MEET THE MORMONS SPECIAL SHOWING, GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND, LESSONS FROM GEESE, A TRIP TO HANNIBAL, REAL ESTATE ON THE MISSISSIPPI AND AN UNUSUAL TREE TRUNK ADDED TO OUR NORMAL MISSION ACTIVITIES THIS PAST WEEK HERE IN THE NAUVOO ILLINOIS TEMPLE MISSION!
What can we say other than being a missionary definitely has its special perks and tonight was definitely one of them. We were privileged to see a special showing of Meet the Mormons in the visitors with our fellow temple missionaries. It was inspiring and funny and we invite you to go and see it when it comes out this week beginning Thursday, October 10. It should be in a theatre near most of you. It lived up to Elder Holland's statement from the Deseret News:
"Elder Holland clarified that the movie was not created as a proselytizing tool but rather to “inform and show people what we’re really like.” He noted that the net proceeds from the film will go to charity, specifically the American Red Cross."
We always look forward to General Conference Weekend. It was nice to be able to watch it here in Nauvoo in our apartment on KBYU. Our testimonies were once again strengthened and renewed by the messages from our living prophet and apostles and other church leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We sustain each of them and testify that by following their counsel and teachings and examples, we cannot go astray and will be led closer to our savior, Jesus Christ.
Sister Carol F. McConkie, First Counselor in the General Young Women's Presidency taught the following:
“In a world threatened by famine of righteousness and spiritual starvation, we have been commanded to sustain the prophet. As we give heed to, uphold and affirm prophetic word, we witness that we have the faith to humbly submit to the will, the wisdom and the timing of the Lord.”
“We heed prophetic word even when it may seem unreasonable, inconvenient and uncomfortable,” she continued. “According to the world’s standards, following the prophet may be unpopular, politically incorrect or socially unacceptable. But following the prophet is always right.”
Oh how we love the Brethren!
Two other thoughts to ponder from conference:
L E S S O N S from G E E S E
Some of you may have noticed in some of our albums our pictures of geese. Once again we had a delightful surprise one morning last week on our walk down Parley street and on our trip to Keokuk along the Great River Road. We love our geese and their antics, even their honking. We had a heavy rain storm this past week and when we saw our geese they were enjoying the large puddles left by the storm.
Our geese friends led us to investigate more about them and what we can learn from them. Thanks to the internet we didn't have to search very hard and this is what we found:
Lessons from Geese
"Lessons from Geese" was transcribed from a speech
given by Angeles
Arrien at the 1991 Organizational Development Network and
was based on
the work of Milton Olson. It circulated to Outward Bound
staff
throughout the United States.
Fact 1:
As each goose flaps it's wings it creates an
"uplift" for the birds that
follow. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole
flock adds 71% greater
flying range than if each bird flew alone.
Lesson:
People who share a common direction and sense of community
can get
where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on
the thrust of one another.
where they are going quicker and easier because they are traveling on
the thrust of one another.
Fact 2:
When a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the
drag and
resistance of flying alone. He quickly moves back into
formation to take
advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in
front of it.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as a goose we stay in formation
with those
headed where we want to go. We are willing to accept their
help and give
our help to others.
Fact 3:
When the lead goose tires, it rotates back into the
formation and
another goose flies to the point position.
Lesson:
It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing the
leadership.
As with geese, people are interdependent on each other's
skills,
capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, talents or
resources.
Fact 4:
The geese flying in formation honk to encourage those up
front to keep
their speed.
Lesson:
We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups
where there
is encouragement, the production is much greater. The power
of
encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and
encourage the
heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we seek.
Fact 5:
When a goose gets sick, wounded or shot down, two geese drop
out of
formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They
stay with it
until it dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out
with another
formation or catch up with the flock.
formation or catch up with the flock.
Lesson:
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stand by each
other in
difficult times as well as when we are strong.
HANNIBAL, MISSOURI P-DAY TRIP
The statue of Mark Twain was located in this beautiful park.
The Steamboat Ride
The barges on the Mississippi
Coal Trains
Who doesn't love Barney Fife!
These next two pictures are from Lover's Leap
Senior Missionary Couples Humor
Saw this on a street in the flats and was totally fascinated! With little searching we can only come up with orange fungus on trees--didn't find the scientific name. Anyone up for the challenge let us know what you find out!
This is what the corn looks like when it is getting ready to be picked!
Mississippi River Real Estate
We see this house every time we go to Keokuk on the Great River Road!
We end our post this week on a happy/sad note. One of the couples that is in our P-Day group lost their granddaughter this past week in her fight of 21 years with a rare form of muscular dystrophy. Here is what Sister Crockett shared about her granddaughter, Brittany Crockett. We post it because it is so inspirational and faith promoting. We love the Crockett's and their example.
"She
touched many lives with her sweet spirit.
She got to do almost everything she wanted – she was a cheerleader, she
was voted homecoming queen, she went on a cruise with us, she has been to
Disneyland and in March she went to the temple to receive the blessings
there. She was 21 years old."
Here is my Brittany:
This is the link to her video made during high school which was is on lds.org. A great story. Brittany was an inspiration to all and is now running free in heaven.
Here is my Brittany:
This is the link to her video made during high school which was is on lds.org. A great story. Brittany was an inspiration to all and is now running free in heaven.
This is Brittany as a cheerleader.
Oct 1, 2014 Chuck’s Nauvoo Moment
Nauvoo Moment - Words
While serving here in Nauvoo we have heard certain words over and over again. These words connect us with heaven and help us recall the “first lessons” we all received so long ago. (D&C 138:56)
Here is a list of some of these words:
- Confer
- Confirm
- Wash
- Seal
- Anoint
- Baptism
- Authority
- Willingly
- New
- Always
- Remember
- Priesthood
- Man
- Woman
- Posterity
- Sanctify
- Preparatory
- Strong
- Joy
- True & Faithful
- Protection
- Power
- Time
- Eternity
- Obedience
- Sacrifice
- Redemption
- Resurrection
- Good
- Consecration
- Come Back
- Savior
One Quote: Together we must stand faithful & firm in the faith against superior numbers of other-minded people. Howard W. Hunter
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