10 September 2017

During the week of August 28th, we had several varied experiences working in the Family History Center.  Monday is a day that the Family History Center is closed.  But we made appointments with Leslie Zeniou, director of the Staten Island FHC and with Abu Conteh, the high priest group leader in the Harlem 1st ward where we had been training temple and family history consultants for much of the summer.

Leslie brought in problems to help some of her patrons that she was not able to answer regarding Mayflower ancestry.  Abu and I worked on his family tree, and he remembered one additonal child in his parents family that was born and died prior to his own birth.  He asked for help on his family, and we determined that FamilySearch did not have records for Bo, Sierra Leone where his family was form, although there are four LDS Churches (one in English) for that city.  We reprinted all his family ordinance cards and we will try to help him with ordinances so that he can be sealed to his parents, as can his siblings who are deceased.

On Tuesday, a couple from France who were visiting a family  member and wanted more help with their research (they were here last summer), Jacques and Catherine Beckmann had problems with their FamilySearch accounts.  In calling FamilySearch, no one could seem to help us as to why Catherine's tree containing deceased persons were in private spaces and not visible to anyone else.  We think that it was because they were from France's colony Algeria which is a restricted country, but the problem was escalated up to the engineers for an answer.  Such are the types of problems we deal with occasionally,

On Wednesday, Vickie Denton and her friend visiting from Florida came into the center. We spent several hours trying to unravel a family mystery, finding lots of discrepant information where more will need to be done.  The 1910 census will probably solve the problem, but we were not able to find such a record for the family in question.

After our serving in the Manhattan Temple on Thursday, Vickie came in again and we spent more time, but were not able to make any further headway in sorting out the information on her family.  She said that she would return another time.

On Friday, Ruth Braithwaite came in with another specific problem and we were able to find records to help, as is usually the case for her.  However, we also had time to work on our own family history and prepared additional family ordinance cards for family file for descendants for ancestors for each of us.

We attended Manhattan 1st Ward meeting block on Sunday.  As in several of the meetings we have recently attended, the theme in combined Priesthood Meeting was on discipleship.  Elder Richard D. Hales talk from the most recent April General Conference and a previous talk from Elder Neal A. Maxwell provided lots upon which to ponder.

If we are diverted by letting our hearts become too set on any trivial or worldly thing, we are not practicing self-denial.  Self-denial of any appetites or actions of the natural man, when we practice it, brings great relief.  Being concerned with tomorrow, true disciples are very careful about today!

On Labor Day, September 4, Elder Ralph Young and Sister Holly Young were over the coordinating of a special day at the Manhattan Temple.  We, along with regular temple missionaries and other missionary volunteers, participated.  Along with two endowment sessions and other ordinances, we were able to participate in a sealing session where most of our family sealings were able to be completed.  Afterwards, we shared in a good light luncheon prepared by Sister Dorothy Bench, temple matron, and Sr. May, one of the temple workers.

On Tuesday, September 5th, we went to Dr. Patrick O'Leary's office with a CD of her x-rays and MRI.  Afterwards, we went to Hospital for Special Surgery where Diane had an appointment for a cat-scan of her neck and a full body x-ray.  During our service in the Family History Center, our dear friends, Rod and Roxann Barney from Salem (who are serving as temple missionaries in Washington D.C.) arrived to spend a few days to experience New York City.  On Labor Day at their temple, over 840 endowments were completed, so they were tired when they arrived.  They spend  a relaxing evening and some time on the roof of our tower, overlooking Central Park and the skyline around us.

This last week has been a wonderful one. We had the opportunity of spending four days with Rod and Roxanne Barney. The Washington DC Temple was closed for maintenance so they came down to see New York while we were here. Staying in our apartment saves them about $300.00 a night on hotel expenses so they can see more of New York.

Roxann and Rod Barney on roof of 2 Lincoln Square (our tower).

On Wednesday, while we were engaged in our activities, Rod and Roxann spent time in Central Park and some of the area around Lincoln Square.  Afterwards, we had dinner at the Sugar Factory located on Broadway, a couple of blocks away.  It is a "hangout" for families and has a pleasant atmosphere.

Children celebrating a birthday at a table next to ours at the Sugar Factory.

After our service on Thursday, we and the Barneys went Downtown to Times Square.  We attended the Broadway play "The Lion King", and thoroughly enjoyed the costuming, choreography, and the timeless message that the story line portrays.

Golden, Rod, and Roxann in Subway going to "Lion King"

Foyer of theatre where "Lion King" was playing

Elder Adams and Sr. Barney before the show

Sr. Barney, Elder Barney, and Elder Adams

On the way to the play, various dancers and other groups were "entertaining" at Times Square.  Rod was recruited to be part of the entertainment where he and other participants as well as viewers were asked to donate $$ to the entertainers who were doing acrobatic-types of moves.

Street "Entertainers" @ Times Square

Rod Barney - "The Cowboy" recruited to the group.

"What's goin' on and how did I get into this?" group

 As soon as we finished our assignment at the Family History Center, we and the Barney's took the train to 42nd Street and walked to 12th Avenue (about a mile) where we took a tour of the sights of NYC on the NYC Water Taxi.  The main sites were Battery Park, Wall Street, Brooklyn Bridge, and Statue of Liberty.  Our second stop at Wall Street in the Financial District was the end of the line, so we had about a half-hour there.  While we were waiting for the next Taxi, we visited with a couple from Florida who had stopped at NYC on their way to a Cruise planned two years ago.

They were very concerned as Hurricane Irma was bearing down on Florida, projected to go north across the state.  Their horses were in the field and that seemed to be their big concern.

On the NYC Water Taxi

Wall Street - NYC Financial District

Brooklyn Bridge - Between Manhattan and Brooklyn

Statue of Liberty

Freedom Tower - location of Twin Towers & Ground Zero

Our last stop was Battery Park and we walked to the 911 Memorial, where we  spent some quiet time in contemplation.  On the site, the Freedom Tower was built even taller than either of the Twin Towers.  From here, we ate at the Amish Market before we boarded the subway to return to Lincoln Square.  It was fun to share time with Rod and Roxann as they visited NYC.

On Saturday, the Women's Conference on Sunday and we had several visiting General Authorities. We had Sister Nelson, President Nelson's wife, Sister Gong, Sister Buckner, Sister Reynolds, and Sister Waddell. We met in the Stake Center over on 87th Street and 3rd Ave. We got there around 8:15 a.m. and I was able to get on the very front row so it was really nice.

Sisters Nelson and Sister Bench on the stand

Sister Nelson, wife of President Nelson

Sister Bench and Sister Waddell

Sister Smith bore her testimony about how the Lord wants us home. He knows our name and he knows us personally. He hears and answers our prayers. She encouraged us to strengthen our relationship with the Savior through the Book Of Mormon.

Sister Bench shared her experience of when President Uchtdorf came into the baptistry when she was cleaning up and getting it ready for the next session. He said to her what a joyful work she was involved in. The temple brings joy to all who come.

Sister Waddell quoted the statement "Don't worry about the tings you cannot change." Over time the church has gone through good times and bad times and it still is going. If we live in such a way that we can have His spirit with us, we can live in peace and confidence in times of trouble. The Book of Mormon teaches us to remain faithful to the Savior because he can do anything to make all experiences in life work out for our best good. Keep doing all that we can do, and we will see the hand of God in all things.

Sister Gong  has been traveling the world teaching the various wards and branches how to work in counsels. She talked how difficult it was for the people in Cambodia because men to do not work with women so it is a new concept that they are going to have to get use to.

She shared an experience about a home teacher that was called to work with a companion that was not active. He would go over to this man's home every month and invite him to go with him and each time he would say that he did not do home teaching. On month the family was having problems and when he went to get him companion, he told him that the family was having problems. His companion finally said, "I guess if I am suppose to be responsible for them, I better get to know them and he went home teaching with him." That was the beginning of he and his family returning back to activity in the church.

Sister Nelson had us write our own psalm so that we could experience what spirit comes with writing them. This is the one that I wrote:

My First Psalm

Praise ye the Lord

For he hath given me life.

He hath given me my husband and my family

The Lord is my friend, my hope, and my Savior

I will follow him and give all my glory to him.

Sister Nelson stated that the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to be with you.

Unsolved trauma blocks the Spirit. She was encouraging us to withhold judgments and shared a story of a man that was faithful in paying his tithing and would pay a generous one. The bishop thought that he must be very well to do by the amount he paid. One day the bishop happened to make a comment regarding his wealth but the man told him that he did not make that much money, he was only paying on what he would like to make. A few years later he finally made it.

She also told us that she was at one of her meetings, they took a survey of 100 children to see how many tribes of Isarel were represented and at one point, all tribes were there. Children between the ages of 19-26 years are the ones that are saying that "we do not have time."

The afternoon schedule was the New York New York North Mission Conference, and the main message of President and Sister Nelson, Elder and Sister Gong, Elder and Sister Waddell was that the missionaries are gathering Israel, and are looking for the elect.  Those who have already accepted the gospel are very anxious for the missionaries to find their posterity so that they will be able to receive the ordinances of the temple to continue in their progression.  So it is totally appropriate to pray to have angels surround us in our service.

Senior Missionaries in the New York New York North Mission - Most women were missing due to the women's conference in the morning and they could not get back in time. (Front row l-r: Sister Buckner, Elder David Buckner, Elder Gong, Sister Gong, Sr. Wendy W. Nelson, Pres. Russell M. Nelson, Elder Waddell, Sr. Waddell, Sr. Rebecca Smith,  Pres. David Smith (NYNYN Mission), Sr. Coleman; Back row l-r: Pres. Gonzalez (NYNYN Mission 2nd Counselor), Sr. Richards, Elder Richards,  Pres. and Sr. Potter (NYNYN Mission 2nd Counselor),  Sr. and Elder Tyrell,  Elder Honeycutt, Elder Miles, Elder Coleman, Elder Hanson, Elder Adams, Elder Young (Mission Nurse).

 President and Sister Nelson were the speakers at the first Stake Conference of New York New York Singles Stake on Sunday (today).  They admonished the singles to prepare for marriage, even though it may not occur while they are in this life.  Great blessings are in store for them.  One impressive comment was that in the older generation of which Pres. Nelson is one, the lineage was of Joseph (in his case Ephraim).  Now in the younger generation, all of the twelve tribes are being represented and he introduced Patriarch and Sister Bushman.  He wrote the book "Joseph Smith: Rough Stone Rolling".  President Nelson encouraged those who had Patriarchal Blessings to read them often, and for those who did not have they yet, to get with their Bishops for a recommend to receive theirs.

We had our first training in Manhattan 1st Ward with the Temple and Family History Consultants, the Ramey's.  We will have the opportunity to prepare their experiences on "Helping Others to Love Family History" as they continue to fulfill their callings.  Along with Inwood 1st Ward, they are leading the stake in number of members actively involved in Family History.