It's Crunch Time!

At our district devotionals this week, Glen has had us recite the "Standard of Truth" quote from Joseph Smith, that he wrote as part of the Wentworth letter in 1842.  It has always been so inspiring to me but even more now that we work among the missionaries and are so involved in the mission.  This is the quote:
"The Standard of Truth has been erected.  No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing;  persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."  (History of the Church 4:540).

I just marvel at these words of Joseph Smith that he was able to write with so much persecution going on.  As I was reading in Alma ch. 59 this week, (part of the war chapters that I really love)  I was struck again with the similarities of the church members then as they are now.  In vs. 12 it says, "[the chief captains] doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them."  Because of a few of the missionaries who have had to go home early, I felt that yes, no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing, but unworthiness (wickedness) can surely contribute to the success of Satan over the people.  It seems that members' (missionaries') unworthiness can slow down the progress of the work far more than Satan can.  No wonder Satan works so hard to prevent church members, prospective missionaries included, to not live righteously!  What a battle that goes on, and we must be , as "Like a mighty army [that] moves the Church of God. We are not divided; all one body we:  One in hope and doctrine, One in charity."

Well, this is the week we have been preparing for, and now it's crunch time.  Transfers are next Monday, and we are getting 22 new missionaries, in addition to the 28 we got at the last transfer.  Fifty missionaries in six weeks!  Only this time it is US who is getting ready for them and there is still so much to do!  New areas have to be opened up, and of course Pres. Black is also working so so hard to get ready for this.  Glen has had to find apartments for them to live in the right area, sign the contracts, find furniture (couches, tables, desks, beds, mattresses, etc.) and buy all the supplies needed for each new apartment.  We were still shopping at 9:00 on Saturday night to find all the things that are needed, and now we have to actually get all of this stuff to the apartments this week.  It's a huge task!  We have been praying mightily for the Lord's help to be able to accomplish the work that needs to be done.  We ask for your prayers also!

He finds the apartment complex in the right area and signs the contract.

He moves the furniture in.  He has to do it this week because it's too costly to rent an empty apartment too far in advance.

The furniture is hauled in this mission trailer.  When we bought the supplies for the apartments, we also used this trailer to load them all.  Sometimes Glen wishes he would have brought his truck here!  It certainly would come in handy!

When we're finished, it takes Glen about 15 seconds to start snoring.  Okay, maybe 20. 

We were able to take a few hours on Monday, Labor Day, to visit Hoover Dam and tour it.  It is so amazing!  Las Vegas certainly couldn't exist without Hoover Dam, for flood control, water storage, and electricity.  We thought we lived in the desert in Utah, but no, no, no, this is the REAL desert!  

We went with our good friends, Carl and Margaret Truman and had such a great time with them.  It was so rejuvenating, which was so needed!  This is a picture of the bridge with the new highway that bypasses Hoover Dam.  It was so spectacular and cost more to build than Hoover Dam itself!  It was just finished a few years ago.

From the top of the new bridge overlooking Lake Mead.  It was so windy but so beautiful!

On Wednesday night, Jeanette, her son Max, and her granddaughter Shiloh were able to come over for a visit.  It was so fun to see them!  We haven't seen Max or Shiloh for years, so we were really happy to see them.  Max was married in the Las Vegas temple last year, which was really neat for him and for Jeanette.