Interesting Day (Mike)

Yesterday was interesting. I had one family from California/Israel, who were traveling the west sightseeing. The grandparents and one son and his wife were from California, but most of the grandchildren and their parents were from Israel; making a total of twelve in the group. Most of them spoke English, but all spoke Hebrew. They were very interested in the fort and what I told them of the LDS Church. I told them from the beginning that I was going to teach them LDS beliefs as we took the tour, and they liked that. They had quite a few questions about the Hinckleys as they lived at the fort, and about our LDS beliefs; families, priesthood, temples, etc. At the end, I was able to give them our packet of information about Joseph Smith, the family, LDS websites, etc., but they weren’t interested in the Book of Mormon, especially when I told them that it contained the account of Christ appearing to the people here in the new world, and that it was a second witness for Christ.

Following our shift, we traveled back out to the old mining town of Frisco where my grandmother was born. This time we were able to get closer to the mine, and the main part of the old town. We were able to visit the cemetery, which we had wanted to do. Most of the graves were of children who had died during the influenza outbreak, or had died because of the inadequate diet of the mother/child. We also went to the library and did a little research on the old town and had dinner at a little diner there in Milford. It was a fun outing, with lots of good photo ops.

    

Busy day at Cove Fort (Mike)

What a busy day we had! The surrounding stakes held a regional youth conference at Cove Fort. They watched the movies of Joseph Smith and the fort, and took tours. They had square dance instruction and a barbeque and then held a dance. There were about three to four hundred kids along with another three to four hundred regular visitors that came for tours. At the end of the day, the actual count on visitors was 958, a new record for one day other than Cove Fort days. The missionaries were running to keep up, and right in the middle of it one of the missionaries called to me and introduced me to a lady who had Kanosh connections. I soon learned that she was a cousin that I had never met from California, Monica Cuthbert, who is an M.T. in the Student Health Center at California State University Northridge . She is the daughter of my aunt Eva. (A sister to my grandpa Cummings) She remembered camping at our hunting camp in the mountains above Cove Fort.

It was another good day at the fort.

White Cards Two days in a row! - Lynda

Yesterday, July 8th I only had two tours, both from Canada.  The first tour was a delightlful family from Winnepeg.   The two teenage kids didn't really want to go on a tour but at the last minute decided to come. As we went into each room there is something that talks about the Restoration, or Book of Mormon, or some gospel principle.  As we got to the "Best" room where there is a picture of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum and also a lithograph of the Nauvoo Temple, I bore my testimony of Temple Work, Geneology and of the Prophet Joseph.  The dad said that he had been using our Geneology Library to do his geneology.  The Spirit was definately there, and that is definately my favorite room. Anyway, as we finished the tour the family went up on the ramparts to look at the rifle ports. The young girl came down and asked me how many languages the Book of Mormon had been translated in. I told her and then asked if she would like a copy.  She said "yes I really would:"  I was very excited.  Then when the parents and brother came down I offered them a video.They also wanted a video and the Missionaries to come.  What a great way to start this day.  The other couple was very nice but didn't want any more information. 

Today I had 4 tours - The first was a fun couple from Las Vegas.  She is a principal down there in an Elementary and he is an artist.  They were so fun to take on tour.  They were just out exploring fun unusual sites in Southern Utah.  They also wanted a video.  I gave them all the options and they chose "Together Forever."  So the Missionaries will contact them also.  The other families I had today were a mixed Member -Non Member family that wanted a short 2 1/2 min. tour. They were from Alabama and Utah.  The other two tours were members from Delta and a family reunion group from all over the U.S.  It is so fun to meet people from all over the U.S., Canada and really the World. 

The other exciting thing that happened at the Fort today was when Elder Gammon opened up the Blacksmiths shop there was a young great horned Owl sitting on the Anvil.  They were both startled and so the Owl flew up on top of the bellows.  When we came on shift Elder C and another Elder went down to get pictures.  The owl flew up into the rafters and stayed there all day.  It was quite a treat for our visitors today to see an owl so close.  This mission is alot like teaching, each day something new and exciting is bound to happ

We have a new bird on our humming bird feeder. Check out the acrobatics!

Another Great Day (Mike)

Yesterday was a rather slow day at the fort. I was in the shift coordinator’s chair for two hours, then in the out buildings for another hour. Therefore I didn’t even get to take a tour out. Visitors were less also for our shift.


Today was a different matter. My first tour was a family from California; a grandmother, her daughter and daughter in law, and three grandchildren. The Grandmother was from Guatemala and didn’t speak English. She had the Aztec facial features. As we went through the tour, I explained about the Prophet Joseph Smith, a prophet in our time and why we have temples. When we got to the Book of Mormon display, I showed them pictures from the Book of Mormon and explained that it was about their ancestors, and that Christ visited them after his resurrection. I explained that they had prophets also who kept a record and that it was translated by the Prophet Joseph Smith. Upon hearing this, each of them wanted the missionaries to bring them a Book of Mormon and teach them more.

Following our shift, we took a trip to Frisco, an old Ghost town west of Milford, where my grandmother Cummings was born. Frisco was a silver mining town of about four thousand people in the late 1870/80’s. It was a rough town, but my great grandfather Fredric Montgomery Bird was there with his family, making money. I read of one account that stated that it wasn’t uncommon to have as many as twelve murders in one night. There is still some mining activity there, but all that is left of the town is a few foundations and fallen buildings, along with old rusting mining equipment. We enjoyed taking pictures of them including the old coke ovens that were used in the smelting of silver, copper, and gold.

Independence Day (Mike)

We had a great Fourth of July celebration yesterday. We had a flag ceremony at the fort, along with singing, poetry, and a patriotic message from our director, Elder Baldwin. We then raised our 37 star flag. Afterwards, we had a sunrise breakfast together under the trees in the picnic area.

Following our shift at the fort yesterday, we traveled to Richfield where we met up with Kevin and Jeanette Rowley , our niece and her husband, at Kevin’s Parents house. We joined them in a barbeque and family fireworks with their family. Then we stayed to see the city of Richfield fireworks. They were really quite impressive. They were launched on the mountainside just above their home. We had an excellent view from their back yard. It was a fun afternoon and evening. Today is our Prep day, so we slept in a little and did the laundry. We are waiting for Jordyn, our granddaughter, to stop by with her other grandparents for a visit and a tour of the fort. It will be good to spend some time with them.

  Following our tour of the fort with Jordyn and Doug and Judy, They took us out to dinner at Maria's, a great little restaurant up Beaver Canyon. It was great to see Jordyn and spend some time with Doug and Judy.                                                                                                                           

Clear Creek Canyon - (Mike)

Jason Rudd stopped by with his family  and I was able to take them on a tour of the fort. He was one of my priests when I was Bishop in Shelley Fourth Ward. I also sent him on his mission. He is now a seminary teacher. I haven’t seen him for several a years.


The Zurker family from our ward in Ammon came through, and it was great to see them again. After they left, we took a couple from Florida on a tour. They were recently married; he was eighty and she in her seventies. She was form Delta, Utah. She was a member and he was Catholic. We took them on a tour and got a white card for the missionaries to bring to them a video. Afterward we had a prairie diamond ceremony for them since they had been married for less than a year.

Following our tours, we met up with some other missionaries including Elder and Sis. Baldwin, and took a bike ride down clear creek canyon. It was mostly downhill for about ten miles. We were flying down the canyon at about forty mph. It was easy riding and a lot of fun. We then went to dinner at Marriesville, near the Big Rock Candy Mountain, to a restaurant called Hoovers. The food was great.

Family & Friends Galore - (Lynda)

 We hope everyone will have a fun and safe 4th of July. America is truly a blessed land.

Today was another great day.  Our son Steve and his friend Mindy came to Cove Fort. He brought us some Potatoes and other things I need for preparations for Cove Fort Days in August.  It was so fun to see them and take them through the Fort.  At the end of their tour a friend of Elder Cummings from High School came.  Elder C took his family on a tour.  Then shortly after that our niece Jeanette and her family came from Cedar on their way to Richfield.  It was fun to share our Mission and the Fort with them.  A couple of ladies came up to us on the sidewalk as we were taking Jeanette's family and joined our tour.  They were from Michigan. We got separated and Elder C took the ladies and I finished the tour with the Rowley's.  It was another tender mercy as these two ladies were golden.  They asked so many questions and gave Elder Cummings 2 white cards and wanted the Book of Mormon and the Missionaries to come find them.  We also had contact with the Gregory family from Shelley, and also Mike Kirkham stopped today with his basketball team from Blackfoot.  He is Andrea's mother-in-laws brother, and the dad to Ryan and Dana Kirkham in our Ward in Ammon.  I love the Church - and how truly small this world is within the Church.

Thursday, I had an amazing family from Rancho Cucamunga, California.  They were very humble and teachable.  When we finished the kids and family didn't want to leave.  They gave me a white card and wanted the Missionaries to come to their home.  They gave me big hugs and wanted to stay in touch. They made sure I had their e-mail and phone number so I could stay in touch.  These are truly Red Letter Days!

The Hollyhocks are in bloom now and Travis Kesler came in and shared his talents with the Missionaries. This is a doll made from one of the first blooms here at the Fort.