Dear Friends and Family,
Another two weeks have passed and I just realized that I
have never posted anything about the sites were we serve. So I decided
that I would tell a brief description about each.
First we have the Tabernacle. The construction of this
structure is really what saved St. George. Brigham had sent 309 families to
this area to grow cotton in 1861. They planted and actually were
successful with the cotton, but they spent so much time growing it, that they
did not have time to build homes, churches, schools etc. Brigham came
back in 1862 to visit and Erastus Snow told him that they were not going to
make it. A number of the families had already left and returned north,
but Brigham was determined that this area would be a successful community.
He told Erastus to ask the remaining families if they would support the
building of the Tabernacle. They agreed and Brigham then dedicated the
tithing from Cedar City South to the building. The men and women who
worked on the building were then paid in tithing script which they could take
to the Tithing Office and buy needed supplies to put food on the table.
Plus this endeavor brought these men and women together for a larger purpose
and created unity. The building took 14 years to complete and today is
used extensively. The Sr. Missionaries are responsible for 3 events a
week, then the community holds concerts, lectures, recitals etc. in the
building. At Christmas time there are programs from the 1st until the
31st. It is a beautiful historical building.
Brigham Young's home was purchased by Brigham in 1870 and
then had a large addition constructed. It was finished by 1873, but
Brigham spent the last 7 winters of his life here. The original home was
built in 1866 by James Chesney and sold to a Mr. Lawrence then to Brigham Young
Jr. Brigham brought it from his son. We have several original
pieces of art work, furniture and two traveling chests built by Brigham.
But one of the major features of the home is all the different faux finishes on
the door cases, stair cases, floor boards, furniture etc. Brigham didn't
like pine and that was all that was available. He had them put 7-9 coats
of paint on the pine then use feathers, pine cones, any implement they could
find to paint the grain they were trying to imitate. Pretty amazing that we see
oak, mahogany, walnut, birds eye maple and other finishes. Its crazy. His
wife Amelia Folsum accompanied him 6 of the 7 winters he spent in the
home. He then built an office on the property in 1876 and in this office
codified or standardized the ordinances we do in the Temple. Joseph Smith
had told Brigham to standardize the ordinances and make sure there was a
working Temple on the earth. Brigham came back to St. George in 1871,
knowing that the SLC Temple would not be finished before he died, and told the
saints in St. George that they were going to build a temple and do it in 4
years. It took 5 1/2 yrs but the Temple was dedicated April 6th, 1877 and
Brigham died Aug. 29th, 1877.
The Jacob Hamblin home is in Santa Clara. The home is
wonderful, but the story is about Jacob Hamblin and the 21 other men who were
called by Brigham Young to establish the Indian Mission in 1853. Those
men came down to Santa Clara and first built a fort which was washed away in a
flash flood in 1862. Jacob then moved up on the hill where the home sits
today. It has a living area and two bedrooms on the first floor and then
a big room on the second floor where they carded cotton, wool, spun it into
thread and then wove it into cloth. His 2nd wife, Amanda taught school
here and they held church, parties etc. in this room. The home was the
largest and nicest in the area after the flood. Jacob sold the home in
1869 and went to Kanab and eventually Alpine AZ, and ended up in Pleasanton
NM. He died in 1887 in Pleasanton and was buried there, then the family
moved his remains to Alpine AZ. Jacob spent his whole adult life serving
the mission that Brigham called him to. He traveled over 30,000 miles going
from one Native American camp to another, trying to elevate their lives by
trying to teach them to plant crops, irrigate, build permanent homes, and
prevent disease by personal hygiene. He learned 6 of the Native American
dialects, taught them the gospel, mediated disputes between the settlers and
Native Americans and signed numerous treaties. He was the first man to
circumnavigate the Grand Canyon and he negotiated with a hostile tribe to let
William Powell complete is expedition down the Colorado River. He had
four wives and 24 children. He was a man with unquestionable integrity
and courage. His complete story is remarkable.
Well, those are the sites along with the Visitor Center that
we serve at each day. We have learned to love these sites and can't
believe the sacrifices of these pioneers. This was an incredibly
difficult place to make blossom like a rose. The nickname was "The
Lifeless Valley of the Virgin." We will always hold a special place
in our hearts for these people and their devotion to God and to a prophet of
God who directed them. "Love St. George!!!"
We've had a great two weeks of teaching a lot of people
about the gospel. Both of us have given several discussions along with
Books of Mormon and other literature. We know we might never know what
happens to these people when they leave the sites, but we hope and pray they
will read and think about what we have discussed and want more. Ya never
know:-)
Well its time I stop and get a few things done today.
We love our mission and wouldn't change a thing. We hope all of you are
good and most important - - happy. We love and miss ya all! Be Safe
Love, Bruce and Dawna
(Elder and Sister)
PS, Happy Birthday to my cute, smart, wonderful
husband Bruce. His day wasn't very exciting but when you get this age,
excitement might be over rated.
PSS, Also, congratulations to our grand son, Logan. He
received his mission call to Warsaw, Poland. We couldn't be prouder or
happier. He is a wonderful boy and will make a wonderful missionary.
