Dogwoods, Cedars, Brambleberries......it's all the Lord's Work

Dogwoods, Cedars, Brambleberries.....It's all the Lord's Work

March 12, 2018

     We've just experienced our best week in England. With the temple shutdown, we were assigned to "work in the garden".  Now, I'm so visual. Doesn't that sound so proper and English?. Working in the garden is a pretty way to say yardwork. It has been a week of chopping, pruning, and piling.

    Our quiet days together in the back of The Lodge, where we live, were spent in lots of reflection. I wandered back to our Independence MO mission where we were initially assigned to work as FM missionaries. We were to do this same type of work there and were quite disappointed when our calls were changed. This is our chance to serve the Lord outside! I couldn't help but think of all the good people we met in MO who did this type of work day in and day out. They would often stop by the office and show me pictures of their day's work clearing brush at Haun's Mill or flowers planted at Far West. Now, I feel even more their sense of accomplishment. 

     This week, my mind dwelt the most on my childhood and my dad. The temple fire-pit has burned all week with our cut dogwood. The days were cool and cloudy, with sun peeking through the clouds often. The smell of the fire took me to my dad's fires when he was cooking Dutch-oven;  fires when we camped at Lake Powell or up in the cool pines; even fires when we burned our trash at Fool's Hollow as young marrieds. Fires are almost a lost art in AZ anymore. There is nothing like sitting by a fire and pondering the meaning of all things. As were starting our work on our first day I could feel in my bones that those same bones would pay a price for the bending and chopping. My mind couldn't stop thinking about us, two kids, chopping dogwoods for the Lord in England. Who would ever have thought? Did it count for something? Is the Lord aware of us? And finally.....my ultimate desire......will our family be blessed by this? Immediately, my dad popped into my head. I saw him cutting cedars on the Church Ranch. I could almost smell it. Did he make a difference in his Church Ranch assignment? He did to me and I want Mike and I to be like that. We have resolved we will do what we are asked to help build the Lord's kingdom. Some things are easier than others. Chopping dogwood is a wonderful project. After a day's work, we would stand back and look at our progress. Who would ever think a piece of cleared ground could do that to two mature missionaries like us? 

     I have included below, the letter my dad wrote as he was being released from cutting cedars. My family, the bottom line is this - whatever work we are asked to do for the Lord - Will the Lord and mankind respect our efforts and know that we "dig our postholes deep?"

      

June 1990 Dear Presidents Tenney, Hall. and Owens, The thing that never changes is change itself. I never once thought I would go out before Reed (Hatch). I feel bad about that as I've told him so much I'd stay with him til he went out. Last Tuesday, June 12, the half mile at Long Hollow needed some additional work done to make it look good. I took two men with me and we finished it about sundown. We had a fire and a 12" oven going on the high point of that ridge - north and a little west of Long Hollow. There we could see the sunset and feel the clean wind. I was nearly overcome with emotion in realizing I was ending my years of service. I soon realized my emotions wouldn't let me come before the committee again. Besides, I know each man there respects me and knows I dig post holes deep. So the little fire with the 12" oven and my two helpers became my farewell party. When we begin to think we own our church jobs and we are indispensable, it's time to go. I hope to get to teach somewhere. The worth of souls is great if we help save it be one soul. How great will be our reward. Best Wishes, Elbert Lewis

So, Pruning Dogwood and I love it and you,

Sister Seaman....Mom and Grams

P.S. Kortney Taylor Walker Tenney was born April 5, 1991 in Show Low, AZ. She was our first grandchild. We all doted over her as if we had never seen a little girl baby. She was beautiful, smart, quiet, and kind. Her and Cody had a Gender Reveal outing this past weekend at home. They will bless us all with a little Tenney boy baby in July. I can almost close my eyes and see him. I so pray he has Cody's freckles. Isn't this wonderful news!

Chartwell Again

     After seeing the movie "The Darkest Hour", Kim needed to see Chartwell again.  This is Winston Churchill's home.  This time the inside of the house was open to the public.  It was set-up just as it was pre-war.  Some of the furniture, paintings, knick-nacs are original.  The more I know of this man, the more I respect him.  

     He was probably a genius in many respects.  Did you know that he won a Nobel prize for literature?  It was easy to imagine him sitting in his study, smoking a big cigar, drinking champagne, the Union Jack flying over his head (in his study,) and working on a speech, or reading, or writing a book.  His estate is impressive and beautiful and, all though he really couldn't afford it, he loved it and so do I.  It is everything that a man could want.

     I am tickled by the news of Kortney's new baby.  The first great-grand baby.  What a blessing!  It feels like I am getting old fast.  I guess I am.  If I am lucky, I will get to see this boy serve a mission.  That would only make me 83.  Maybe, just maybe.

     The time in the Temple Garden this past week has been so therapeutic. My back is sore and I have a blister on my middle finger, but I can see accomplishment.  It is hard to see accomplishment in the Temple.  Day in and day out we work, praying that who we are helping will accept the work and that it will be of great worth.  We will not know for sure until we meet all those souls on the other side.  We have great faith that the Lord knows what He is doing and so we help where we can. 

     I pray that you, my friends and family, will also find yourselves lost in this great work.  I had a gentle reminder this week that I needed to forget myself and go to work.  I will.

Sincerely,

Elder Seaman