Especially For Youth (EFY) 2014 Recording Session

THE BAY with the 1000 ISLANDS

On Friday Elder Bushman chose to drive over to Webster Beach on Lake Ontario.  On our way there we noticed Oklahoma Beach on the map, so we drove there first.  It was a street address!

This picture was taken from a private drive way.  So we did not get out of the car to explore.

This is Oklahoma Beach street from a private drive...ha....the people that live on Oklahoma Beach on Lake Ontario have a beautiful view of the Lake.  We two missionary Okies found that we best move on to Webster Beach where we could explore some.

This is a path out to the Lake on Webster Beach.

We found Eli's name written on a part of the fencing as we walked along

There was lots of moss and cracks in the rocks.  In between the rocks we saw a family of minks.  They eat fish and the remains of fish that people leave behind at the park.

They looked really cute.

This is at the end of the pier walk

 Elder Bushman looking at Lake Ontario.

This is my first attempt to add a video...Tanner and Elizabeth left Grandpa a yoyo and he has really enjoyed doing tricks with it!  I obviously don't know how to download this yet, but enjoy what you can see!  This reminds me of the pictures that Harry Potter collected!  He is good with walking the yoyo!

On Saturday we drove with the Perron's to Alexandria Bay, New York to experience the 1000 Islands.

There are really 1864 islands on the St. Lawrence Seaway.  To be counted as an island the land must have at least one tree on it!  Some Islands are claimed by the United States and some by Canada. "Thousand Island dressing was named for the chain of islands by the actress who popularized the dressing, May Irwin, stating that she thought the chopped vegetables in the dressing looked like the Thousand Islands region."  Anyone for salad?  The St. Lawrence river flows into the Atlantic Ocean from Lake Ontario.  We rode on the Uncle Sam Boat.  

 We were touring with Elder Vernon (Durg) and Sister Kathy Perron from Hailey, Idaho

  We toured the Singer Castle on Dark Island 

located 9 miles downriver at Chippewa Bay.  The castle was built at the turn of the 19th century by F

rederick Bourne, President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company for use as a "hunting lodge" and 

remains fully furnished just as it was during its heyday.  

It is amazing to see an island with a huge home on it....
This area is beautiful! When our boat tour was complete we went out to lunch and Art and Kathy had Reuben sandwiches with 1000 Island dressing.  I had a burnt bacon burger and Durg had a fish sandwich.  We then parted ways and drove to the Wards we were assigned to visit on Sunday.   The Parron's go to Lowville, NY where they spend the night with an elderly lady in their Ward.   We spent the evening in Syracuse, New York on our way to Cortland.  

Sunday  morning I taught our last temple preparation class.  All but one of our class members have been to the temple to do baptism's.  We enjoyed being with them in this class that lasted seven weeks.  We hope to be able to be with them in the Palmyra Temple many more times in the future. Elder Bushman taught the High Priest's Priesthood Quorum class also. 

 Then we stayed for a fireside about patriarchal blessings by Brother Kerr, the new Patriarch for the Syracuse Stake.  He gave his first blessing ever to one of the Moss children.  Several other ward members also followed and received their blessings.  Our love and prayers are with our new Patriarch  Kerr as he begins his life long office.

"Patriarchs are humble men. They are students of the scriptures. They stand before God as the means whereby the blessings of heaven can flow from that eternal source to the recipient on whose head rests the hands of the patriarch. He may not be a man of letters, a possessor of worldly wealth, or a holder of distinguished office. He, however, must be blessed with priesthood power and personal purity. To reach to heaven for divine guidance and inspiration, a patriarch is to be a man of love, a man of compassion, a man of judgment, a man of God."

“Your patriarchal blessing will see you through the darkest night. It will guide you through life’s dangers.”

—Thomas S. Monson

I find it interesting that we can receive a blessing to help us on our journey here.  I was 15 or 16 when I received my patriarchal blessing.  This blessing opened the door to my understanding of many things.  I have been following the counsel of this blessing for over 50 years.  I am grateful to a patriarch that blessed me with The Lord's teachings for my own life.
Just like Joseph Smith received "The First Vision", we can receive our own vision of our potential in this life.

"Every worthy, baptized member is entitled to and should receive a patriarchal blessing, which provides inspired direction from the Lord. Patriarchal blessings include a declaration of a person's lineage in the house of Israel and contain personal counsel from the Lord. As a person studies his or her patriarchal blessing and follows the counsel it contains, it will provide guidance, comfort, and protection".

 

Have you received or read your own blessing lately?

This weekend is my High School 50th Celebration of our "Class of 1964" graduation.
I hope all my former classmates have a grand time celebrating.  I am thankful to my own "Patriarch Moss" who gave me such a nice blessing while I was still in high school.

This morning as I finished swimming I walked out into the hall of Pal-Mac High School and three teens were parking their bikes in the hall.  They were on the swim team and they are practicing today.  As I hobbled down to the exit,  I pondered those awesome years when I was in high school and had energy and vitality.  This was the age I received my own Patriarchal Blessing.   I am still needing to remember the things I myself learned as a teen.  Someday I will graduate again ....  "It's Me Lord, It's Me, Standing in the need of Prayer"....origin unknown
Thank's to Sister Glave, in our Relief Society Class, I have been blessed to listen to this song on You Tube.

  If you haven't been blessed to understand your potential in this life, there is a Patriarch who can bless you with The Lord's teachings just for you.  Ask your Bishop today for a recommend to receive this blessing.
"not my brother, nor my sister,  but It's me O Lord...."
Enjoy your last days of July 2014!

THE MEMORIES OF THE HILL CUMORAH PAGEANT LINGER IN THE AIR

July 22, 2014

It is a beautiful sunny day in Palmyra, New York.  Yesterday Elder Bushman and I crashed from our tours with our son Todd and his family.  Elder Bushman relaxed and I joined the Worldwide Indexing Event and shared in the joy of 66,511 volunteers who indexed yesterday.  The Indexing program outdid the 50,000 expectations they had.  5.7 million records were indexed.  Hurrah for arbitration and indexing!  I enjoy arbitrating obituaries.  It's in my gene's!  Ha!!   I was taught by my Nalder Grandparent's the importance of keeping a record of "our dead".  Because of them I enjoy doing the family history volunteering for my posterity.  This is the badge I earned yesterday!

I just had to borrow these two photo's from the Hill Cumorah Pageant site.  The sons of Helaman  make quick work of taking down the stage at the hill.  The pageant is completed for this year.

I think you have to be an acrobat to qualify for this job!  The 30 crew members came and did baptisms again on Tuesday.  They were so tired some of them fell asleep awaiting their turn.  They all finish up on Friday.  Blessings to each of them as they return to their homes.  They are cleaning up the hill and putting it back to sleep till next years drama.  The hill certainly was alive for the two weeks of pageant!

The cabin below was once owned by my Bampa & Nana Nalder.  They were "Funeral Director's" in Shelley, Idaho.  They enjoyed resting in Island Park when they could get away from Shelley.

My daughter Heather and her family were,  in my growing up stomping grounds, vacationing this past weekend.  Heather took the time to drive to my Grandfathers cabin in Island Park, Idaho.  The current owners let her take pictures on their property.  This is Luke walking the path to the front door of the former "Nalder's Pine Haven" where I really healed, from my first parents divorce, in my teenage years because of the kindness of our Nana & Bampa.

 This is Heather and her children on the entry drive.  I was so excited that she was able to follow our directions and find the cabin!

 My siblings and cousins  & I spent many fun summers wading in this pond and enjoying the scenery.  Art and I took our children there many times and they too enjoyed this cold Moose Creek Stream.  I loved seeing that my Grandchildren walked on this bridge.

My most favorite picture is our Hansen Grandchildren swinging on the swing that Bampa gave Nana as a gift one summer.  I have an awesome picture of my mother Sharlene and Nana swinging together on this swing in the late 1960's.  Of course I don't have a copy with me on my mission so can't include it here.  But thought some of my cousins might enjoy these photo's of way back when!

Then I decided to include "The Cindy Tree",  just because I always watched for this tree, as a child, when we would drive as a family to Island Park.  My Dad pointed it out one day and pulled over to the side of the highway and christened it "The Cindy Tree" for our baby sister Cindy.  We never dreamed our daddy would leave us before Cindy's fourth birthday.  He passed away at age 41 of a heart attack, leaving my "new" mother with 5 children to raise as a widow.  That tree has been a landmark for us since.   It is still by the highway,  just before the Big Springs turn off that winds around to the cabin road.  My Dad informed us that the double top of the tree stood for He and our Mother Sharlene...equal and yet separately strong forming one tree trunk with all their children in the branches.  Cindy was, the his & her, child that made us a whole family.  Now that is my "Genealogy" story for today!   Thank you Heather for taking the time to look up a bit of your own roots on your visit to Idaho and Wyoming.    

There are pine trees here in Palmyra, but they are much fuller than the Lodgepole Pines of Island Park area....still it is my habit to look for a double topped pine tree whenever I am in a pine tree forest.  I expect to see a lodgepole home built just for my sister's enjoyment when we move to the "great beyond" and are reunited with our parents and our Nana & Bampa. I'm sure it will have marble floors! This tree reminds me of the steeple of a temple....where Moroni majestically stands.  "Families can be Together Forever.....", never, never give up that hope and understanding even when this earth life is full of ruts and crevasses.  You are the person responsible for your attitude....be strong like the lodgepole pine, strengthen your roots where ever you've been planted.  Learn how to index and arbitrate,  then you can have a badge like I have HA!

I have my new crown on my #28th tooth.  As we went to Phelps, New York to Dr. Woodworth's office we would pass this cute statue.  It was always raining and the umbrella was keeping these two dry.  Monday the sun was shining so I requested Elder Bushman stop and let me take this picture.  I wonder what the story of its creation is.  Does anyone know how this statue came to be at the entrance to the Village of Phelps?

The week has been very peaceful and good serving in the temple.  Saturday we are getting up early and heading to the St. Lawrence Seaway to visit the 1000 islands.  So till then adieu to each of you.

THANK'S TODD AND ALLYSON FOR VISITING US

Another new film was shown in the temple this week.  Will we ever move beyond movies and live acting?  I love the way The Lord teaches through parables, and yes, I know I am a slow learner.

This song was written by Marie Manwaring Anderson of Shelley, Idaho in 1948.  I first heard it sung when I was about 12 years old.  I got to go to the temple to do baptisms after hearing this song around 1958.  I can't put into words the love I had for this song and its teachings.  I have been so blessed in my life because of Sister Anderson and this beautiful song she wrote.  I remember a copy of this exact sheet music that was kept in the bench of my mothers organ.  Some things take a lifetime to appreciate the significance of events.  I was not blessed to have musical talent in this life.   My life has been blessed because of, this talent Sister Anderson produced, "The Temple By The River".   

Today, Thursday July 17, 2014 I was blessed to be with our second son, Todd, and his family as we walked the temple grounds of the Palmyra Temple.  This is a picture of Todd, Allyson, Tanner and Elizabeth.

 Our little actress Elizabeth is a delight to be around.

ta da!

We went to Lake Ontario this afternoon and played in the water.

Our group at the Moroni Monument on the Hill Cumorah.

 Alvin Smith grave

 The climbing tree by Alvin's grave.

 Oh to be young and agile.

Allyson & I took Elizabeth to the Hill Cumorah Pagent again because Elizabeth was so excited at the production she witnessed last evening.  She begged to go again tonight.  Elizabeth wants to see the trumpets again!  I admire her enthusiasm to watch these live action scenes.

We went to Canada to Niagara Falls...to the Canadian side.

This is Tanner & Elizabeth on the Canadian side of the Falls!

 We rode on the Hornblower Cruise ship and got very, very close to the falls and got very, very wet!

The final evening for us to watch the play!  We almost lost the binoculars, Tanner fell asleep before it was over & Elizabeth is begging to see it again on Saturday night, the last production for the year!  The Hill Cumorah was a success in this family vacation!

We drove to the Peter Whitmer farm.  The Scouts were selling hot dogs and chips and drinks and cookies outside so we all had a little snack at 10:30 AM!  I took this great picture of Grandpa Art with the Artwork of the Savior by Christopher Young.

This is Miriam Works Young's headstone.  She was the first wife of Brigham Young.  She was born June 7, 1806 and died Sept. 8, 1832 in Mendon New York.  She and Brigham had two little girls when she died and left him a widower.

Todd read about chairs made by Brigham Young at Valentown Museum.  There were pots made by Heber C. Kimball also.  The museum had a sign that it is only open on Sunday, but there was a event going on today next to the building so it was open for us to tour.  We were excited to see the tools etc. that once belonged to the prophet Brigham Young.

We all rode in our car for all these events and Todd and family sat together lovingly in the back seat.  We sure enjoyed all our site visits with Todd reading us about each place as we located it.
 

Heber C. Kimball's home in Mendon, New York.  Our Todd is a sleuth...he found tons of homes from the former church members.  He found graves in the Palmyra Cemetery that we did not know were there (Winston Churchill's great-grandparents Ambrose and Clarissa Wilcox Hall, Egbert B. Grandin (publisher of Book of Mormon), Pomeroy Tucker (shop foreman), George Beckwith (Presbyterian pastor of Lucy, Hyrum and Samuel who directed them to be silent about the Book of Mormon), Deacon Henry Jessup (who tried to convince them to renounce the Book of Mormon and come back to Church), John Hurlburd Gilbert (typesetter of the first edition), Pliny Titus Sexton (who owned printer's proof sheets, the Smith press and the northern end of the Hill Cumorah, and Exchange Row including E.B. Grandin Bookstore and Printing Shop), Thomas Lakey who purchased 151 acres from Martin Harris for $3,000 that paid for the 5,000 Book of Mormons), Jesse Townsend (a Reverend thought to have preached a sermon that led Joseph to read James 1:5), Lucy Harris (wife of Martin Harris and 11 of her relatives).  His children love to go in the cemetery's and hunt for graves with him.  They were very successful on their excursions here.  So fun to be with them on a historical adventure...they were so prepared to teach us.

The eight witnesses with Joseph, pointed to by my three witnesses!

 Oh!  Grandma is teaching my poke pet where the footpath is.

The Moroni Monument at the top of the Hill Cumorah.

We, Tanner & Elizabeth love the good stories in the Book of Mormon.  Elizabeth is worried that the good characters in the play will slip and fall tonight because it rained all day...maybe the bad characters will fall instead...oooo.

This is the corner of the Clark Chase farm where Joseph Smith found The Seer stone...As I looked through the trees I can see the auto shop by The Palmyra Inn...the chase is on...run run!

We also found Calvin Stoddard's grave (Sophronia's husband) in Carpenter Cemetery.  Nathan Harris home, he saw the 116 pages (was one of the 5 the Lord told Martin he could show it too).  Lucy Harris home where she moved after Martin left to go to Kirtland.  Lemuel Durfee Sr. Home, he is the man that rented Joseph Smith Sr. the frame house back to them when the landlord died and the new land agent sold it to Russell Stoddard (saw his home too, he was also hired as carpenter to finish the frame house when Alvin died) who tried to move the Smiths off the property.  The site of the Rockwell home (Porter's childhood home), as well as the William Stafford home (the road the Smith farm and Sacred Grove are on are named after him, and his children attended school with the Smith children). Dr. Alexander Mcintyre home, he is the dr. that was out of town when Alvin got sick. Two days later he showed up and tried to help Alvin get some relief from the overdose of calomel that eventually killed him.  Dr. Mcintyre refused to help/lead the band of men who tried to steal the gold plates.  He also warned Joseph of a mob that was coming to harm him.  We saw the Hathaway Brook that is the site of the early baptisms.  We saw the Stafford Schoolhouse where Oliver Cowdery taught (both the original site that has the school district markings on the building and the original building that was moved down the street). Finally it is 9:00 PM on Saturday and the Hill Cumorah play will begin in 15 minutes and the rain is being held at bay as the final play goes on.  Hurrah for Israel!

Thank's Todd and Allyson for the visit and safe travels back to Texas.  We are blessed grandparents to have 5 grandchildren to share in visiting this site while we have been here.