Elder and Sister King came by Legacy Theater to introduce their son, Mike, to us. As we talked and got acquainted Mike asked, "Do you have any relatives in eastern Idaho. I lived there and taught Seminary for 8 years. My bishop was Bill Millet."

Elder Millet said, "Bill's my brother." We had a great time talking about Ricks, Rigby, and Bill's family.

Special Note: Elder Millet's sister Jane wrote and said she and her family knew Mike King and told of him teaching ballroom dancing and Seminary to her children.

The next time we saw Mike we told him about Jane. He said, "Jane Bryson is a jewel. She helped with so many dance costumes and was always there." He mentioned Toviah, Leah, Jon and expressed his love for their family.

The gospel is so true and makes the world so small. Almost everyone you meet knows someone you know somewhere.
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As part of our calling to coordinate the Referral Center we did a training for the Senior Couples. The power point program is not compatable with the blog but this was the first frame. We used the parable of the sower and compared the Sister Missionaries to the sowers, the guest referral cards to seeds, and the Referral Center to the field. We spent a lot of time taking pictures and putting it all together. It worked out very well. We will use the power point program each transfer as we train the Seniors who work in the Referral Center.

The most exciting part is Referral Manager which is a Church wide program to interact with every Mission, Area, Stake and Ward in the world to keep track of referrals and their progress towards baptism.

The information for each guest that requests a visit by the missionaries is entered into Referral Manager and sent to the MTC in Provo. The referral is then sent to the appropriate Mission Secretary. They in turn send a text message to the appropriate Zone Leader on his cell phone. He passes the information on to the local missionaries who visit the guest. This can happen almost immediately with modern technology.

As soon as the guest arrives home from visiting Temple Square the missionaries are on their doorstep with a Book of Mormon and a message about our Savior. The Temple Square Mission processes over a million referrals each year. We are so thrilled to be part of this great work.

What a week! We saw President Thomas S. Monson in the parade, at the Pioneer Commemoration Concert, and at Music and the Spoken Word. We are so blessed to be missionaries on Temple Square.

The Osmond Family were guests on Music and the Spoken Word. We loved seeing and hearing them again.
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President Thomas S. Monson, the one in the light tan suit, presented gifts to them after the program. These pictures are kind of blurry but this is as close-up as the camera will go. What a thrill to see him in person 3 times this week.
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At the concert we saw more wonderful friends: The Shepherd's from Bellingham, now Texas: Jake, Georgia, Darren's grandmother, Darren. It was great to see them and catch up on their family. Darren had several pictures of Dayne's baby. Cute, cute.

We attended the Pioneer Day Commemoration Concert which featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Osmonds who just celebrated 50 years in show business. Our seats for Friday Night was in the balcony. We had awesome seats. These people really know how to put on a show! WOW!
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For the final number the two older Osmond brothers, who are deaf, joined their family on stage and signed the last songs. Pictures of their 50 years were projected on large screens as the program progressed. It was the best. We also have tickets for tomorrow night on the main floor. It will be interesting to see the difference.

President Monson and his wife Frances are the first two people in the first row. When they walked in everyone stood up, the entire crowd was silent until he motioned for us to sit. Awesome to see him twice in 2 days.
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We enjoyed the July 24th sunrise service presented by the Sons of the Utah Pioneers. The choir was from 11 Stakes in the Bountiful area and they were super.

There was a good turnout for the Days of 47 Parade. We were lucky enough to find a spot to set up our chairs in the shade. Thank goodness the shade lasted throughout the parade. What a great day.
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President Monson and his wife Frances led the parade. They were so low in the seat it was hard to see them. I did get a good photo of their hats. Please note the security men, 8 or so of them, all around.
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It was so exciting to see Beverly's float receive the Ensign Award. I told all the people around me that it was my cousin's float.
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This bike was so unique. The top wheel also went around as the clown rode down the street. The parade lasted about 2 hours and was superior in every way.
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My cousin, Beverly Harding, spent 6 months of her life creating this float for the Days of 47 Parade. We went to the expo center before the parade to see it. What a great job they did. My question to Bev - Is there life after the parade? We can hardly wait to see the float in the parade.
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And I looked up and there were Nicole and Michelle Chapin from Bellingham. What fun to see them. I remember them as little girls and they are now beautiful young women. (2728)

I also saw Jill Reid from Bellingham in the middle of the street after Music and the Spoken Word.

Our Mission Luau was the high point of the summer. Even the "pig" attended. In our mission the pig represents our fears and we constantly try to "kill the pig". The event was held in Big Cottonwood Canyon and a great time was enjoyed by all.
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The Sisters from the Islands performed dances from their countries and then taught the other Sisters a dance which they then performed. They did a great job and really wore themselves out.
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Even Sister Parents got in on the action.
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Each zone practiced and performed their own dance. Everyone got in on the action and the dancing went on for a long time. I did not get a picture of the Limbo but the Sisters really did well. The winner went under no more than a foot and a half.
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Elder Danielson and two Sisters from the Philippines.
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Smores anyone. This was Elder Millet's favorite activity. He ate 13 of them. No, he really kept making them for me and I only ate one. He finished off 4.
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The last activity was the tug of war. Each zone competed and then the winner went against the Seniors - of course, we won. What a great afternoon. The weather was perfect, the food delicious, and it was fun to see the Sisters let their hair down and have a great time.
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Miracle-Gro certainly does work. The tomatoes are delicious. Our garden is really producing.
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And who should appear at the counter at North Visitors Center but Lynn Beus, a long time friend of Elder Millet. He and his wife Jill have recently returned from a mission in Chile. It was great to see him.
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I had a wonderful time talking with Tony Turk who turned out to be the Mayor of Blanding, Utah. I said, "You know my sister Marla." He did, and we had another wonderful conversation about all the great things Marla does to teach children to read. Good job, Marla.

Every now and again you meet people who warm your heart and stay forever in your memory. John, Marge and Dick are such people - wonderful.
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Elder Millet and I have completed 25 quilts for the Humanitarian Center.
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Leanne, Robbie, April, Ryan, Samantha, and Roger finally arrived. Since we were on duty at South Gate they took a tour with Sisters Wilson and Park and explored Temple Square. It was so good to see them.
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After Church, on our way to the Conference Center we caught the fountain "doing its thing" and snapped this picture. After lunch the family took in the movie, "Joseph Smith, the Prophet of the Restoration", went to the museum, and took in the sights.
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What a treat. The Burleson family from Ephrata stopped by for a short visit on their way home from Philmont Scout Camp. Loyd Jr, Tami, Loyd, Leland, Lola and Lydia.
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It's so fun to live on a hill. All the kids enjoyed rolling down the grass and exploring the gardens and backyard. Roger and Leanne said "no" to taking the collection of snail shells home.
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We enjoyed Brigham Young Historical Park.
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View from the observation tower on the top of the Church Office Building. It was fun to see the Capitol, Temple Square and also Grandma and Grandpa's house from up so high.
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Being in the shadow of the temple is so special. The kids were excited to see it every time we went outside and enjoyed the lights on the temple at night. We also visited the pioneer memorial park up the street and saw Brigham Young's grave.
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At Church Ryan saw the island sisters with flowers on their ears. Of course, Robbie followed suit.
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We enjoyed the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.
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We made our way home through the underground and the tunnel.
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Ready to go home after a whirlwind trip. What a delight to have them visit.
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Picture day for our mission - taken on the steps of the Church Administration Building. It is impossible to get this large a group in one picture. Who said, "we're ready, smile?"
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The other half of the group. Elder Brazzeal took a "professional picture" that will be in our next newsletter.
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Wow! The weather has been very hot and to stay in the shade and cut a few feet off our walk home we decided to go over the fence from Brigham Young Park into our back yard. Elder Millet has wanted to try this route home for a long time.
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The picture of me going over the fence was a little risque as I was in a skirt.

On the way through the park we sampled the peas and raspberries that were rippening in the park garden.
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