Blessings from the Past

Last week was a full and fun week. Monday began with the Elijah choir at 6:24AM which is always a great way to begin. Music brings the Spirit to my heart. We are sang an arrangement of "I Need Thee Every Hour" which always has me weeping by the end. I certainly need Him, oh, how I need Him. I love that everyday as a missionary I am surrounded by people who are of the same heart and mind and we are happy to be together in this work. It is very rewarding. Everywhere I walk I see smiling people.....truly a blessing.

Last week my sister was in town from Houston. She came for our mother's 86th birthday. Wednesday evening we had another missionary temple devotional with Elder Packer of the Seventy (son of Elder Packer of the Twelve). On Thursday my sister came to the Family History Library and I showed her a little of what we do. Later we took her to lunch and after lunch I walked her over to the Church History Library and then cut across Temple Square to return to the Family History Library. Walking by the Reflecting Pool I ran into Elder Marlin K. Jensen. He had a big grin on his face and saw my tag and started talking to me about watching the newlyweds getting their pictures there and how he was reflecting on how he felt on his wedding day. I told him that we (some of the missionaries) had been talking about him the night before after Elder Packer (of the Seventy) had spoken to us because he spoke on the same topic that Elder Jensen (of the Seventy) had spoken to us about last October: listening to and following the Prophet of the Lord. (Isn't that interesting that so many talks we are hearing are on the same subject. There were several on that topic during October Conference also.)

Elder Jensen said he was impressed that I remembered that. I told him not to be impressed, I just wrote it down. He chuckled and then he told me that he had been at a stake conference last year in the Hollywood, CA area and gave a 35 min. talk. He was told the next day that his entire talk was up on You Tube the evening after he had given it. Someone had video taped it in Stake Conference! Then he said to me, "We must be so careful about what we say now." I told him that I was confident that he and the brethren were always careful about what they say.

I would like to share a thought I have had this past week regarding what we say.....words are very important. As I have been reading the English translations of the Tongan Oral Genealogies, I have been touched by the testimonies and words of these sweet people. Many of them express how happy they are that their children will hear their voices and know their about families, but one I read this week particularly touched me. He said: I leave my blessing with my wife and my children and my grandchildren when they hear my genealogy and all those who will come after and listen to my words. (This is not an exact quote, but it is the gist of his words.) Even though these people made these recordings 30+ years ago, they wanted to leave a blessing on their posterity who they were confident would hear their voices. I am so happy that I can do a small part to help their posterity to have the opportunity to hear this blessing that was left for them.....a blessing from the past.

While my sister was here from Houston some in our family wanted to go down to the Carl Bloch exhibit again at the BYU Museum of Art so I was able to go again with them. I loved seeing these beautiful works of art again. I love seeing the talent of this man and the beautiful feeling about the Savior and His life that he captured so long ago.....a blessing from the past. I am so happy that those in Denmark were willing to share these spectacular altar pieces and other works with us and that we have the opportunity to see them. I hope to be able to go another time or two before the exhibit closes. (Ed did not go again.....he felt that surely we could find someone else who would appreciate it more than he would. I am grateful my cute husband indulges me as he does to satisfy my varied interests.)

Also last week we had a wonderful tour of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and learned much about the history of that beautiful space we see almost every day. It is such a privilege. I was surprised to learn that the LDS Church had sold the property to the group who decided that SLC, Utah needed a fine hotel. It is surprising to me that the Church would have sold the property across from the temple for a hotel. Even though the cost was enormous, I am happy that the Church did the major restoration work that was done on this building. It is such a pleasure to meet there so often, especially on Sunday. Many of you probably know that the current chapel (where we meet each week) was the ballroom. When it is very still you can hear the original wood flooring creak a little underneath the carpet as the High Priest's walk around to pass the sacrament......another blessing of beauty from the past.

These blessings just make me more and more excited for each new week because I can never know what is "around the corner" here. We learn new things each week. I am so happy and grateful to be alive and that we can be here serving the Lord. I am gaining a greater insight into the principles of love, service and consecration. I know that this mission is unique and that this is the Lord's training time for us. I am confident that our service is blessing the lives of others, some past and hopefully some present as we grow into our call. I pray we each feel the same as we serve in our various capacities.