August 24-September 20, 2020 - Meetings, Tempest, Temple, Hikes and Peace
Zone Meeting - Tuesday, August 25, 2020
Each transfer we hold four zone meetings where two zones meet to receive instruction from the mission president and the missionary leaders. Our primary role is to make sure they all are fed temporally. Our meetings take place in the lower level (basement) of the Relief Society Building where our offices are located. However, meals and pictures take place in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. Here's a few pictures.
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Our zone plus one other zone along with the Presidency in front.
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| The Office Assistants who serve as the official photographers, Sister Arriana Camille Brimhall (Snowflake, AZ) and Sister Justine Hannah Tesoro (Bakersfield, CA but originally Philippines) |
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Sisters from our zone presenting a musical number.
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Joseph Smith Memorial Building Lobby from the mezzanine. The building is currently only open to the missionaries.
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Lunch for this zone meeting was either a sandwich or salad from Zupa's.
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The last of the summer flowers on Temple Square.
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District Study - Thursday, August 27, 2020
Our district consists of 3 companionships of Sisters and us. We meet on Sundays to do the "Come Follow Me" lesson and we get together for district study once each transfer. This month, Sister Burkinshaw prepared a small feast of refreshments and Elder Burkinshaw presented "Qualities a Young Man Looks For" from a fireside he did back in the early 2000's as the district study.
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| Sister Burkinshaw's refreshments consisted of banana bread, chocolate chocolate cookies, cinnamon roll popcorn, chicken taquitos (only the salsa is shown) and watermelon. It was a big hit with the Sisters. ;-) |
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| Our District (l to r) Sister Calee Cummard (Mesa, AZ), Sister Rachel Smith (Littleton, CO), Elder and Sister Burkinshaw, Sister Denali Renee Gerber (Island Park, ID), Sister Dominique Rivera Montoya (Las Vegas, NV), Sister Collette Allyce Cribbins (Poway, CA), Sister Vigia Valencia (Independence, MO) |
Memory Grove and City Creek Canyon - Saturday, August 29, 2020
On Saturdays, we try to do something different for our walk so here are some pictures of Memory Grove and City Creek Canyon.
Memory Grove was originally designed and laid out as Memorial Park in remembrance of the soldiers of World War I. With time, other monuments were built to those who served in World War II, the Korean Conflict and more recent military actions. It runs along the lower part of City Creek.
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The gate to Memory Grove which was originally known as Memory Park. The early morning lighting was particularly pretty.
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| Sister Burkinshaw at the decorative fountain in Memory Grove. |
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The marble Pagoda honoring the soldiers who died in World War I.
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Close-up of the hexagonal monument in the Pagoda. The front reads:
"In grateful remembrance of the heroic sons of Utah who gave their lives in the World War"
"This monument erected A.D. 1932" |
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Korean War Monument
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Korean War Wall of Honor containing the names of those from Utah who died in the conflict.
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Monument to all the Utah soldiers who were Medal of Honor recipients.
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| The Meditation Chapel built in memory of U.S. Air Force Second Lt. Ross Beason, Jr. and includes the names of all Utahns who died in World War II. |
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The stain glass window in the Meditation Chapel. The phrase is:
"Those who sacrifice most live longest in the hearts of the people" |
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The Utah State Capitol Building is just west of Memory Grove.
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Monument to the Gold Star Mothers who had lost sons in the war and who provided the motive force for the building of Memory Grove and the monuments to their fallen soldiers.
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Memorial to the 45th Artillery Regiment of World War I
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Closeup of the monument which reads:
"Dedicated by the Living to the Dead of the 145th United States Field Artillery"
"Pro Deo" (for God) "Pro Patria" (for Country) |
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City Creek is a small but historically important mountain stream that flows from City Creek Canyon and across part of Salt Lake City into the Jordan River which empties into the Great Salt Lake. City Creek's head is about 8 miles (13 km) up City Creek Canyon. The entire stream is only about 14.5 miles long. Melting snow from the mountains provide most of City Creek's flow but natural springs at the head of the creek ensure that it flows year round.
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Here are a few pictures of City Creek Canyon as we walked about 4 miles up the Canyon. It goes much further but we had limited time. ;-)
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Here is a satellite map which shows our 8+ mile hike through Memory Grove and up City Creek Canyon. Note that at the end of the hike, we stopped by Kneader's for breakfast!
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London Temple Missionary Reunion - Saturday, August 29, 2020
Sister Marian Jensen invited all the London Temple Missionaries who lived in the area to a backyard barbecue at her home in Ogden. It was fun for us to see so many people we worked with less than a year ago.
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London Temple Missionary Reunion. (l to r back) Bob & Peggy Lamoreaux, Mike & Cathy Otterson, Duane & Jan Mueller, Richard & Joyce McCune, Ron & Brenda Linford, Clyde & Terri Page, Lynn & Cindy Turner, Ron & Maureen Ludlow, Reece & Launa Murdoch, Kelsey & Debbie Ruse. (l to r front) Marian Jensen, Marvin & Stephanie Smith, Sister & Elder Burkinshaw.
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Lunch with Sister Assistants - September 3, 2020
We work daily with our Sisters who serve as the assistants to President Larsen so we took them out for lunch before Sister Mayer, the senior assistant was to finish her mission and return to St Louis.
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Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Maile Michele Mayer (O'Fallon, MO) and Sister Jennifer Naomi López Rios (Quebec, Canada but family from Honduras). Sister López Rios speaks flawless French, Spanish and English.
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| Sister Maile Michele Mayer (O'Fallon, MO) and Sister Jennifer Naomi López Rios (Quebec, Canada) after our lunch at the Old Spaghetti Factory in Trolley Square. |
West 2 Zone Activity - Friday, September 4, 2020
Each transfer, we have a zone activity and for this activity we met again at President Steve and Sister Littlefield's home, which has an amazing back yard. We had barbecued hamburgers and hotdogs with a variety of salads and chips. Sister Burkinshaw provided the dessert. Here's a few pictures.
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Sister Burkinshaw's delicious chocolate sheet cake was a hit with the Sisters.
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Sister Burkinshaw's Rice Krispy treats stuffed with Reese's and covered with chocolate and peanut butter went so fast we barely got a taste!
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All the Sisters gathered around to have the blessing on the food.
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| Our zone starting left to right from the front: Sister Calee Cummard (Mesa, AZ), Sister Melanie Torres (Philadelphia, PA), Sister Gwen Taylor Johnson (Newbury Park, CA), Sister Belicia Leatuao Iosua-Fiu (Victoria, Australia), Sister Kennedy Rae Summers (Denio, NV), Sister Rachel Anne Marie Smith (Littleton, CO), Sister Sydny Rhianna Short (Lawrenceville, GA), Sister Collette Allyce Cribbins (Poway, CA), Sister Ligia Valencia (Independence, MO). Back Elder and Sister Burkinshaw, Sister Jayenne Millicent Sison Quindo (San Antonio, TX but originally from the Philippines), Sister Ting Yi Chan (Hong Kong), Sister Hana Ilean Marks (Bremerton, WA), Sister Lynese Chanell Claypool (San Tan Valley, AZ), Sister Emma Kell McClellan (Allen, TX), Sister Emmalee Bass (Goldsboro, NC), Sister Dominique Rivera Montoya (Las Vegas, NV), Sister Denali Renee Gerber (Island Park, ID), Sister Rheanna Jeanette Ryan (Clovis, CA) ,Sister Madeleine May Helvey (Lafayette, CA), Sister Sarah Suzanne Bartlett (Jamesport, MO) |
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West 2 District 2.
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West 2 District 1
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West 2 District 3.
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Dog Lake, Millcreek Canyon - Saturday, September 5, 2020
For our P-Day hike we went with Aunt Robyn and her friend Alisa Haws (who serve together in the Relief Society Presidency of the Salt Lake Grant Stake) to Dog Lake which is about 9 miles up Millcreek Canyon. We hiked up the gradual ascent trail (1130 ft vertical climb) and then hiked down the steeper trail for a total of 5.6 miles. Here's some pictures:
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Dog Lake hike on satellite map.
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Lunch at the Blue Iguana - Monday, September 7, 2020
We took Sister Cummard and Sister Valencia from our District out to lunch at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, the Blue Iguana, which is within walking distance of Temple Square. We enjoyed the company. ;-) Here's a couple of pictures.
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Elder Burkinshaw, Sister Valencia, Sister Cummard and Sister Burkinshaw at the Blue Iguana!
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Sister Cummard and Sister Valencia at the entrance to the Blue Iguana after our lunch.
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Tempest of 2020 - Tuesday, September 8, 2020
As if the pestilence (COVID-19), earthquakes, wars and rumors of war were not enough for 2020, we now have added tempests to the list. On Tuesday, September 8, Elder and Sister Burkinshaw took our usual four mile walk up South Temple Street (crossing A Street through V Street). On the way up at about 5:30am, it was a little windy but nothing worrisome. However, our walk back down the street was a little different. Unofficial wind gusts of 112 mph were recorded at the University of Utah and our walk takes us to the western edge of the University. As we walked back to our apartment, starting about O street, we found the sidewalks covered with large broken limbs and it some cases entire trees had fallen across our normal path. By later that morning there was significant damage and we saw many large old trees that had blown over, roots pulled out of the ground. Here are a few pictures.
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The sidewalk along South Temple just past O Street had an entire old tree that had blown down, block our path.
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In front of the Ronald McDonald House between N and M streets, the sidewalk was covered with broken limbs.
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Near M Street another series of branches partially blocked the sidewalk.
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Near the Maryland Apartments (which Elder Burkinshaw carpeted back in the late 1970's) large branches had come down onto the sidewalk.
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As we were preparing to cross I Street (which almost lines up with 7th East), a series of branches fell right in front of us and blocked the crosswalk and the northbound lane of traffic.
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When we looked up D Street, we saw a car that had been covered with broken branches.
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At the corner of C Street, even a stop sign had been blown down.
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When we went into the mission office about 8:30am, we saw that a beautiful tree along the North Temple side of the Relief Society Building had been completely blown over, roots and all.
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Although we didn't take pictures, we saw many large old trees on the State Capitol grounds, on the grounds of the City and County Building and particularly along 6th East had been blown over, roots and all. In front of the Governors mansion on South Temple a tree that must have been at least a hundred years old actually broke at the stump. Over 200,000 people were initially without power. Power was restored to the Mission Office about 3:00pm and to our apartment about 7:30pm. However, some people in the valley waited for nearly a week before power was restored.
Temple Square wasn't hit as hard by the winds but there was still noticeable damage.
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| Sister Sydny Rhianna Short (Lawrenceville, GA) and Sister Sarah Suzanne Bartlett (Jamesport, MO) helping gather broken branches among the ground cover in front of the Administration Building. |
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| Sister Halee Jordan Glenn (Molala, OR), Sister Sarah Elyse Merrill (Mesa, AZ) and Sister Alyssa Paige Wilcox (Bentonville, AR) helping with the cleanup on Temple Square. |
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Several large trees were downed by the wind and cut up and stacked near the Administration Building.
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The beautiful flower beds around Temple Square looked pretty sad after the winds.
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The hanging flower baskets between the Lion House and the Administration Building took a beating in the wind storm.
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Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord warned:
"How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!" (D&C 43:25)
The Lord appears to be trying to get our attention! Hopefully we'll be better listeners so He can go back to the "still, small voice." ;-)
Ogden Temple - Wednesday, September 9, 2020
We had twelve of the Sisters that arrived for the August 5 transfer that had not yet been endowed. Elder and Sister Burkinshaw were commissioned to develop a "Preparing to Receive Your Endowment" class for these Sisters. Following President David O McKay's precedent (from his 1941 address to missionaries who were about to go through the temple), we previewed the Endowment for the Sisters using published statements by Church Leaders and recently produced videos about the Temple. For those who are interested, a pdf of the PowerPoint slides can be accessed at the following link: Preparing to Receive Your Temple Endowment
Only a few of the Phase 2 temples have been designated for in-field missionaries to receive their endowments and the Ogden Temple, which was completely renovated in 2014 (only a part of the original foundation was re-used - everything else is new), was assigned for our Sisters. Sessions were limited to 18 patrons, including the Sisters receiving their endowment so it took three session so each Sister could attend with her parents. Fortunately for us, one of the sessions we reserved for our Sisters had room for us to attend. Here are some photos of the Sisters and their families who attended that day.
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| Sister Karla Marie Colón-Ortiz (Orlando, FL), Sister Beatriz Adamarys Camacho (Rialto, CA) and Sister Claire Elizabeth Bean (Austin, TX) before their endowment in the Ogden Temple. |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Cecelie Allen Costley and Elder Wynn Sanford Costley (Preston, ID) with whom we work closely in the mission. |
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President and Sister Larsen with Sisters Camacho, Colon-Ortiz and Bean.
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Departing Sisters Dinner - Friday, September 11, 2020
Our departing Sisters dinner was held at Oakridge Country Club again for the 14 Sisters who were going home. We continue to lose a lot of languages and nationalities with each transfer. Here are some pictures:
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| Our departing sisters. Starting at the back row from left to right: Sister Iolanda Valéria Bonfim Paixão (São Paulo, Brazil), Sister Alice Zainab (Rome, Italy but originally from Sudan), Sister Valery Nicole Soltero Pastor (Trujillo, Peru), Sister Sia Natania Leifi (Sydney, Australia), Sister Holly Marie Moncur (Mesa, AZ), Sister Kaitlin Michelle Clayson (Hermistorn, OR), Sister Ya Mei Hsu (Taichung, Taiwan), Sister Marlene Natalie Tovar (Reynosa, Mexico), Sister Ting Yi Chan (Hong Kong), Sister Agustina Anahi Persia Gomez (Mendoza, Argentina). Front Sister Ramira Serafim Lourenço (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais), Sister Maile Michele Mayer (O'Fallon, MO), Sister Cassidy Rose Norton (Gig Harbor, WA), Sister Courtney Jane Brown (Jacksonville, NC). |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Agustina Anahi Persia Gomez (Mendoza, Argentina). |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Valery Nicole Soltero Pastor (Trujillo, Peru). Sister Burkinshaw spent a lot of time trying to arrange travel home for Sister Soltero. |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Ya Mei Hsu (Taichung, Taiwan). |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Ramira Serafim Lourenço (Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais). |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Alice Zainab (Rome, Italy but originally from Sudan). |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Maile Michele Mayer (O'Fallon, MO). |
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with Sister Maile Michele Mayer (O'Fallon, MO) and Sister Sister Jennifer Naomi López Rios (Quebec, Canada but originally from Honduras). Sister Mayer and Sister López were the assistants so Sister Burkinshaw worked extensively with them. |
The Living Room Hike - Saturday, September 12, 2020For this week's hike, we went up above the University of Utah for a hike up to a spot known as the living room because of the sandstone formations that look like a living room. It was nearly a 3 mile hike up and back with an elevation gain of 1050 feet which made it moderately steep. Actually when we arrived at the living room, Elder Burkinshaw was looking for the kitchen and Sister Burkinshaw was looking for the bathroom (ar arr arrr!). Here's a few pictures of our hike:
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Satellite map of our "living room" hike.
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The trail was well worn but was heavily wooded.
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The mountainside is actually starting to show a little color which is surprisingly early.
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Near the top, here was a look down the path with the valley below.
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| Here's a view of the valley from the "living room." Notice that is looks like we are lined up with 200 East. You can see the state capitol building at the right and the Church Office Building in the center top. The Great Salt Lake is also visible along the top center. You can see the haze from the California wildfires in the valley. |
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A panoramic shot of the Salt Lake Valley.
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Sister Burkinshaw resting on the stone couch in the "Living Room", Mother Nature did a good job ofmatching the surroundings. The couch was a little hard, maybe needed more cushion.
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Elder Burkinshaw relaxing on a "recliner" in the "living room."
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| Elder and Sister Burkinshaw with a selfie and the Salt Lake Valley below. |
We close on a more serious note. We do live in perilous times and we can see that all around us. While we have served in the Temple Square Mission, we have observed dramatic changes in the world - with COVID-19 at the top of the list. However, we know that the virus will ultimately be tamed as many have in the past. However the divison and contention in the world creates more concern than the earthquakes, pestilence, tempests, etc. Contention brings rise to the worst in humanity - the wars and rumors of wars.
The Savior warned us saying, "For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away." (3 Nephi 11:29-30)
Contention is the destroyer of relationships.Contention is the destroyer of marriages.
Contention is the destroyer of trust.
Contention is the destroyer of happiness.
Contention is the destroyer of contentment.
Contention is the destroyer of joy.
President Russell M Nelson in April 2020 General Conference reminds us how to combat this growing evil in our world and bring peace to our lives:
"I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation. What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets? I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases in your life."
Elder and Sister Burkinshaw
