As promised in my first posting I will highlight the two weeks of training that are now all over.  It is equivalent in my mind to leaving the MTC (Missionary Training Center) but ours was on site on Temple Square.  All 22 of us who began their mission on February 1st went through this experience together.  We all got very close. There are 8 couples and 6 single sisters from all over the United States.  Three people transferred from foreign missions.  Our day began with a prayer meeting at 7:30 AM on the 3rd floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  From the 22 our leaders assigned one of us to give the Inspirational Thought and another to give a scripture reading and prayer each day.  I was assigned the Inspirational Thought on Valentines Day.  That was a no brainer.  I talked of love of family on this side and on the other side of the veil.

 The above picture is of a sealing room.  They are essentially the same in all of the temples.  The story I told occured in a sealing room in the Kansas City Temple.   I am so grateful for the priesthood ordinance of sealing the generations for time and all eternity.  This sealing was of my eternal companion, Don, to his parents.  But that was not all - Don's grandparents were sealed to each other and then Don's mom was sealed to her parents.  This is a Sacred Ordinance performed in a special sealing room in the temple.  Present and participating were all of my family members who lived in the Kansas City area.  The most sweet spirit was present when Don and his deceased sisters, Kathy and Janice, where sealed to their parents, Mary and Del Winkie.  I felt so close to my mother-in-law and know that she accepted this ordinance and was so grateful to us, the living, for acting as proxies for those who had passed on.  For those reading this blog please understand that the work that is done in the temples for those who have died is not binding unless the person on the other side wants and accepts it.  I know that this family accepted and was so grateful to now have the assurance that they will always be together.  I love them all so much.  I miss Don but I know he is happy to once again be with his family and he is busy doing important work for the Lord where he is.

I tell this story now on my blog because my mission is to assist those patrons who are diligently working to find their ancestors in what is popularly known as genealogy.  During my first two weeks I was assigned a one-on-one trainer.  Sister Carolyn Gilbert was my mentor for two whole weeks as we sought to find my elusive ancestors.  She taught me how to identify sources and to correctly post information so others can benefit from my work.  We also scanned old family pictures and put on my Personal Ancestral File.  When I scanned the photo to the left I told Sister Gilbert what I knew about "Mrs. Harry Barnhart"  as that is what is written on the back of the picture.  She was born Catherine Scutt and was married to Henry Barnhart and they are my 2nd great grandparents. As I was talking about Catherine I felt very close to her and that she was happy with what I was doing.

During the two weeks I found a lot of family information but none as exciting as finding a "Locke cousin" on Ancestry.com.  Dick Locke is descended from one of grandma Libbie's brothers.  I talked to Dick on the telephone for almost an hour.  It seems he lived "around the corner" from Libbie's sister, Bertha.  Dick has in his possession a little book that Bertha left.  She wrote of the children's life after their mother died.  Dick is going to send me a copy of all his research, including a copy of the book.  I am so looking forward to reading it.  I will share what I learn with anyone who requests more information.  I know Susie does.

On Friday we had an important devotional called the "Go Forward" Meeting.  It was very nice and was held in the Chapel of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. 

An important part of the meeting was to read off the names of the 22 new missionaries and give them their assignments. I was assigned to work on the 6th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  A picture of the building is on the right.  The zone I will be in is the "Data Quality" zone.  I will be assisting people who are using family history websites and have hit a glitch.  They can call or email for assistance.  I will have a one on one trainer until I feel ready to work on my own.  My zone leader, Elder Roberts, said it is like finding the pieces to a puzzle.  After the meeting we boarded vans to drive to the Jordan River Temple for a session with our Mission Presidency.  We then had lunch in the temple cafeteria.  Very nice time had by all.  It is a beautiful temple and it was very busy on this day.


On Thursday evening some of my new friends and I went to the Assembly hall on Temple Square for a free lecture sponsored by the Church History Library.  Steven Snow, the Church Historian, spoke on his ancestor, Erastus Snow.  Brother Snow was an early pioneer, missionary and colonizer.  He helped found the City of St George Utah.  The lecture was very interesting to me as I love history and even minored in history in college.  In a few weeks the lecture will be available online.  If anyone wants the url ask me for it.  The Assembly Hall is so beautiful with ornate ceiling and a wonderful wrap around balcony.  As you can see it also has a beautiful pipe organ.  If you go to this link https://www.lds.org/locations/assembly-hall#d   you can view several shots of the Assembly Hall but I will post one I found online.  I am sorry it turned out so small and I can't figure out how to make it larger.  It is very imprssive on the outside as well as inside.  They just don't make architecture like this any more.  

The coming week will be very busy with beginning my Data Quality training and I have something going on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in the evening.  I will tell you about these events next week.  I am so happy and excited to be able to be here in this facinating city with so many opportunities to serve the Lord.

This is a picture of me and my mission president and his wife.  It was taken on the first day of the mission, February 1, 2013.  

President and Sister Peterson.


I love you all very much.  Make comments so I will know who is reading the blog.  Bye until next week.
May the Lord richly bless you and yours!