Assume Good Intent: Arrival of New Mission President

We have now had a full two weeks with our new

Mission President and Companion, and we have

witnessed their commitment to serve thoroughly

and well, their careful leadership style,

and their support and love for the missionaries -

including us who work from the NH Manchester Mission office.

As the departing President and Sister Blair described

the process in the few weeks leading up to their handing over

of the reins for this important and dynamic work,

"This train is coming into the station and it is NOT

going to slow down."

This was President Blair's way of telling them and us

that the daily work, finding, ministering and operations

of the Mission would not allow for any kind of transitional period 

that would allow time to "get used" to things in their new form. 

"It's leap, grab hold and hang on!"

Pres. Beck, Assistants, Pres. Blair, Sister Blair

The Becks arrived on a Friday,

stopped into the office to say hello to the staff there,

then were sequestered into the President's Office

to get "connected" via internet to Salt Lake "trainers"

who assisted the electronic transition for them.

An hour later, (or perhaps after their dinner together)

President Blair handed over the Mission affairs,

and that hour of information sharing is about all there was.

Of course, the Blairs assisted with pre-mission field arrival

questions, but it certainly is not a long face-to-face

training period.

(This Mission President service is NOT for weaklings!)

Four days in the week that followed their arrival,

President and Sister Beck set up "Meet and Greet"

appointments with each of the 7 zones on our mission -

from Vermont to New Hampshire to Maine - (phew!)

where they met each missionary, introduced themselves,

and asked the missionaries to tell them about

the NH Manchester Mission 

("what do you want to be known for?" 

or

"In the NH Manchester Mission we (fill in the blank)".

As part of their introduction to help us all know them,

they bore powerful testimonies of their own conversion

stories that helped them "come unto Christ."

Sister Beck talked about a conversation she had 

as a young girl with her mother

 who was converted to the Restored Gospel

when they lived in northeast Salt Lake valley.

In response to her daughter's inquiries, she firmly told her

that she needed to find out for herself, and to ask the questions

she had directly to her Father in Heaven.

President Beck spoke of his testimony foundation beginnings

as being similar to the account in the Book of Mormon by Nephi.

He was born of goodly parents, and learned and had

Gospel truth confirmed as he grew up under their influence.

They both bore witness of Christ's Atonement,

the Book of Mormon and prophetic mission of

Joseph Smith.

During remarks to the group we attended with in Nashua,

Pres. Beck said something that impressed me and

put oil in my lamp.

As I recall, he was talking about communication, camaraderie,

and cooperative efforts among all of us serving here together

as we try to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Referring to something from his hospital administration work

(from which he recently retired), he said they made an effort to always

"ASSUME GOOD INTENT".

Split away from it's business buzz word framework, 

this phrase embraces many of the attributes advocated

in D&C Section 4 that the NHMM missionaries recite 

whenever they meet as a group 

(and which I chant as I walk in the mornings

so that I can learn it at the speed they recite it!):

. . . patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility . . .

I am committed to repenting (changing for the better)

with this in mind.

Eat Your Food and Go To Bed

This post is about a couple of fun and

inspirational "farewell" messages that were presented

during the recent Nashua Stake Conference meeting

by our former Mission President Thomas Blair

and his companion Sister Heather Blair.

Since this blog is intended to share things we

experience or observe that touch our hearts

and replenish oil in our lamps, those messages qualify!

Sister Blair shared a past conversation she had by telephone

with a granddaughter who is attending a pre-school

near her home sponsored by another religion.

In grandmotherly fashion, Sister Blair asked the child about

the highlights of her day, and what she had learned.

Her innocent response was at first baffling,

but then it turned instructive.

"They need to learn more about God," she said.

"Oh? What are they teaching you?" was the followup question.

"Eat your food, and go to bed."

After winding off the story, Sister Blair talked about how

this summary really does cover some Gospel essentials.

In 2 Nephi 32:3, we are told to "feast upon

the words of Christ." In 2 Nephi 9:51, the admonition changes

to become "feast upon that which perisheth not."

And in Jacob 3:2 comes the invitation to "receive

the pleasing word of God, and feast upon His love."

As for the second part of the pre-schooler's paraphrase,

Sister Blair directed us to read Christ's message 

of comfort in Matthew 11:28 

"Come unto me ye who are heavy laden, 

and I will give you rest."

Paul reports in Hebrews 4:3 that 

"we which have believed do enter into . . . rest."

In Alma 12:34, we are promised that "whosoever

repenteth shall enter into my rest."

President Blair framed his message around the slogan

found on the New Hampshire license plates.

"LIVE FREE OR DIE"

This statement is attributed to General John Stark 

back on July 31, 1809, who was New Hampshire's 

most famous soldier of the American Revolutionary War.

This battle cry was intended to rally forces for war, 

but it could be laid out also as a distilling 

of the Gospel of Peace, according to President Blair. 

He quoted scriptures from 2 Nephi to help make his point:

2:27 Men are free to choose liberty and eternal life

through the great Mediator of all men,

or to choose captivity and death.

10:23 Remember that ye are free

to act for yourselves -- to choose the way

of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

2:27 Men are free to choose liberty and eternal life,

or to choose captivity and death.

Effective speaking that engraves images of

remembrance upon the mind!

Now I find myself recalling these scriptures

when I see cars around us on the highways

with the New Hampshire plates,

or when I sit down to eat my meals.

Thank you, President and Sister Blair!

Missionary Purpose and The Challenge of Change

Our Missionary Purpose

states that we "invite others to come unto Christ by

by helping them to receive the Restored Gospel

through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement,

repentance, baptism, receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost,

and enduring to the end." Focus at the MTC included

a substitution of "myself" for "others", and the understanding

that "repentance" actually means CHANGE for the better.

During the past two weeks or so, we have had opportunity

to hear testimonies and life stories

(or in one instance receive impressions from a photograph)

that I have found inspiring, for varied reasons

and on different levels. 

Change is on our mind as we make a transition from

the leadership of Pres. & Sis. Blair to new incoming

Pres. & Sis. Beck. The "bend in the road" phrase above was presented

by Sister Coleman, companion of Mission Pres. Counselor,

at a Zone Conference address.

I love what it says about facing change and making a choice.

During our first Sunday in our new Ward in

Merrimack, we listened to the budding testimony of

college student Davis Biddle, whose family had lived

in the ward boundaries previous to his leaving for

college, then transferring to the locale where he was

again within the circle of contact with young people

from the family of former associates

of his parents who are members of the Church

of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Searching for a more spiritual life led him to discussions,

increased friendships, missionary lessons, conversion

and eventual baptism in March of this year.

Bro. Biddle mentioned that his only conflict with

tenets of the Word of Wisdom involved his love for

sweet tea. When the teaching Elders challenged him

to test his faith as described in Moroni 10:4-5, he told them

he would do it, but wanted to wait until the freshly made

gallon of tea in his fridge was consumed. "That's not how

it works," they explained. "You need to show that you believe

and want help to believe by taking action immediately - 

not when it is easiest or more convenient."

This image is of a 10-11 year old girl in the Derry Ward

whose lovely name is Temple Joy.

I have not met her, but as Recorder, I deal with the images

of those completing their convert baptism.

Temple deals with shyness, and that may have led to

her postponing this important day and ordinance beyond the usual

eight years of age. She also was reticent when it came

to having the standard day-of-baptism photo taken.

Instead, this poignant, candid photo was offered to the Mission.

It impressed me and I couldn't get young Temple out of

my mind. With permission from Temple and her father,

I am allowed to share it. For me it displays the tender nature

of each Child of God who comes to the "edge" of this change,

and pauses to reflect and consider what it will mean

to choose to follow Christ.

Life is filled with so many things that are sometimes difficult.

We all have different challenges.

I know that God cares about each of us,

and that the opportunities He and His Son Jesus Christ

extend to us are intended for our benefit and development.

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am thy God and will strengthen thee.

Concord, The Shot Heard 'Round the World, & Restoration

This is historic Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts.

We were able, on assignment, to travel here this week,

but first . . . 

. . . we survived the crazy week of Transfers, with three days

of arriving "new" missionaries, their early training,

instruction, pairing with new "Trainer" companionships,

other new teaching assignments among the remaining

young missionaries, and so forth.

The Concord Bridge trip is the outgoing experience

that Mission President and Sister Blair offer to the departing

missionaries - this time a record 21 Elders and Sisters -

as a capstone experience of sorts.

The Concord history is important in so many ways:

starting point (somewhat disputed)

 for the conflict for independence,

encouraging evidence for the ragtag colonial militias

that they might actually be able to stand up to

the most powerful military in the world at the time,

and the spot where the humble farmers and workmen

minutemen drew their line, and forcefully said,

"this far, but no further."

This is the statue that stands on the militia/colonist side

of the Old North Bridge, a tribute to Capt. Isaac Davis, who was

the first casualty of what became the War for Independence.

(Interesting fact: the model for this statue was the young

great grandson of Isaac Davis)

Sister Blair made a presentation to the group

 that pointed out how God had His hand in 

the cause of freedom that would be necessary

in this new country, as a place where the Restored Gospel

could be revealed, beginning with a miraculous vision

of the Father and the Son that opened up

to a fourteen-year-old boy in a wood not 
that many miles far from 

this Minuteman National Monument.

Inspiring information and moments spent!

 A happy coincidence: a Jr ROTC regiment showed up

as we were enjoying the monument along with

three re-enactors. Of course, the young Elders

interacted with them.

From the Bridge we continued up into quaint

and historic Concord town, where we wandered

around the square and up onto cemetery hill

in the heavy rain. The missionaries dispersed

separately, and spontaneously did what they

always do: finding and talking about the Gospel,

and inviting people they met to come unto Christ.

 At evening, we met and had dinner

at the historic Colonial Inn, discussing what we

had learned during the day. 

The missionaries were invited

to express their reactions and thoughts about Concord,

the Bridge and its history, and more.

A point that connected American history

with the Book of Mormon was when a young Elder recited

a scripture from Helaman 5:6  . . . and when 

ye remember them ye may remember their works;

and when ye remember their works ye may know how

it is said, and also written, that they were good.

Delightful (but tiring!) day. So fun to know
we are close to this abundant early American history!

Kirtland: Sawdust, Shavings and a Sacred Building

This week has been a busy week of training and

transfer of information as we learn our duties and

responsibilities in the Mission Office. 

Instead of discussing those experiences here,

I wanted to pay tribute to the many early Saints

who lived and worked and toiled in Kirtland, Ohio,

since we were fortunate to stop at this historic Church site

as we journeyed toward our final destination.

Above is the beautiful Kirtland Temple, which is being

conserved and shared by the Community of Christ.

We enjoyed a wonderful tour given by talented and

sensitive guide Tom, a middle-aged, pony-tailed LDS man

from American Fork, Utah, who volunteers 

as guide (and also is a paid maintenance worker)

on the temple grounds, and has ancestors who built the temple.

One interesting fact: the foundation and walls were build as large

cut stone blocks on the exterior, with wall thickness built out

with rubble stone - that is small varied aggregate collections 

of rocks - poured into place in "cages"

 formed from wire fencing type containers.

Current caretakers have exposed a portion of

this construction under roof eaves so that

this method can be viewed by touring guests. 

Down the hill from the Temple is the Kirtland settlement

where the Newel K. Whitney store and home were located,

and which have been reconstructed in recent years

by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

I have much more respect and admiration for Brother Whitney:

his wife Ann had sought out spiritual things, felt drawn to

the Restored Gospel when she heard Parley Pratt preach.

When the two continued to pray for guidance about

whether to follow this new Church, they were answered

in February 1831 when the prophet Joseph Smith arrived

unexpectedly in Kirtland, indicating he had been "prayed"

to journey there to meet the Whitneys. Newel later became

Bishop for a portion of the Saints, also standing up for

Joseph Smith when many turned against him toward

the end of his life.

 As the Temple was planned and construction begun,

a crucial area of activity was the sawmill and

cabinet shop, located in the vicinity of the Whitney store.

This, of course, is a recreation on the creek there,

but we enjoyed seeing these mechanicals (above) where

we could imagine what it was like as the building

materials were shaped and smoothed and finished

for the beautiful House of the Lord that would be

an offering and evidence of the Saints' love of God.

Above is the mill wheel that provided the power to

run (below) the large saw with its sled bed to hold logs

and beams being cut.

 Here is a longer view of the saw with sled.

Here (below) is a closeup of the detailed raised "pulpit"

seats designed for the leadership inside the

two large assembly halls on ground and 2nd floors.

 The cabinet/furniture that was fashioned by craftsmen

for the original temple (these are recreations on

the site of the sawmill) was exquisite, and was all

built using hand tools as well as . . . 

. . . on a lathe which was powered by the mill wheel.

 We were fascinated to see and think about

this wood worker's bench with its hand tools

that are significant to us because of the hand

tool wood working that we have been exposed to

through the work of our resident craftsman son Cory.

We love this monument to those who sought and found

the Restored Gospel and wanted their "if so, then what"

demonstration to be the erecting of the beautiful Kirtland Temple.

Across the Plains - from West to East

Our travel by automobile across the country from "west" to "east"

covered most of five days with several long 10 hour days.

We can now witness how vast the midlands really are.

It was interesting to view the gradual change from mountainous

Utah to flat prairie land of Wyoming and Nebraska,

then gradually to have low rolling hills appear,

with forestation increasing as we got into Illinois, Iowa, 

Ohio, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York,

as we approached Vermont and New Hampshire.

(This is a painting by Seviers of the settlement

of Winter Quarters where the Latter-Day Saints

staged following their exodus from Nauvoo

before heading to the tops of the mountains.)

 We planned a day stop in Council Bluffs,

attended a (Saturday) temple session,

visited the Visitor Center and enjoyed our day.

Interesting connection for me: years ago - possibly 15 -

I was commissioned to complete a couple of small 

wall quilts to be placed in two Midwest temples

as interior artwork.

One was the Winter Quarters Temple.

If this was a "happily ever after" story,

I would report that we saw that quilt inside.

We did not - it has been removed. 

But it still felt wonderful to be there.

I realize how important artwork that depicts Jesus Christ

is for temple interior selection (my artwork was

 "Roots &  Branches"- a tree of life).

 Inside the visitors center, we talked with

the young sister missionaries, which is always

energizing. This mock up of the Nauvoo temple

reminds us of what the early Saints left behind when they
were forced from their beautiful city.

I have been reading the end of "Saints" history,

and it is heart-breaking to remember what they

sacrificed to receive the endowment of power from God

prior to facing west and the challenges that would

come to them with that relocation.

One final note of interest:

when we attend temple sessions in our home area,

we may NEVER again be asked to serve 

as "witness" couple - one look at Vince's white hair

and the brethren in charge of that invitation will assume we may

be too feeble to perform the standing and kneeling

that is required. But there in Winter Quarters,

because of the small size of the company,

we had that opportunity once again. 
An unexpected blessing.

"As a Witness to All Nations"

Matthew 24:14

"And this Gospel . . . shall be preached unto all the world

as a witness to all nations . . . "

We enjoyed our week of Preach My Gospel training at

the Provo Mission Training Center,

followed by four days of "get a taste of it"

specialized office training.

I was impressed at the "Welcome" devotional on

the first Monday as all the Senior Missionaries met together

and were addressed by MTC and Branch Presidency members

when we became acquainted with the widely varied

missions and humanitarian locations that the 77 seniors

would be journeying to.

This picture of our first week District

(with two young teachers on each end)  . . . 

. . . represents the seniors who were in attendance.

It was announced that those training the week

we were there came from 7 states, and would be going to

5 continents. Assignments included: NH Manchester (us),

UT Layton, NZ Hamilton, AK Anchorage,

Myanmar (service only), Chile, China, Africa, Eastern Europe,

Australia.

The explanation of our "Mission" statement that is

"To bring others to Jesus Christ" was tied back to

our Savior's original mandate to "take the Gospel

unto all the world". Though daunting, the original Twelve Apostles'

commitment to this commandment is being followed up

by the Twelve Apostles of the Restoration.

No one can doubt that this commitment is being responded to

by the hundreds of young Sisters and Elders with whom

we rubbed shoulders as we walked between classes,

to Tuesday night devotionals, and to eat in the cafeteria.

Ten young Sisters and Elders arrived at the MTC for

three weeks of Preach My Gospel training on the Wednesday

before we completed our training. Elder Warner and I

stood outside the cafeteria door with an "airport" style sign

showing those entering the words

"New Hampshire Manchester" in hopes that we could

identify them. We lucked out and met the ten,

and I think it was about the best feeling of the two weeks.

So much energy and dedication from these

wonderful young people.