5 May 2018
We have now lived in Salt Lake City for a month. It surely is a different world, maybe not in a good way for non-believers but for this transplanted now deeply-rooted LDS girl, it is spectacularly wonderful and different. I have heard many say that "we" in the Church live in a bubble. I used to take offense to that but that is no longer the case because "they" are right. There is this marvelous and welcomed bubble that hoovers over the Church Headquarters and Temple Square
in downtown Salt Lake City.
Those that are negatively judging the bubble say it is a place where we are shielded and protected from all realities. Those outside of the bubble claim we are foolish, naive, and in a state of denial about the world around us. They have surmised we would not know how to take care of ourselves outside of this protective bubble. They imply that the bubble makes us ignorant or unaware. That could be true..... but I have found "The Bubble" to have the most delightful and redeeming characteristics!
Living in the Bubble in Salt Lake City is a pretty terrific life! Everywhere I go I am reminded of the Prophet Joseph Smith....
It reminds me of the debt of gratitude I owe him for the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ on this earth. We frequent the Joseph Smith Memorial Building weekly. There's not a time goes by that when I walk past one of these stately monuments that in my heart I don't say, "Thank you for your valor and courage".
There are some days that I clearly feel the watchful eye of President Brigham Young and many other prophets that have walked the courtyards that we now have the privilege of strolling through. Their watchful eyes and grandeur are still present. Every Sunday we meet in the Empire Room in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and I marvel at the workmanship that it took to create such beauty.
I love living in the Bubble! Every Sunday morning (since our Sacrament Service begins at 1pm) we have been walking over to the Tabernacle on Temple Square to hear the broadcast of Music and the Spoken Word live. We listen to the Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra on Temple Square blend their talents in to a heavenly harmony that is hard to describe.
I had a choice experience one Sunday morning while at the Tabernacle listening to the choir practice before the performance. You see all sorts of visitors from all over the world on these mornings. An Hispanic middle aged woman and her friend were sitting behind us. I felt a tap on my shoulder. In her best English (it was pretty good English) she said to me, "You have a most beautiful Church here!" I replied, "Thank you. It is magnificent, isn't it?" Our conversation then began. She and many others were there that morning from Florida attending a convention of some sort. They were visiting Temple Square on their last day. She loved Salt Lake City. She was leaving bright and early Monday morning. I asked if she had a Book of Mormon. She had no idea what that was. I knew I needed to find a Book of Mormon for her. One of the concert missionary-ushers told me where I could find a Book of Mormon. I was on the hunt and was determined to find one for my new found friend. I didn't even know her name! I could only find a Book of Mormon in English but there was some extra Spanish Pass-along cards and a Spanish Family Proclamation. I grabbed it all and ran to get back to my seat before the performance began. I gave it to her and told her if she would call the number on the Pass-along card that she could get a book in Spanish. She agreed. As the performance ended and we said our Good-byes she handed me her Music and the Spoken Word program which had her name, address, and phone number on it. Her name was Georgina. The next week I took her name back to Temple Square to give it to the missionaries in hopes that they will follow up on my new found friend Georgina. I'll never know what happens with Georgina but I hope that while she was in "The Bubble" for that day she felt something different from the world.
We begin each day/work with a devotional at 7:30am. How many work places do you know that begins with a spiritual thought and prayer? (With exception to those of my friends that work in the Temple). As we walk to the Church Office Building we see thousands of people doing the same thing... dashing about to get to their own assignments. One sister likened it to the Spirit World where she imagined everyone was scurrying to and fro to do the Lord's work. Everyone seemingly having the same goal.... to do your part in building the Kingdom of God. This is exactly what living under the bubble in Salt Lake City is like. I love the Bubble! And I love my new friends, Sister MacDonald from Lethbridge (left) and Sister Bushman (center) from Arizona that I "scurry about" with each day on the 28th floor in the Interpretation Dept.
The Bubble does not only exist in Salt Lake City on Temple Square. It surrounds our Temples, our Chapels, and it should embrace our homes. I pray that my grandchildren can feel that "bubble protection" in their homes. I pray that their homes will be a sanctuary from the world. It is my prayer that those sweet children can feel love from family and friends (from either side of the veil) each day as they cross the Bubble's threshold.
There is an excitement in the air as President Russell M. Nelson's invitation to live a "higher" standard, a "better life" has brought new changes into the Church. Not unlike the ancient followers of Jesus' time, the adults of the Church are asked to live a higher law, a more perfect law of "ministering" just as we were this past month. This time the youth are included in that invitation. Old programs, that have served everyone well, are now being improved upon and the standard will be lifted. I recall when the Young Women's Personal Progress Program was introduced and it was obvious that our Young Women were going to leap forward with this new program. And here we again..... on the edge of the platform, toed to the line many ready to utter the words, "Mother (Father) may I...take one giant leap forward"! There will be many that will stay toed to that line waiting to see what happens when we let go of the familiar and protecting hand of Home/Visiting Teaching, YW Personal Progress Program, and the Boy Scouts program. President Nelson has give us all a hardy, "Yes, you may". Many will have to go back to the "line" and hold out your hand to help others take that leap. May we all be prepared to do that.
With all these changes comes a multitude of work for our interpreters. ALL the changes and new training videos need to be interpreted into new languages so that the gospel is elevated in all countries. The new Ministering Videos have been interpreted into 50 languages thus far. All of this was done within a month of the Prophet's announcement. I think the hustle and bustle of the Church Office Building has also enlarged due to the Lord's urgency of going forward with this higher law.
All this takes place under The Bubble where there doesn't seem to be so many "bubble bursters"! I love living under The Bubble!
15 April 2018
I have so much to tell you.... So much greatness has happened! I get to see some pretty amazing sights each day.
We have completed the MTC training and our first week of Family History Training!
I am overwhelmed with the experiences that we are having. I have to say that I was dreading the MTC a bit because I was not so impressed with the training that was provided the last time. A lot of role plays that just don't work well for me. But this time it was so different. The teaching styles and teaching curriculum was delightful.
Our
sweet little trainer, Sister Ritchie, was an excellent teacher. You
can see the influence of "Teaching the Savior's Way" in every step.
We were placed in a
District with some pretty remarkable people consisting of 4 couples: Elder and Sister Chin from Pennsylvania (Utah SLC
Headquarters Mission), Elder and Sister Wilson from St. George, Utah (Arkansas Bentonville
Mission: MLS assigned to Springville, Missouri),
Elder and Sister Garrett from Gilbert, Arizona (Washington DC North Mission: MLS missionaries), and ourselves. We were also assigned an "other couple". This couple were the Munns from Garland, Utah (Illinois Nauvoo Mission: Teamster and Minion(as she put it!))
We
were also assigned an "other couple". This couple were the Munns from
Garland, Utah (Illinois Nauvoo Mission: Teamster and Minion(as she put
it!)) This is the couple that we were to get to know the best while at the MTC. We hung out a lot. We ate together, we walked to classes together, we went to devotionals together. We knew that at the end of the training they would be the ones that we would teach and visa versa. They were a delight to get to know. It was a simulation of part 1 of our training "Get to know" those you teach. The assignment has turned into a special friendship and now emails, texts, and FB messenger will fly to and from Nauvoo to see how each other are doing!
I was anxious to see the new completed additions to the MTC that were only under construction when we were there last. And of course, they are magnificent!
Beautiful murals have been included on each floor. They are stunning and give you a sense of reality of the scriptures. You know that the events and people you read about in all the scriptures were real, in fact, you feel like you are there in the moment. It is an astounding testament of truth.
Sunday was breath-taking! Our branch, which consists of 40% of the mission, 400+ missionaries, meets in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building, formally known as the Hotel Utah. It is majestic. Construction began on the hotel in 1909.
With horse drawn wagons, they began digging the foundation. Under the direction of President Gordon B. Hinckley the building went from aging hotel to a multi-functioning Church edifice with a new name of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building (JSMB). We began with Relief Society in the Empire Room.
Which was originally a grand dining hall and has now been restored to perfection. It now serves as Relief Society and Sunday School classroom where learning the Gospel of Jesus Christ fills the hall.
We walk past the classic lobby
And grand hallways
On our way to the single most beautiful chapel I have ever seen.
I was in awe. I couldn't believe that I was here. I was overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude. I get to do this every Sunday for the next 18 months.
Our
FIRST DAY in the mission, Monday 9 April, was a devotional by
President Dallin H. Oaks. Wow! We met in the Conference Center
Little Theater where all of the missionaries of our mission (just under 1000
missionaries) could gather. He spoke of the value and significance of
the Temple. He taught how we should make note of the actions that
accompany the covenants we make. He re-emphasized simple things like
the importance of taking the Sacrament with your right hand. The hand
that you sustain leaders with and the hand with which you make covenants
should also be the hand that you renew covenants each Sunday. Every
meeting that I went into I felt this swoosh of emotion that enveloped me
letting me know that the Holy Ghost is here and He will testify.
Then a short walk back to the JSMB's third floor to begin our Family Search Training. Along the way I had stunning reminders that it was Spring.
I found my desk and computer for the week.
A classroom full of new missionaries and new friends. They all have very interesting stories of faith and commitment to the gospel.
The most amazing thing
of all..... the view from what seems to be in every window. No matter
where you are or what window you are looking out of or the street you
are driving on the Temple always seems to be in your view. I know that
this can't possibly be true but it sure seems that way. It is very clear that the Salt Lake Temple is the pinnacle of not only Temple Square but the entire city. Some people see it and some don't. My responsibility is to always keep the Temple in my view!
2 April 2018
The Mission "officially" began 2 April 2018 but the real fun began Friday 30 March 2018. We arrived in Salt Lake City Wednesdy, 28 March to meet our new co-workers, the Bushmans, and to see our new work place at the Church Office Building (COB).
We went all the way to the top ..... and then some! The regular elevators go to the 26th floor where many have been to what is called the observation floor. There you can see all four corners of downtown Salt Lake City and beyond. Our new offices are on the 28th floor. The 27th and 28th floors are where all the interpretations take place.
On Friday 30 March we moved into our new apartment which is a 7 minute walk to the COB.
Outside the trees were budding and the flowers were just beginning to poke their little heads out. It was a welcome change to snow. Finally, after 44 years in Canada, I am getting to see green grass, daffodils and tulips in March and April.
The walk was delightful even if it was at 7am on Conference Saturday. Everything was beginning to bloom. But I had no idea of how the Church was about to burst forth and flower with her new directives.
Even though (I now realize) that all the interpreters that I met that morning had already read all the talks, yet no one was saying a thing. There was no talk or idle chatter of all the new and exciting changes that were about to be revealed. On Sunday there was no talk about the new temples. There is a contract that they have signed but more importantly an honor code that they all seem to adhere to in regard to not revealing what they read from the talks that they interpret. It was most interesting. I have a deep respect for these people.
Of course, it is always comforting to see the Temple from almost every view. Because the GeneralAuthorities were in and around the Church Office Building and the Conference Center, the COB was locked down tighter than a tick!!! Around the noon hour we couldn't even go downstairs to the ground level cafeteria because the General Authorities and their families were having their lunch there.
Even in the very early morning we could only enter the building through the "Roundhouse". As I entered the Roundhouse I thought I was going to have to say something special like "beam me up" but instead a push of the elevator button seemed to transport me to the correct floor. The Roundhouse leads you through the parkade and down to the cafeteria, then you go past security and up 2 separate elevators to get to the 27th and 28th floors.
I learned many things during this conference.
- I am going to walk many miles each day. Sister Bushman had her Fitbit on and she walked 21,000 steps and 10 flights of stairs in one day. I was by her side most of that time.
- It doesn't really matter what shoes you wear. On Sunday morning I was finally able to sit down for a breather at one point thinking, "My feet are killing me!" I looked at my watch only to see that it was only 9:45am. I had only been there 3 hours and Conference hadn't even started yet! And I had on some very sensible flats!
- The people I am going to work with are magnificent. They all welcomed me with open arms. They were pleasant, charming and very humble about their gift of tongues.
- We ran into 5 of our former Cambodian/Vietnamese Missionaries who were serving as interpreters: Sister Macy Jeppson, Sister Ryley Spangler, Elder Todd Tran, Elder Shandon Pendleton, and Elder Sears. This was such a pleasant surprise. I love them and are so glad to know that I will see them again in October. I also bumped into Taylor Jensen, another former missionary, that he and his wife Chloe frequented Phnom Penh during our stay there. It was good to see him too.
- We have connections everywhere! We crossed paths with a multitude of people either knowing someone with the Leavitt name or Alberta connections. I met Naji an interpreter for the Farsi language. Naji, a Persian by birth met and married a Leavitt who was a descendant of Dudley Leavitt (brother to Thomas R. Leavitt). Once we found the connection Naji called me "cousin" for 2 days! People would ask, "are you REALLY cousins?" I woud reply, "Absolutely. Can't you see the family resemblance?"
- I
don't think it will matter as much to the Saints on the other side of
the world that there is no more Home Teaching or Visiting Teaching, or
that a quorum has changed, or that young sisters can now learn along
side the Relief Society sister how to minister but they will gratefully
recognize and sustain a new prophet and new apostles. Southeast Asians
will be elated to see Elder Gerritt Gong sustained since he, just a few years ago, visited and taught
Cambodians and all other countries around often as being part of the
Presidency of the Area Seventies.
- The Lord is in charge! He is at the helm. I am sure He touches the interpreters lips and voices (they would be the first to admit that). The Spirit flooded the building the moment interpretations began at the stroke of 10am. It was very evident. I didn't get to see very much of the Conference talks but I surely felt it. It was very clear that mysteries of the gospel were being unfolded throughout the world at that moment. It was an honor and privilege to be there at that time and at those conference sessions. And this was just the beginning.....
17 March 2018
This time last year we were in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in our last week of the mission. We were saying our good-byes to the friends and families we had learned to love but all too soon would quickly grow to miss. We went to our final Sacrament Meetings and hugged and cried with all those faithful saints. I was only hoping that some of them had rubbed off on me and I could claim just a portion of their faith in the Savior. I was trying to take in everything around me so that I would never forget all the wonderful experiences that we had had in Cambodia. I had two suitcases and one carry-on to put all the memories that I wanted to bring home. The suitcases housed the clothes and things quite easily, but they couldn't come close to holding all the memories.
We have now turned twelve pages of the calendar and seem to be doing basically the same thing again.... saying good-byes, having last minute dinners, and family gatherings. All are welcomed activities. Friday 16 March, we worked our last Temple shift. I am really going to miss going to the temple so often. On Saturday, 24 March (which was the same day we came home from Phnom Penh last year) we will be pulling out of Cardston on our way to the Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission!
Because we are driving our own car to the mission field this time, we are not limited to just two suitcases and a carry-on. For some time now, I have been thinking about what I want to take with me. Even though I have begun a physical list of what to take, what has been upper most on my mind is...what is on my spiritual list that I need to take?
I continue to work on both lists. What will I use the most? What will I need to acquire while I am there? What will be better left at home? How will I continue to grow and progress?
These are some of my questions that I seem to have no answers for right now but they still remain on my list. I believe that it is one of those "unfolding mysteries" that will require time and experience.
The time has come to go forward with whatever tools are in hand. I believe that the past three years have better equipped me for this mission. I understand how the Church always works with exactness and honor, but never at the cost of another. It is most important to teach and guide with love and kindness. And gratitude must surface from any situation. These are the things that I think I will need to use the most. These are the things that I must put at the top of the list.
I'm just thinking..... I'm just packing!
22 Dec 2017
A new blog begins. A new mission begins. A new learning begins. I can't help but to stepping back into 1995. Our oldest son, our first missionary, Joel, received his missionary envelope announcing his place of service. We all sat around him with great anticipation as he opened the "golden ticket" for Latter Day Saints! He read it first with a huge smile on his face. I asked, "Well, Joey, where are you going?" He replied, "Mom, I'm going to the Mother Land!" We were all still a bit confused but he quickly clarified, "I'm going to the Utah Ogden Mission!".
28 November 2017 the assignment was made and now the envelope has been opened..... Aw, the Mother Land!!! Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission as Interpreter Coordinators. Now had we not applied for this particular mission we might have had many questions as to what is an Interpreter Coordinator is and does.
When our mission application began in July, Brian regularly scoped out the Sr. Couples Opportunities Bulletin. A few months down the road and an email or two to Brother Bushi in India resulted in the Family History Department calling asking if we would consider a Family History Mission in Thailand. That seemed to be it.... kind of! The natural course of missionary applications continued with medical exams. They proved to have a bit of a snag! I had a minor medical problem with a new diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. I saw no reason to panic because I knew that I had eaten my way into that problem and I, therefore, could eat my way out of it!!! But Thailand now seemed to be an assignment for another day, so we had to bow out of that beautiful fantasy of another mission in Southeast Asia.
The Opportunity Bulletins were back in play. One day Brian was so excited with what he had found..... Interpretation/Translation Coordinators in Salt Lake City. This seemed to be the one! We called the phone numbers attached and Brother Stewart Bridge answered most of our questions. This is what we have found out so far.....
First, a translator works with the written word where the interpreters deal with the spoken word. There are around 300 projects per year. We will serve as a host and hostess, organizers and overseers, financial clerks, and general "fire-putter-outers"! We never have to do the translating or interpreting which is a good thing since I only know English and Oklahoman! And there is not much demand for the latter!
Secondly, we will get to work with some pretty amazing people who readily give up their time and talents on a regular basis. Not only am I anxious to see how the Saints work in Salt Lake City but I am also very anxious to see how the Lord works in and throughout the workings of the Church. Hence, this is why I have named this missionary blog, "Unfolding Mysteries".
When Ammon was brought out of the prison and into the king's court, King Limhi surprised Ammon with a question that he was not anticipating. King Limhi explained, one day he had decided to send forty-three (43) of his best men to try to find Zarahemla to plead for help for his oppressed people. Instead of finding Zarahemla they found a city of ruins with the scattered bones of "a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel" and twenty-four gold plates that no one could read. The king's question to Ammon was, "Canst thou translate?"
Ammon explained that "no" he could not translate the plates but he knew someone who could. (Therein lies our new mission!) Ammon with great joy gave thanks to God and said, "Doubless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of men". (Mosiah 8:19, italics added)
I believe that God's truth for Ammon in 121 BC is exactly the same truth for today when Ammon taught King Limhi, "Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." (Mosiah 8:18)
I look forward to meeting these mighty men and women of faith that will be the translators and interpreters. I look forward to being in the "Mother Land".
