Hegsted's Mission Week 86

 17-March-2024-Sunday

Very strange to not drive to Rutland today. Instead, we slept in and prepared to watch stake conference at our kitchen table. I thoroughly enjoyed the meetings.  They had 3 youths speak, followed by a stake youth choir. After that, Sister Shelton from the Rutland Branch (and stake president's 2nd counslors's wife)  and the Primary President spoke. President Worthington asked three people to bear testimonies. First, the Young Women's President, who flew in this morning on a red-eye flight, and then our leaders, the Neilsons.  They all did well. President Worthington is a farmer and typical Vermonter who does all he can to survive. In the early 1800s everyone farmed even if they had a trade, and many today do the same. He told us stories of growing plants and bushes and tied them into helping youth and members around us grow in the gospel.  He teaches using parables.  

We were 5 minutes late for our shift. We are used to going at 1:30 instead of 1:00, and without coming from Rutland, we were just off a little bit. It was beautiful to be outside, so we sat outside for 20 minutes before getting cold. We had no visitors until the Johnsons and Bob Dunkle came in. They were looking for help with food for Saturday. I was glad they came because Sister Johnson, who is really in charge, did not know Ralph Eddy was coming and she will arrange a room for him.  We straightened that out, agreed to bring food, and will ask the other missionaries tomorrow if they would help. We then had three couples arrive at the site.

All were nonmembers and wanted short tours. However, the first two had questions, so they received more. The third couple would not come in, but I explained a little outside and invited them to enjoy the site.  So glad we had guests today.  

Dede has a roast in the crockpot, and it smells sooooooo good.  

18-March-2024-Monday

Spring is here, but it's not spring break yet, so we are not seeing many people. We had good meetings this morning, and I accomplished some work on the workers' spreadsheet and Family Search work. I am feeling pressed for time. Dede spent time looking for things for us to do on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday. That will be good.

Hoopes had one visitor, so we were not "skunked" for the day. President Neilson came over, and I showed him some site artifacts. He probably thinks I am too involved with my history and artifact searching, and I am sure he is right. However, the Spirit continues to drive me in this direction and I am a willing follower.  

19-March-2024-Tuesday

We played so hard on Tuesday and Wednesday that I did not have time to write yesterday.  I will write as if it were today.  

We had a bright, if not cold, day. We had the S. Royalton Elders take a full tour, as the new Elder had not had a tour. It was fun; after visiting with the Neilsons, we left to drive up to the St. Johnsbury area to view waterfalls; with spring thaws and storms, the water is flowing high, and Dede planned a great time to go North.  We visited six waterfalls.  Most were near the road, so we did not need to walk far. We also avoided dirt roads as we did not want to get stuck in the middle of nowhere.  Waterfalls in Vermont often lie close to roads. The roads typically follow rivers and streams through the mountains.  Waterfalls, by definition, were desirable places for mills. Frequently, towns sprung up around the mills.  Although many towns were abandoned after steam engines replaced the need for water power, many towns are still in their original location.  We have hiked to some exceptions, and the thought of building towns and mills in some of these locations is incredible. They are so isolated.  

Unfortunately, dams were built at the top of many falls to harness the water power year-round by ensuring adequate water availability. Even though the mills are long gone, many of these falls now have small power plants.  It is unfortunate, not because cheap electricity is made available, but sometimes the views and pictures are impacted. Also, the vistas can be marred by the roads that pass over the falls. I recognize I am whining, but I am showing pictures of the falls and wanted to explain. Many of these falls are spectacular in the spring but are only fair later in the summer.  The first three pictures are of the same falls and are near Barnet. It alone made the day worthwhile.

I will show several different falls between Barnet and Lyndon, VT. We also visited two covered bridges. One is over a waterfall. This is not atypical, as a mill requires transporting materials to and from the mill. Roads and railways often followed the river, and the rail line crossed the river numerous times in a mile near the waterfalls we visited. We also found a round barn with its sign. This design cost less to build and was efficient.  I think they are remarkable.

We want to see as much as possible in our last few months. Dede sacrificed to allow me to write my document, so I am trying to give her as much time as I can and not allow my new project to intefer with our time together. Besides, what could be of greater worth than time spent with Dede?

Today is the first day of spring. You can tell from the pictures we had a lovely day.

20-March-2024-Wednesday.  PDAY

We left the apartment before 8 am. When we go to the temple, we leave at 7 am, so we slept in.  We drove 2.5 hours to Old Sturbridge Village in Mass.  This is our third visit to this historic outdoor museum. Our first trip was with our children. Dede and the kids were taken there by the "Reading Rainbow" show, and she made it a destination on our NorthEast vacation.  Dede and I returned last December for their candlelight tour focused on Christmas and holidays, and then we returned today to get a "normal" tour. The Village is focused on the year 1838. There is a Sturbridge Village nearby, and some buildings are from there, but some are from other New England states, including Vermont. They have attempted to create a 'typical" 1838 village for people to review. It was early in the season, with few guests, so many buildings did not have costumed characters. However, we visited with each character and asked numerous questions. Many have worked there for years. Many have history degrees. Most have a love for what they are doing and sharing that knowledge. After providing many tours of Joseph Smith's Birthplace, I want people to ask questions, so I return that favor to the docents at historical places. 

We talked to a lady in what they call the small house. It was larger than Joseph's Birthplace home. She explained it might be owned by newlyweds or a family of 8. If a widow owned it, she would have invited family members to move in. The rooms had wallpaper, cheaper than paint and much desired during the period. She and others explained that it would be unusual in New England for a person to ever sleep alone during their lives. Space was an issue, but also warmth.

We heard two men play melodies on a "C" trumpet and a base trombone.  We asked about how the music was written to work for the instruments. We met the shoemaker. This was a massive industry in New England at the time. The industry was not centralized but instead done in small shops. They made 15 million shoes annually and exported them to the South and abroad. The uppers were sewn by women, while the shoemakers made the soles and attached them to the uppers. Large companies or their agents would deliver orders and supplies and then pick up the finished products from the ladies and the men. In a 12-hour day, you could make 3-5 pairs of shoes and earn as much as a dollar daily.  

We met women sewing a quilt. One had been outside preparing the garden, but it started to rain, so she went inside to sew. We met the farmer in the barn, who introduced us to his cows and oxen. He had been spreading manure before the rain started. Nearby was the Cooper shop. In a small village, there would be 1-3 coopers who would do this part-time. It was a skill usually passed down from father to son. Joseph Smith Sr. was a Cooper. Making barrels is not easy. The slats in the barrel are carved by hand to fit the barrel needed. Three major skills. Shaping the slats. Creating the hoops and then sizing everything together to make it fit. This Cooper had already made a barrel that day. Apparently, he learned at the museum. He was also splitting wood, including oak, to make barrels. Oak barrels were used for liquids and were very expensive.  I was surprised to learn that barrels for liquids were used and reused. However, other smaller barrels were treated like packing crates today and often discarded after one use.

We wished one of the 3 mills (carding, grist, and saw) had been working. I am fascinated by water wheels. They all work, but I don't know how often they are used.  I was delighted to see lambs in the fields.  I think there were ten. I have not seen young lambs up close in many years, and they brought flood of memories to me. I am grateful that I have a tie to the land and sheep through my grandparents.    

There were two men in the tin shop. They both answered questions. Tin was a product obtained only from England. Everyone used the same gage of tin and the exact size of tin sheets to make the many items used daily. The lanterns were the most interesting to view, but they pointed out that they were hard to make and never wore out, so few would be made in a village shop. I am sure today, they are best sellers in the gift shop!

It was a great day. The year 1838 is close to the years discussed at the site. Anything we can learn about the period makes us better missionaries and fills in our lack of knowledge.  I did a poor job taking pictures, but you can see few items from the town.

21-March-2024-Thursday

I continue to work on documenting the names of the people who worked on the monument. I worked on the Ebenezer Dewey line. Five generations of Ebenezer Deweys and 3 lived on the farm next to the Mack farm. I was able to copy 3 pages of notes from Lovejoy's books. I am delighted to see that I know the families involved, and as I read about marriages, I feel a significant involvement and relatedness.

We had one gentleman come into the site. He is a Universalist by belief. He knew enough about our church to realize that we also believe in universal salvation, although we agreed there is a nuanced difference. As I pondered his statement, I wondered why the Church's critics have not accused the Church of stealing from Universalism just as they claim Joseph stole the temple program from the Masons? Casey Griffiths wrote a great article on the same. I will provide my summary of his article, and I would recommend reading it at: https://rsc.byu.edu/doctrine-covenants-revelations-context/universalism-revelations-joseph-smith.  

• Joseph's father and grandfather were universalists.
• Their postition that God was a kind being who wanted to save all His children allowed Joseph to believe God would answer his prayer when he entered the grove.
• Universalism was strong in New England and very strong in Vermont.
• Universalism did not lead to an organization. Asael and Joseph Sr. formed a Universalist community, which fell apart within two years. Many who leaned toward the Universalist beliefs were not bound to a church and open to joing the the true Church.
• Section 76 and subesequent revelations, provided Church doctrine with a God who provided Universal Resurrection and Salvation while providing a framework to also provide Eternal Life.
• Joseph Sr. readily accepted the gosepl from his son. Asael recognized the Book of Mormon was true although he died before he could be baptized. 
• My opinion: As a Church we struggle with Universal Grace and want to save ourselves by laws, similar to the Jew and thus look beyond the mark, which is Jesus Christ.

I am grateful to belong to the True and Living Church of Jesus Christ. I am grateful not to fear comparisons with other religions and to see the best in all of them. I am grateful for this gentleman who came to the site and allowed me to ponder the gospel with a new paradigm. I am grateful that we are led by Prophets who continue to receive the mind and will of the Lord through continuing revelation.

In the evening, the Roberts, FM missionaries, at the site, treated Dede and I to dinner. It was a glorious evening. The food was good, but the conversation better. They are a wonderful couple. They were married before and this eternal marriage has obviously blessed their lives. The gospel of Jesus Christ changes people, because the covenant path allows us to receive blessing from God, otherwise not obtainable. I am grateful to be on the convenant path with Dede. She pulls me along.

More preaching. Our friend Shon Hopkin wrote an article about Eve and the Mosaic Law. I know I have your attention now and you are saying, I hope he writes pages on this subject. I will not. It will take me years to comprehend it.  However, he called Eve a Life-Giver. It is the woman's role to give life and her menstral cycles discussed in the Mosaic Law are part of providing life.  [I have gone as far  into the article as I will go.]  After reading the article,  I substituted the word, Life-Giver, for the Word Help-Mete in Genesis. My God gave me a Help-Mete, but more importantly a Life-Giver. Not only has she born me children and through her, grandchildren. But Life-Giver is a name also given to Christ. Thus, what a Life-Giver touches, lives! Without Dede, my life is dead, and horribly dull, but with her, my life is vibrant and full and I live now, but will live fully for eternity. I thank God that He gave me a Life-Giver.

22-March-2024-Friday

The morning dawned cold and windy, but with brilliant sunshine. When we came home from our shift, where we enjoyed 8 missionaries and mother-daughter pair, we parked and I counted 12 robins in the lawn in front of our apartment. They are migrating through telling us spring is really coming, despite an impeding snow storm.

The mother-daughter pair had come to Vermont to have the daughter apply at a "college" that teaches "flying with long scarfs."  Think of circus flyers trailing silk ribbons behind, like some shows use. I thought this very unique. We had a great tour with them. Grateful they were guided to us.

We went to Silloway Maple, probably for our last time. They were cooking sap and serving ice-cream creamees.  What a treat. Tomorrow is a big day in the area. The Sugar Houses have their open houses this weekend. Silloway will have hotdogs and donuts and give tours. The local school has their annual circus.  Bob Dunkle will have his Family History Open House. I have been watching the weather all week. A week ago, it predicted a few inches of snow, ending by 8 am. At the moment, a winter storm watch starts tonight at 8 pm lasting until Saturday night with a prediction of 21 inches of snow. It is supposed to be wet, heavy snow, perhaps turning to ice. These storms can disrupt not only traffic, but power lines. Often when it snows like this, we lose power at the site, and rely on the diesel generator. The Chapel does not have a generator and that would be disastrous.  

I know many prayers are being said to block the snow. That would be nice. When I pray, it is not with faith the snows will be blocked.  I think the Family History Fair will proceed, but people will need to brave the elements. I hope I am wrong. I keep thinking of President Nelson's talk about visiting the Islands and having many storms stop during their meetings, but in one Island, it poured and the faith of the people was shown in their showing up and sitting in the pouring rain to hear the prophet. Perhaps, the miracle being sought, will be different than blocking the snow from coming. It might be, that the people who come have more time to learn from the people who present. Or perhaps, I just plain lack faith. Either way, I pray God will reveal the miracle that He has planned for the day.

23-March-2024-Saturday

I woke up at 2:30 and it was snowing. It has snowed all day and we have over 17 inches at 5 pm and are supposed it hit 22-inches before it stops this evening. Luckily it has remained colder (about 28 degrees) so the snow is lighter and we do not have ice. Dede dropped me off at the Family History Fair at 8 am. I had invited Ralph Eddy to come, but he wisely chose to stay home along with the majority of people and presenters. Sad for Bob and all his planning.  Great for me as I had extended 1-on-1 time with the lady-expert on DNA, Manny from Canada representing Family History and the founder of a non-profit called the Family History Guide. His free website was developed to aid people in using FamilySearch, Ancestry, and two other similar tools. They have amazing stuff. If I were a primary, young mens/womdens, FHE consultant or other leader, I would use their website to teach FH. It is all ready to go, lectures, activities, videos, helps etc. They have a great product, but lack marketing so it is not well known. 

They closed the site early, as no one came with all the snow so we did not serve our shift. It should be done by 8 to 10  pm giving the towns, counties and state plowpeople plenty of time to clear the roads so we can go to Rutland on Sunday.  

While listening to Manny, I realized, Lovejoy's book from which I have typed many interesting things was probably on line in Family Search. I had googled to find an online copy, but found nothing. When I typed in Family Search and History of Royalton Vermont, it came right up. This means I can copy and paste instead of typing and add much more to the memories with less time and effort.  I now have the spot bookedmarked to look for other such books.

I was amazed at what Family Search is doing. They now use OCR readers with AI to read hand-written records. Once the records are digitized by taking electronic photos, within a few hours (days at most) they are read and interpreted with the AI tools and uploaded to be used. Now the need is for people to check the work and not to type it in as was done in the past. Even before checking, it can be made immediately available. They touted their ability to preserve personal data. They do a three way backup of everything and every three years, they back up the back up, usually using better technology. I have used the technology. There are errors, but not many more than when OCR reads a printed page. I am amazed. 

I asked Manny and the Family History Guide person about a new app that showed up and which I downloaded called"together." Both were surprised it was out as it was just announced at Roots Tech and is to allow family groups to work together not only by sharing temple names, but to share information among living relatives. This is a powerful tool, but it is still in Beta phase. Truly the work is moving forward at an increasingly rapid pace. They can now use their AI tools to read wills and last testaments.  I have used some results in looking for people. It is how I found my first clue that Polly was Mary Chambers, wife of John Mudgett.  Manny told us, when people died, their slaves were named in their wills.These are the only place they might be named and this has opened up avenues of new research for former slaves around the world. It also occured to me that my grandchildren no longer learn to read cursive and just as that is happening, AI is coming along that reads cursive. God is good.

Tomorrow will be sunny and reach 36. The snow will settle quickly. The next 8 days it will reach into the 40s and 50s each afternoon with an inch of rain by Friday. This snow storm will be a brief memory just like so many things. It seems to be a huge issue today, but quickly forgotten.