Twentieth Week

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
October 20, 2013



 

 
This last Monday a transfer conference was held.  This is where the sisters go home, new sisters come from the MTC and those that were outbound come home.  We have been to three of these conferences already and it is wild.  There is a lot of screaming, yelling, and crying going on.  We so hate to see sisters that we love dearly go home and some go outbound for two to three months.  We will miss them so.  It is also difficult for us to greet thirty-three new sisters and try to remember their countries and names.  But, this is what missionary service is all about... 

We are finding ourselves getting involved in more administrative responsibilities.  When Elder and Sister Creer left the mission we picked up many of their duties.  However, we are sharing these assignments with Elder and Sister Curtis.  We are now having event meetings with the senior couples and trying to coordinate our efforts.  Taggart organizes the meetings and so far they are going well.  We will really see an increase in activities in the spring, but as for now we can plan for the future.  We will miss our schedule from last summer because our responsibilities will increase dramatically.

Tressa

We did have the opportunity to go up to Pocatello today to see Tressa.  We went to the Sacrament Meeting at the care center where she works.  We were so happy to see her face-to-face and discuss certain issues with her.  She has to work through a few things before she is baptized, but we are confident that this will happen.  In the meantime, we have a discussion this Thursday with her.  She has a testimony of the Gospel and is excited for this next step in her life.  She is always in our thoughts and prayers and we wish her only the best.

I had an amazing experience with a young man on Saturday.  Taggart and I were separated for a time and I met Cesar in the North Visitor’s Center.  I asked if he had any questions and then he just started to talk and talk.  Apparently over the past several weeks he has been studying the Gospel and has truly felt the spirit in abundance.  He told me he was lost and now he is found.  He admits that he can’t get enough information about the Church.  He is constantly reading, studying and praying about what he learns.  We talked about the Godhead, particularly the Holy Ghost, Joseph Smith, families, prayer and other topics.  He had invited an inactive member to meet him on Temple Square because he wanted her to get involved with the Church again.  I invited them to see “God’s Plan for Families” and they both just cried and cried.  He said he was going to Church on Sunday and would email us.  On Sunday evening he did send a lengthy email so excited about what he had experienced that day.  He met with the missionaries and is on fire.  His baptismal date is set for November 16^th and we will definitely attend.

That same Saturday night when I met Cesar, Taggart met with a man who said he wanted to be baptized.  Unfortunately, he is homeless and Taggart was concerned about his intentions for baptism.  In fact, he confronted him and wondered if he wanted baptism strictly because the Church would help him.  He said this was not the case.  Anyway, he went to stake conference on Sunday but was disgruntled with the members because he felt they were judging him.  Taggart made some calls and gave him the name of a bishop in the homeless community and wanted him to meet with him.  We will see what happens and the next step for this young man.

The Temple on Beautiful Fall Evening

Nineteenth Week of Our Mission

Nineteenth Week

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
October 13, 2013

Creers, Frosts, & Elder and Sister Curtis
This week was interesting in that we trained the new senior couple (the Curtises) all week.  The Creers (the other senior couple) will be leaving on Wednesday and then we will be the oldest (in terms of time here) senior couple here on Temple Square.  We took the Curtis’ everywhere, loaded them with facts, initiated passwords, and got to know them well.  They are genuinely excited about being here and beginning their missionary service and we look forward to serving with them.  We also will have a new schedule and a new “P Day.”  This next week we will have Monday off and then be working more nights.  Our days at the Beehive House and the Organ Recital will be limited now.  We will be doing more administrative things and be wandering the Square and making contacts.  Also, as the winter approaches we will spend more time in the Call Center answering questions and chatting with people.

 

We can’t believe it but we are going into our fourth transfer.  The sister missionaries judge how long they have left on their mission by the number of transfers they have.  Each transfer lasts six weeks, so generally they complete fourteen transfers before going home.  Twenty-four sisters are going home this transfer and we will miss them tremendously.  At “Music and the Spoken Word” they were honored today and of course Taggart and I cried.  They have become so dear to us that we hate to see them go.  However on Wednesday thirty-three sisters will be joining us from the MTC and we will have to learn names again.  Personally, I have given up learning those names because with two hundred and twenty-three sisters it is almost an impossible task.  The Transfer Conference will take place tomorrow with new companionships announced, those going outbound learning where they will go, and of course honoring those sisters going home.  It is a time with lots of tears and screams of joy.

 

An interesting experience happened this week.  Many dignitaries were visiting Temple Square and the Church Office Building.  Apparently, they were from all corners of the world with important positions in their government and countries.  We just happened to go to the Church Office Building Cafeteria where they were meeting.  As we ate our lunch to our amazement four of the twelve apostles walked right in front of us.  They were Elder Holland, Oakes, Christofferson, and Nelson.  I just sat in amazement as they walked past.  Also, we met up with Richard Hinckley in the elevator this last week.  Really, where could we have such wonderful experiences and see so many Church leaders?

We had hoped to go to Pocatello today to visit Tressa, but she was working.  However, we do have a discussion with her on the phone Tuesday and she is seeing if she can get next Sunday off for a visit with us.  We are hopeful that this will take place.  Also, we had a “member present” discussion this last week with two great sister missionaries.  They were having trouble with a man who they were working with reading and understanding the Book of Mormon.  They asked us to participate in the discussion.  It was interesting because all four of us could not get connected, so Taggart and I shared our cell phone as we talked with him.  He certainly was a man who was sincere and genuinely interested in finding truth.

Today was a marvelous day in that we met with three women from Texas.  We spent most of the morning with them in discussion, laughing, teaching and building bridges.  One gal was 92 years old, the next was her niece in her mid-seventies, last of all was the daughter in her fifties.  They decided to go on a road trip together and were they ever fun.  They all accepted the Book of Mormon and readily asked questions.  We have their personal information and will keep in contact with them over the next few months.  The youngest gal said she had many more questions and we told her we would be very happy to answer any queries.

 

The saddest thing to report this week is that the flowers around Temple Square were pulled out and bulbs were planted for next spring.  As was mentioned in other entries, we dreaded the day when this would happen.  On Saturday, youth from all over Salt Lake were doing this task. Now we truly can say it is the end of the summer and our plush gardens.

Elder Frost with his beautiful granddaughter Avery on the porch of the Beehive House

Eighteenth Week of Our Mission

Eighteenth Week of Our Mission

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
October 6, 2013

Wow, this was Conference Week.  It was a wild and interesting experience for all of us.  During the week there were several “Pump Up” meetings preparing the sisters for this great event.  Apparently each Conference a video is made to get the sisters excited for meeting and greeting members and getting referrals.  These videos are a combination of silly and spiritual motivations to help them get “pumped up” for the upcoming events.  There was a lot of laughing and a little bit of crying from everyone when we saw the videos.  This was quite the time for the sisters because they worked from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm with only 50 minutes for lunch and dinner.  Of course as a senior couple, we did not have the same schedule, thank goodness. 
 

 We were able to go to the Saturday Morning General Conference Session.  We were lucky enough to sit just a few rows from the front but on the side.  Taggart said it was unreal to see the General Authorities up close and personal and I thoroughly agree.  President Monson addressed us first and stressed the importance of missionary work, especially among members.  We then heard from Robert D. Hales, David Bednar, and Dieter Uchtdorf.  We particularly appreciated the thoughts about paying tithing and the subtle blessings that come from obeying this law.  President Uchtdorf told us to nurture the seed of faith and doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith.  We loved all the talks given and the spirit reassured us that this Church is true!  We love being missionaries at this time and in this place.  Taggart was also able to go to the General Priesthood Session at the Conference Center and be uplifted.

As we roamed around the Square we were amazed at the crowds of people.  Of course, there were those who were completely oblivious to what was going on, they were just visitors coming to Temple Square.  We had a few comments from these people as to what was happening.  We were able to share why we hold conferences and what they are all about.  It was also amazing to us to see so many Saints coming from all over the world, so excited to be here and see a Prophet of God.  I think sometimes we take it for granted that we are here and blessed to go to Conference and see the Brethren.  In fact, as we were walking to the South Visitor’s Center this week we saw D. Todd Christofferson coming toward us.  He greeted us with a hearty, “Hi.” 

 We also had a good missionary discussion with Tressa this week.  We had a little difficulty at the “Call Center” being heard by her, but eventually after a few frustrating moments we got through.  We have another discussion tomorrow and at that time we will discuss a potential baptismal date.  We feel that perhaps we may go up to Pocatello next week and give her a face- to- face discussion.  Even though the “Call Center” is great, it isn’t like being there with the person.  We are thrilled for her progress and are anxious for this wonderful event to occur in her life.  We also are hopeful to find another “someone” who wants to embrace the gospel, so we are going to be working hard to accomplish this goal.  There are so many who need Christ in their lives and we pray that we can touch through the spirit those that are ready to learn.

 

We just want to give a “Shout Out” to the good sister missionaries on Temple Square.  They work so hard and try so diligently to fulfill their callings. This week several blessings were given by Taggart to them because often they are stressed and anxious that they do not live up to their missionary potential.  We love them and try to build them up whenever possible.  We feel sometimes that this is really part of our call to uplift, edify, and motivate them.

Dedicated Missionaries at General Conference

                                      Beautiful Sisters on Temple Square

 

 

 

Seventeenth Week of Our Mission

Seventeenth Week

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
September 29, 2013

This week we were able to visit with our family from the state of Washington.   Jenny, Michael and their family came to town to celebrate Michael’s mother birthday.   Luckily, they were able to spend a little bit of time with us.  On Tuesday, we were able to take them around Temple Square and show them our territory.  Even though they didn’t see everything, we were grateful for the time we had with them.  Because the weather turned from warm to cold, our P Day was spent indoors at the Treehouse Museum instead of “This is the Place Heritage Park” with our grandchildren.  April and her family joined us, so we were all together for a few short days.  During this time with us, Michael was called into the bishopric in his ward.  Today we went to his mother’s house where he was given the Melchizedek Priesthood and the office of a High Priest.  We are so proud of him!

General Conference will be held next week, but last night I (Kimm) had the opportunity to go to the General Relief Society Meeting at the Conference Center.  Needless to say, it was wild getting all those women with their purses being checked individually into the building.  I waited in line for 30 minutes and missed most of the opening remarks.  April joined me and together we had a most difficult time finding each other.  But, we were seated in excellent spots and thoroughly enjoyed our time there.  The spirit was so strong and we appreciated the words from our General Relief Society Presidency.  But of course the highlight was hearing from President Monson stressing the need for prayer and scripture reading.  Tears flowed from my eyes when he told us how he missed his eternal companion.  Many members on the Square have asked if we knew how he was doing.

 

Again, we have had some wonderful discussions with people from throughout the world.  There are so many that truly believe in Jesus Christ and hold tight to His doctrine.  Unfortunately, the fullness of the gospel is not in their lives.  Even though we testify to them they are satisfied with what they have.  But we love getting hugs and good wishes from our Christ-centered friends.  They uplift us and enrich our days.

We were concerned this week when Tressa did not respond to our calls, but we learned that it had been a very demanding week for her.  We also found out to our excitement that she and Ron became engaged.  So, with everything going on in their life we did not have a discussion with her this week.  However, one is planned for Monday and at that time we hope to narrow a baptismal date down for her.  So, we are looking forward to Monday and getting to talk to her again.

Sixteenth Week of Our Mission

Sixteenth Week

Salt Lake Temple Square Mission
September 22, 2013

Fall is in the air and we are saddened.  The flowers on Temple Square are magnificent and in a few short weeks they will be gone.   We are hoping that they will last until General Conference, but we will see.  Since we walk everywhere, we will remember the hot summer days and wish that they were here again.

This last week, we had a lovely Family Home Evening activity.  Our counselor in the mission presidency invited all of us to come to his stake for an evening of fun and food.  Groups of 20 sisters or so went to homes for appetizers before our wonderful dinner.  Our host family was so kind and loving and made some delicious treats.  The sisters ate and ate and enjoyed each other’s company and of course the food.  Then we went to the stake center that had a pavilion in the back which was perfect to accommodate all of the sisters.  They played volleyball, threw frisbees and had fun together.  The dinner was delicious with lots of Cold Stone ice cream to end the meal.  Then we went into the chapel for a team building experience.  All in all, it was fun for everyone to get away from the Square and into a new environment.

On Monday we had another discussion with Tressa.  Some of her friends are critical of her investigation of the Church, but she is standing strong in her beliefs.  She bore a strong witness again of prophets, the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith.  Because the Call Center was down again, we used our cell phone to talk to her.  This was a bit difficult, but we plodded along.  At the end of the discussion, we asked if she would be baptized and to pick a date.  She readily agreed to the baptism, but wanted to talk to her friend, Ron, about an appropriate date for baptism.  We are hoping against hope that she will follow through with her commitment.

 

We have talked about going into the tunnels under Temple Square and this week we did some exploring.  There is a maze of tunnels that go from one building to another and if you aren’t knowledgeable you could get lost.  There seem to be no signs to lead and guide you, but we found our way to the Church Office Building, the Tabernacle where we found the dressing rooms for the Choir, the Temple, the  Assembly Hall and from there exited from behind the organ to the amazement of the visitors.  We thought we could use these tunnels in cold weather but maybe they are restricted.  It was fun and also kind of scary because at times we did not know where we were.

We didn’t have to go to the Beehive House on Friday because they were filming a movie there.  We got the opportunity to talk to a lady who is involved with Church films and she told us all about it.  Cast and crew were in the house preparing for the filming mid-week.  Apparently the movie will revolve around the first sister missionaries in the Church back in the 1890’s.  They did a couple of scenes in the Beehive House and then they will make their way to England to finish the project.  For the sister missionaries it was a thrill to hear about this endeavor.

We are beginning to go into the Call Center on a regular basis now.  We can chat and talk with people who have questions.  Sometimes you have to wait for someone to call or chat, consequently we feel we could use our time more wisely elsewhere.  Anyway, it has been interesting because oftentimes these calls or chats revolve around anti-Mormon questions.  In the winter our time there will increase because there will be fewer guests on Temple Square.  However, there are still people coming to visit.  As a matter of fact today we had almost 450 people attend the Organ Recital.  We couldn’t believe it because people were lined up to the South Visitor’s Center.