Hegsted's Mission - Week 89
7-April-2024-Sunday
Today, my mother would be 89 if she were still mortal. (obviously, she is alive, and it is still 89 years since her birth.) I miss her. I wish she were here so I could praise her as she rightly deserves. I took her for granted and regret not thanking her adequately while she could hear me with her mortal ears.
We drove up and cleared Jody's walk before dressing in our Sunday clothes this morning. Dede filled two grocery bags with food from our pantry for her. We are fortunate to know Jody and to ponder how many people like Jody are around us. She has no family and depends on people to help her. She has gone 4 weeks without leaving her home and still has cell phone issues, although intermittently, it works. I assume she did not have power for 2-3 days. "All the lonely people," but God introduced us to Jody while we were serving our mission. This adds meaning as we listen to the Church News broadcast between sessions and realize how much the Church is doing to help people. The Church's help amounted to $1.4 billion this year, up from $1 billion last year. But more impressive is the one-on-one care Church members give to their neighbors. I am not bragging about the little bit we do. I am more concerned about the others we do not know or, perhaps, did not let God introduce us to.
We enjoyed the first session of the conference. I love the logic of President Oaks. His talks are so organized and thought out. I was surprised to learn that Sister Alberto considers him the Apostle with the best sense of humor. What a joy to realize he is supporting President Nelson. To my knowledge, President Erying performed a first by conducting a conference session while sitting in his chair. He looked better conducting than he did presenting his pre-recorded talk. I genuinely feel he draws energy from the audience and thus was energized by conducting with an audience before him. As we wait for the last session, will President Nelson attend? Give a speech in person? I loved the music for the conference. I enjoyed the hymn "He Sees the Sparrow" and wonder if we will have this in our new hymnal?
It is strange not to work today. During the winter months, we have every other Sunday off. When we attend Church, the morning is filled. However, today, even with the Conference, the day has seemed flat. Meeting with the Saints in person and not merely virtually brings such a powerful Spirit into my life.
I will listen to new temples announced with renewed interest. We have been here 20 months, and when people ask about a temple being built closer to the Vermont Stake, I think, how could it be? However, when the Stake President promised his Stake to be faithful and to see the miracle of having a temple within a two-hour drive, I wondered if it would not be at the JSB or even in Vermont, but closer to the people of VT, NH, eastern NY, and Maine?
We finished listening to the General Conference. Dede prepared a roast for dinner and a wonderful dessert she shared with the Missionaries. We concluded by listening to half of the session we missed. What a blessing that we can tune in immediately after the Conference and watch anything we missed. I remember when it was weeks before we could review the conference.
8-April-2024-Monday
Hard to ask for a better way to start a new day. Early this morning, a new Hegsted, Brynlee Deann, came into our family. She was 8.2 lbs, 20 1/4 inches, and the family is doing well. I am proud of Jon and Shirlee and grateful that Anna would spend the morning with Kal so Mom and Dad could focus on this momentous event. What a precious blessing to our family. How we love each child and grandchild. God has truly filled our quiver with polished arrows.
After our morning meetings, I fueled the car and washed it, and we were at the site by noon. We were early so Dede and Sister Hoopes could go north to see a total eclipse. We were amazed at the traffic heading north up Vt 14 as we drove home. It was the same when we returned to the site. Last night, GPS predicted 1 hour 8 min to the Church parking lot Dede intended to use, and by the time she left, the trip was over two hours. Luckily, once they passed Stowe, the roads cleared, and it was a little under two hours.
The site was busy before we arrived. We had 12 people at the site watching the eclipse. The traffic was such that they knew they would not make it far enough for a total eclipse, so they stopped at the site. About half were members, and we were glad for all of them. Many enjoyed the tour. One couple had been FM missionaries at the site in 2007. She told us of her conversion. The missionaries handed her a blue BoM with a picture of the statue of Moroni on the cover. She said. Suddenly, I could not breathe; I knew the book was true. The missionaries were stunned. One day at the site, she was dusting the top of Jopeph's 6'4" statue. When she touched his head, the Spirit confirmed that he was a prophet. Today, she is 80, and he is 90 years old. He is still spry. She uses a cane but moves well. I hope to grow up like them.
I had a family of 5. Three of the best-behaved young men, ages 7, 10, and 13. It was fun to teach them. I felt like Dede's presence was with me, and I taught with energy as she would have taught them. She may have been up north, but her Spirit never left the site.
I had the sweetest young lady. She has left the Church due to sexual preference. However, she has not left her testimony of God and the restoration. I love such people. She is seeking to know. She is honest about her feelings, and God is guiding her along. He is so wonderful.
I had a group of "young and modern" Jewish people. I have more fun speaking with people of Jewish faith than I should be allowed to have. I love their willingness to debate, to probe, and to question. They are not offended by debate; thus, discussing religion is fun. I should not allow myself to have so much fun.
Dede had a marvelous time. The LaPierres from the temple also chose to go to the Church parking lot, so Dede had friends to visit while watching the eclipse. God continually allows our paths to cross people we have loved dearly in New England. I am convinced these were our friends before mortality or destined to be our friends in the post-mortal state.
I can wash away my prior guilt for not taking Dede to the total eclipse experience in Idaho by encouraging her to go today. Afterward, she was delighted to tell me about the experience. Why was I so dumb in Idaho
Sara and Sam are raising the "smartest" children. Today, Miles said he wanted a playhouse. After a pause, he added that it would be in San Diego. Dede thinks he was playing Sam.
My pictures of the eclipse.
We were curious whether people would come in today. Had everyone left Vermont after the eclipse? It appeared that was the case until 11:30, then numerous small groups, consisting of 2 or 3 people, for the rest of the afternoon. We had members who had known each other in Maryland and were pleasantly surprised to see each other. It was a sweet reunion for them. It was hectic as we had people wanting short tours as they needed to get through quickly and people who wanted to know everything. Thus, we ended up speaking over each other in the same room. It works but can be distracting.
We got out the door a few minutes late, even though the Neilsons arrived early. We had started to eat lunch but could not finish for the press. What a blessing.
We left the site, went home, changed, and left to explore. Yesterday, Dede had seen a parking lot for the long trail. We had seen it near a bridge last week but could not cross because parking was not allowed on that side of the river. We stopped there first and walked over to the bridge. It was amazing. Last year's floods were still evident. On the flats leading up to the bridge, debris was stuck in trees and on the bridge 8 feet above the ground. Vermont has seen much flooding in the past 12 months.
We then went waterfall hunting. We love the waterfalls of Vermont, but this week was made doubly fun. The last set of falls is on a boiling river along Lincoln Road. We met and watched kayakers as they floated the river and went over the falls. The videos do not work in Blogger, but I did take a few still shots, but none over the falls.
Pictures are below: We found a round meeting house on the way. The area near the bridge had flooded. In one image, you can see the wood debris above my head, so the water was at least 8 feet deep.
10-April-2024-Wednesday. PDAY
We have visited Gloucester twice, but our goal was to find the whale-watching tour. Today, we visited the town. Gloucester is technically the oldest port in the USA. However, it was started and abandoned, so Salem had the right to claim the oldest continuous port. Mom found the Hammond Museum on Google, and we started there. It was mentioned on our whale-watching tour. A wealthy young man whose parents were mad, he married a divorcee 10 years older than he built it near his parent's home. He wanted to recreate an old castle and traveled extensively to find antique pieces to put in it. He had pieces from everywhere, making it rather eclectic. He was an inventor and lived on patents rights he sold, many of which were sold to industry and many to the government, especially his radio-controlled ideas. Think ships and torpedos. Pictures from our tour there: At the bottom are our great friends, the McDowels, with whom we spent the afternoon in Topsfield.
We walked the coastal walk in Glouster, but that was disappointing. The QR codes were not working to give information about why one had stopped at this point. Sometimes, it was apparent, but most were lacking. I do, however, like the statues of the man going to sea and the wife and children waiting for their return. Plus, everyone loves a lonely cannon. Three pictures above.
We met the McDowells in Topsfield, Mass. This is where Joseph Sr. was born, and 5 generations of Smiths resided. Names were Robert, Samuel, Samuel, Asael, and Joseph Sr. There were others, but the first three owned land. Asael did not inherit the land but returned and worked 5 years to clear debts and sell 2/3 of the land, leaving the widow 1/3 for her maintenance. This left him homeless and penniless and caused him to move to Tunbridge, VT. We saw Joseph Smith Lane. Robert originally lived there. We went to the Church where the Smiths were baptized. It is not apparent how active they were and when Universalism began to appeal to the Smith family patriarchs. We discussed the witch trials. Three witches were executed in Topsfield. Dave tied the witch trials to the hopelessness of Calvinism. I do not comprehend the witch trials. I was not there, but it seems three young girls caused a great deal of misery and death. We then discussed Univerlasism as an outlet for those living under Calvinism. At least Universalism offered hope in a loving God who knew you and would answer your prayers versus a God who was remote and had somehow decided to save a few of the depraved souls on earth for His glory while allowing the majority to burn in hell.
When I consider young Joseph raised in a home with a mom who was a Calvinist and a dad who was a Universalist, it is easy to understand why he needed to know for himself whether or not salvation was possible for him; a young boy who honestly did not feel the promptings of the Spirit telling him he was saved. How sweet those first words from the 1832 account must have been. Joseph, I am the Lord of Mercy, and your sins are forgiven. How much did universalism's portrayal of a loving God give Joseph the courage to approach God in prayer and expect a loving answer? Indeed, God was in the details, preparing Joseph for this supreme moment.
The Smiths were probably poor since they had a great deal of debt. However, Samuel Jr. was respected in Topsfield. He was the head Selectman who would go to Boston after the tea party to understand whether or not Topsfield should be involved in the revolution. Another family member, married into the Gould family, known for his patriotism in the Revolutionary War.
We speak much about the impact on Joseph from his ancestors and their New England Heritage. Solomon's family is not a whit behind. Being taught at the feet of Dave McDowell is a beautiful experience. On top of that, they took us to Puritan, an ice cream place that makes its own delicious ice cream. We will keep this place in mind when we travel to Boston.
Pictures from Topsfield. They include Joseph Smith Lane. The home of John Gould, the patriot, is listed above. The Church sits on the site where the Smiths would have worshipped. The rock commemorates the executed witches and the monument to the Smiths in the cemetery. We discussed the vagaries of history. The history is chiseled in granite, but there are probably issues with dates. History is complex to recover.
If one went day after day, there would still be so much worthwhile to see in New England. History is buried under more layers of history here. No one has time to understand it all. Again, I mourn, knowing people have lived out their lives and are forgotten. The man who built Hammon Castle realized that. His inventions would become old. His work would be forgotten, so he built a castle and turned it into a museum, which he endowed to keep it open so people might remember who he was. It is so hopeless without the gospel.
The engraved stone above lists the three "witches" executed in Topsfield as part of the Salem trials. The Church sits where the old Congregational Church sat.
11-April-2024-Thursday
We were late to bed, and this morning was tough. I took the car in to be serviced. They gave us a loaner car, and I came home to finish the blog and work on the monument document. Later in the day, we discovered the car needed new front brakes, so it would not be ready until Friday.
At the site, a missionary couple from the Pittsburgh mission office was delightful. We would have six others come in. There was a lovely couple who were traveling for the husband's birthday. They had no definite plans, so we provided suggestions for the rest of the week. We also had four FLDS people. They were from different parts of Utah and worked installing granite cabinet tops. They were out East looking at equipment. Charming group.
In the evening, we went to Neilson's for games. I am working on the blog and my monument group. The others are "loudly discussing" the game. I am happy to hear the joyous noise.
12-April-2024-Friday
During the early shift, we had a wonderful couple come in who are serving at the Nauvoo temple for 1 year. The temple is closed for its two-week maintenance, so they had time to come East and take in additional Church Historic Sites. The couple are from Pocatello. He taught Institute classes. They were happy to see and explore and were not burdened with a schedule. We see that at times. I like having a plan when I vacation, but we have found that we have had beautiful days going to an area to do one thing, knowing we will have the opportunity to wander and do other things. There is a refreshment in such freedom.
Despite significant rain, the missionaries came by and took pictures after their zone meeting. Their enthusiasm is contagious.
As we were leaving, a couple came in, so the Hoopes had guests. Dede and I had fun discussing the way we do tours. Whenever possible, we do our tours together. As things pick up, we are happy to split up and do them separately. However, during the slow days, one might go days without doing a tour if not involved with everyone that comes in. We are lucky. It was not easy to find joy in giving tours together. We had some discussions and adjustments that we needed to do. Now, I would feel guilty if someone came in and I was working on my projects instead of participating in a tour. Having "more important" things to do is so easy for me. I am blessed with the best companion. We have grown in unity and love due to the combined tours we give. It does not work for everyone, but it has been a blessing in our mission.
We received notice that the car was finished at 1 p.m., so we picked it up and went shopping. We had to laugh. We drove up to the apartment twice as a rain deluge started. We finished unloading, and it would stop. Someone has a sense of humor.
The evening was spent eating with the missionaries. We were assigned to read D&C 109 and be prepared to share thoughts in a round-table discussion. Excellent way to do what the prophet had asked us to do.
13-April-2024-Saturday
Wonder of wonders, Dede cut my hair and my eyebrows this morning. It feels so much better. I worked on the monument briefly before we left for the site.
We arrived and sat for 1.5 hours, except for walking. The pond was so noisy from the frogs peeping.
We had a family of five come in. They were Japanese but now live in Massachusetts. They wanted a shorter tour. While mom finished them, I greeted a couple, one a member with a nonmember husband. I had just greeted them when another couple came in the door. They were from Idaho, actually from Springfield. It turned out he was Craig Peck, the son of my dad's best friend from high school, Bob Peck. That was so fun. They were just traveling around, and we shared ideas about what they could do next. I started the tour, and two nonmembers from Vermont showed up. Thus, we had a mixed tour, half members and half nonmembers. Made the tour enjoyable. Regardless, it was a great day. God graciously sent Craig Peck to the site when I was giving tours.
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