Kodachrome Basin and beyond . . .

We serve our mission in a desert that has tried the faith of many early pioneers.  They came to St. George at the request of the Prophet Brigham Young in 1861 to grow cotton.  309 families were asked to leave the Salt Lake City area and move south to the Cotton Mission.  It was extremely difficult.  They felt isolated and almost starved to death the first three years.  Through their perseverance, faith, and obedience, the early settlers built a community that is now 150 years old.  It is a desirable location for many people who enjoy the sunny weather and outdoor activities all year round.  Nearby national parks with their scenic beauty amaze the many tourists who come here.

                       Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon -- Scott saw a t-shirt that read-- Hoodoo you love?

Two weeks ago we drove to Bryce Canyon and stayed overnight at Ruby's Inn.  We wanted to go to Kodachrome Basin State Park and on to Grosvenor Arch--two places we had never seen.   Grosvenor Arch is one of the biggest arches in Utah but is not located in Arches National Park.  You have to travel 9 miles in and 9 miles back from Kodachrome State Park on a dirt road to get to it.  We were really thankful that our car and tires made the journey without incident.

                                                                 Grosvenor Arch

                                            Chimney Rock at Kodachrome State Park

Over Memorial Day weekend, our cute Rebekah came to see us.  She was a good sport and went to all our historical sites with us.  We also watched the 6 hour version of Pride and Prejudice.  It was great to have her stay with us for a few days especially since we might not get a chance to see her again before college starts.  She will be studying abroad in England fall semester.

                                                                     Rebekah

Roger, Scott's brother, visiting and joking in the annex.  He and Karen came to see us after they went to the St. George Temple.

Scott writes what happened earlier this week--

On Monday morning this week in the St. George Temple annex, I had a very good day.  There were one hundred and thirty visitors, of which, about 75 or 80 were on two bus tours.  One was a group of school kids from Crescent City, Colorado, and the other was a group from Australia. There were about 25 non-members in the smaller groups that came into the annex.    I was able to have gospel conversations with them because it was slow, and they came in groups of 2 or 3 people.  I was able to pass out 8 Books of Mormon and obtain 2 referrals. When we get a referral, we then follow-up by email and try to continue our gospel message, answer questions, and invite them to learn more by leading them to church websites or send the local missionaries to visit them.  The referral that seemed to have the most promise was from a couple from Henderson, Nevada.    He has lived in many countries and has been intrigued by seeing the Mormon missionaries wherever he was.   One of those countries was Hong Kong, China.

The missionary department keeps track of people who are baptized that make first contact at the visitor centers and historical sites.  In the last two months from the St. George Temple Visitors’ Center and historical sites, there have been 13 baptisms.

One Fourth Finished

        

Today is our three month mark at the St. George Temple Visitors' Center Mission.  So far we are doing fine.  The summer weather will probably be brutal with the heat but I have a t-shirt that says ~ "desert master, the hotter the better."  Speaking of the desert, it is still blooming!  These photos were taken in Snow Canyon State Park.  

                                              Mountain Phlox

        Story of George Durrant and The Number One Christian 

Something happened at the St. George Temple Visitors’ Center last month that I (Scott) would like to share with you.  A cyclist from Canada was here in Southern Utah to ride his bike and somehow ended up on the temple grounds.

Elder Fuller, from Soda Springs, was working in the visitors’ center annex located right by the place where people come to look at the front of the temple.  He noticed a fellow sitting outside the annex just looking at the temple and enjoying the grounds.  He was there for over an hour.  He finally made his way into the annex and started talking to Elder Fuller. 

They had a good visit and the man expressed the feelings he had while he was sitting outside and enjoying the temple atmosphere.   He said he had never in his life felt the spirit like he did that day.  Elder Fuller suggested that he might also enjoy a visit to the St. George Tabernacle.    

So the man went there a little later that day and was greeted by Elder Durrant.  During their conversation, the fellow noticed Elder Durrant’s name tag.  He asked, “are you George Durrant?”  Elder Durrant assured him that he was and that he was having his best day ever.  The fellow was so pleased to meet George Durrant.   He went on to explain that over 30 years ago a member of the church gave him one of Elder Durrant’s audio tapes, “The Number One Christian”.  *

He explained that he had listened to that tape for the last 30 years and tried to live a Christian life in accordance with the example outlined in the talk.  Based on his feelings of the spirit at the temple and his conversation with Elder Durrant, he said  “I need to be baptized into your church.”

* Elder Durrant was in the military during the Korean War and stationed in Korea.  When he saw what some of the other soldiers were doing, he didn’t think they were a good example of how a Christian should act.  Some of them were immoral, some were rude to the Korean people who were hired to cook and clean for them.  Whenever the soldiers met Koreans on the paths at the camp, they expected the Koreans to jump off to the side so they could keep going.  George decided to set a better example.  He was kind.  He jumped off the path when the Koreans were coming. He learned their names and talked to them like friends.  One day in the mess tent, one of the Koreans who worked there served George his food.  Only the officers were supposed to be served.  But he insisted, telling him that he was “the number one Christian.”

The hollyhocks are in bloom at the Jacob Hamblin Home.  It is a pioneer home over 150 years old in Santa Clara located by a peach orchard.  Jacob Hamblin was called by Brigham Young on a mission to work with the Indians and help better the relationships between them and the White people. The road the settlers took to California ran right in front of this home. 

 I had to make a hollyhock doll.  It reminded me of all the fun Sherry and Amy had making and playing with those dolls.  I don't know if Wendy got to make any or not because at our new house in Bountiful, the deer eat the hollyhocks.

Hollyhock doll in with the red blossoms.  Also the yucca is blooming and the humming birds are flying around getting nectar.  They are so little and cute.

 

The roses are in bloom at the temple, too.  It is a beautiful, sacred building, and I am so thankful that my family has been sealed together for time and all eternity.  I love my children so much.