Great Weekend

        Friday night, the VC had Susan Easton Black & George Durrant speak for a fireside evening.  They have both lost their spouse and were married last year.  They were each great as usual.  She has taught at BYU for 38 years and has a superb knowledge concerning Joseph Smith.  She spoke on the history of Nauvoo.  He has taught at UVU and institutes, written books, and has tapes which inspire millions with his humor and zeal for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Elder Atwood credits him for helping him get active in the church years ago.  He also performed the marriage of Joe Buck & Kati.  I think Jeff had her as a professor of History when he attended BYU.

        The top picture is the garden and yard of the historic Vaile Mansion here in Independence, MO.  It was owned by the Vaile family from eastern US who came to Independence to build a showplace on the western front.  They built it in the early 1880's.  It is fantastic, inside and out.  It is still a showplace.

        Elder Atwood is standing in front of it, showing the size and beauty of it.  We were here Saturday to participate in the annual Strawberry Day Festival where they have numerous booths set up around the yards, selling their wares.  Of course, they sell strawberries and Elder Atwood loved the desserts.  The Vaile Society keep up the mansion and use the money from the Festival to help.

        We took a tour through the mansion and were pleased.  It is all decorated and furnished in European style, (French) because Mrs. Vaile liked the style so well.  It cost $150, 000 to build it then.  It's worth over 8 million now.  It has 35 rooms, 14 fireplaces, bathtubs, and rooms for quests and servants.  It was so fun going through it.  The ceiling here has several layers of trim, just like originally.

        This is a cupboard with a crawl through for the butler.  It is between the dining room and the kitchen.  They also had closets in the bedrooms.  Closets cost more in taxes, but Mr Vaile didn't care about that.  He made his fortune with Government contracts for servicing the mail routes to the west, especially the Santa Fe Trail.

        Here are the booths.  There were many more, completely around the mansion.

        The missionaries in Independence were here to set up the main booths and to take down after the Festival was over.  They were a great help and the people of the community surely appreciate them coming.  There were ten Elders, but here is a picture of some.  Elders Fisihetau, Simonsen (ASL) Christensen, Crowton, and Nyholm.

        Two of the VC sisters attended also.  They even helped a little.  But here, they are enjoying the strawberry shortcake available for all.  Sister Jacobs is from Cedar Hills and knows the Fife family.  Sister Forbush is from Rexburg and a great pianist and singer.  We love all the missionaries!

       We ended the weekend with Stake Conference.  Saturday session included these missionaries here and many others attending the Independence Stake who each stood and told why they loved the members of the stake.  The Theme was on Missionary Work and it was great to hear one line from each of them.
        Sunday morning the Theme was on Keeping our Covenants.  President & Sister Keyes spoke for the last time in the stake because they are changing Mission Presidents the end of this month.  He always bears such a powerful testimony of Joseph Smith, Book of Mormon, President Monson, and the Savior Jesus Christ.  He truly knows that He lives and guides this church.

        President Cato concluded the Conference with his always powerful testimony.  He truly loves every member of the stake.  They know him and love him.  His friendly personality is matched by his strong testimony of Zion and it's place in the future.  He knows the Savior is coming!  He admonished us to prepare ourselves to meet Him!  He promised us that he would not fail us, nor fail his loving parents; that he prays everyday to give his whole heart and soul to this work.  He said, "we are battling Satan, who has filled the world with deceptions and evils that are threatening the spiritual lives of our brothers and sisters.  We must save one soul at a time.  That is our responsibility.  Nothing else matters than living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.