Week 22 - Mid break
Dear family and friends,
This is two days late because of scheduling and travel. Picking up a week ago Sunday, in Sunday School we taught from Come, Follow Me about the importance of being obedient. We cannot learn the Gospel if we reject the Spirit. We invite the Spirit by being obedient. The branch had a Linger Longer and we ate dinner before we took off.
That night we reached Sharon VT and enjoyed the birth place monument and learning more about the Smith and Mack families.
They have the hearthstone and threshold stone for their cabin. Symbolically, that is where the family gathers and we welcome people to our homes. Very fitting.
While we were there four sisters of the church came in who were visiting sites together. One hang up they had was polygamy, and specifically the claim that the Church had hidden Joseph Smith's polygamist wives for many years. They then referred to a sister who had worked for the Church Historian's office and had written a book about it. I made the mild comment that I had a book by Joseph F Smith Jr when his father was was president of the Church called Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage. He wrote it in 1905, and it includes affidavits from some of the wives of the Prophet. I further stated that the Church had never denied the facts, simply not emphasized them. You would have thought I had attacked the present day author from the explosion by one of the sisters. I didn't engage, merely considered to myself that this doctrine does not determine anyone's exaltation. If you are in doubt and dismay regarding a doctrine, simply return to first principles. Is the Book of Mormon true? If so, then Joseph was a Prophet inspired to translate by the gift and power of God and Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The rest are details we can understand if we ask in sincerity of heart and be instructed by the Spirit in the Lord's due time. That means when we are ready to humbly receive counsel.
That night we stayed in Brattlesboro where the clerk became interested in Joseph Smith because of our name tags, but insisted he would research on his own. Hard to learn if you are too proud to be taught. I wish him well, nevertheless.
We went to Stonington CT Monday and Grandma found a cousin! Not so odd, since we are all cousins. Enjoyed the lighthouse and cemetery.
The way up
View from the lighthouse
Lighthouse reflector
This is an example of a two hundred year old head stone. Barely legible.
Unfortunately, after 200 years of weathering, most of the information is gone.
Rode the ferry to Orient Long Island and passed through Southold and Mattituck headed south.
I liked this seagull on the piling as we came into dock.
These geese fishing in the Mattituck harbor were fun.
Mattituck harbor
And this is the Mattituck cemetery where many of our ancestors are waiting for the resurrection. Stones older than 220 years are totally illegible. The grey post in front used to be a fence post that a chain was strung from to protect the area. The chain has rusted away and the posts are falling down. Cemeteries are not eternal in any way.
Tuesday we headed for the Hickens' and stopped at Fort McHenry. We enjoyed the flag talk while we held the flag. It was spiritual in remembering the sacrifices paid for our freedom.
Driving the DC belt route we were blessed to see the Temple there.
This the Lord's kingdom.
Most of the time we just spent with the kids and played around. Saturday we went to the Raleigh Temple with Cathy. Sunday was good to be in Church and celebrate Emily's birthday.
Monday we drove home and passed by Fawcett's Gap. Grandma will talk about that and her feelings there.
We ate at Jellybeans in Painted Post NY. Lots of fun and good food.
And then we arrived back in Palmyra, a day earlier than we had planned. When the Temple Presidency emailed last Thursday and asked for help taking wall paper down on Monday and Tuesday nights, we immediately said that we would be willing to come. The Temple President later emailed us and told us to be back for Tuesday, so we didn't have to start home on Sunday. When we got here we found out that they actually didn't need anyone on Monday night because the workmen had been able to get everything done during the day. We are asked to consecrate all we have but most of the time all we'll have to do is to stand by and be ready. But, it is the dedication in your heart that makes the difference.
Talk to you all again Sunday. Love Grandad
This is two days late because of scheduling and travel. Picking up a week ago Sunday, in Sunday School we taught from Come, Follow Me about the importance of being obedient. We cannot learn the Gospel if we reject the Spirit. We invite the Spirit by being obedient. The branch had a Linger Longer and we ate dinner before we took off.
That night we reached Sharon VT and enjoyed the birth place monument and learning more about the Smith and Mack families.
They have the hearthstone and threshold stone for their cabin. Symbolically, that is where the family gathers and we welcome people to our homes. Very fitting.
While we were there four sisters of the church came in who were visiting sites together. One hang up they had was polygamy, and specifically the claim that the Church had hidden Joseph Smith's polygamist wives for many years. They then referred to a sister who had worked for the Church Historian's office and had written a book about it. I made the mild comment that I had a book by Joseph F Smith Jr when his father was was president of the Church called Blood Atonement and the Origin of Plural Marriage. He wrote it in 1905, and it includes affidavits from some of the wives of the Prophet. I further stated that the Church had never denied the facts, simply not emphasized them. You would have thought I had attacked the present day author from the explosion by one of the sisters. I didn't engage, merely considered to myself that this doctrine does not determine anyone's exaltation. If you are in doubt and dismay regarding a doctrine, simply return to first principles. Is the Book of Mormon true? If so, then Joseph was a Prophet inspired to translate by the gift and power of God and Jesus Christ is the head of the Church. The rest are details we can understand if we ask in sincerity of heart and be instructed by the Spirit in the Lord's due time. That means when we are ready to humbly receive counsel.
That night we stayed in Brattlesboro where the clerk became interested in Joseph Smith because of our name tags, but insisted he would research on his own. Hard to learn if you are too proud to be taught. I wish him well, nevertheless.
We went to Stonington CT Monday and Grandma found a cousin! Not so odd, since we are all cousins. Enjoyed the lighthouse and cemetery.
Lots of fun things to see including whaling harpoons.
Rode the ferry to Orient Long Island and passed through Southold and Mattituck headed south.
Most of the time we just spent with the kids and played around. Saturday we went to the Raleigh Temple with Cathy. Sunday was good to be in Church and celebrate Emily's birthday.
We ate at Jellybeans in Painted Post NY. Lots of fun and good food.
And then we arrived back in Palmyra, a day earlier than we had planned. When the Temple Presidency emailed last Thursday and asked for help taking wall paper down on Monday and Tuesday nights, we immediately said that we would be willing to come. The Temple President later emailed us and told us to be back for Tuesday, so we didn't have to start home on Sunday. When we got here we found out that they actually didn't need anyone on Monday night because the workmen had been able to get everything done during the day. We are asked to consecrate all we have but most of the time all we'll have to do is to stand by and be ready. But, it is the dedication in your heart that makes the difference.
Talk to you all again Sunday. Love Grandad
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