Statute of Liberty
On Monday, October 6, 2014, we were able to visit Ellis Island and the Statute of Liberty with the CES missionaries. For this excursion we did not leave our mission boundaries. Yes, the Statute of Liberty is in New Jersey!
From 1892 to 1924, Ellis Island was America's largest and most active immigration station, where over 12 million immigrants were processed. On average, the inspection process took approximately 3-7 hours. For the vast majority of immigrants, Ellis Island truly was an "Island of Hope" - the first stop on their way to new opportunities and experiences in America. (copied from nps.gov)
In this mission, some of the young sister missionaries get the opportunity to work on Ellis Island. They provide service by volunteering in the American Family Immigration Center. Here they help visitors find their ancestors that came into the country through Ellis Island.
Next stop was the Statute of Liberty. We visited the museum there, and climbed the 215 steps up to the pedestal, then had lunch.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. The Statue of Liberty was dedicated on October 28, 1886.
Elder and Sister Hancock on the pedestal of the Statute of Liberty with the Manhattan skyline in the background.
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| Lunch just under Lady Liberty |
Before leaving Liberty State Park, Brother Bean and Shaz (our CES Director and his secretary) led us over to the "Empty Sky" New Jersey September 11th Memorial. This was a memorial for those from NJ that lost their lives that day.
I noticed that when President and Sister Jeppson were here, that they would post pictures of leaving missionaries from this same location. I took this picture and it looks as if these CES missionaries are a group of superheroes with some outside help.
50th World's Fair Anniversary
On Sunday, October 12th, there was a special Fireside celebrating the anniversary of the World's Fair. Elder Perry was the keynote speaker and it was a local broadcast originating from the Lincoln Square Church building in Manhattan. When Elder Perry arrived in New York many years ago his first thoughts were "How can anyone love New York?" (Our thoughts exactly.) Now, he loves opportunities to return. He lived here in 1964 and served on the World's Fair committee. He has fond memories working in the Mormon Pavilion. Elder Perry said the World’s Fair significantly helped the Church’s interfaith efforts.
Elder Perry still encourages us and all faiths to come together and set aside our differences. He asked us all to become acquainted with the website FaithCounts.net and share pictures and messages from there that we like. This website is comprised of many faiths sharing messages of faith.
Fall Farms and Beautiful Countryside
Yesterday the senior missionaries went together to enjoy the fall colors before they are gone. We visited two farms in north central Jersey: Riamede Farm and Hacklebarney Farm in Chester, NJ. We were about 30 miles west of New York City. We also visited some once beautiful gardens of the Cross Family Estate. This mansion and gardens are in Bernardsville which is along the headwaters of the Passaic River. This estate goes back to the early years of this century when wealthy people built grand country mansions as summer retreats. It was a great setting for taking pictures.
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| The "fun ones" ready for our outing |
Elder Hancock peeking through the old wisteria vines.
We felt like we were on a photo shoot!
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Water Tower that looks like a Rapunzel tower.   |
As we traveled around this area, we stopped from time to time to take pictures of the beautiful trees all around with their vibrant colors. This was the perfect fall activity!
Elizabeth's Primary Program/ Linger Longer
On Sunday, October 19th we attended the Elizabeth Spanish Ward to help out with their Primary program. Every time we have attended the ward, Sister Hancock has been attending Primary as they are preparing for their program. The Elizabeth Spanish Ward and the Elizabeth English Branch have their separate sacrament meetings, and separate Relief Society and Priesthood, but they combine their Primary and youth programs. They do not have any piano players here. The ward depends on missionaries to play the piano. Some are better than others. If there is not someone to play the piano, they sing without accompaniment. Some of the pianos have a "player function" but we haven't seen them use that in this ward.
The Primary started practicing weeks ago for the presentation. The program was written to be very simple. The children though have a really hard time sitting still and cooperating and last month they only knew half the songs.
They had to read the words of the songs during practice.
Today when we arrived, they let the senior Primary sit in the choir seats and there was a roped off section on the side by the piano for the junior Primary. The teachers do not sit with their classes, so Elder Hancock and I sat with the junior Primary. They were all dressed in white, black, or blue.
We were pleasantly surprised that the junior Primary was very reverent and throughout the program they ALL were well behaved and reverent and said their parts and sang the songs perfectly. I played the piano for them and was so proud of them. The spirit was strong! It was one of the best Primary programs that I've attended.
After sacrament meeting, Elder Hancock substitute taught the YSA Sunday School class. He just gave part of the lesson that he had been teaching in Institute class all week. None of our regular Institute attendees were in the class, so that worked out perfectly.
After Sunday School, a Primary class was missing their teacher, so Elder Hancock volunteered me. I wish I had counted the children. There was about 12-20, but they were all wound up and wild. The ages went from 5 to 9! I, thankfully, received another helper, but honestly, the only thing that went well was letting them color. It was crazy! After the program they were all given candy and it was my responsibility to watch them until it was their turn to go have some cupcakes. Yes. . . more sugar.
They do eat a lot in the meetings out here.
After the block we had a linger longer for the young single adults. The purpose of having linger longers is to possibly meet young single adults and invite them to join Institute. We have been talking about not having more linger longers in Elizabeth because we felt like we knew all the YSA's now and there was not any new prospects. Well, today, turned out to be a successful linger longer. We met two young men for the first time and the Elders are working with a YSA that wants to get baptized. We were very pleased. Here is a picture of the group today (minus two that left before the picture was taken.) Two of our regulars were not at church today. It looks like the Elizabeth Institute will finally start growing!
Institute class.....
This week's lesson had several important points to it. It covered D&C 20 to 22. I would like to mention a few of these points that help us grow in testimony.
In D&C 20:17-18 we read: "By these [three] things we know that there is a God in heaven..."
The three things are demarked by the word "Amen" in the preceding verses. (see last word in verses 4, 12, and 16.)
20:1-4 point out that God formed the church on April 6, 1830. And that He called a prophet and ordained him and Oliver Cowdery as Apostles (special witnesses of Jesus Christ).
20:5-12 point out that God sent an angel (Moroni) who gave Joseph Smith commandments that inspired him. And gave him power from God to translate the Book of Mormon using the Urim and Thummim which had been prepared by God for such a purpose. And that the Book of Mormon contains the record of a fallen people (as warnings and teachings to all) as well as the gospel of Jesus Christ. That it is confirmed to others (the 3 witnesses) by angels who witness to the world of the truth. These events and the book itself "prove" to the world that the scriptures are true and that God calls men to his work today as in times of old.
20:13-16 point out that all of these things will be used to judge the world. Those who believe and accept will have the promise of Eternal Life. Those who harden their hearts because of unbelief will be condemned by the same things.
Then a different topic is taught in 20:20... "But by the transgression of these [seven] holy laws man became sensual and devilish, and became fallen man." This state is called spiritual death. The seven holy laws are contained in verses 19 and 25 and are:
"And gave unto them commandments that they should [1] love and [2] serve him, the [3] only living and true God, and that he should be the [4] only being whom they should worship."
"That as many as would [5] believe and be [6] baptized in his holy name, and [7] endure in faith to the end, should be saved—"
A third topic to mention is found in D&C 21:1-4.
"BEHOLD, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith..."
"Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith."
Here the Lord is making clear that He has established a prophet, given him power, commandments, and through him established the church. And the people should give heed to his words and commandments as if from God's own mouth.
We need all of these teachings and principles in our lives. It is clear to us that we are in the last days of the last days. True, no one knows when the Lord will return. But we know that he will return and when he does, all of mankind will know it. These verses above counsel us to prepare by study and application of the teachings of the prophets in the Book of Mormon and directly from current prophets and apostles. I sincerely hope and encourage you all to heed these counsels.
Love,
Dad/Reed
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