Mayflower Perspectives

The weeks roll by and we feel a little startled that we are

now approaching Thanksgiving. This past week

we marked the 6 months anniversary of our first day

as senior missionaries. Almost daily, we encounter

the challenges of our "temporary" assignments,

the concept of continuity and of handing off information

to the next folks to fill these positions.

It is difficult not to wonder at times if what we do will have

any lasting impact. Do the talents and experience we bring

make a difference? This has prompted some contemplation,

which in turn leads me to selecting this Thanksgiving theme.

Probably many of you know that 2020 will mark 400 years

since the "first" pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620.

Many celebrations are being planned to mark that event.

Surely those arriving did not have the vision of what

their journey would contribute to - formation of a great nation.

Two weeks ago, we visited once again 

the Joseph Smith Birthplace Memorial in

Sharon, Vermont, with the new missionaries and their

trainers as part of "Follow Up Training". Part of the
 informational displays there at that site are genealogical,

explaining the posterity of John Howland, a rather

unimportant (at the time) passenger who arrived

on the Mayflower. This story and the lineages from Howland

were referenced by Pres. Ballard when he spoke in 

New England back in October.

This painting is "Howland Overboard," by maritime artist

Mike Haywood, artwork that is available from

the MayflowerHistory.com online store. 

John Howland is the person near the lower right corner.

Howland was estimated to be around 20 years old when

he traveled aboard the Mayflower as the manservant of

Gov. John Carver. Quoting from the information that docents

there at the JSBM share, "During the Mayflower's voyage,

Howland fell overboard during a storm, and was almost

lost at sea -- but luckily for his millions of descendants

 living today . . . he managed to grab hold of the topsail halyards,

giving the crew enough time to rescue him with a boat-hook."

Howland eventually married fellow Mayflower passenger

Elizabeth Tilley, who was 13 years old during the year

of the journey. The two could not be counted as

prominent passengers, but while the names and influence

of others may have dwindled (so many people died during

the first winters after the landing), these two can be traced

back to be the headwaters of dozens of very famous folks.

This signature, below, shown as "her mark" from the later years of

Elizabeth's life demonstrates that she could not write

even to sign her name. Definitely not among the elite.

Pres. Ballard connected the story of Howland overboard

to the family tree of Joseph Smith Jr., saying that

through generations, Heaven was watching out for the family

of the Prophet of the Restoration, even back during

the Mayflower voyage, since Howland is a progenitor of

the Prophet Joseph and also of Elder Ballard. 

There at the JSBM emphasis is placed on the remarkable 

nature of the "coincidence" and chance that allowed 

the rescue line to be there, within his grasp, 

at the moment of dire need.

This is a photo I could not resist including here,

simply because I took it, and now it can represent

the strong religious presence in the New England

towns which are part of the Pilgrims' legacy.

This photo was taken on Halloween, in Concord, MA.

Historians are quick to point out that the location of the landing

as Plymouth Rock was simply supposition that Americans

have latched onto and promoted, as well as other myths.

One was that religious freedom was the prime motivation, 

though it may have been equally important to being able to make

 a living without restriction, and establish their own ideal society. 

Another myth is the idea that the pilgrims only wore

black clothing and were rather dull and one dimensional.

One historian's descriptions suggests they liked bright colors

and had lively activities and interests.

They also point out that the native Americans, including

the Algonquian people and the Wampanoag people

living here in the area, had already held harvest 

celebrations here, so when we sing about 

"that first Thanksgiving" feast, we are idealizing.

This will be the first Thanksgiving in a decade or so that

the Warner household has not hosted the celebration feast.

We have this year had our hearts warmed by the local LDS

congregations' attempts to make sure members and friends

all have a chance to feel the warmth of family on that day.

Many Wards or Stakes host a Thanksgiving potluck where

main elements of the traditional meal are provided,

with other fare being contributed by any who can

as they come and participate. (This might include us, too.)

As I think about people who take chances, make their actions

fit their proclamations of faith, contribute lives of meaning

without fanfare, or just by playing their parts,

the oil in my lamp is added to. Thankful for people in

our family trees who made this good life possible for us.

Happiest of Thanksgivings to friends and family.

Allusions to Light and Ammunition

This week we have traveled north 2.5 hours into Maine

for a combined Zone Conference. The weather has begun

to catch up to the calendar, and with the change

to Standard time, we are trying to adjust to 4:30pm sunsets.

The views near Manchester look more like this image,

with vistas which previously were obscured or 

clothed in shadow. It is an interesting transformation.

Now the mornings include below-freezing temperatures,

including a couple of days this week that began 

around 13 degrees.

This shot shows what we encountered near Augusta, ME:

leaves with contrast of snow behind.

A highlight for us this weekend was a chance to address

our new "home" ward in Canterbury, where we find we

have been accepted as family, and feel connected

closely to a few dozen people. Our assigned topic

was "spiritual self reliance". My inspiration

as introduction to my remarks was taken from

Revolutionary War incidents that I have enjoyed reading

about from the history "American Spring" by

Walter Borneman (thanks Pamela Morgan for

the recommendation). I share that part of my talk here.

I described two incidents, and invited others to listen 

for ways that these circumstances and choices 

might relate to self reliance.

The year is 1775, early in the dark morning hours of April 19th. 

A decades-long struggle between mother country and colonies 

has come to a crisis and spilled over. 

British military leaders felt compelled to act to remove 

fighting resources, munitions and canon, if possible, 

from access or control by the rebellious Colonials 

in Boston and nearby areas. 

The search continues, 

following a deadly confrontation that broke out 

almost accidentally on Lexington green the previous day. 

Two handfuls of colonial casualties at the skirmish there 

make it impossible to turn back, even to the hostile 

but less violent intensity of what it had been before.

At the time, it appeared that British troops near Charlestown 

and Boston Neck shipyards were beginning to hunt down 

and arrest revolutionary leaders as well as preparing 

to march toward Concord to seize the arsenal there. 

For local militia, the urgent question was whether those troops 

would march around by land, or deploy more quickly by means of 

naval longboats straight across Charlestown harbor. 

Patriots had been alerted to watch for the alarm - 

a light that would be visible from what has become known 

as “Old North Church” – the highest visible place in Boston. 

That light would help them understand how the enemy 

was approaching, and therefore how to be prepared. 

 When secret intelligence came that Redcoats would deploy 

across the water, three couriers bypassed the Boston 

roadblocks to relay the information. William Dawes started 

toward Lexington via a land route, while Paul Revere 

traveled by ferry across to Charlestown then continued 

on horseback. Samuel Prescott followed somewhat later 

along a southern route.

Revere made his way secretly to communicate to his friend 

John Pulling what needed to be done to post the signal. 

Pulling enlisted church caretaker Robert Newman 

(who possessed the critical tower entrance key) 

and possibly one other man who protectively stood watch.

The author describes what happened next:

The two men entered the building . . . and in its darkened interior 

retrieved two lanterns from a closet. Using leather thongs, 

the two men draped the lanterns around their necks 

and climbed 154 creaking wooden steps up the church tower. . . 

At some point, perhaps on the platform beneath the great bells, 

[they] took out flint and steel and showered sparks onto tinder 

with which to light the candles in the lanterns. All that remained 

was the delicate climb up the narrow ladder leading past 

the bells to the uppermost perch at the base of the steeple. 

[The final climber had to] manage two lighted lanterns and 

still climb the ladder. From the highest window,

the glow of first one, and then two lights flickered out 

to the northwest, in the direction of Charlestown.

The lanterns emitted only a subtle glow, 

and to leave them visible for much more than a minute 

would have attracted the attention of patrolling British sentries. 

But -- it was enough.  

(Bunker Hill Monument showing harbor nearby)

Moving forward in time to mid-June of that same year, 

British military strategy is tightening the siege of Boston 

by taking control of the surrounding hills overlooking 

Charlestown peninsula. To counter this, colonial militiamen 

under direction of Colonel Prescott have moved onto 

Breed’s Hill near Bunker Hill where they built earthen fortifications 

to try to defend that strategic position.

As the British army advanced in columns up that hill, 

Prescott, in an effort to conserve the Americans’ 

limited supply of ammunition, reportedly told his men 

not to fire until they were within range. He stated 

this distance as waiting until they could “see the whites of 

their EYES”, or more probably, the white of their uniform leg gaitors. 

When they were close enough, the colonials let loose 

a lethal barrage of musket fire, and the British retreated 

with heavy casualties.

 Regrouping at the base of the hill, other assaults followed, 

and little by little, combined British troop movements 

began to pinch and turn and isolate the American forces. 

As the fighting became more dire, and ball and 

powder supplies dwindled, many Colonial fighters fled 

from the trenches to escape, while about 150 men stayed 

and fought on. Eventually, the attack achieved its goal, 

and the American forces there were defeated. 

In fact, they were wiped out.

Again, I quote the descriptive writing of author Borneman:

What ended the American resistance in the fortification 

was neither a lack of courage nor unstoppable 

British resolve, but rather the absence of rebel gunpowder. . . . 

Prescott directed his men to hold steady for one final fusillade, 

but . . . once their gunpowder was expended 

there was nothing they could do.

As I have been thinking about and planning these remarks,

my lamp has been filled in many ways. I appreciate

the efforts of Early American patriots who acted with resolve

and strength. I was also lifted as I looked into the accepting

faces of our Canterbury Ward members, for their own

valiant efforts to keep the faith here where they live.

Beacon in the Storm

Where were you in late summer of 2011?

That question references the last part of this post.

Now, we are seriously into November, and counting

weeks until Thanksgiving feasting.

But I couldn't resist sharing this wonderful twist on

Halloween pumpkin carving which was done by my intelligent

and spunky teenager (and our amazing niece) Hannah Sweat, 

who apparently decided carving the Angel Moroni statue 

into her pumpkin was a better use of an artistic opportunity

than the traditional spooky or silly gourd face.

For us, the weather is playing catch-up as well,

with unseasonably warm October days turning now

into below-freezing morning temperatures and cold wind,

mixed with clear but cooler days. It is interesting to see

the myriad green-tipped stakes "planted" along private

roadways and parking lots preparing for the days in

the near future when snow plow drivers will need
to be able to see where the pavement ends.

My topic for this post comes from NHM Mission events

that took place back in the single digits of the October

calendar, and I have only now found place to report.

As disciples of Christ, we seek for opportunities to help

and serve and lift and bless. This is the most obvious way

to demonstrate discipleship, and to show "what would Jesus do."

For new converts and Gospel veterans, it is a natural response

to what we feel as we let the Atonement of Christ 

be active in our own lives.

Each autumn, usually early October, a tradition has been set

in the New Hampshire Manchester Mission to participate in

"a Day of Service" at the Joseph Smith Memorial Birthplace site.

It is paired with the regular incoming new missionary

"Follow Up Training" that falls in that calendar window,

approximately one week after their arrival into the mission.

In this image above, Sisters Semadeni and Green help string lights

around the JSBM Chapel. 

 The new missionaries worked together with their trainers

and the FM seniors and employees on site to prepare

for their annual "gift to the community" 

holiday light show which attracts automobile drive-thru visitors

from hundreds of miles around.

In this picture, below, (as well as the one above)

Sister Beck, wife of Mission President,

and the other sister missionaries are lighting

the fence line on the property.

Other projects that day included transplanting native

ferns from certain areas to improve and beautify

other plantings on the property, seen in image below.

(As an aside, the original plan as directed from Salt Lake

headquarters-based horticultural supervisors called for

"Vermont native" ferns and plants to be shipped in from

somewhere else for this work. The on-site FM landscape team

countered this idea by suggesting that a re-distribution

would work as well or better, and be more cost effective.)

On the far right, you can see Elder Warner participating.

 Below, more young elders are working on the site with

their powerful shovels and great spirits of service.

Below, experienced and new elders help string lights

near the visitors center.

The young missionaries traveled in from their outlying

areas, dressed for work, arriving by 9 a.m. on Tuesday

for a full day of labor, interrupted only by lunch together.

After the work day, we gathered for an evening cookout

at the next-door Camp Joseph camping venue,

where we enjoyed a wonderful sunset, camaraderie,

and great grilled burgers and hot dogs, and

even home made root beer. A camp fire, 'smores,

and a fireside Gospel discussion rounded out the day.

 President and Sister Ferguson from JSBM treated us there,

with Elder Sypher doing camp stove duties (YUM!).

Camp Directors Elder and Sister Tucker

made sure plans were set for accommodating 

the Elders for cabin overnight sleeping,

while the Sisters left the site to double up with

nearby sisters in missionary apartments.

(During planning, we were concerned about the cold,

but it turned out to be wonderfully mild, and dry!)

On Wednesday of this event, the Elders and Sisters

arose on their routine early schedule to dress and prepare

for their regular Follow Up training day, meeting in

the Sharon ward house. There they can read, as I did

during our first Follow-Up meeting, this touching

plaque, presented by the Town of Royalton to thank

members of that Ward and missionaries for service

extended back in 2011 when Hurricane Irene 

devastated the region.

(This is what the "Where were you" query refers to.)

" We, the people of Royalton, wish to thank the members

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for

your meritorious dedication to community service during

the flood of August 28th. Your unfailing enthusiasm and

generous contributions of "people power" during and after

Tropical Storm Irene demonstrate a true commitment

to neighbors and those in need. Recovery operations in

Royalton and surrounding areas have been carried by this

sense of purpose and passion that you exemplify. 

We are truly grateful and appreciate the spirit and energy

that you share with all of us. Your steady presence has served

us all and continues to strengthen the bonds of our community.

Thank you."

 This is the satellite image of Irene on August 26th

as it begins to impact the long coastal region

of eastern United States. Its effects were felt up and

down the coast, and nearly everyone with that shoreline

exposure or even much farther inland was affected.

In rural Vermont, the associated rainfall was too much

for the mountain streams and rivers to handle,

and extensive flooding occurred. Regional news sources

reported later than 672 road and bridge projects were needed

to repair the effects. Thirty-five hundred homes suffered 

damage, with 1400 households displaced.

 The cost to the State was $110 million, with private

funding and insurance contributing $75 million in recovery funds.

Federal housing funds for unmet needs reached $21.7 million.

As I read and re-read the message on the plaque

each time we visit the JSBM Chapel, my heart swells

that the Gospel in action was so immediate and willing

from the Saints living in the area. I hope to hear more

from local members who may have participated

in service during that catastrophe.

Until then, my lamp is filled to know that folks

are serving and stepping forward, and in a way

representing all of us who want to be counted

as members of the Church of Jesus Christ

of Latter-Day Saints.

Careful Versus Casual: Deliberate Actions

As I considered a topic for this week's post, I have been

thinking of the inspiring address given by 

Sister Becky Craven in the April 2019 General Conference 

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 

titled "Careful Versus Casual".

Here is one statement from her talk:

There is a careful way and a casual way to do 

everything, including living the gospel. 

As we consider our commitment to 

the Savior, are we careful or casual?

I hope to string together several rather random thoughts

building on the title of Sister Craven's address

(not necessarily Gospel-related).

The opening image is of the Double Arch Stone Bridge
near Stoddard, New Hampshire. This is the identifying sign
that is posted nearby to explain its importance.

Text on the sign: This twin arch structure, built without mortar
and sustained solely by expert shaping of its arch stones,
is typical of a unique style of bridge construction employed
primarily in the Contoocook River Valley in the first half
of the nineteenth century.

(I include this pic with Vince on the bridge so that we can
PROVE we were actually there - I have seen postcards of it
and don't want to be accused of "harvesting" from the internet.)

We "stumbled" on it - as we each drove by at highway speed,
traveling in separate vehicles -
to drop off a loaner car for the Sisters serving in Keene,
a college town in western New Hampshire. I had seen
pictures of the bridge before, but didn't know where it was
and was NOT expecting to come across it on this trip.
There are two Careful Vs. Casual things here.

First is the bridge, which would not have served its purpose
for all these years, to span the rugged river, without the
CAREFUL planning and construction of its engineers.
Second, if both Vince and I had NOT been scanning the beautiful
scenery as we traveled independently, our CASUAL
mindsets might have missed this very lovely scene. 

I've maxed out my limit, I know, of Fall foliage images,
but when we parked in the apartment for the Keene Sisters,
this tree was within touching distance - I couldn't resist.
And that leads me into the DELIBERATE nature of
all these deciduous trees: you CANNOT enjoy having
trees that grow abundantly with myriad leaves and think
you can escape the "what happens next" part of the equation,
which is, that leaves fall, and create a mess and possibly
cause other problems or dilemmas. 
For instance: extra stress on branches that can break and crash
as was the case with this home near the Manchester chapel.

Leafy trees help with heat control in summer,
provide cooling shade, beautiful color and privacy.
But when autumn comes and they fall OFF the trees . . .

. . . they need to be raked . . . .
(this above is near 'Old North Bridge' in Concord, MA;
we were there after a wind storm, and it was
worse than snow to walk through)

 . . . and bagged and placed for trash collection . . . 
(this was for ONE WEEK's cleanup; repeated

for several weeks)

. . . and just look at the reduction in privacy for 

the nearby next street neighbors near our apartment building

(we had no idea how CLOSE, though we could hear

activities through the out-of-doors summer months).

Another lesson about being CAREFUL that I have learned
concerns artwork by local Manchester Ward artist
William Earnshaw Sr. 

This is a print from a composed
watercolor-and-glazed torn tissue paper original of 
the Boston Temple, this one framed by us and adorning
our apartment walls. A larger, nicer reproduction hangs
in the Mission Office, so we see it every day. Son Bill Jr. tells us
that when his father set out to create art using this medium,
he always made several originals, hoping that one will turn out ok.
(Brother Earnshaw has retired now, but we heard a reference
about Bro. and Sis. Earnshaw in Stake Conference today
which indicated that their life work is serving and helping others.)

Now from the sublime to the silly:
Here is a selfie by Elder Warner who is always
very DELIBERATELY finding ways to inject humor into
his mission duties and the experiences of the young
Elders and Sisters.

This week was busy Transfers Day when new missionaries
have arrived and are being paired with their new
training companions, as other new assignments and
reorganization is taking place for which a few dozen
missionaries come and go through the chapel building hallways.

Elder Warner wanted to help them remember that he
is ALWAYS concerned about their driving safety,
and is therefore "watching" them.

Finally, for this discussion, I mention that we were pleased 
this week again to visit Concord, MA and 'Old North Bridge'.
(Above is the re-posted summer picture;
below was this week's autumn image from up the hill.)

I have read and re-read portions of "American Spring"
by author Walter Borneman (recommended by good friend
and ambitious reader Pamela Morgan).
As the events unfolded at that confrontation that resulted from
a "shot heard 'round the world", no one knows who
fired the first volley. The momentous conflict and birth of
a nation began in a non-DELIBERATE or accidental manner.

In contrast, we said goodbye to seven missionaries
 this week who have completed their last "Transfer" 
after having served 18 or 24 months CAREFULLY following
mission rules, living exemplary lives, striving each day
"to bring others to Christ" by sharing the Gospel
with everyone they can, and spending hours each day
searching for and FINDING those that will listen.
Well done, good and faithful servants! 
We admire and love you.