptist Church.  But I don't think they stayed together during the War of Northern Aggression.  Hence, we now have Southern Baptists.  Still, this one claims to be the first.

 

Harry Truman lived his whole life right here, except when he was in Washington.  He was never baptized nor did he belong to a church.  He certainly had several options very close by.  His church was government.  Here is where he presided as a judge.

As I read the plaques on all of these churches, I was taken by the fact that though many of the buildings were built after the congregations were founded, all of them were founded before the Mormons arrived in 1831.  The early brethren stated that among those opposing us, and also leading the mobs, were ministers of Christian churches in Jackson County.  I think the competition was part of the problem.  Our first missionaries converted several Jackson County families and that probably did not sit well with those ministers.

Well, everyone looks like they are doing OK now.  The buildings are well kept.  It would be interesting to go there tomorrow and see how we stack up with our three wards meeting in our Stake Center against the congregations of the others.

Still, Joseph was told to join none of them.  Especially the Methodists, the Baptists, and the Presbyterians.  Also, he was told to establish THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.