Covid-19? ??????? What's Next

There is really not much to write about this week.  We have been in our apartment with a daily walk once or twice a day. We woke up to snow storms and white ground n Thursday and Saturday.  It melted off by the afternoon, but it has been a colder week.  I guess this is a Utah Spring.

Utah Spring? Looking west to the Garden Apartments behind our West Temple Apartment

March 30, 2020.  Beautiful flowers

South side of the Tabernacle.

It was our son in law, Jacob Mayhew, 45th birthday Thursday.  Wow how time marches on.  Today is Bob's Mom and Dad's 70th anniversary.  Blayne is celebrating on the other side of the veil and Evelyn celebrates on this side of the veil.  We are grateful that she has Warren Steffey to help her through these golden years and we are so grateful for Heidi and Wynn, and Heather and Jacobs help with them as we are away.

The construction goes on at the temple and we have enjoyed spending a bit of time watching. That is going forward full speed. The flowers are beautiful and the streets and Temple Square are totally empty. It is kind of spooky.

Empty Streets of SLC

East Side of the Temple March 30, 2020

Loading the back hoe onto the flat bed.  The Cedar of Lebanon in the background.

We have had Zoom devotionals and Sunday School in our apartments and it is very interesting how great it is to see our zone peoples faces.  It is funny how we have missed seeing them.

The Spring Flowers are exquisite! 

We joined with many of you in the world wide fast and continue to pray for this virus to come to a conclusion and for the sick and for the leaders of the countries to turn to our Savior.  We also pray that the economy and many who are out of work will recover and be able to weather the storm. We look for the blessings through all of this.  Our grandson, Joshua Barton is staying on his mission in Dallas Spanish Speaking, but they are also confined to their apartment and doing their contacts by phone and social media.  I love reading his daily scripture and posts.  We stay put for now and wait for more direction from our leaders and from the Lord.  We do have more time to clean up our family trees and to add pictures and audio to the memories in Family Search.  We continue to learn new things, mostly by playing around and trying new things on the computer.  It is amazing that it works.

Shakin with the Virus

This has definitely been an interesting week.  We have been in social isolation with all the buildings closed and missionaries asked to stay in their apartments and work from home.  We have been working on our own history, indexing, and Family Search.  We have worked one on one with a few missionaries to teach them indexing and reverse indexing.  So many things change day to day we just wait for the next direction.  I have to say we are not nervous about the virus.  The thing that shook us up this past week was the earthquake that literally shook us awake and continues to make our hearts skip a beat as the aftershocks hit.  The earthquake was Wednesday morning at 7:09 AM.  Bob's first thought was what was I doing shaking the bed so much?  I knew immediately and yelled "earthquake" It was an experience, and for that entire day we were on pins and needles as there were over 100 after shocks registered.  We have only felt 3 that registered 3.8-4.0.  The others were so small we didn't notice them.  We have been going for walks everyday just to get some fresh air.  We walked over to the temple to see what was happening there and then found the Angel Moroni's trumpet wedged below on the first tier.  It does not show up in the pictures but you could see the sun glistening off it.  They pulled all the workers off the job and they did not go back till Monday the 23.  There was also a chunk of granite that had fallen to the ground from off one of the spires.

Angel Moroni without his trumpet.  He still stands despite the swaying and shaking!

Notice the missing stone on the lower right.  It hit the ground with great force!

After the Earthquake March 18 2020

 When we walked over yesterday the construction goes on with full force.  The flowers around the square are so beautiful and the weather has been so nice.  We have had a lot of rain in the valley and lots of snow in the mountains, so it has been perfect for the flowers.  It is too bad most people will only see them in pictures and pictures do not do justice for them.

West side of the temple

West side of the temple construction.

South Wall coming down.  Where the south Visitors center used to be.

The work goes on.  We cannot get shots from above now as the buildings are closed.

Salt Lake is like a ghost town.  Few people on the streets, few cars, and all the stores and malls closed.  It is a little concerning with the economy but we have to have faith that the Lord knows what is happening and it is all part of His grand design.  There have been quite a few of our missionaries go home, especially those who were within two months of going home and those with health issues.  The hardest part of this is not being able to see the people we work with.

This is the way we watch Music and the Spoken Word now.

Sunday we did Sunday School by way of a Zoom meeting.  It was good to see so many of the training zone people and be able to share insights into Come Follow Me.

Just some of the beautiful flowers

LDS church across from the State Capital.  Very unique and colorful roof and brick.

Another unique LDS church building.  19th Ward built in 1890. 5th North about 150 West.  It is now an acting school.

More beautiful Spring flowers

We pray for the missionaries that are returning home from all over the world, and their families.  Our grandson, Joshua Barton, is serving in Dallas Texas Spanish speaking.  He has been there for one month and at this point they are keeping their missionaries and staying in there apartments and doing online proselyting.   We carry on and pray for all our loved ones.

Coronavirus or Covid 19? What a mess!

I think we have all been blown away by how fast and how quickly things change minute to minute.  The week started out vey normal.  We had our weekly mission devotional where the choir sang.  Every quarter We have a catered dinner and this one was held on the 26th floor of the Church Office Building.  We had a lovely buffet of Chinese food and the largest choice of desserts I have ever seen.  I chose the carrot cake which was out of this world.  After dinner we met at the Assembly Hall for a special devotional on the first vision done by President Fenn, our mission president.  Our Choir, the Ensign Choir sang again.  It was a very good as he talked about the different versions of the first vision.  I did not realize that the first written account of the first vision was not written for 12 years after the vision. The differences are really insignificant and taken all together actually gives us more clear understanding of the vision.  I don't understand how that shakes the faith of many in the church.  Not me.

Our missionaries from the balcony of the Assembly Hall March 9, 2020

President Jerry Fenn teaching us about the first vision.

Looking South from the 26th floor of the Church Office Building March 9, 2020.

Tuesday and Wednesday found us doing Capstone.  We have 17 couples getting ready to go home.  We are feeling more comfortable with our new assignment and it looks like we will be taking over for  April instead of May.  Tuesday night our Relief Society went to the Humanitarian Center and had a tour and then worked on quilts.  It is amazing what the church does.  I was surprised to learn that about 90 percent of the ones who work there are refugees and not members of the church.  They are given lunch, job training, and English lessons and helped to find jobs.  I am so grateful to be a small part of the Lords work.

Touring the Humanitarian Center. March 10, 2020.   Notice the flags from all the countries they serve.

This board showed all the employees placed in jobs.  Most were from the Congo.

Debra and Sandy Briggs happily tying a quilt.

I have been battling sty's in my right eye.  I have a third one forming in the last 3 months and none of them have completely cleared up.  I ended up going to an ophthalmologist who prescribed an antibiotic and told me to be very diligent with the moist hot packs. I have done so and with prayer and treatment I am hoping to get through this mess.  After our appointment we returned to Capstone for the final day for this group.  Near the end of the class we got information that Conference was canceled.  When President Nelson said this conference would be like none other and to prepare ourselves for a very special conference.  This will definitely be a unique conference.  Soon we learned all special events on temple square are cancelled as well as Music and The Spoken Word.  I just can't believe how fast things are changing.  Our tickets to Noteworthy, Synthesis, Tabernacle Choral Spring concert, Messiah, and everything else are not to be.  BYU and UVU classes are all suspended and will be done online.  Brenan, our BYU grandson, left today to go home to Mesa.  Alea, our granddaughter at UVU is staying here to continue her job at Kohl's.  Like idiots we went to Costco for gas and a few things.  There were so many people with little on the shelves.  They actually had employees directing traffic in the parking lot.  What were we thinking.

Friday we went to the Timpanogos Temple with our Training Zone missionaries.  We had 8 there and the session was quite full. We then joined our good friends Bob and DeeAnn Buchanan in their beautiful home in Alpine.  She made us a delicious lunch and we had great fun walking down memory lane in the Philippines.  We went through pictures and relived some great times.  It never fails to amaze me how a picture brings back such amazing memories.  Just a challenge to everyone to write your story.

Our dear friends DeeAnn and Bob Buchanan March 13, 2020

As we drove home in a freak snowstorm, Buchanan's called with the announcement that all the temples worldwide were closing except for special appointments for living ordinances.  We were so grateful we went for one last time for who knows how long.  Friday night we had a game night with the Briggs.  So fun.

Saturday we got an email that we would be going into the office on Monday if we choose to and then today we heard that the Joseph Smith Memorial Building will be closed for now.  Family History Library is closed and the Church Library and Church Museum also.  We are to work from home for the time being.  We are so grateful we have learned so much about family history because we can definitely work on it.  We will be getting together with the Inglet's, who we are replacing in Capstone, in our apartment to continue our training for Capstone.

The work on the Temple continues.  They will not stop their work!  "No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing."

South side of the temple March 11, 2020.  Notice the underground tunnel.

where the South Visitors Center used to be.

Saturday night at about 10:00 we had so many sirens going.  We got up to look and there was a 4 alarm fire going on across the street in a 3 story apartment.  They had the ladder truck and firemen on the roof cutting through with chain saws.  There was no smoke until they cut through the roof and then here came the smoke but not as much as we would expect.  We had an excellent view from our balcony, and there were many missionaries and others out in their PJs to watch the excitement.  It was going on still for an hour and a half when we finally went to bed.

Firefighters on the roof of the building across the street 10:15 PM March 14, 2020

Very colorful night.  The apartment was very dark this morning.  10:30 PM March 14, 2020

New Missionmaries, BYU, Spring Flowers, Saint George, and Las Vegas!

WHOOOOO!  This has been a whirlwind of a week!  I can hardly wait to hit the sack, but alas if I don't do the blog now it won't get done, because this upcoming week is going to be sooooo busy.  Monday March 1st was Heather and Jacobs 23rd Anniversary.  How can that be.  We also got 16 new full time missionaries into the training zone, but only 10 stayed the whole week.  Six of them were returning Hong Kong missionaries removed for the Coronavirus.  They will now be serving in our mission till they can return.  Three were put right to work with Church Legal so we really did not see them. The other three were hit and miss.  We ended up getting two into the training zone.  We also got three Service Missionaries from the week before.  One couple, LynnAnn and Paul Farnsworth, are my second cousins once removed.  Small World.  I now have met cousins from both my Moms side and my Dads side.

Lynn Ann and Paul Farnsworth, 2nd cousins once removed.

Monday night we had an amazing family home evening with Herbert Klopfer.  He serves on the church music committee, and has been very involved with the 1985 hymn book and this new one they are putting together. He told his story of escaping East Germany at 14 along with his younger brother and mother.  His father, they found out years later died in a Russian POW camp.  It is a story filled with miracles and the church has been blessed with his amazing life.  He also plays the piano every lunch hour in the cafeteria.  One of my favorite things has been listening to his playing at Christmas and everyday we are there.

Bob and Debra with Herbert Klopfer at FHE

Got a good haircut Tuesday and am grateful I found someone who knows "Dorthy Hammil" wedge haircut.  Wednesday night we went to the Tabernacle to hear the BYU Choirs and Orchastra present A Celebration of Christmas in March.  It was for the Western Division Conference of the American Choral Directors Association.  Who should we meet, but Ben Peterson, Valerie's brother in law.  He is a Choral director in the schools in Snowflake and does their community choir, which Valerie sings in.  It really is a good choir and we were able to attend one of their concerts before we came on our mission.

Ben Peterson at the Tabernacle

BYU Singers, Concert Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus, and BYU Philharmonic March 4, 2020

At the Tabernacle March 4, 2020

Thursday was temple day in Bountiful and Friday was the Honey Butter Go Forth and Serve meeting.  Bob and I left right after to drive to Saint George to spend the night with Debra's sister Sherry and Richard Jensen.  We spent the entire evening doing Family Search, scanning pictures and reminiscing about our family.  We got up early Saturday and the four of us drove to Las Vegas to meet up with Heather and family, and Heidi and families.  We were all there and after a nice breakfast at IHOP we attended Kyen Mayhews' gymnastic meet at the Bally Hotel and Casino.  She is such a talented gymnast and loves her sport.  We certainly are proud Grandparents.  Her neck was weighed down with medals and her team, Desert Devils, took 1st place again.

Desert Devils 1st Place! Kyen is far left front on the first place platform.

Back: Bob, Debra, Sherry, Richard, Brenan. Middle: Jacob, Heather, Heidi, Weston, Wynn Front: Shaylin, Kyen, Alea.  Team Kyen!!!!

Sunday we attended church with Sherry and Richard, had a delicious meal and then packed up for home.  Before leaving St. George we drove by the Temple and took some pictures.  It is also under renovations.  We also went by the cemetery where Bobs dad is buried.  A safe trip home and now here I am.

Back side of the Saint George Temple March 8, 2020

Front of the Saint George Temple March 8, 2020

Bob at his Dad's grave.  Someone had decorated it!

The work goes on at the temple and it is so fun to watch the beehive of workers doing their jobs.

Southeast doors coming down.

It is hard to tell but the huge orange backhoe is below ground level.  That is part of the foundation.  They have to go down 40 feet.

The weather has been so beautiful this week, so much so that the flowers are starting to bloom.

Flowers blooming around the Conference Center. March 4, 2020

60 degrees to Blizzard in 24 hours! Leap Year

March has certainly come in like a Lion!  Yesterday was 60 degrees and today it is a blizzard.  This is the first time we have not attended Music and the Spoken Word since we got here.  It was just too snowy and windy.  We decided to just walk in it twice going and coming back from class and church. This weather is crazy!  Today is also our daughter, Heather, and Jacobs 23rd anniversary.  Wow time has sure flown by.  Our three oldest are all celebrating their 23 years of marriage.

Walking to church in a blizzard March 1.  32 degrees!

View from our balcony March 1. 2020.  The Lion of March!

This week we had 28 service missionaries to train.  It was a good class but really hard to help that many missionaries.  Bob taught his class on Monday and the rest of the week we acted as mentors, and did one on one training. We had another couple that are second cousins to Debra.  They are the Farnsworths' and have even been assigned to the training zone so we will get to know them and work with them.   The Higginsons' were from my Dads' side and the Farnsworths' are from Moms' side.   We had another couple pulled out of Hong Kong and will have two more couples this week when the full time missionaries come in.  This coronavirus sure has things in a whirl.  Everyone here is being very cautious and aware.  We just pray it will get contained soon.

The temple demo and construction continues.  They have taken the beautiful doors on the East side of the temple down to store them and restore them.  It is so strange to see all that is going on but at the same time they are moving so fast I can hardly believe that it will take 5 years.  Windows are coming out, air conditioning units are going in......as my Dad would say it is a constant "blur of elbows"

SE side of the temple.  Crane moving air conditioning unit into the temple

This is what the new East doors look like.

The beautiful East Doors removed and being closed in.

Crane work on the South side of the temple

Thursday Bob and I attended the Bountiful Temple and did sealings.  That seems to be our go to temple as it is the closest and easiest one to get to.

Friday we had our go forth meeting and our 28 missionaries were assigned to their various zones.  After we joined the Briggs and went to the Timpanogos Temple for a session.  I love that temple and the mountain that is named for.  It feels like home.

Honey Butter Social after the Go Forth Devotional

Bob, Debra, Sandy and Dave Briggs at the Timpanogos Temple

Roots Tech has been going on this past week so there has been lots of people milling around.  Bob and I attended Saturday and met up with some of Debra's High School Friends, Glen and Marilyn Walker.  They both grew up in the same ward as Debra, the Pleasant Grove Third Ward.  It was so fun to catch up on our lives.  They are both very involved in Family History work, and serve in the Layton Family History Center.

Debra with Marilyn Judd Walker at Roots Tech

Debra and Bob at Roots Tech 2020

We listened to the Elder and Sister Stevenson of the 12 Apostles.  He talked about fortifying our homes against the powers of Satan.  He showed an amazing slide showing angels helping to keep our families safe.  Perhaps these are the people we do the work for on the other side of the veil.

I loved this photo about fortifying our homes against the power of the Adversary.

He was followed by Emmet Smith who played in the NFL for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals.  He told about finding his ancestors and their stories and how it has changed his life.  It seemed the focus of Roots Tech was writing your story for your posterity and how important it is to tell our children and grandchildren our stories to give them a foundation of who they are.  Of course we know we are all children of our Heavenly Father.

The organ in the Joseph Smith Building.  Notice the black white keys and the white black keys?  Very unique.

Saturday was a 60 degree day, so beautiful.  They have even started uncovering the flower beds around temple square.  Bob and I went for a long and steep walk to the State Capitol.  I love the old, beautiful homes around Salt Lake.

At the Utah State Capitol February 29.  60 degrees!