Reynolds from Ammon (Lynda)

On Thursday the Reynolds from Ammon came to the fort. It was great to see Kathy and Gary. They were able to catch us up on news from Ammon and our old ward. Kathy was sooooo kind, she even came over to the Twig and gave me some pointers on playing the Organ. We sure love seeing people from home.

Snow Geese (Mike)

Yesterday, we went to Delta, about seventy miles north of here, to see the snow geese and a quilt show. The ladies really enjoyed the quilt show and we found thousands of snow geese which stop at Delta on their migratory path.
The work here at the fort has been going great with quite a few tours and people wanting to learn about the church. We checked the stats and found that our winter missionaries this year are way ahead of previous missionaries as far as referrals go. So we feel that we must be doing something right.... it's nice to know. We will soon be getting our new missionaries that will be coming for the summer. We have met some of them, and I think they will do well

Listening to the Still Small Voice

Yesterday I was called over from the office to take a tour It was a couple from Wyoming. As I greeted them they said that they had been here before and just wanted to walk around. So I walked with them, as we have to have a guide when they go into the Fort. Anyway, they were talking about their Visiting Teachers, Home Teachers etc. I assumed that they were members of the Church. I kept having the thought go through my mind that I needed to pre-set them. (This means to ask them to think about a Non-member that they can share a Book of Mormon or Video at the end of the tour. Well I was on the North side of the Fort and nearing the end of the tour. In the Women travelers room we did the 4 sources of light and the wife got the scriptures right away. She said that if her husband would go to church more he would have gotten it also. In the Prophet's room I was prompted to pre-set them again. So I asked if they knew someone that was not a member that would like a Book of Mormon or video. Well the husband said they about 8 copies of it because he was a member but didn't attend only about 8-10 times a year but that the wife was a Jehovahs Witness. Boy was I taken back. She told me she is not a practicing Jehovah's witness any more and that she had been disfellowshipped from them. Because of this her family had completely dis-owned her. She couldn't talk to anyone that was a Jehovah's Witness anymore. This included all her friends and family members. I told her I wanted them to become a Forever Family and would like to give them a video to help them. She said ok I would like that. I am pretty lonely. I have no friends. I go to Wal-mart and stay 4 hours just to be able to talk to someone. She said she would like to go to Church to make some friends. Well she filled out a Referral card and can't wait for the Missionaries to come see her. I'm glad that I listened to that prompting.

Surprise Visits from Friends (Lynda)

I love being in the office and having Elder Cummings walk in with friends from Shelley, or Idaho Falls or wherever.  This past week we had two show up.  Kay and Joann Gneiting and Clair and Brenda Ormond.  It was great to see them.  It was fun to catch up on their lives and their families.  The Gneitings had been to St. George seeing Michelle who just moved there recently. 

The Ormonds were headed to Shelley to a funeral.  They were very excited and were waiting for their newest (3rd) Mission call.  They are going to  Indianopollis, Indiana on a records preservation Mission.  It is a wonderful story how they got this Mission call.  I hope I share it correctly - In September, their Stake President got up at the end of their conference and said that he would be calling 6 couples on missions.  They had an overwhelming desire to go again but they didn't have all the finances to go. Wth faith they went to the Stake President and expressed their desire to serve. The Stake President told them that their Stake would be blessed because of their service and that they would finance their mission and even help them get the necessary clothing  that they might need.  They were so excited.  Heavenly Father blesses us in so many ways.We love having people stop by the Fort.

Hopefully we will have some family coming soon.  I missed the birth of our newest grandchild. Little Wil Mathew Langstaff. Michelle tells me they are coming to see us.  I need to kiss those cute little cheeks! Our grandchildren are growing up so fast.  I have been texting with Tyler and Kylee.  I found out last week that one of the names, our Bryson gave us last fall, of his friend on a Buff Card (to have the Missionaries come to their home) is now being taught by the full time Missionaries.  Way to go Bryson!!! We love all of you.  Have a great week! Got to run now.  We are giving the Priesthood/Relief Society lesson this week at the Twig (Church), Family Home Evening /Sunday School Lesson on Valentines Day, going to Bryce Canyon and Pipe Springs next week, and having a special Valentine Dinner date night on the 11th.  A busy but fun time once again at Cove Fort!

New Clock (Lynda)

As I finished my tour with Tanner on Wednesday we were in the parents room.  I told him that the rocking chair belonged to the Hinckley family and that was the only original piece of furniture in the Fort from the Hinckley family. He said for about a half an hour.  I was sooooo excited because he brought with him the Hinckley Clock.  It belonged to Angeline Hinckley and has been passed down through that family to Pres. Hinckley and then his son Elder Hinckley.  They donated it and wanted it placed in Angeline's room at Cove Fort.  So Elder Cummings, Elder and Sister Dye, Tanner and I got to do the placement.  It is very fragile and we can't touch it or wind it.  It is beautiful and such great condition. Thank you Hinckley Family for sharing your priceless treasures with us.

Visit from Missionary Department - etc.. (Lynda)

The past few weeks I have been very busy in the office.  I got a new computer around Christmas time and have had to back up all my files then transfer them to the new computer.  We had some problems with the new computer and had to send the hard drive back to SLC for them to re-write the programs we needed and then send it back.  Elder Dye learned how to take out and put back in hard drives.  I was on Prepration day when they called with the help in removing them. I was so glad, I wasn't looking forward to that part. Anyway,  my computer is now up and running.

We then got a call from the Missionary Department saying that Tanner Kay and possibly Mark LesVardy (second in command to the Missionary Dept) would be down to check out Cove Fort.  They would be cutting back on couples at Cove Fort because there is such a need for them throughout the World, and they are not getting the Senior couples applying for Missions.  They are only getting about 1/3 of the Senior couples that they need. They wanted to understand Cove Fort,  and our needs, so they knew how many couples would be best for our site. I helped Elder Dye put together the necessary information. 
Tanner showed up on Wednesday.  I was in the rotation for tours and so it was my turn to take the tour.  I was a little nervous about taking him, knowing that what I did and said on that tour reflected what the Missionaries are all about here at Cove Fort.  He is a very nice man, young, only 30 years old.  It was like taking Steve through the Fort.  We had a good time and I prayed that I would give a good tour so he would feel the Spirit of the Hinckley Family, the Missionary work that goes on here at Cove Fort and the Love that we have for Cove Fort. That day with only 8 tours, 4 of which were non-member tours,  the Missionaries got 4 white cards. (or self referrals from non-members) The cards were from, Minnesota, California, England, and Colorado.  I think Tanner saw that we really do get people from all over the World and that with the right amount of Missionaries,so we can spend time with the people, we are able to share the gospel and plant seeds so the Full time Missionaries can teach them. It was a little stressful but a great experience. 

If any of you that read our blog are in a position to serve a Senior Couple mission or know anyone that is able to do so. Please encourage them to apply.  We would love to have you come to Cove Fort, but know that the Lord can use Missionaries everywhere.  My family has been blessed because of our Mission.  I love my family and am so grateful for their love and support.

Fort Visitors (Mike)

A couple of days ago, two guys from California stopped for a tour. They had traveled to Fillmore with a utility trailer, helping a friend and his wife move there. The people moving to Fillmore were members, but the two guys who came here weren’t. I took them on a tour, and one of them wanted a copy of the Book of Mormon brought to his house by the missionaries. They told me that the couple moving to Fillmore bought the old nursing home on Main Street.....That’s the old house I was born in. I guess they have fixed it up and these people are making a home of it. Next time I go to Fillmore, I’ll have to stop by and let them know I met their friends.




Yesterday, it was super cold and a young guy from California, about thirty years old, came to the Fort at about 9:30. Temps were still below zero with a wind, but he still wanted a tour. I took him to the fort and found out that he is going to be the new camp leader for Aspin Youth Camp in Loa, Utah, Just over the mountain to the east. He had many questions about the fort and the Church. As he left, he gave me a self referral and requested a copy of the Book of Mormon and some videos. If he meets up with other members of the Church in Loa, I think he will be taught by the Missionaries. He impressed me as a great young man.



We had a visit by Tanner ....I forgot his last name, from the Church Missionary Department yesterday. Sis. Cummings took him on the tour he requested, of the fort. The Missionary Dept. It trying to decide how many missionaries they can send to Cove Fort, Since the Senior Couple numbers are down, we won’t get as many as we need. I took him through the outer buildings. He was impressed with what we are doing, and I think will do all he can to get us the help we need. If not, we will have to recruit from the towns around for part time missionary help.