Week 6a

28-August-2022 Sunday

We made our Sunday trip over to Rutland to attend the branch there.  Branch President Shelton has an Idaho area code.  We found out that his sister (Tracy) is married to Craig Haggler (Son of Gary Hagler of Pocatello) and Craig is Eric's boss and lives in Denver.  The world is a very small place in the gospel.  Sister and President Shelton were the Sacrament Meeting speakers and did a great job.  

I taught the Elders' quorum lesson.  We had a lively discussion on Elder Bendar's talk "We Heeded them Not."  But I had to leave at 11:45 so we could get back to the site and be ready to help with the scheduled bus.  Lucky for us the bus arrived moments before us, so we were in great shape.  The tour guide was Carl Anderson, Lynne Lockhart's uncle and known as Mr. Kirtland.  Some years back we went with Lynne and stayed in Joyce and Carl's home while he showed us Kirtland.  He thinks we walk on water because we helped reunite him with his niece and we think he walks on water for treating us like royalty.  What a great man.  He asked me to convince Lynne to come on his next tour, which might be his last due to age.  She later agreed to come and we will see her in October.  What joy

There were 54 people on the bus and then others showed up so it was good to have all couples on deck at the site.  I spent most of the time moving people around in the golf cart between the bus, the site and the Mack home remains.  But I was able to visit with them.  

29-August-2022 Monday

I look forward to our Monday devotional, which is also our district meeting/zone conference.  I gave a thought on how the Lord moved people into place from the Howlands who came on the Mayflower and were descendants of both Joseph and Emma as well as Lucy and Joseph Sr to be married, the family moved to Lebanon to be near Dr Nathon Smith and then to the Hill Cummorah.  Some of these moves were done in pain and sorrow, but for the good of the family and of Joseph.  I then pointed out Justin Smith Morrill born 7 miles from Joseph Jr. and author of the Morrill land grant act and the Morrill anti-bigamy act which outlawed polygamy.   I had thought him an enemy to the church and God.  However, I now see him as a cog in the great plan of God to move the church along and focus it on Temple work instead of Polygamy. The final question I asked, what is it that has brought each of us to be at the JSB at this time?  It is God's hand!

We had a fairly busy afternoon.  In the morning the Buswells had all nonmembers, but we had a nice mixture.  Dede took through a couple from Utah.  She wanted to be there but he not so much although I think he softened with the Spirt of the site.  I spent time with 4 nonmembers.  They sat down on the benches outside and wanted a 5 minute overview.  Then they asked questions for a few minutes.  I left them and they came in and looked at everything carefully and asked a few questions before respectfully leaving.  I invited them back for the lights at Christmas since one of them is local.

Another couple came in from Maine.  They have been here several times and returned just to feel the Spirit and talk.  We talked about missions, her new calling to the YW program which scared her due at her age.  We visited about Family History as that is what he does in the ward and I showed him a few tricks that might help others.  With the temple so far away, I think it is hard for many to get excited about the temple.  On the other hand with a temple just up the street I saw the same in Pocatello.  People do not know what they are missing.

30-August-2022 Tuesday:

Worked the morning shift at the site.  Brother Berger came over and asked if I would help put up the bridge tomorrow.  (The bridge is a framework over the road upon which Christmas lights will be hung.). We had scheduled two sessions at the Boston temple for 10 and 12 noon, but cancelled so we I could do so.  

At the site we had interesting groups.  One was a family traveling to Fort Drum in NY.  The children are home schooled and so this was part of the day's activities.  The other were two women, the one from Tunbridge and the other from Connecticut.  The latter came from a church background having family ties back to Chester (near Rexburg ID) but was not active.  She had many questions and we had a great discussion.  As interesting conversation dealt with not using the term Mormon.  Why the bother?  When I explained that many do not think we are a Christian religion, she doubted my sanity, but her friend, affirmed that many do not believe we are Christian.  I then pointed out a story I had once heard that after a bad storm, a man was interviewed and stated that only two groups came to help anyone.  One was the Mormons and the others the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I think that hit her.  We took many pictures so she could send them to her mom.  I offered her a BoM so that she could have that picture also, but she thought that was pushing things a bit too far!   She was not offended, in fact she thought I did a great job offering her the BoM.  

Since we had canceled on the temple tomorrow, we headed north to Burlington to hit Costco and a Super Walmart.  On the way home we found two more covered bridges.  We now have a list of all the covered bridges in Vermont, so we can check them off as we find them.

As we were driving home, we passed a clapboard mill.  This is interesting to me because the Joseph Smith birth home was a clapboard home.  At least at this mill the boards were not flat, but rather in the shape of a wedge which would make them easier to build with.

We ate in the capital of Vermont, Montpelier, at a great hamburger restaurant down town about three blocks from the capital building.  Note, Montpellier is a small city for a capital, but much larger than the Montpelier in Idaho which is getting its own temple.  

31-August-2022 Wednesday:

I woke up this morning feeling guilty that I had cancelled the temple to work on the bridge for Christmas lights.  It is amazing how Satan can tempt a person.  I arrived at 8:00 for the morning devotional and then we spent the morning on the "bridge".  It is clever.  They put  pipes in the ground and filled them with sand up to 12 inches from the top.  They have trusses made that are clipped to 8-foot 1-inch pipes that go into the pipes on the ground.  It is made up of seven sections.  They tie these together with pipes running down the middle top, both sides of the top and then near the bottom for strength.  By 11:30 when it started raining and the supervisor need to leave we were nearly finished.  Thus I headed home and Dede and I went to Boston and attended the 6 pm session arriving home at 10 pm.  It was wonderful to get to do both the work on the bridge as well as attend the temple.  God is so merciful.  Below is a picture of the bridge.  I am excited to see the lights as they go up.  They try to make it so that getting the lights down is very easy.  I am excited to learn.  Note also, contrary to the handbook we put up lights at the church building.  Apparently the ward got Elder Ballard's ear when he was here and complained that they no longer get lights and he sanctioned it, overriding the handbook and the church history department.

1-Sept-2020 Thursday:

After a late night, we debated where to go and perhaps hike.  Dede said, we need to hike Patriarch Hill which is on the JSB site.  We were hiking up the trail in the cool of the morning and saw a large white-tail deer bounding through the trees.  We also found a very long and straight stone wall which apparently marked the boundary of a property or at least a field.  At the top, one can look out through a clearing (man made) in the trees and see the JSB monument.  The clearing is called Hinckley's view as they made it in 2005 when he visited the site so he could see the monument.  We took many pictures that we might use in the upcoming video.  I will attach a few.  These include the Patriarch tree (very old), the stone wall, some scenery as well as the view from the top and apples from the orchard on top.

Monument from the top:

Patriarch Tree:

Rock Wall

Apple Trees:

Finally we went to Camp Joseph and hiked (short) up to take a picture of the Joseph Tree which would have been here when Joseph was born.  Most of the trees around here are less than 200 years although to me it looks like an old growth forest.

We had only 4 visitors for our shift, and the Buswells only had one on their shift.  All four of ours were nonmembers.  A group of three ladies from Vermont stopped by as they had often seen the sign on the interstate.  I think most people are surprised that the site is as extensive as it is, as beautiful as it is and that there are actually people there.  When we greeted them, they just wanted to look around so we invited them to take pictures and enjoy.  However they came back and we visited and when they found us to be harmless, they enjoyed a nice tour through the visitors center, which was driven by their questions rather than our scripts.  These are the tours I enjoy the most.  We sent them off to hike Patriarch Hill, which they were excited to do as they love to hike.  The other visitor, a man, was from New York and I think was more interested than his time allowed him to be.  We were unprepared to send him home with site information, which we need to have at hand for such visitors.

2-September-2022 Friday 

The day went better at the site as we had 7 visitors compared to four yesterday.  Dede took through three women, two were members and one a nonmember from Pennsylvania.  As always, Dede does such a wonderful job of sharing her testimony of Christ so that nonmembers can feel of His love and relate to the Spirit they are feeling at the site.  I so admire her.

I took through a young family who are moving from CT to Texas in a round-about way.  They have already gone to Evanston WY to have their youngest baptized, then up to Alaska and across Canada to return here and finish up before heading across again the time toward TX.  I am amazed at the people we meet who are nonconventional in their life-styles and in the way they are educating their children.  I could not do this, but admire their courage and hope the children get an education that will allow them to function.  I was able to spend some time editing again.  It is slow work.  Also it was cool day and so Dede and I walked around the site enjoying the cool and taking more pictures.

3-September-2022 Saturday:

We again went in search of covered bridges, which allows us to follow back roads and see more of the Vermont countryside.  We went up to Thetford to see their bridge and the Union Bridge.  I will share pictures of the Thetford bridge as I like the cascades under it.

Came back and had a great day at the site.  The Buswells had a very busy morning with people coming in from Camp Joseph.  We were a bit slower, but enjoyed two groups that were memorable.  One pair of Spanish speaking sisters had been to the Boston temple and then came to the site.  When I greeted them with how they were doing, they said great because we are here.  They spent a great deal of time just enjoying the feel of the place.  We had another family that spent a great deal of time.  They were there to teach their children.  If these two groups had been all we had, it would have been a worthwhile day.  We had a pair of locals who were so kind to us.  We had met him buying vegetables and commented on his Charger muscle car.  He told me several places we should go and visit before leaving New England.  I have said it before, Vermonters are great.  However this couple said Vermont is changing with many outsiders moving in and losing the charm and kindness which was a previously common in Vermont people.

After our shift we drove over to Stratford to see a waterfall mentioned by the couple.  I missed the name and the distance of the hike, but I was glad to go although it was too much for Dede in a skirt and dress shoes and so we will need to return when there is more water flowing.

Extra Credit Reading, not for the faint of heart:

For the week we are studying Proverbs and Ecclesiastes for Come Follow Me,after spending three weeks studying the Psalms.  I must admit that historically these have not gotten much attention in my study plans but I have come to appreciate them more along with Come Follow Me and the scholars I have followed on podcasts.

I was intrigued with the discussions surrounding the last verses in Proverbs 31:

10 ¶ Who can find a ^avirtuous ^bwoman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely ^atrust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her ^ahands.
14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She ^ariseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the ^adistaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the ^apoor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her ^aclothing issilk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her ^aclothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue isthe law of ^akindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of ^aidleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and ^abeauty is vain: but a woman that^bfeareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Many of the commentator that I listened to, read this very literally as a standard by which all virtuous woman might be judged and which all husbands should expect their wives to model.  Thus men and especially woman find it very discouraging.  Although this is a legitimate reading, I believe there are other possibilities.  For one thing, the proverb purports to come from the mother of Queen Lemuel and it is hard for me to believe that a woman would write this about herself.  Thus I submit the several possible variant readings which inspire me.

1). I am very comfortable with the verses reflecting upon virtuous women.  All of my life I have been surrounded by virtuous women who have met the expectations of the author above in marvelous ways.  They include my grandmother Mable, my mother, especially my wife, and my three daughters.  So I am content with the literal reading.

2). Although each of the women mentioned above (#1), might demure that they are not yet the perfect virtuous woman, I believe this is because in this world, they are blinded to what they will become.  I often reflect upon the words of Brigham Young, who said (paraphrasing) if you could see your <spouse> as <he/she> will be as a Celestial Being, you would be tempted to fall at <his/her> feet and worship <him/her>.  Thus it is possible that the virtuous woman is the man or woman as they will be in their Celestial Glory and this is what God, to Whom all things are present, sees when He views this person and expects us to learn to see when we view them.

3). I find it intriguing that the author mentions the husband (man) only as the recipient of blessings from the virtuous woman and as sitting at the gate due to her.  I have several thoughts on this:

•     In my cynicism toward men I think, is it possible that the mother of Lemuel was not able to even envision a vitreous man and thus could not set a standard for him?  
•    Is it possible that the man sitting at the gate (which is the place of judgment in ancient Israel) is symbolic of all men and woman who through the atonement of Christ are allowed to sit at the gate of the temple as kings/queens/priests/priestesses to God?  

4). Is it possible that the mother of King Lemuel, is teaching her son his duties as a husband?  His duty is not to find the virtuous woman, but to treat his wife, with the love and respect which a daughter of God deserves and allow her to become a virtuous woman as a result of this love.  I would give myself a grade of C- in doing this for my wife, but then I fall in the same trap as woman who read the verses and feel they would never measure up. This shows my lack of faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

5). Is the virtuous woman a personification of something and not a physical woman?  Earlier in Proverbs,  wisdom is personified as a woman, to be sought after.  (A virtuous woman perhaps?) while in opposition to wisdom, is the strange woman who is evil, temptation, sin, etc. also personified as a woman.  Thus is the virtuous woman a personification of the covenant path to which our prophet admonishes us to follow and the wonderful standards listed in the verses, the rewards for all who follow the covenant path?

6). Going a step further.  In the Book of Mormon, Nephi desires to see the tree his father saw.  When he is told to look instead of seeing a tree he sees a woman, perhaps the most virtuous woman known, the mother of the Savior.  This vision quickly turns into a vision of the tree of life whose fruit is most desirable and is according to Nephi the love of God.  Could it then not follow, that the virtuous woman described above is really a representation of the Savior who brings us to the glory of everything attributed to the virtuous woman?

Regardless of my various readings, what is most apparent to me is that I am married to a virtuous woman. She might not have been that when we married, but she has become that and I can see her becoming a glorious celestial virtuous woman if she continues on the path she is now on and I do not hedge up her way.  Thus I can live today knowing that I am married to THE Virtuous Lady God prepared for me.

Also since we are studying books that are Hebrew poetry, and I am commenting on such, I thought it would be appropriate to make an attempt at writing a verse of poetry, related to my thinking on this, (Proverbs 31:10-31) subject.  Note that my poetry falls shorting on rhyming, but stays true to the meter so it could be set to music and I would propose I would sing it as a verse to How Great Thou Art:

When I hold her; more precious far than rubies;

I feel her love, and endless charity.

So hand in hand, we share the fruit together,

He seals us His, though Cov'nants and authority.

Then sings my soul..... 

Thanks for your patience with my wandering thoughts.