Though I have been home from my visits to Chicago, Rochester, and Miami for a few weeks, I have not given up on sharing my experiences on the blog, particularly since I consider this a journal of sorts. Fortunately, I wrote many of them down in emails to the sisters in my ward as a way for a Relief Society president to stay connected while away for so long. Rather than try to edit those emails, I think I will just share my thoughts as I wrote them at that time...OCTOBER 18, 2009
"Dear Sisters, I am thinking about you tonight and wanting to share with you some of my experiences and feelings from this sabbath day. I am currently in Rochester, NY visiting my son Doug and his wife Emily. Doug recently moved here to go to graduate school, which is fun since Doug was born in Rochester. This was our first location after Blaine graduated from college and we were here 4 1/2 years. I was 23 and Blaine 25. Our first baby was just 6 weeks old and I had only been a member of the church for a few years. We bought a home in the country and then learned we were part of a small branch in Lyons, NY - just east of Palmyra where the church had its beginnings. The branch met in a Masonic Lodge and Blaine was the only person who had been born in the church. They were real growing years for us both as I served in Relief Society and Young Womens and Blaine as Elders Quorum President. Anyway, today we attended church there. Now it is a ward with a wonderful church building of their own. And 30 years later, many of them are still here, living in the same home and serving each other faithfully. I can't adequately describe how wonderful it was to reconnect with these dear people. It reminds me of the story in the Book of Mormon when Alma and the sons of Mosiah meet up after serving their mission to the Lamanites...
Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
It made me think of what it will be like passing to the next life and being greeted by loved ones and dear friends. Yes, we will "rejoice exceedingly"!
After church, Doug and Emily and I drove out to the Peter Whitmer farm where the Book of Mormon was completed the and church was organized. Then we went to the Grandin Building where the Book of Mormon was published. Yesterday we had gone to the Hill Cumorah and to the Joseph Smith farm and to the Sacred Grove. At each of these places we were met by sister missionaries and given the "tour". What powerful witnesses we received that Joseph Smith was truly a prophet! I am so grateful for my personal testimony of that.. it makes all the difference.
I leave Tuesday to go to Miami to be with my parents for 8 days. My mom just had her gall bladder out and is having some challenges recovering so I am hoping to be a big help there. So forget the picture of me sunning out by the pool in 80+ degree weather! Well, maybe I will get to do that just a little..."
OCTOBER 25, 2009
"Hello from Miami where it is still hot and humid, but beautiful nonetheless. I have been here since Tuesday and have spent the majority of every day at the hospital since. I mentioned in my email last Sunday night that my mom had had her gall bladder removed and was having complications. She is still dealing with the effects of that. We hope she will be released from the hospital by the middle of this week and put into a rehabilitation center for a short time until she can function at home. When I scheduled this trip in July, I had no idea how much I would be needed here. A tender mercy indeed.
I wanted to share another tender mercy that happened last Monday when I was still in Rochester, NY with my son Doug and his wife Emily. I shared with you how on Saturday and Sunday we had visited all of the church sites, but I didn't share that I was just a little disappointed in my visit to the Sacred Grove. Prior to going to NY, this was the site I was most anxious to return to after almost 30 years away. I pictured walking in the grove on a picture perfect fall day, with the beautiful fall leaves, the bees humming, the sweet birds singing, you know, like the song, "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning" (only it was spring when Joseph went to the woods to pray!). I forgot the reality of the weather in western NY. Still, we were fortunate on Saturday that the rain held off until we were out of the grove, but there were several people around, including some children who were taking advantage of the chance to run around and play. In other words, it wasn't the perfect setting that I had pictured and I was just a little disappointed.
However, on Monday Doug cleared his schedule long enough that we could attend the Palmyra Temple in the morning. We woke up to a beautiful day - crisp, but not cold - and sunny. We got out of the temple (which has a window in it that overlooks the Sacred Grove) in time to walk through the grove one last time. This time we were all alone. It was so quiet we could here the leaves falling. Suddenly, it came to me - this was it. This was exactly what I had pictured. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and recognized what a gift I had been given... a tender mercy which has helped me be strong for the challenge in Miami. Oh, how the Lord knows our hearts and seeks for ways to communicate to us He is there. How important it is we recognize those moments and let them bring us peace and comfort in a world full of trouble.
Today I attended church with my Dad. The minister gave a sermon about Reformation Sunday, celebrated this time of year to remember Martin Luther beginning the Protestant movement. As I sat listening, my thoughts returned to the Sacred Grove, to Joseph Smith's home where Moroni first appeared to him, to the Hill Cumorah where he was led to the plates, to the Peter Whitmer farm where much of the translation took place, and to the Grandin building where the Book of Mormon was published. Yes, I am grateful for Martin Luther and the other reformers because those reforms made RESTORATION possible. We do not have to live with just part of the truth - we have the fullness of the gospel! My testimony was strengthened and my gratitude deepened."
Though it has been 2 weeks since my return, I find myself reflecting on the events during that trip and feeling deep gratitude for each of them... beginning with special moments with Rebekah, James, Nikki and Jason, spiritual times experienced with Doug and Emily, and the miracle of being with my mom and dad in their hour of need. I have felt my Heavenly Father's love in them all and am grateful to know He lives and loves each of us.
I leave Tuesday to go to Miami to be with my parents for 8 days. My mom just had her gall bladder out and is having some challenges recovering so I am hoping to be a big help there. So forget the picture of me sunning out by the pool in 80+ degree weather! Well, maybe I will get to do that just a little..."
OCTOBER 25, 2009
"Hello from Miami where it is still hot and humid, but beautiful nonetheless. I have been here since Tuesday and have spent the majority of every day at the hospital since. I mentioned in my email last Sunday night that my mom had had her gall bladder removed and was having complications. She is still dealing with the effects of that. We hope she will be released from the hospital by the middle of this week and put into a rehabilitation center for a short time until she can function at home. When I scheduled this trip in July, I had no idea how much I would be needed here. A tender mercy indeed.
I wanted to share another tender mercy that happened last Monday when I was still in Rochester, NY with my son Doug and his wife Emily. I shared with you how on Saturday and Sunday we had visited all of the church sites, but I didn't share that I was just a little disappointed in my visit to the Sacred Grove. Prior to going to NY, this was the site I was most anxious to return to after almost 30 years away. I pictured walking in the grove on a picture perfect fall day, with the beautiful fall leaves, the bees humming, the sweet birds singing, you know, like the song, "Oh, How Lovely Was the Morning" (only it was spring when Joseph went to the woods to pray!). I forgot the reality of the weather in western NY. Still, we were fortunate on Saturday that the rain held off until we were out of the grove, but there were several people around, including some children who were taking advantage of the chance to run around and play. In other words, it wasn't the perfect setting that I had pictured and I was just a little disappointed.
However, on Monday Doug cleared his schedule long enough that we could attend the Palmyra Temple in the morning. We woke up to a beautiful day - crisp, but not cold - and sunny. We got out of the temple (which has a window in it that overlooks the Sacred Grove) in time to walk through the grove one last time. This time we were all alone. It was so quiet we could here the leaves falling. Suddenly, it came to me - this was it. This was exactly what I had pictured. I was overwhelmed with gratitude and recognized what a gift I had been given... a tender mercy which has helped me be strong for the challenge in Miami. Oh, how the Lord knows our hearts and seeks for ways to communicate to us He is there. How important it is we recognize those moments and let them bring us peace and comfort in a world full of trouble.
Today I attended church with my Dad. The minister gave a sermon about Reformation Sunday, celebrated this time of year to remember Martin Luther beginning the Protestant movement. As I sat listening, my thoughts returned to the Sacred Grove, to Joseph Smith's home where Moroni first appeared to him, to the Hill Cumorah where he was led to the plates, to the Peter Whitmer farm where much of the translation took place, and to the Grandin building where the Book of Mormon was published. Yes, I am grateful for Martin Luther and the other reformers because those reforms made RESTORATION possible. We do not have to live with just part of the truth - we have the fullness of the gospel! My testimony was strengthened and my gratitude deepened."
Though it has been 2 weeks since my return, I find myself reflecting on the events during that trip and feeling deep gratitude for each of them... beginning with special moments with Rebekah, James, Nikki and Jason, spiritual times experienced with Doug and Emily, and the miracle of being with my mom and dad in their hour of need. I have felt my Heavenly Father's love in them all and am grateful to know He lives and loves each of us.
2 comments:
I just barely got the chance to read it; my week has been especially busy. Thank you for sharing, Mom.
Thanks mom. This was great to have down in writing to return to when we need to remember these things. We love you and are so grateful you were able to come.
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