HOSPICE

We have been volunteering twice a month at a convalescent facility, here in Independence, working with hospice patients. It required going through a background check and receiving 8 hours of training before we were allowed to work with the patients. Some of the people we work with are more aware of what is going on than others, but they all feel our presence at some level.. We try and spend time with each of the patients, talking to them or just holding their hands, knowing that some days they may not even know we are there. We specifically asked to be assigned to those that are wards of the state and have no family or friends that come to visit them,  It is a bitter sweet experience knowing that they only have a short time left of mortality, but we hope that we are making a small difference in their lives.  

One of the side benefits is that Robyn is learning the skills she will need, to care for me in a few years...

Eleanor

Maxine

Ruby

Francis likes to be pushed around the facility

Lacey

APRIL FOOD STORAGE ITEMS

This month, as part of her calling as the ward emergency preparedness leader, Robyn has been pushing refried beans, white flour, apple slices and water filters. It seems that with the large Hispanic population in the ward, refried beans are the hot ticket. We may have to rent a U-Haul trailer when we go and pick up the order. 

HAWN'S (Haun's) MILL

We recently visited Hawn's Mill, the site of that terrible tragedy in 1838 where 17 men and boys, who were members of the Church were killed by mobbers. The only thing that is there today is a single marker with the name, Haun's Mill. The Church recently became aware that the correct spelling is Hawn's Mill. Jacob Hawn, the miller owner, was not a member of the Church and many blame him partially for the massacre, because he failed to alert the Saints that Joseph wanted them all to flee to Far West for safety. We felt a peaceful spirit there as we contemplated the events that transpired. The more we learn about the events that took place here in Missouri, the greater our love and admiration grows for the early Saints and how they dealt with so much tragedy.  Their example of perseverance and dedication in the face of so much opposition is sometimes hard to fathom.

The mill was probably located right behind where we are standing

Shoal Creek

Where the Saint's homes would have been

The original mill stone has been moved to a park in nearby Breckenridge

Warren and Amanda Smith are the great great grandparents of our brother in law, Jerry Smith.  Warren was brutally killed.  Their son Sardis was only a child when a mobster put a gun to the boy's head and brutally murdered him also. Sardis' younger brother, Alma, had his hip completely shot away by another attacker. Miraculously, his mother was inspired to treat the wound with ash and lye and a bark poultice and his hip eventually healed and he was able to walk once again.

SPECIAL INVITATION

This week we received two special invitations from Kelehua. One to her 'Poetry Cafe' at school and the second to the spring concert where she was performing on the violin. Both performances were well worth the 'price of admission'. ;-)

Kelehua's poem - Family
Each child in the class had to write a series of poems
and then stand up and recite one of them 

Spring Concert reception

Kelehua is toward the back under the Hawk's front claw...

VANESSA AND TEAGAN

Kansas City airport

waiting to board in LA

What a treat. Vanessa and Teagan decided to surprise Robyn with a short visit. We picked them up at the airport Wednesday afternoon along with Vanessa's service dog, Roxi.  :-)   Since Teagan flew free, we got 3 for the price of 1.

Teagan was born only a week before we left, so we really hadn't been able to spend much time getting to know her. As you can imagine, grandma and Teagan spent quite a bit of quality time together. Thank you also to Matthew who planned the surprise and then took off work to be Mr. Mom for Orrin and Kian while mom was away.  After Vanessa had been here only a couple of days, she called Matthew to see how the boys were doing - all Matthew could say was that Vanessa was going to get a raise when she got home...
We decided to keep Vanessa busy while she was here, helping us with visits and teaching. On Friday we visited with the Sanchez family. They have been less active for about a year and we are working with them to go to the temple. Vanessa came with us and bore her testimony to them of the blessings that have come into her life since she joined the Church and has been sealed in the temple to Matthew. They were touched by her sweet spirit.  Then on Sunday, we asked her to teach a part of our Marriage and Family Relations Class during Sunday School. The lesson was entitled 'Children are a Heritage of the Lord'.  She was able to share with the class how her children bring her joy.  Again her words were deeply felt by all. It is so nice that she is fluent in Spanish and able to speak to everyone in the ward.  A week ago, a young couple asked us if we would come over on Monday and give them some pointers on Family Home Evenings. They have a little one with one on the way. They invited another couple with two small kids to join who are also struggling with their FHE's. We figured that if anyone could give them ideas on FHE's with little ones, it was Vanessa.  She came and shared with these two couples some of the things that she and Matthew are trying to do with their kids. They were so impressed with how she is working hard to raise her children in truth and light. Vanessa has truly been a blessing in so many ways for us here and with her family back home. We will be forever grateful that Matthew and Vanessa are an eternal family.

Independence Visitors Center

Very Happy Girls

Future missionary

ADAM ONDI AHMAN

On Saturday, all the senior missionaries here in Independence were treated to a special visit to Adam ondi Ahman.  The patriarch of the Far West stake, Austin Bonnet met us there and gave us a wonderful guided tour of this sacred place and provide us with some great insight into all the amazing things that have transpired there and will yet happen in the future. Brother Bonnet lives only a few miles from Adam ondi Ahman and has special access to much of the site that is off limits to most visitors. When he saw our Prius, he invited us to ride with him in his 4x4 pickup as we went from place to place. 

View from the valley of Adam ondi Ahman

Brother and Sister Bonnet

Brother Bonnet even asked Vanessa to help read a quote of the Prophet

'Preacher Rock' where the Prophet and other church leaders would speak to the Saints

View from 'Preacher Rock' where the Saints would have gathered to hear the Prophet.
There is a natural bowl below the rock, and the acoustics are amazing.

There are 12 missionary couples serving 18 months at Adam ondi Ahman. During the winter months there are only 6 couples serving. Their task is to maintain the almost 4000 acres that the Church owns here. The live in various homes spread out over the property. The work is presided over by Elder Joe Christensen, emeritus general authority, who reports directly to the First Presidency.  He and another emeritus general authority, Elder Sheldon Child, take turns coming out for a few days every single month to ensure that everything is being taken care of properly and then report to President Monson. Most of the rich farm land and pastures are leased out to local farmers. It was a beautiful spring day and the words of Heber C. Kimball came to mind. 

"While there (Adam ondi Ahman), we laid out a city on a high elevated piece of land and set stakes for the four corners of the temple block, which was dedicated, Brigham being mouth;

there were from three to five hundred men present on the occasion, under arms.

 This elevated spot was probably from 250-500 feet above the level of the Grand River, so that one could look east, west, north or south, as far as the eye could reach; it was one of the most beautiful places I ever beheld."

I have to agree with Heber.

THE 4 MINUTE MILE

With Vanessa here, we took advantage of Noah's track schedule to go and see him compete on our P-Day.  Noah is in the 8th grade and will start high school next year. His school district provides great opportunities for the kids to compete while they are still in middle school. He is literally following in his Dad's footsteps and running the mile. He also competed last semester in cross country as did James.  I think he has already broken all his father's old high school track records. :-)

proud Dad with some out of town fans

THE GREAT DIVIDE

One of the interesting things that we have enjoyed while serving here in Independence is to become better acquainted with the many 'restoration branches' of the Church that all had their roots in the gospel restored by the Prophet Joseph.  However my head is still spinning from trying to wrap my brain around all the different groups and what caused the divisions. We had two experiences this week that helped us to understand this a little better.

On Friday we went to a fireside at the Independence Visitors Center to hear a talk by President Jeremiah Morgan, who is the stake president of the Liberty, Missouri stake. The title of his talk was 'The Great Divide, the Restoration Movement - the Origins, Beliefs, and Differences of the Many Restoration Churches'. He spoke about many of the breakaway groups and churches that were formed prior to and following the death of Joseph. The picture above was from his power point presentation.
President Morgan was a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints until he was 18.  At that time, he investigated and joined our Church, much to the dismay of his mother. He then served a mission to Micronesia, and graduated from law school at BYU. His great great great grandfather was baptized by Oliver Cowdery in 1831. Unfortunately, for some reason, the family did not follow Brigham to Salt Lake and later joined the RLDS church.

And then this past Wednesday, we were invited to attend a musical play commemorating the 180th anniversary of the dedication of the Kirtland temple put on by the Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints headquartered here in Independence. The Remnant Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints broke away from the Community of Christ Church a few years back when women were given the priesthood and same-sex marriages were condoned.

Our church and a number of these 'restoration branches' have a good relationship. The director of the Independence Visitors Center received an invitation to the play and he passed it on to all the senior missionaries. We were encouraged to go as a way to build bridges and foster brotherhood.
During the intermission, I spoke to a man by the name of John who was sitting next to me. He said that he is the 'President of the Priest Quorum' for the entire Remnant Church. He told me that there are currently about 2000 members worldwide and that there are a total of about 60 priests in the church that he is responsible for. Halfway through the intermission, the Deacons were asked to the 'pass the plate' to the audience to solicit funds to offset the cost of the production. There were about 5 of them and they were all 60+ years old.
At the end of the play, the cast and the entire audience stood and sang together 'The Spirit of God'. We felt a good spirit there, knowing that we were among those that believed many of the same things we do. Although, it was kind of a strange evening to hear their testimonies of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon through this play, but yet know that they are not part of the true church of God.  I'm still trying to process it all.

 
The largest restoration branch here is the Community of Christ church which previously was known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. When the RLDS church became the Community of Christ church, a number of doctrinal changes were made. These changes and their move to distance themselves from the Prophet Joseph Smith and Book of Mormon contributed to other restoration branches breaking away from the Community of Christ church.

Community of Christ Temple

Stone Church
One of the first RLDS chapels
in Independence

Christ in America

Confiring the gift
of the Holy Ghost

These are some of the beautiful stained glass windows in the Community of Christ - Stone Church.
They really have no significance in their current church doctrine or teachings.

The Church of Jesus Christ Restoration Branch is another break off of the RLDS church when it combined with the Community of Christ church.  They have 3-4 chapels in the Independence area. 

And then there is the Church of Christ Temple Lot church which owns the site which the Prophet Joseph dedicated for the building of a temple in 1831. A lot of things are going to have to happen before the temple that Joseph envisioned is built.

BREAD WINNER 

Robyn has been baking 1 - 2 batches of bread each week. Members in the ward, investigators, less actives and neighbors have all been the recipients of her freshly baked whole wheat bread. Last week she gave a loaf to a family from India that lives next door. A couple of days later, the neighbor lady brought over some hot hot chicken curry that my tongue is still trying to heal from... This week at mutual, Robyn gave a loaf to the Bishop. This is the screen shot of his text to us that very night.

P-DAY 

SERVICE PROJECT

A family that we have gotten close to in a neighboring ward called us up for some help. ;-)  They had just had a tree cut down in their back yard that was threatening the neighbor's house and needed some help splitting all the logs up into good size firewood.  Robyn was very excited at the opportunity. She said that it brought back memories of some of her projects up in Angle.

BEFORE

AFTER