Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

July 27, 2014

It was another week of high temperatures and pain for Taggart.  We are anxious for him to go to the doctor on Wednesday to see how he is progressing.  Hopefully, by then the pain may have eased and he can see some progress, if not he can find out why he is not healing.  He has tried to do his duty which is so commendable, but unfortunately it just makes his neck worse to move and walk.  He is in many prayers and we know that ultimately he will be healed.  But right now, patience is the name of the game.

The parade from the Beehive House

Pioneer Day was held this week.  Like last year, we were able to view the parade from the Beehive House porch.  It was perfect seating because the parade started from our vantage point.  Brother and Sister Gillette were there and I got a little teary eyed seeing them.  They are such good people and we miss our association with them on our mission.  We didn’t stay for the whole parade because Taggart didn’t feel well, but we enjoyed the pageantry of it all.

We also had several hospitality tours this week.  Again, it is always fun to visit with people from all over the world.  But, we did have a little incident with one of the tours.  The tour guide left and wanted us to take the group to Temple Square.  One person in particular said it was an outrage that they should be walking such a distance and said other degrading things to us.  I tried to calm her down, but she just continued on.  My question is why do people have to be nasty and mean?  Others in the group apologized for the behavior of a few.

Because of Taggart’s disability at the moment, we are not as engaged as we would like to be.  We are always filled with awe as we listen to the sister’s testimonies of their encounters with investigators and hope that soon we can be at full force to do the same.  There is nothing better than to meet and teach those that are truly seeking for the truth.  We want so much to go out of our mission with a bang and hope that can happen.  As I always have said, the Lord wants us here for a reason and we want to accomplish His will for us.

Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

July 20, 2014

Pioneer Day is fast approaching and we can’t believe that July is almost over.  We actually have only twelve weeks more of our mission.  As I was listening to “Music and the Spoken Word” today, I got a little teary eyed thinking about leaving.  As I have mentioned before, when does anyone have such an opportunity as we have serving our mission right at church headquarters.  We are strengthened by the spirit on a daily basis just being here.

Following surgery you can see the  screws

 

 

Taggart had his back surgery on Friday so we came home to Ogden for his recovery.  The operation went well and we are hopeful that the pain he has been experiencing will diminish over time.  At the moment he is in great discomfort but it has been only two days since he had his operation.  We were comparing this moment to what it is like in the repentance process.  You have to go through the extreme misery before you can enjoy the exquisite joy or you have to go through the extreme misery before you can enjoy being relieved from the pain.

As we came home for Taggart’s recovery, we realized we would miss the giant waterslide that ran down Main Street in honor of Pioneer Day on Saturday.  Apparently according to our daughter, April, it was quite the sight.  It would have been fun to just gaze at the people as they slid down the hill in front of our apartment.

The Pioneer Day Mormon Tabernacle Concert was on Friday and Saturday.  Unfortunately, we could not attend but on Thursday during a hospitality tour I saw part of the rehearsal.  The gentlemen who played the villain in the Disney movie “Frozen” was the guest artist.  Although we didn’t see the whole show in person, we were able to see it on TV.  It is quite remarkable that the church puts on these grand performances so often during the year and for free. 

Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

July 13, 2014

This Saturday we were able to go to Brighton again to the girl’s camp that is located there.  We had gone there last year and the sisters had such a good time.  There were a lot of team building activities that helped them bond.  It was a beautiful day and a nice break from normal missionary activities.  It is at times like this that we miss our cabin in the mountains, the beauty and the cooler temperatures.  But, we know it was by divine help that it was sold and so we are content.

The last two transfers we have not been as faithful to our district as we should, so we vowed this transfer to be consistent in our attendance.  They are doing something different in the district, instead of role playing with each other, they are doing “real play” in that we have members and non-members come and we teach them – a very interesting dynamic.  Several people have referred because of this experience.  We have such a lovely district leader, so dedicated, loving and faithful.

This week we also had large group training during Relief Society time.  Taggart, along with the temple coordinators, have been working very hard on this presentation.  As we give tours there are some real areas of concern and room for improvement.  The training went very well and we all learned a great deal.  I know personally that I always need to go with the Spirit or I cannot teach.

Taggart had a cortisone shot this week.  We were so hopeful that it would alleviate the pain, however it did not.  He has decided to have surgery next week because he cannot go on living with this discomfort.  After surgery he will be wearing a brace for four to twelve weeks.  With the summer being so hot, it will be difficult having this brace around his neck.  The advantage is that it will be over for him and he can go forth and have some needed energy and be free of pain and pills.

As always, we talked with Diane this week.  She continues to struggle with her financial situation, but she is attending church and trying to read scriptures and pray.  She is quite the character and we have many good laughs over the phone.  She always expresses her love for us and says we are the miracle in her life at the moment.  For us too, we have made a good friend and hope someday to meet her.  She says if she is ever baptized we have to be there and we thoroughly agree.

Utah Salt Lake Temple Square Mission

July 6, 2014

Elder and Sister Frost in the Tabernacle

This was the Fourth of July week.  We remember so well last year and our celebration with the sisters.  It seems like only yesterday to us.  This year we had a picnic in the Brigham Young Park with barbequed J dogs (a specialty in Provo), chips, salad and Bog Boy ice cream sandwiches.  It was a terribly hot day so it was nice to sit in the shade of the trees and just associate one with another.  It was a little break from the routine and the sisters really needed that.  Lately because of the demands of summer, standing so long and the heat the sisters have all sorts of aches and pains.

 

Jenny and children

This was also the week when Jenny and her family were here.  On P Day we went to the “This is the Place Pioneer Heritage Park.”  April and Alec accompanied us and it was fun to go back to the pioneer period and be enveloped in that culture.  The children got to do a variety of activities and be real pioneers.  Taggart was unable to go because of the pain in his back, but it was fun for me to be with my daughters and grandchildren.  It was a beautiful day, the last of the not-to-hot days.  On Tuesday we spent the morning with Jenny and then she went with April to Lagoon for the rest of the day.  We have to admit we got a little trucky being with the grandchildren and look forward to spending quality time with them when we return from our mission.

We talked with Diane earlier this week.  She went to church for the first time in many months.  Again, we hope she is going for the right reasons.  She is in desperate circumstances and the church may be a crutch for her.  We love her but she has some real concerns in her mind about the church.  The Spirit is the only one that can testify to her of the truth, not us or anyone else.  We pray for her every day.

As we went to “Music and the Spoken Word” today there was another celebrity siting.  Mitt Romney came through the front door with his grandchildren.  Of course, he wanted to remain anonymous, but the announcer introduced him to the audience and he got a standing ovation.  As we were waiting to cross over to Temple Square, there he was in front of us.  Of course, everyone spotted him and he crossed on a green light and so did all of us too, just following him.  It was a really a crazy thing to do because our eyes were all on him.

Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission

June 29, 2014

We are beginning our tenth transfer, only two more transfers left for us.  Dear sisters went home and a new batch of sisters arrived this week.  This new transfer we have a few sisters from the USA.  There have not been many come from the United States for many transfers so this is fun for us.  I personally have difficulty with the foreign names, so it is nice to have a Smith or Jones.  We love them all and so appreciate their dedication and service.

On Wednesday Taggart finally had his MRI.  He was given a general anesthetic and that knocked him out for a couple of hours.  The diagnosis for him was a thinning for the spinal canal and because of this fact the nerves are being pinched thus giving him so much pain.  He will have a nerve test now and consult with a surgeon.  Hopefully, with physical therapy and perhaps a cortisone shot he can manage his discomfort without surgery.  He has been given several blessings and we hope our faith will get him through this difficult time.

As we were walking on Saturday to Temple Square at the crosswalk we met Elder L. Tom Perry.  We did not stop to greet him, but others did and he was trapped in the middle of the street.  Our apostles are so loved and members have a great desire to talk to them.  He is always so gracious to everyone because he is a walker and is seen constantly around the Square.  The sisters love him!

We have been talking to Diane several times each week.  As I mentioned before, her heart is softening toward the church but we don’t know if it is for the right reason.  She is desperate right now financially and needs some help.  She has talked to the bishop in her area and he is willing to respond to her needs, but we wonder if she is really committed to change in her life.  We will keep calling her because of our love and desire for her to be a Disciple of Christ.

Grandpa Frost watching cartoons with his buddies early in the morning

Our daughter, Jenny, and her children came to visit on Sunday.  We will have an opportunity to see them for a couple of days and then they are off to her in-laws in Draper.  Our joy is always to see these beautiful grandchildren and of course our daughter.  We miss living close to them, so it is always a treat for them to visit us.  Tomorrow we go to “This is the Place Heritage Park” and it should be a fun experience for all of us.

Jenny with children