But one of the things I am most grateful for is the ability that has come through the internet and lds.org to be able to search and to learn about Gospel principles and history and to gain knowledge about things in a quick and organized way.
In a conversation this week with some sister missionaries, they asked about church history sites I have visited. One site I have not visited is Adam-ondi-Ahman. They were asking me questions about where it is and what it is and why it is important. I was able to give them the basic answers about where and what but my interest was piqued. I knew about Adam-ondi-Ahman but I realized I didn't fully understand the significance of the "what" and the "why" it is important. In a Primary lesson, I found information that explained it in an easy to understand way - in my Primary mentality. I will attach this to the end of the blog.
Leaning about Adom-ondi-Ahman lead me to ponder about Adam and Eve. We learn about them in church classes and in the Temple but I wanted to learn in more detail. I found an article in the January 1998 Ensign titled: What Modern Revelation Teaches about Adam. In this article, I learned more and was reminded about our first parents and gained an even greater respect for them. I would encourage you to read this article. I will add the link at the end of the blog.
It has been a typical week for me: ingrown toenails, sprained ankles, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, headaches, back aches, burned thumb, rashes, tooth pain, etc. The missionaries always begin with "I'm sorry to bother you Sister Petersen…" They are really thoughtful people. Truth is they never bother me. I am grateful and blessed to be here.
Tuesday I went to Brooklyn to take a trio of Sisters to dinner. We had a great time at Applebee's and then to frozen yogurt. Gotta have my fro-yo! I enjoy driving through Brooklyn and seeing the beautiful brownstones. I'll add info at the end of the blog about brownstones.
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| Brownstones |
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| Sisters Krause, Dos Santos, Monteiro |
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| I liked the steeples on this church |
On Friday I went to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to go to lunch with some sisters. Mexican food was the fare and I must say that it was tops. I'll go back there every chance I get. We then walked to The Bagel Store noted for their rainbow bagels, the mufgel, and the cragel. The owner and creator of these bagel creations was there welcoming everyone into the store. Very nice man. I will attach info at the end of the blog about the rainbow bagels.
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| Sisters Snow and Fa'ulao |
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| I don't remember what Sister Snow's dish is. Mine was huaraches and Sister Fa'ulao has enchiladas |
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| Rainbow bagel with maple bacon cream cheese. |
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| Variety of cream cheese spreads. |
On a couple of days I had visitors to my home because of training at the office. Love those days when I get to see missionaries.
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| Sisters Snow, Thompson, Wuthrich, Panoussi |
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| Sisters Hammarstrom, Panoussi |
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| Sisters Snow, Dawson |
This coming Tuesday is transfer day so Monday we get new missionaries and Tuesday, the missionaries leave who have finished their missions. Before transfers, everyone is excited and curious to know who will be trainers and who will be mission leadership and who will get new companions, who will move and who will stay in an area?? All of this information is held close to the vest until Tuesday morning. Sisters Mejia and Zambito planted themselves in my front window on the day of trainer meeting to see if they could see who went into the church for the meeting to become new trainers.
Sister Zambito who lives upstairs is preparing to go home this Tuesday. Her mission is complete. It will be sad to see her leave and she will be missed. Sister Mejia will also be moving. There will be English sisters back in the Rego Park ward and they will be living upstairs so I will have new housemates. On Saturday evening we went to Panera for dinner.
Sunday evening we had a farewell dinner for Sisters Zambito and Mejia.
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| Sisters Mejia and Zambito, Sister and Elder Williams |
I have learned that a mission is defined by its changes. Changes are the constant in mission life: changing apartments, changing companions, changing leadership, changing boundaries.
Through change we grow.
In conclusion, I want to invite all of you to learn in any way you can. Learn about our world. Learn how to make things. Learn how to cook. Learn how to grow a garden. Most important, learn about the Gospel and how you can return to the presence of our Father in Heaven.
At lds.org, I found this article:
Why We Seek Learning
The Lord commands us to actively "seek learning, even by study and also by faith" (D&C 88:118). We seek learning not only because it is a commandment-we seek it because the desire to ask, to seek, and to find answers to life's questions was planted in our hearts by our Heavenly Father. He wants us to continually seek eternal truth because this is central to how we come to know Him. Through sincere study of the restored gospel, we learn of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. We learn who we are, why we are on this earth, and how we should live in order to enjoy happiness and peace in this life and a fulness of joy in the next.
Learning by Study
The gospel of Jesus Christ is rich enough to challenge and inspire the brightest mind, yet simple enough to be understood by a child. While gospel study does not require formal academic training, it does involve reason and mental exertion. The Lord expects us to "seek … diligently." In our search for truth, we read, ponder, and analyze information and weigh its reliability. We examine the assumptions behind various theories, as well as our own thoughts, and seek to place facts in their proper context. We are discerning and careful, always remembering that our knowledge is incomplete but growing. We continually seek the Spirit and hold to our faith.
Learning by Faith
Because our perspective and knowledge are limited, we find spiritual truths only if faith is part of the formula. "Faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true" (Alma 32:21). Faith, which starts as a belief or even just the desire to believe, requires mental and spiritual exertion. We express our faith by the words we speak and by acting on the truth we have already received. As we do, our faith grows, and we are given greater knowledge by the Spirit and by our experience. It does not come all at once, but line upon line. In the meantime, the hope produced by our faith serves as an anchor to our souls, making us sure and steadfast as we seek to learn and gain knowledge (see Ether 12:4).
Faith and reason are like the wings of an airplane-both are necessary to keep the plane in flight. If from our limited perspective reason appears to contradict faith, we continue our study while steadfastly holding to our faith. We would not discard faith any more than we would detach a wing from an airplane in flight!
The Word of God
Our search for truth will be fruitless if we neglect the Source of truth, God Himself. As we seek learning by study and also by faith, we continually turn to the word of God as found in the scriptures, the words of living prophets, and personal revelation through prayer.
A Promise
As we patiently and diligently seek learning by study and also by faith, we will "grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created [us], or in the knowledge of that which is just and true" (Mosiah 4:12), for He promises, "Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (D&C 88:63).
I love you my family and friends.
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| On a clear day you can see Manhattan |
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| White Lilly |
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| The purple flower was twined around the sunflower. They made each other more beautiful |
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| Sister Krause gave me a chocolate sticker to add to my chocolate habit |
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| Jake sent me this picture of a white columbine he saw while hiking in Millcreek Canyon. Had to share the loveliness of nature. |
Adam-ondi-Ahman
Teach the children about the growth of the Church in northern Missouri and the events that occurred at Adam-ondi-Ahman, as described in the following historical accounts and Doctrine and Covenants 107:53-56; 115:7-10; and 116. Show the picture and map at appropriate times. Then teach the children what life will be like during the Millennium, as described in Doctrine and Covenants 45:55-59 and 101:22-34.
The Church Grows in Far West
Members of the Church had been driven out of Jackson County, Missouri, but in 1836 they received permission from government authorities to move to northern Missouri and begin a new county. This county was to have a six-mile strip of unsettled land around it so that Church members and nonmembers could remain separated. The Saints moved into this area and built a central city, called Far West, with other towns around it.
Back in Kirtland, Ohio, there were many problems, especially with former Church members who had become bitter enemies of the Prophet. In January 1838 Joseph Smith was warned that some men who wanted to take over the Church were planning to kill him. Joseph needed to leave Kirtland, and the Church in Far West needed help getting organized, so Joseph and Emma Smith moved to Far West.
Joseph Smith's enemies did not want him to leave Kirtland, so some friends helped Joseph sneak out of town. They hid him in a large box and put the box in an ox cart. Then they drove the cart out of town without the Prophet's enemies knowing he was in the cart. When he was safely out of town, Joseph got out of the box, mounted his horse, and rode toward Far West with Sidney Rigdon. They traveled about sixty miles, waited for their families to join them, and then continued on. Their enemies, armed with guns, pursued them for more than two hundred miles but could not catch them. The Saints at Far West sent out wagons and supplies to meet the Prophet and his group and gratefully welcomed them to Far West.
A few months after Joseph Smith arrived in Far West, he received a revelation commanding the Saints to build a temple there. The Lord told the Saints to begin building the temple on 4 July 1838 (see D&C 115:8-10). On the morning of 4 July, the Mormon militia (a small local army), Church leaders, and Church members formed a great procession. Marching to music, they went to the temple site and formed a circle. Sidney Rigdon spoke, after which the crowd shouted "Hosanna" and Solomon Hancock sang a song composed for the occasion by Levi W. Hancock. The Prophet Joseph then supervised the laying of the four cornerstones for the temple.
Joseph Smith Receives Revelations about Adam-ondi-Ahman
One day in May 1838 the Prophet and some other men were looking for places to build other cities for the Saints to live in. They came to a place called Spring Hill, where Joseph received another revelation (D&C 116). The Lord told Joseph that his name for Spring Hill was Adam-ondi-Ahman. Orson Pratt later said this name means "Valley of God, where Adam dwelt" in "the original language spoken by Adam" (in Journal of Discourses, 18:343).
According to Joseph Smith, Adam-ondi-Ahman is where God talked with Adam and the place where Adam offered up sacrifices to the Lord. At Adam-ondi-Ahman, Adam called his family together before he died so he could bless them (see D&C 107:53-56).
Adam-ondi-Ahman will also be an important place in the future: near the time of Christ's second coming, Adam will come again to Adam-ondi-Ahman and hold a great council. All the prophets who have held keys of priesthood authority upon the earth will come to this council to give a report of their work to Adam. Jesus Christ will then come to Adam-ondi-Ahman, and Adam will return the priesthood keys to him. Christ will then return to earth to begin the Millennium, the thousand years when Christ will live on and reign over the earth.
This information about Adam-ondi-Ahman was very exciting to members of the Church. Joseph Smith said the area should be a gathering place for the Saints who were moving to Missouri from Kirtland. Many Saints moved to Adam-ondi-Ahman during the summer of 1838. They considered it a great blessing to live where Adam had lived.
The Millennium
As you discuss with the children what life on earth will be like during the Millennium, explain the following points from Doctrine and Covenants 101:22-34 (you may want to have the children look up the verses in their own scriptures):
Everyone will be able to see the Savior (v. 23).
- All the wicked will be destroyed (v. 24).
- People and animals will live in peace (v. 26).
- Satan will not have power to tempt anyone (v. 28).
- There will be neither sorrow nor death (v. 29).
- A person will grow old, then be changed suddenly from mortal to immortal life (vv. 30-31).
- The Lord will reveal all things about the earth and heaven, including how the earth was created and what will become of it (vv. 32-34).
Brownstone is a brown Triassic-Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a townhouse clad in this material.
There are many brownstones throughout numerous New York City neighborhoods, especially in the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope, Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill, Prospect Heights, Brooklyn Heights, Bedford Stuyvesant, Sunset Park and Bay Ridge. The Manhattan neighborhood of the Upper West Side, too, retains many brownstones. New York City brownstones usually cost several million dollars to purchase. A typical architectural detail of Brownstones in New York City is the steep stairs rising from the street to the entrance on what amounts to almost the second-floor level. This design was seen as hygienic at the time many were built, because the streets were so mucky from animal waste.
Lately, it has become fashionable to use the term "brownstone" to refer to almost any townhouse from a certain period, even though they may not have actually been built of brownstone. Many townhouses in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn, for example, are basically built of brick, some having concrete masonry cladding to make them resemble actual stone.
Rainbow Bagels - Includes a video
