How to read the Book of Mormon with investigators

Sunday dinner with the sisters.  This week we had Sister Kofoed and Sister Lowder both from Hyde Park, Utah.                                                                                  

On Monday, our Prep day we attended the temple and then drove up to Burlington to the movie theatre to watch Overcomer.  What a great show.  

 On Tuesday we had Sister Pancheri, from Idaho and Sister Leneham, from Australia, come teach us.  They shared highlights from Pres. Nelson's BYU devotional that had been given on that day.  The taught us that we are all children of God, that truth is truth, that God's prophets and apostles are called of God to teach us the laws of love and that divine laws are God's gifts to His children.  And we could know of this truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. 

On Wednesday, we had Mission Training.  We learned about more we could do when giving out a Book of Mormon to someone.  I was so excited 3 weeks ago to give away one, but now realize I could have helped the man more.  We were taught in a beautiful way how to not just give investigators a book, but to read it with them.  Even if it is a few passages.  Reading with them helps them so much more.  We can explain a few terms, or give background as to what is happening,  We can pronounce some of the new words, like Nephi for them.   We can point out how this is for them personally.  God will speak to you through this book.  One investigator shared his conversion experience.  He said the missionaries tried to answer all his questions for hours on end, but it was the Book of Mormon that convinced him of the truth.  The Book of Mormon is powerful. 

On Sat. I was working in the Visitor's Center and Lois and June Thompson, from good old Warren, Utah, along with their husbands came to Nauvoo.  It is always good to see someone from home, even if it is from the way back past.                              

Received a photo of Ethan and his date going to Homecoming.  

Today, Sunday, Sept. 22, we worked in the Webb Brothers Blacksmith shop.  

6-Up

S/Ethington from Houston Texas and S/Vincent from San Diego, CA.

We always love having the Sisters over for Sunday dinner. 

S/Luddington and S/Perkes

The sisters are practicing teaching lessons preparing for their outbound assignments coming up. 

S/Flinders from West Haven, Ut. S/Jones from Montana, S/Petersen from Lehi, Ut.

The big event this week is the 6-Up.  That means 6 horses hitched to the wagon together.  Elder Mecham and Elder Barney lead the way taking the first turns.

18 Month old oxen

3 month olds in training

Meanwhile back at home the grandkids are growing up.  Here is Brenden with his date going to  Homecoming.                                                           

These lovelies all dressed up going to the Stake Dance.            

Kolana, Amish farm, Book of Mormon

The Sister put on a concert for us on Sunday evening.  So beautiful.  

Monday is our Prep day now.  Today we went to Kolana, Iowa.

We met up with some other missionary couples to have lunch at an Amish farm.  The food was wonderful.                                                                                 

Ila Miller was the cook.

Elder Cornwell caught this great angle of Browning Gun with the temple in the background.

The West pasture.  Happy horses.

Thursday evening Sister John and Sister Anderson came over to practice a missionary lesson.  They taught us the importance of the Book of Mormon.  They shared with us how powerful this book is in conversion.  They left us with a challenge to write our testimony in a Book of Mormon and then to give it away.  We took the challenge on.  I prepared one with favorite verses marked and such.  

Well the next day I worked in the Nauvoo Visitor's Center.  And had to opportunity to give a Book of Mormon away.  I feel so blessed for this to happen.  I hope the gentleman will benefit from this.  He was a kind man from St. Louis, a believer in Jesus Christ and very interested in what happened here in Nauvoo.                                                                                  

 Caught some butterflies near Brigham Young's home. 

We invited the Richins over for dinner and a night of cards.  There first time playing Cover Your Assests.  Beginners luck.  Sister Richins cleaned house as the winner.  Fun time.  

Putting Nauvoo to bed.  

Saddleback caterpillar

Sister Barrow was working in the flowers near the Family Living Center and found this interesting caterpillar.  She knew that I'd be interested in it so she brought it out to the wagon ride to show me.  We called him a little puppy dog with a sweater on his back. 

 The caterpillar is primarily green with brown at either end and a prominent white-ringed brown dot in the center which resembles a 

saddle. It has a pair of fleshy horns at either end. These and most of the rest of the body bear urticating hairs that secrete an irritating venom. Contact with the hairs causes a painful, swollen rash. - Wikipedia






More of our missionaries going home.

Sister Grigsby, FM

The Sweats, that worked in the Family History Center.  Mark and Elder Sweat are 3rd cousins

The Hayhursts from Ohio

The Craners our first District Leaders, taught us so much about how things work in the mission.  From St. George.

On Prep Day we went over to Hannibal, Mo on the riverboat.

This is a tugboat that pushes the barges on the river.

Elder Flanders and Elder Mecham in front of the Wagon Depot, where the visitors come to ride the wagon and the teamsters sit waiting for them to come. 

The barn kitties have grown up.

Harnessing up

Mark and some of the other teamsters went up to Mt. Pleasant to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.

The Freston family came back to Nauvoo, bringing Jim's parents in a motorhome.  They stayed here with us.  It was great to have them.                       

Sister Quirl, Parker, Maylee at the Print Shop. 
Maylee is a penpal with Sister Quirl.