October 2, 2012

I hope you had a great and fantastic day! It is so wonderful to be alive right now! When the Gospel of Jesus Christ is ON the earth! Right here. You're chillin in the light of the Gospel. It's amazing huh? There is a reason you were born at this very moment in time. You should read this awesome talk called "Why 1820?" You can google it. It's by Brad Wilcox. It's all about the Apostasy and the restoration. It's pretty awesome.

 

So this week for Angels, we have been teaching the Commandments. It has been a really wonderful blessing for me to see why we have these commandments and how much they protect us. I have been sooooooooooooooooooooooooo blessed to have been raised learning and following the commandments. If you imagine yourself driving down a winding canyon, you would expect to have guard rails around the curves right? Yes. That is what the commandments are. They protect us from falling off the edge. They are truly not like fences that keep us "under control".

 

I got to serve in the Bakery this week. Lucious Scovil is the greatest! He was the Baker here in town and often catered events in the Cultural Hall next door with cookies, cakes, and candies. While here in Nauvoo, he lost his son, then his wife gave birth to twins and 10 days later they died, then his wife died 3 days after that. Every struggle seemed to be coming at once. But he decided to stay with the church because of his sure testimony. 

Soon after leaving Nauvoo in 1846 with the saints, he was called on a mission to England. He had to leave his three surviving daughters with friends and other family. On his way out, he took sketches of the Nauvoo Temple and brought them with him. He commissioned someone in England to make 150-dozen plates with a picture of the Nauvoo Temple on it and a list of the 12 Apostles around the edge. He proclaimed the gospel and taught the power which the Temple gives. He KNEW what it was like to lose loved ones, but he KNOWS the sealing power of the Temple comes from God and can never be undone, depending upon our faithfulness. THAT is why he had all those plates made. To tell others that their families were meant to be eternal. We have 2 original plates in Nauvoo, and the rest are in the Salt Lake City museum.

He faithfully served his mission and came back and found his daughters safe.

 

A lovely member lady came into the Bakery, Magg. She couldn't eat the cookie because of allergies to gluten that she has recently found in her later years. The allergies give her awful rashes and often because she can't eat a lot, she is a little grumpy to her husband. (She said that, but she didn't seem grumpy at all. She's a Sister Janet Davis type.) As she was talking, a scripture came to mind, and usually when that happens, it is the Spirit saying: "Hey, use this scripture to help this person." So simple, and almost like a whisper, but I decided to share it. I said, "hold on! You reminded me of a scripture. Can I share it with you?" "Yes please." So I did. 3 Ne. 17: "Have ye any that are sick among you? Bring them hither. Have ye any that are lame, or blind, or halt or maimed, or leprous, or that are withered, or that are deaf, or that are afflicted in any manner? Bring them hither and I will heal them, for I have compassion upon you; my bowels are filled with mercy."

I didn't expect that it would really do much for her, but when I looked up, she had tears in her eyes and she said, "thank you" as she leaned over the counter to hug me and kiss my cheek. It was very sweet and exactly what she needed.

 

Later, my companion, who was serving in the Cultural Hall, told me a sister and her husband came over. Sister Dransfield had them dance together on the 3rd floor where there is a ballroom. :) We love to have people dance where the Prophet and many of the Apostles danced with their wives.  You will all have to try it some day too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This coming week we'll be cleaning and packing and saying our farewells. I love all the missionaries here. The senior couples and temple missionaries are all incredible. All the sisters bought the same ring. We will have it as a reminder of each other while we are on our outbounds. :) It's hard to be leaving, but I'm STOKED for my second assignment.