Another trip to the land of 10,000 lakes.

Minneapolis

This week was a different sort of week for us.  We served in Nauvoo for part of the week and were out of town for the other part.  It’s always a change when we leave the Nauvoo/Missionary bubble that we live in every day.  And there’s definitely a certain feeling when we return.  The sense of a covenant community and cornerstone of Zion is real in Nauvoo.

We served in our regular responsibilities on Monday and half of Tuesday, and then drove to Minnesota to see about getting Scott’s hearing aids fixed.  It’s a six- hour drive to Eden Prairie, outside of Minneapolis, where the Starkey hearing aid headquarters is located.  Scott and I made this same trip last year in December so it was a familiar drive.  We spent two days with the people at Starkey who were so kind and helpful to Scott.  And I’m happy to report that the hearing aids are working well :0)  When we were finished there we spent a bit of time in Minneapolis itself.  We went to the Mill City Museum and the state capitol building in St. Paul.  Both extremely interesting places.  I learned a lot about the flour milling industry in Minneapolis as well as Minnesota history.  The capitol building is amazingly beautiful with its dome of white Georgia marble, colored marble columns inside, granite and limestone tiled floor and classical architecture. On our way home we went by way of Des Moines, Iowa and, of course, had to make a stop at the state capitol building there as well.  That building was beautiful in its own right.  We took a tour, which was interesting, and climbed the stairs to the base of the dome.  Now that was a different perspective! It was a lot of fun though! 

This week I was reading in 1 Nephi 14:14 and have thought a lot about the phrase, "Power of the Lamb of God". Take a minute to read that verse.  What is the power of God and what does it really have to do with the covenants we make at baptism and in the holy temple? How do we obtain it and how can we use it to bless others? Just some food for thought.

At the Starkey Center for Excellence with Ray, our hearing aid hero :0)

Minneapolis and the Mississippi River.

There were 25 flour mills in Minneapolis during WWI
and the city became the "Flour Milling Capital of the World".
Minneapolis is the home of Gold Medal Flour, Pillsbury and General Mills.

Minnesota State Capitol - St. Paul

There were beautiful marble columns and amazing murals.

The stone inlaid floor.

Marble balusters

The dome of the capitol.

The Iowa State Capitol - Des Moines

The 23 carat gold leafed dome.

Inside the Law Library.

14 foot high tiled mosaics - totally amazing!

At the base of the gold dome.

Like a kid in a candy store...Scott sitting at the Iowa Governor's desk.

Fall, so amazing!

What a beautiful time to be in Nauvoo!  Fall is amazing.  I love the varied colors.  Unfortunately there was a small winter storm that knocked a lot of leaves off of the trees so things are beginning to look a little barren.  But that's ok.  There are still plenty of beautiful colors.  

This week I've had a bit of time to do some more studying.  I have thought a lot about my relationship with the Savior, what I know about him and how I feel about him.  Among other things, I listened to an MTC devotional from a couple of years ago.  Elder David A. Bednar discussed Alma 26:11 - 13...where Ammon talked about the thousands of Lamanites which were brought to a knowledge of the truth and "they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us." He asked, "What is the power of the word? And how do we have that power in us?"  In essence he taught that "the word to be planted in our hearts is the life, mission, and doctrine of Jesus Christ" and it can spring up in us unto everlasting life.

"Is The Word, the Lord, increasingly in us? Are we gradually coming unto, and becoming more like the Savior? Is the tree of Christ growing in us?"  When a spiritual knowledge and understanding penetrate deep into our own souls we are blessed to have the power of his word in us and come to know The Word, the Savior.  We need to diligently plant within our hearts, and in our minds, the fundamental doctrine and principles of the restored gospel.  When we pay the price to know The Word, and have the power of The Word in us, we will receive his image in our countenances.  What a blessing!

I had another experience this morning that added upon my testimony of answered prayers.  My Sunday morning prayer was pretty simple, I just asked my Heavenly Father if I could feel. Feel his love. Feel the spirit testify of truth. That was it.  Very basic.  I went downstairs to do my morning scripture study.  I’m reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and am in 1 Nephi chapter 11 where Nephi is describing how the angel is helping him understand his father Lehi's dream.  The seventh verse I read was this…

1 Nephi 11:22...

…Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. V. 23…the most joyous to the soul.

Spanish: derrama ampliamente = sheddeth itself abroad.  

                  derrama ampliamente = spills widely…washes over me.

I could feel His love and I immediately thought of the song written by Elder Faust…

"This is the Christ"

Lyrics written by President James E. Faust.

They heard His voice, a voice so mild;

It pierced them through and made their souls to quake;

They saw Him come, a man in white,

The Savior who had suffered for their sake.

They felt the wounds in hands and side,

And each could testify; This is the Christ;

This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,

Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.

This is the Christ, the healer of our souls

Who ransomed us with love divine.

I read His words, the words He prayed

While bearing sorrow in Gethsemane;

I feel His love, the price He paid.

How many drops of blood were spilled for me?

With saints of old in joyful cry

I too can testify; This is the Christ;

This is the Christ, the holy Son of God,

Our Savior, Lord, Redeemer of mankind.

This is the Christ, the healer of our souls

Who ransomed us with purest love divine!

I obviously haven’t had the same experiences that Elder Faust has had, but I can use his words, I too can testify that This is The Christ.  I read his words (the Book of Mormon), the words he prayed (3Nephi 17). The words he prayed while bearing sorrow (my sorrow) in Gethsemane. I feel His love, the price He paid.

I know that God and Christ know us and love us.  They know what we need.  They answer our prayers. My heart is full of gratitude for this knowledge.

Enjoy the pictures from this week.

Along "Morman Rd." north of Nauvoo.

At Ralston Park in Warsaw.  This week was even more beautiful than last week!

Then a little snowstorm blew through :0)

On the corner of Main & Munson.

Browning Gun

I love the colors of the drying cornfields.

Scott was serving in the Print Shop when these folks walked in,
Troy & Bessie Wakefield and Mary & Matt Russons.  After a game
of "20 Questions" they finally figured out how they knew Scott. 
They all were neighbors of our new daughter-in-law Shannon Jensen
and recognized Scott from the wedding day.  Super small world!