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Reflections from some of the first
One Million Missionaries
The week of June 25, 2007 the Church announced it had passed the 1 million mark in the total number of missionaries who have served since 1830.
We know that Joseph Smith’s brother Samuel was the first missionary. He felt he had very little success in his journey – only able to sell one Book of Mormon to Mrs. Green. She passed the copy of the book on to her Brother Brigham Young.
No one knows exactly who the 1 millionth missionary is – nor does it really matter.
Five years ago I did a survey of 145 Returned Missionaries for a university project. Seventy six percent of those I surveyed were Canadians who served missions. Here are some of the comments to such questions as:
Why did you go on a mission?
What is the greatest blessing you received from going on a mission?
What was your Greatest Challenge on a Mission
Click here to find out what these Returned Missionaries had to say about thier experiences.
Time Travelers in Church History
Click here to find out more about these novels (written by a Canadian)
One of the first 1,000,000 missionaries entering the MTC, June 14, 2006
(From Chad Hawkins The First 100 Temples, Deseret Book 2001)
The temple was dedicated byh President Gordon B. Hinckley in seven sessions held December 11and 12, 1989 “Let Thy providence be felt in this great nation of Canada, that it shall continue to be a land where Thy sons and daughters enjoy the precious boon of freedom of assembly and worship.”
Chad Hawkins “I learned a great lesson from a brother who lived in the Edmonton, Alberta Temple District. At the temple’s open house in 1999, I asked him what the new temple meant to him. He responded with enthusiasm about his and his wife’s temple-attendance goals. He explained that for years they could attend the temple in Cardston only once a month because the travel time was twelve hours each way. He said ‘With a temple so close to home in Edmonton we can now attend the temple once a week because it is only six hours to and from the temple.” Chad Hawkins, Holy Places: True Stories of Faith and Miracles from Latter-Day Temples, p. 2)
Early History of the Church in Edmonton
By Rob Ficiur
In July I was lost (sort of) driving on the Whitemud Trail in Edmonton. As I came around a corner there was the Edmonton Temple. I took the exit and looked around the grounds. Each temple has its own story – the lives of the people who built the church in the area.
I took these notes from the book “A History of the Mormon Church in Canada.” (If there are errors in any of these dates or facts please let me know).
1914 – Robert John Gordon and his wife Fannie (and their four children) were the first known members to move to Edmonton. Robert (from Utah) had been called to Canada by the church to develop the irrigation canal system in Southern Alberta. He moved to Edmonton to take a job as a land surveyor for the provincial government.
Since there was no church in Edmonton, Brother Gordon and his family often attended the United Church. In 1916 they moved to Lethbridge so their children could attend church.
The Noah’s Ark plan was written for our ward by me when I was Relief Society President about 10 years ago (about 1997). It is being updated now (2007) to include new technology such as cell phones and laptops. This plan includes goals for spiritual preparedness, provident living, basic storage and a 72 hour kit. The items listed in the storage section and also the foods listed for the 72 hour kit are the requirements for 1 adult. This was researched with the information available from church recourses.
This is April Installment of
the Noah’s Ark Food Storage Guide
““If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.” D&C 38”30
Spiritual goal – Attend the temple one more session than you normally would do this month.
Provident Living Goal – If you normally do not grow a garden plan to grow at least one vegetable this year. If you already have a garden either
Montreal Alouettes Getting Headlines for play on and off the Football Field
Church Member Ben Cahoon is a peculiar football player in professional sports. Prior to the 2002 Grey Cup there were numerous articles about Ben Cahoon and how his membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints made him a different football player.
This year the ten year CFL veteran Ben Cahoon continues getting headlines for his play. In July he got headlines for a new reason. With the team’s kicker ejected from the game, Ben came in and kicked the winning field goal in overtime. Cahoon admitted his hand was shaking as he placed the tee on the ground before the play. It was his first field-goal attempt ever in a game.
In August three sessions of Especially For Youth were held in Canada. Two sessions were held in Calgary and one in Vancouver. Every year hundreds of youth come home from this one week youth conference with stronger testimonies, a determination to do what they know is right. I asked my sixteen year old son Spencer to list some of the highlights of EFY – so others can get a glimpse of what the youth were taught. As I read his three page article I was “wowed” by things I read. The principles taught can be used by us aging adults – but it is wonderful to know that our youth have been instructed and taught these principles.
I had so much fun at EFY.
by Spencer Ficiur (age 16)
I got lots of ideas about scripture study from devotionals and the testimony meeting was so powerful. It's so much easier to be a righteous youth when you realize that there are other youth out there that share your beliefs and EFY helps me realize, each year.
Modest wedding gowns became very hard to find from any bridal companies. Very few companies had one dress that was temple ready.
We had three daughters who would one day go to a prom and get married. As parents we all want our daughters to look beautiful (and modest) on these special occasions. When it came time for our girls to have these gowns we never found one dress that was modest. For each one we had to remake it to fit modesty and temple standards.
Ever think that it is a long way to get to your nearest temple? Ever find a few hassles along the way as you planned or went on a temple trip?
I came across this article about a 2005 temple trip Cameroon to Nigeria. Be sure to read to the end of the article. We all know that Come Come Ye Saints was originally written for pioneer wagon trains. But watch how that song applies 21st century pioneers in Africa.
It took these Saints 64 hours through muddy, almost non existent roads (sort of like the Saints leaving Nauvoo in 1846) to travel the 175 miles to the Nigeria Temple.
I don’t think I’ll ever complain about a two hour drive to the Cardston Temple again.
Check out this website; Mormon Central; a link to all kinds of LDS Sites
It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
Drawing by John Chan www.johnchanart.com
John Chan:
Shares His Conversion and His Art
Question:
How did you first hear about the church?
Answer:
I participated in church sporting programs. I was about 13 at the time . I was living with my grandfather in Medicine Hat. It was not Church Scouting that we were involved but church sporting activities like the movie "Church Ball ". We were invited out to participate in flag football. After numerous attempts to meet with missionaries, myself and two other friends took up their invitations to be taught. All three of us were baptized.
Question:
When did you start drawing temples? Why did you choose temples?
Answer:
I started temple drawing of the Cardston temple when I served as a bishopric member in 1997.
The reason was that we the bishopric got many wedding invitations to celebrate the young adults commitment to one another in the House of the Lord. I did not have financial means to buy presents to everyone who send an invitation to me. I decided to draw the temple which I could make prints to give away as presents.
A couple of months after this website launched, Dianne LaFreniere contacted me and wanted to share her father’s conversion story. In 1964, (43 years ago), Harley and his wife lost their youngest son (13 years old).
Harley’s question and prayer was “God will I see my son again?” Dianne (and Harley) shared his struggle and how he found the restored gospel in the small town of Kimberly BC.
Diane updated / concluded Harley story this week.
Diane wrote:
My wonderful dad, Harley Dovell had a stroke on August 18th and passed away on Sept 1, 2007. Oh, how I am going to miss this wonderful man but I know that Dad has been reunited with his boys and family so I rejoice in the great plan of salvation! I will see him again one day.
In the rush of our busy lives – it can be easy to take the truths of the restored gospel to life. However, the answers that we get from the gospel are the very truths that people around the world are searching for.
President Hinckley said “We recognize the good that every other church in the world does. We have no quarrel with other churches. We do not argue, we do not debate, or anything of the kind. We simply say to people not of our faith, ‘You bring with you all the truth that you have, and let us see if we can add to it.’ That is the mission and message of this church.” (Hinckley, 2001 p. 91) Our message is to share with them what they don’t have. We never know which truths might touch different people and change their lives.
That would solve the vital problems of the throng;
If I could give the cheer, the hope, the comfort;
To hearts discouraged with the weight of strife,
And help someone to realize God’s goodness
The world would be better for my life
If I could just appreciate the friendship
Of those whose lot is cast with mine on earth;
If I can render willing, helpful service
To those whose love I cherish for their worth;
If I can give sincerest adoration
To God, who reigns in holiness above
Show gratitude to Him who gives the glory
The world would be fuller for my love
Frankburg, Alberta Ward 1904-1937
In August 2007 I took a “short cut” from Calgary to Lethbridge. As I turned on Highway 23 to Vulcan I saw the sign that I was looking for. “Frankburg Pioneer Mormon Cemetery”. I was nine miles east of High River on the way to Vulcan but…what was this Historic Mormon Cemetery?
The sign described an early Mormon Settlement that had flourished… where nothing but wheat is today. Read the history of this Ward. (Calgary was once a dependent branch on this farming ward).
Click here to read more about this ward that once had almost 400 people. If you know more history on this unique setting please email
Maude Rasmussen in 1962 holding one of her Great Grand sons (me)
Canada's Oldest Temple (Cardston).
When the Vancouver Temple is dedicated there will be 7 temples in Canada.
Myths about Mental
October 2005 Ensign Article
By Elder Alexander B. Morrison
(former Deputy Minister in Health Canada)
In the last year two LDS Professionals – A Family Medical Doctor and a Counselor have talked about this article. The Doctor said this was the most well written article on mental illness (and depression) that he had ever seen in a church magazine.
If you or your family has been touched by any form of mental illness (including depression) this is an excellent article – giving a gospel perspective of what this disease is and isn’t.
If your family has not been affected by mental illness – this article will be an excellent education for you about an illness that can be difficult to understand.
When Alexander B. Morrison joined the church in Edmonton, his Branch President was N. Eldon Tanner and his Sunday School Teacher was Hugh B. Brown. Before being called as a General Authority Brother Morrison served as a Deputy Minister of Health in Ottawa.
Bob and Marion Parkins had searched for the true church. Finally they concluded there was no such thing. Retirement was upon them and life would be nice and quiet…then two missionaries knocked on the wrong door. Their life has never been the same again…and they are grateful for that.
We were at the point where we had given up on churches.
1.(a)One church we went to, the minister asked if he could visit us and the date he picked we were busy so we never heard from him again.
1(b) Another church we went to, we went three times and then the congregation split due to some wanting to keep the traditional hymns and the other half wanting to sing modern songs, so we left that church.
1(c) We tried the church who wanted modern songs, and the singing was great, but the congregation was only interested in praying for themselves, the teaching was all about their problems. If you asked to pray for someone outside the church, it was a calamity.
Sally and her husband were painting their house when two Mormon Missionaries stopped by. Instead of sharing their message they asked if they could help. Sally “knew” they wouldn’t show up at 6 am to paint. The missionaries (both had the same name of Elder isn’t that weird) were there at 6 am to help paint.
The missionaries helped paint – and then the message they shared changed the lives of this family for the next 27 years.
My husband and I were in the middle of painting the inside of our home (not an easy feat with 5 children under the age of 5) when we get a phone call on a Thursday evening. My husband got off the phone to say that 2 young men from some church wanted to come over and give us a message. I said are you kidding? Did you not tell them we are in the middle of painting? He replied that he had and they had said that was fine and they would be over after dinner the following night.
I forgot all about it till the doorbell rang. In enters these 2 young men neatly dressed in suits and I’m thinking oh please do not touch any walls or let the children near you!! We had a clean sheet on the couch to save it from paint and they sat down. Our children were clamoring all over them especially when one of them started doing magic tricks. Kids were hooked. I kept waiting for “this message” but none came. After about an hour visit they said they had to go but was there anything they could help us with. Keith jokingly said well we are about to start the living room in the morning and they said they would be over to help and what time. He replied 6 and they said they would be here. I thought yeah right.
Read Sally's blog at www.westcoastnana.blogspot.com
You Tube:
Sharing the Gospel Message Around the World
In his famous talk “When the World Will be Converted” President Spencer W. Kimball said:
“I believe that the Lord is anxious to put into our hands inventions of which we laymen have hardly had a glimpse…I am confident that the only way we can reach most of these millions of our Father’s children is through the spoken word over the airwaves, since so many are illiterate. “
October 1974 Ensign
In 1974 You Tube and the internet were things we could hardly imagine. There are several interesting LDS Canadian items on You Tube. Two are spotlighted this week.
300 Members Bear Testimony to the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFA2be6xvks
A Canadian Youth shares his testimony of the Church. It is part of 300 Testimonies shared on this U Tube Link. He shares the story about how his mother also joined the church. By Brad 1 Nephi
This is part of Seth Adam Smith’s challenge to get 300 Video Responses to Share the Testimony to the world. Seth set this challenge out in July 2007. His goal was to Flood the Earth with the Truth that Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored.
Ralphship –a US member of the church – had been through Edmonton sometime. The video clip shares the song “Till the Rescurection Day.” While highlighting pictures of the Edmonton area including the temple grounds.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2rESTqOD4k
You Tube: Sharing the Gospel Message Around the World
Last week we highlighted two LDS Canadian items on You Tube. This week three more – all different – each inspiring in their own way.
Maple Leaf Forever sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. This is sung with pictures from early Canadian History up to modern times. A wonderful view of Canada as sung by the Choir.
BYU Hawaii Professor Driving the Back roads of Western Canada studying and visiting the Hutterite People.
Officially Max Stanton is an American – he was raised in Oregon and taught 25 years at BYU Hawaii. However, over the last 20 years he has traveled more of the back roads of Canada than most Canadians – as part of his research – his work and his love.
As a professor of Anthropology, Dr. Stanton began to study the Hutterite people. Just over twenty years ago Dr. Max Stanton, Anthropology Professor at BYU Hawaii made his first visit to a Hutterite Colony. He asked someone at church in Cardston where the nearest colony was. “You can’t miss it,” was the reply and the directions were given.
For those who know Max Stanton there is an irony in this first visit to a colony. Over the last twenty years Max has driven all the dirt roads visiting colonies near and far. He has developed an exact mapping system of where every colony is. When you mention a colony’s name he will now the small towns they are near. Ironically twenty years ago when Max Stanton went out to visit his first Hutterite Colony he got lost.
This week my son (Brian) received his mission call to the Mexio Vera Cruz Mission. If you have been involved in this process – as a parent, family member or friend, it is exciting (and a bit nerve racking for parents).
As 19 year olds we all thought we could conquer the world. Some of the worries that parents go through don’t even occur to Elders as they send their papers in. On the church’s new missionary system for submitting missionary applications – a missionary can know when his call is in the mail. “The computer said it was in the mail October 12 – I will die if it doesn’t come this week (week of October 22). In the old days the letter came when it came.
When Brian leaves on his mission – the media won’t hound him for interviews. He will quit his jobs and leave and go. Searching the internet I found two Canadian LDS missionaries that have received some media attention for their choice to serve a mission.
Dalin Tollestrup was Rookie of the year in all of Canadian University Football in 2006. Now he is serving as a missionary in El Salvador.
Further East in Saskatoon, the University Football Huskies have taken on Freshman quarterback knowing full well he won’t be back for his sophomore season.
Trent Peterson is from Calgary. His father Greg Peterson played ten years with the Calgary Stampeders – and still does the radio color commentary for the team. The following article was in the Star Phoenix newspaper about Peterson’s mission plans.
Quarterbacks at two Canadian Universities are willing to put their football careers on hold for two years to go on a mission.
Praying over a bolt solidifies convert’s testimony
When I have told investigators and members that God can hear and answer prayers, I have thought about it in terms of big things. Who you should marry or what job you should take. Until Nick shared his conversion story I had never thought about praying over a missing bolt. However, to this new convert, finding this missing bolt was an urgent task. When the day was done he had the bolt and his testimony was strengthened because he found the answer he needed that day.
I had been raised with a knowledge of God and his Son Jesus Christ, but this was a shallow understanding. I knew Jesus was crucified but I did not realize that he died on the cross for me, and that he could take upon him my sins. What these members of the Church taught me made perfect sense, and I felt it was true.
One of the lessons in church had been on the power of prayer. But I couldn’t pray for a silly bolt, that I had lost, so I kept on searching.
I was crouched under the tractor and finally decided that I had exhausted my own talents to find this bolt. I was already kneeling so I bowed my head and closed my eyes and pleaded with the Lord, for this silly bolt. My testimony now is if it is important then you ask for it.
Ron and Lyn Larsen have been workers at the Cardston Temple for six months. In that time they have seen many miracles as they have come to learn and love this new calling.
Even though the Larsens have attended the temple for years, there was a big learning curve when they became temple workers. A great deal of work behind the scenes happens so that the temple experience is serene for the patrons. The 1026 volunteers at the Cardston temple are organized into shifts. Each shift has two coordinators who give out the assignments for that day. In time all new temple workers are expected / hope to do all of the assignments. Most temple workers come once a week. Some come two days a week every other week (ie Thurs & Friday every second week.)
Sister Larsen has only the use of one arm. Every ordinance worker is expected to learn every task. She asked once “Can I do all these things with only one arm?” The reply was “There is nothing you can’t do.”
Ron said “The Lord loves me enough to let me work at his temple.”
I recently started a company called junesdesignsonline.com
I am from England originally, but met my husband (who is from Lethbridge) while he was on his mission in my part of England in the 1970's.
I want to take our two children and their spouses to England in 2009, to show them where I grew up and where their dad served on his mission. Perhaps we can meet people that he brought the gospel to.
I prayed for inspiration about how to accomplish this and I felt I should design and market a new and colourful line of inspirational tee shirts for Latter Day Saints.
I researched other LDS and Christian tee shirts that were on the market and felt that bright colours and a sense of fun were lacking. I felt I could fill this niche, and so designed a line of tee shirts that I hope will lift spirits and inspire people.
My first line (which is available now on my website www.junesdesignsonline.com) feature shirts for the Primary, Relief Society, Temple goers and people seeking an eternal companion, Genealogists, Beehives, Mia Maids and Laurels.
