WARD REORGANIZATIONS

Two weeks ago, it was announced in church that today the whole stake would meet together for a two-hour sacrament meeting.  Everyone anticipated that there would be one or more wards split so attendance was good.  Even though we arrived a half hour before the meeting was to begin, it was difficult to find very many free seats.  We ended up sitting on the stage.  Those that came after us ended up sitting in overflow rooms around the building.

The Independence Missouri Stake consisted of seven English family wards, a Young Single Adult ward, a Spanish family ward, and an inner-city (Kansas City) branch.  As anticipated, a new ward was created today.  The surprising part was how many of the other wards it affected.  Almost all the English-speaking family wards had their boundaries changed in the reorganization.

One of the counselors in the stake presidency spoke about the challenges and benefits of ward reorganizations.  He acknowledged that some may have mixed feelings about the changes and that change can be hard.  He also noted that discipleship requires more than just having hope and faith, that it also requires action to go and do that which is asked of us.  Following the sustaining of the individual ward leadership changes required by the realignment of ward boundaries, the stake president asked the whole stake membership for a sustaining vote on the reorganization.  Sitting on the stage, I was in a good position to see if some did not raise their hands.  It was impressive to me, and I’m sure gratifying to the stake president, to see the stake members raise their hands in support of the change.

Jessica and her family came and spent a few days with us.  We were able to get Area Presidency approval to travel with them to Nauvoo for two days.  It was nice to see Nauvoo not during a derecho.  Last year, almost to the day, when we visited, there was a tornado warning and we spent time in the basement of the Scovil Bakery.  This year we met in the Red Brick Store one of the sister missionaries who was with us in the basement of the bakery a year ago. It has been wonderful to be with family again.

Jessica and families arrival at the airport. It was pretty miraculous that she was able to make it. They needed to leave for the airport at 10:30 and she went to the ER at 8:30 a.m.

In their rush to get to the airport their IPAD was run over by the car. It still works, despite having treadmarks on the protective cover.

Patriotic parade in Nauvoo.

Russell and I tended the toddler and 6 year old while Jessica and children did baptisms at the temple. 

The boys loved the horses.

From the backyard of Joseph and Emma's home overlooking the Mississippi. 

Grave site for Joseph and Hyrum.

The kids made rope in the living center. Of course they then had to practice tying each other up with it.

This man has only been on his mission for 2 weeks. He had a prosthetic leg put on 2 months prior to us seeing him. He was still getting used to walking on the rocky trail in Nauvoo the day we saw him.

Wagon ride with oxen. We learned the difference between oxen and cows.

Trail of Hope. There are quotations from people who traveled down this road to evacuate Nauvoo and cross the Mississippi.  This quotation is from George Q Cannon who is my (Eileen's) great grandfather. 

We were getting tornado warnings all the way home. It sure was a beautiful sunset. 

Jessica's family are big golfers. This young man won a game at Top Golf. 

Just learning how to play peekaboo while the rest of the family is at the Truman museum.

We celebrated Jessica's birthday. She was concerned about putting the hat on her head so it hovered.

New boundaries being set by the stake presidency. It was a full building. We got there 30 minutes ahead and got the last few seats on the stage.

The family visited our office and of course had some candy from the candy dish.