Hegsted's Mission. Week 85
10-March-2024 Sunday
It began snowing at 7 pm and apparently snowed all night. The ground was warm, so even though we reportedly received 13 inches of snow, there were about 5 inches of snow. It was very wet. When I moved it with the snow shovel, it became water. Sometime between 3 and 4 am, we lost power. We had the privilege of dressing in the dark without water so Dede could wash her hair. That was inconvenient. When we lose power, we also lose signal on phones, so we were on SOS most of the morning until we left the apartment. We have not lost power since the first December we came here, so I cannot complain. After observing all the trees around the power lines, I find it amazing that we ever have power in Vermont.
We learned that S. Royalton had canceled Church. I would imagine they were also without power. Weather permitting, we had already determined we would go to Rutland. Attending the Branch has become more than an assignment. It is an opportunity to meet with our friends and people we cherish. It will be hard to say goodbye to this excellent Branch.
We made good time on the way. The issue was not snow; instead, the many trees that had fallen across the road or were precariously hanging from utility lines over the road, making travel dangerous. Some fallen trees had already been sawn through and pushed away by snowplows. Repair crews were removing trees from the utility lines, sometimes on corners without people directing traffic as their trucks blocked a road lane. The crews worked quickly, and we had clear roads coming home.
We watched a video from the Historic Department describing the purchase of the Kirtland Temple and other properties and artifacts. They were gracious to the Community of Christ and their efforts to love and preserve these buildings and artifacts. However, the director of the Historic Committee could not contain the pleasure; he felt that the Church had obtained these properties. After watching, Dede rightly commented that we have not rejoiced enough. Elder McKay, the Church historian, posited that Joseph F. Smith and Joseph Smith lll were indeed embracing today on the other side of the veil. What a beautiful thought. When he opened it up for questions, he stated, "I have received a communique from the office of the presidency of the seventy, asking us not to go beyond the printed material until we receive permission." He said he would meet with the Seventy on Thursday and update them on this purchase, and then they might be able to share more information as needed. Even though he is the expert, he follows his leaders and refuses to speculate on things beyond what has been communicated.
Elder McKay was obviously touched. He is a kind man and, for the most part, serious; however, he closed with this thought. Today is Matt Grow's (head of the Historic Department) birthday. I am not sure what you gave Matt for his birthday...Matt indeed looked like he had opened the best birthday present ever given.
They may go to a reservation system for tours. They already do this for Joseph and Emma Smith's home in Kirtland. Keeping tour groups small would enable tours to the third floor of the temple. Previously, this was closed off during regular tourist season, although Dede and I have been there twice, as the Community of Christ was concerned about the floor's stability on this level. We plan to visit Emma and Joseph's home as we return home. I was glad to know we could make a reservation. Once we know our travel plans, we must make reservations at the Smith's home and the temple.
Were we not serving a Historic Site Mission, the impact of this announcement may not have been as significant to us. (Although I love Church History). I cannot express, in words, the impact this announcement has had on us. It will not make a difference in the numbers we will see here in Sharon, Vermont, but we will be blessed with the testimonies of visitors who will come to us from Kirtland and Nauvoo, having visited these sites with new interpretations.
It was cold and windy today. At the last moment, before leaving the site, the sun poked out and reflected brightly on the monument, and I took a great photo. We had good meetings this morning. The Hoopes had both training sessions, and both did well.
We came home and worked on our plans for Wednesday before I returned to my FamilySearch work for the monument workers. I can testify that the Spirit leads and guides when someone is doing Family History work. Those people on the other side of the veil not only want their work done but also want people to know about their accomplishments. I have found great pleasure in creating memories for the families of the monument workers.
On the way to the site, we stopped and shoveled Jody's rampway. Dede did not think she was home. There was no evidence of movement around the house, and the road had not been plowed. I hope she is okay. The snow was not deep but solid and heavy after yesterday's warmth. Luckily, we could get the shovels under it and break it free to clear the way. The other neighbor had driven down the lane, so there were ruts to follow to the fork in the lanes. It was cold enough, and the wind was heavy enough to cause snow devils to form on the roads and across the fields. This is unusual for Vermont.
We had a wonderful couple from upstate New York come in. He was recently made Bishop of his ward. They live 35 minutes from the building and are moving, so he does not need to travel so far daily. We had a delightful visit with them. They are heading to Montreal for two nights and swung way out of the way to visit our site. They told us John Tanner was born near them in Bolten Landing.
We managed to walk in the cold and wind. Tomorrow should be calmer and warmer, and Wednesday will be warmer yet cloudy. We will probably go to the Lake George area in NY. See the Fort George Battlefield State Park drive through Bolton Landing, NY, where John Tanner owned many acres of land and a hotel; he sold all his property to finance the Kirtland Temple. We will then drive up Lake Champlain nearly to the Canadian border before returning home via the Hero Islands. We recently were informed not to cross the border. I do not mind, but I feel sorry for President Neilson, who served his mission there. I will admit that I am glad we took the opportunity to visit Canada before it was closed to us.
12-March-2024-Tuesday
It was another bright, sunny day. We still had the wind, but I will take sunshine any day. A man from Montana came into the site very early in our shift. He was there for history. However, in the end, he confessed he was raised "Mormon," and everything I shared was so familiar from his youth. He said his folks were "driven" from their home in Randolph Ut. Dad drank and had gotten his mother pregnant, and they felt judged and moved to Montana; I had the feeling parents and grandparents were reaching out from the other side to convince him to come home. I think he felt something, but who knows how often he must feel something before reacting.
We did not see anyone else besides the Neilsons and the FM missionaries. It was so sunny as we drove home (I am happy Dede helped us make good decisions) that we decided to hike along the rail trail in New Hampshire. We hiked 1.25 miles and then back, crossing the river three times. The river was flooding due to the runoff, which was very impressive. I will provide a few pictures, first from our hike.
With our hike behind us and having smashed the 10k step goal for the day, Dede suggested we go to Queeche to see the two dams with water cascades and Quechee Gorge. Again, splendid ideas. The cascades and the gorge were powerfully magnificent, with the melting snow from Sunday. More pictures. The first three are from the falls at the Quechee-covered bridge.
13-March-2024-Wednesday PDAY
Such a delightful day. We did not leave until 8 am (for the temple, we leave at 7 am) and drove to the Fort George Battlefield State Park in New York. This 100-acre park was the home of Fort George and the site of a victory in the French and Indian War. We were fortunate. We watched someone enter the visitors' center when we drove up. The sign said they were closed. They were preparing for archeologists from a nearby university to dig at the site. Since they had a few minutes to spare, they let us in and gave us a brief tour. With their overview, we walked around the park. We also discovered they had recorded a virtual tour on YouTube, which helped us interpret the site. They had signs to go out but were still in the visitors' center.
A few pictures: They have fine statues showing the Jesuit Father who wanted to convert the Indians. They caught him and tortured him, cutting off his fingers. When he made the sign of the cross, they thought he was cursing them, so they removed his digits. He went home but came back and was killed by them. Very courageous. An Indian fountain, and the British General with his Indian chief who led the Indians. (Note: the curators used the word Indian, so I followed suit, although I would have thought they would use Indigenous.)
As we drove up, Dede said, We have been here. That is the boat we took on Lake George and Fort William Henry, which we toured. After listening to the curators, I was baffled. They show a history of calling the two Forts on Lake George, Fort George. Obviously, the people at Fort William Henry acknowledge only their fort. There were actually three forts in the area. Fort Gage, where nothing happened. Fort William Henry lasted only 2 years before the French conquered it. Fort George, which was never finished, but where a significant battle was won. I feel like I am battling historians and people selling a product. However, both sides use historians. I realize how hard it is to be a historian, especially once the public knows a story and your facts contradict the public narrative. In all fairness, Fort George was a small fortification that was never completed, and Fort William Henry was much more prominent but short-lived. The British won at Fort George but were defeated at Fort William Henry. The prisoners, after the defeat, were massacred by the Indigenous people supporting the French army. No one knows how many died. The range of estimates is vast. This was partly because the remaining British were divided into smaller groups and disorganized. But also because the British wanted to use it as a propaganda tool to get the colonists to enlist to fight the French and Indians. The French released the prisoners and sent them home with their muskets but without ammunition. The French's allied Indigenous troops, some from as far away as S. Dakota, assumed they would get the prisoners and the booty. Apparently, the French did not understand what their allies planned to do or felt they had plausible deniability. One thing is sure, the sick remaining in the fort were all killed. Some things never change.
We drove to the Town of Ticonderoga, which is on Lake Champlain. We found the LaShute River, which connects the two lakes. It is a short but fast-paced river with cascades and six man-made dams formerly used to power many manufacturing plants there. A paper mill is nearby, but it does not use water power. The most famous historical plant along the river made graphite. For years, its most famous product was the Ticonderoga lead pencil. They have also moved away from the river. The walk along the river was beautiful.
Fort Ticonderoga is closed until May. That was our original destination, but we found intereesting things to fill our time and minds.
We continued up highways 9 and 22, which kept us in sight of Lake George and then Lake Champlain. When we saw interesting things, we stopped to investigate.
Lake Champlain crosses the border into Canada. We drove along the lake until we could see the Canadian Border 200 yards ahead of us, but we turned East and crossed the lake into Vermont, as we were no longer allowed to cross into Canada. We drove down the road connecting the Hero Islands in Lake Champlain. This is a very scenic drive.
What a wonderful day. But any day with Dede is a beautiful day.
14-March-2024-Thursday
It was an exciting morning. Dede and I met with Larry Trottier, Bonnie, and Ted Kenyon, who are long-time residents of the area. They are all about 80 years old but have quick, active minds. Larry has an exceptional memory. He brought several pictures with him and would pull out pictures. It was an old folks-reminiscent day, and we learned so much. The two families are close friends and take trips together. They leave next Sunday for a trip to Indiana. They have known each other for years and have known the same people for years.
Because Larry will not be here for the Family History Open House on the 23rd, he left me his pictures to share. I don't know what I am going to do. Probably do groupings of pictures having to do with Dairy Hill Road. For example, there was a ski hill along Dairy Hill Road, and he left photographs and brochures. He has photos of the McIntosh farm just below the Church's property on Dairy Hill Road and other fun pictures. I hope to share a room with Ralph Eddy to take turns. I will need to clean up Larry's things before I start my shift at 1:30. It will be a full day, but a chance, hopefully, to meet more locals. This is becoming a highlight of my mission. Dede does it naturally, but it is hard for me.
Despite the sunny warmth, it reached 58 degrees; beyond these three wonderful people we visited before our shift, we had only the missionaries as visitors. One of the Royalton Elders is going to Maine, and he came by to say goodbye. We do not know him as well as the Rutland Elders, but we took pictures of them and told them several stories of faith.
Dede and I both walked, although I still need to do more to get my 10k steps. I worked for an hour on my monument worker's family history project. I will add the Trottiers and the Kenyons to my list. Larry's mother was Mary Dewey McIntosh. Deweys and McIntoshes owned land adjoining the birthplace property. I am related to her. I am sure I will also find I am related to the Kenyons or Frarrers.
15-March-2024-Friday
It rained most of the night, and we awoke to a large puddle in front of our car. By the time we started our shift, the rain had mostly stopped. A single man came in who had come to teach a class at Norwich College, a military college. He needed to catch a flight and asked for a 20-minute tour. Five minutes into the tour, his friend walked in. They had both come for the same reason but were flying out of different airports, so they were not traveling together. We combined them together and had a great tour. Then, we finished the second person's tour after the first left. Dede asked if he knew Trevor Reddish, and it turned out they were good friends, so we took a picture to send to Dayna Reddish. She was excited to hear from Dede and know we had met their friend. Again, it was a small-world moment. The best was the spirit they brought in with them. The second fellow was close to tears when we took pictures of him next to the statue of Joseph. These are extraordinary men. Watching Dede as she thought of her friend Dayna Reddish was fun. Her face changed and glowed. What a beautiful friendship.
I took the opportunity to wipe down the car after the rain and walked for a mile before we tried to eat lunch. We were mercifully interrupted by a beautiful couple from R.I. They were delightful in their interest and questions as we discussed Joseph Smith. Both will gain master's degrees this year. Hers is in accounting, and his in creative writing. She hopes to be promoted, and he desires to teach, perhaps getting his doctorate., He also wants to write compelling family history stories for his family. My type of person, but with talent in writing.
Our shift was over. While I typed the blog and worked on my project, Dede went grocery shopping in Lebanon. There was too much rain to make a run to Silloway for creamees. Darn. But I have so much to do and we will leave here all too soon.
After discussing the site's needs with the Neilsons, we will be packed on the 24th of June and stay outside our apartment so it is left clean. We will do a CES tour Tuesday morning, the 25th, at 8:30 before leaving for home via Kirtland. Our replacements, the Cooks, should come in later that day. That seems too real and too close. The last two weeks of our mission will be hectic with packing and cleaning so we can be out and the Cooks come into a clean apartment. We are blessed that Anna is coming out to help us pack and clean. We will send her home with two packed suitcases.
16-March-2024-Saturday
Spring is drawing near. On Wednesday, we saw a flock of 8 robins as we traveled in New York. Today, a single (sounded very lonely) frog peeped in the frog pond. (I thought frogs croak, but I was assured they peep in Vermont.) We did not have much sun, but it was a pleasant day.
I continued working on my monument worker's list. I feel God is helping me out. For example, Junius F. Wells pointed out Mr. and Mrs. McIntosh as feeding workers. I knew McIntosh Pond lies at the bottom of the hill. Ralph Eddy told me the barns above the pond belonged to the McIntoshes. However, I met their grandson on Thursday, who assured me the McIntosh family was there in 1905. Thus, God directs me to find these people and add to their memories in FamilySearch. By the way, I finally found a person (not from Royalton) to whom I am not related. I find it amazing to be related to so many of these people.
We had two sweet young ladies visit the site. They drove in from Massachusetts and did not have a plan for the day. Dede taught them with the Spirit. As they left, I felt prompted to tell them: "You will wonder why you stopped to listen to two old folks talk to you. However, you will remember the peace of this place and know you were directed to come here." God is moving people to His gospel.
A single man came in. He was a member but felt very distant. I hope I did an adequate job for him. He was probably seeking just the right thing to stir his soul, and I fear I failed to know what it was. I fear many members are drifting, especially after COVID-19, and God is trying to give them a good experience. Am I ready to listen to the Spirit and know what to say?
After our shift, we will listen to the stake conference session on Saturday evening. Before taking our Sunday shift tomorrow, we will listen to the Sunday morning session. I love Sacrament Meeting in Rutland because I love the people. I do not know as many in the stake, so I need an attitude adjustment.
God has the most incredible sense of humor. He is perfect in all attributes. We listened to the conference; the first speaker was President Shelton (now counselor in the stake presidency but former president of the Rutland Branch), followed by a sister from Rutland, an investigator, and Olivia, who opened her mission call at the site. The next speaker was an Elder whose grandmother is in the Rutland Branch. Finally, someone to whom we had no connection, the stake Relief Society President, was darling. We then heard from Sister and President LaPierre, temple matron and president whom we have come to love. The final speaker was President Worthington, whom we have met several times, so much for complaining that I would not know the speakers. I should have taken Dede to the conference so she could hug all these people, but I chose to stay home.
Presidents LaPierre, Shelton, and Worthington gave terrific talks. The conference speakers were to talk about unity and building a Zion society. President LaPierre told us about the Boston Temple open house 24 years ago. He led his first tour of the night, answered many questions, and felt the spirit so strongly. When finished, he went to the supervisor, who unsmilingly said, "You took too long." LaPierre was incensed and fumed off. He went behind the temple to pray, and the Spirit said, "Go apologize." That did not help, but he did. The man, without a smile, said, "Thank you. Please take this group." LaPierre said he had come to know the man well in the next 24 years of serving with him at the temple. He has come to love him, even though he is still unbending in his attitude. However, it was up to LaPierre to create unity, and he has been blessed for his righteous desire.
President Worthington left two messages that touched my heart deeply. On his mission, he learned that he must humbly want to know the desires and needs of those he met. When he learned to do this, his mission changed. I need to incorporate that into my mission and the rest of my life.
After talking about missionary work, he switched to temple and family history. He promised the stake that in 3 to 5 years, they could have a temple closer than the Boston Temple, which is 2.5 to 3.5 hours from stake members. The Church's goal is for everyone to be within two hours of a temple. He promised the stake they would see a miracle if they attended the temple and performed Family History work. I woke up Sunday morning with this prophecy going through my mind. I believe him as the stake key holder and am grateful for the work I am doing with Family History work in his stake.
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