Thursday, August 15, 2019

August 15, 2019

HELLO EVERYONE! 

I know it's been ages since I wrote an email to everyone with updates!
So sorry haha but I've been crazy busy with the Lord's work 

Pageant season was the best summer I've ever had in my life.
I met thousands and thousands of people, and with many of them i had great experiences.
Funny experiences.
Moments of joy and moments of sorrow.
And with that came many sacred experiences.
I will never forget the way that those people have changed me. 
Even though pageant season is somehow gone, Nauvoo is still alive and well!
My new companion Sister Young is super cool and
we both love attending the temple so we go as often as we can 









The other upside to having some study time now available
is that I can continue writing historical fiction for the people who lived here in Nauvoo. 
I'll just remind you that 
1. These writings are first draft, and havent been edited at all. 
2. The things I write are based on real people, real places and real events.
(But not official church history) I just add details to help myself  (and hopefully others) understand more how they felt. 

Today I've included at the bottom the continuation of the Riser family story. 

Background info: 
George and Christiana were both originally from Germany but moved to Nauvoo when they were little kids.
They met and were married in Ohio.
George had a very successful shoe shop there, but upon hearing of the
persecution of the members of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints,
he felt inspired and wanted to know more. So they sold their shoe shop and
moved to Nauvoo to see what they could learn!  They wanted to find out why
these church members were willing to sacrifice so much.
As George and Christiana came to know the restored truths of Christ's gospel, they too chose to make sacrifices...... 

       ****************************
George stares in fixation at a wooden shoe last, concentrating on poking the holes with the awl in the right place.
His eyebrows wrinkle as he threads the flax seed string through the holes in the leather.
Christiana watches him pull out the nails in silence. She's anxious to talk but doesn't want to interrupt his work.
Finally she can't help herself.
"George?"
"Hm?" He's still staring intently, and doesn't look up.
"I want to discuss something with you."
He nods, but Christiana knows he isn't listening.
"Sie da." She speaks German, their native tongue, to signify that she needs his attention.
George looks up, sets down the shoe last and puts the hammer in his lap. "Ja?"
"I wish to ask your opinion of the Prophet, the Prophet Joseph Smith and his words this morning."
Christiana studies him, her heart pounding.
George smiles. "I was contemplating the very thing at this very moment!"
Christiana laughs and then leans forward. "And? What are your feelings on the subject?"
He rests his arm on his work table and runs his hand through his hair.
"I cannot forget the feeling in my chest as he spoke......
as he explained eternal truths with such simplicity and testified of our Lord Jesus Christ with such surety.
 I feel as if the aching void in my heart has been filled with His restored gospel."
Relieved and overjoyed with his response, Christiana jumps up. "I feel the same!"
They nearly dance around the kitchen, rejoicing. He spins her and they nearly fall over, bumping into his work table.
Shoe lasts and nails fall on the floor. Neither of them are bothered,
because the feeling in the room and in their hearts is a deep, pure joy.
George smiles from ear to ear, tears filling his eyes as he tenderly grabs Christianas hands.
"I know it's true. We must be baptized." Christiana agrees and they embrace.
Only hours later, Christiana is awoken in the middle of the night by her baby boy. John.
He was sick all day and now he's not only crying but hes struggling to breathe.
She scoops him up in her arms and rushes to awake her husband.
George runs down the stairs and gets a rag wet for the baby's head.
He comes back up the stairs and kneels and Christianas side, eyes full of concern.
A painful hour goes by and George gets up, pacing the room.
"I cannot bear to see him like this. And he's only getting worse."
Baby John gasps for air, coughs, and begins to wail again.
Christianas hands shake as she touches Johns forehead.
"Should we call upon brother Joseph?" Her words are barely a whisper.
George stares into the little candle flame and then back at their son.
"He is a man of God. If anyone will know what to do, it will be him."
He then begins putting on his shoes, coat and scarf. He kisses John Jacobs forehead and squeezes his wife's fingers.
"I'll be back."
As the night goes on, and John gets worse and worse, Christiana holds her little son tightly in her arms,
listening to his feeble coughs and desperate gasps. A question continues to plague her mind.
Why? If we are trying to be faithful, why is the Lord letting this happen? 
She rocks her son back and forth, silent tears sliding down her face. 
"Oh God, please heal my son."
       ******************************
Christiana rocks her precious one year old and begins to sing softly to him.
She sings the hymn she heard at church that has come to mind often since she first heard it:
"The time is far spent; there is little remaining
To publish glad tidings by sea and by land.
Then hasten, ye heralds; go forward proclaiming:
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven’s at hand,
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven’s at hand."
The hymn has new meaning to her now.
Christiana feels comforted by the thought that glad tidings are coming her way and
that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Soon she hears the door downstairs, and stops singing. I
t opens and closes, and then the stairs creek as her husband and the others climb up to where she is.
First emerges her George, then Elder Orson Hyde, and last of all comes the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Holding his hat in his hands, he looks at Christiana and then John.
"You were right to call upon us, he is gravely ill."
Joseph touches his fingers to the little boys head, and Orson Hyde does the same.
"We shall bless him in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ."
Christiana nods, tears filling her eyes.
Joseph then pronounces a blessing on the boys head,
using the power of God given to him to heal in the same way Christ healed when He was on the earth.
He speaks with power and authority, boldly declaring that John Jacob would live, and be instantly made whole.
The spirit fills the room and Joseph finishes in the name of Jesus Christ.
He puts his arm around Orson Hyde as they watch John.
Everyone's eyes on the little one, breathlessly waiting to see what he does.
John Jacob coughs, gasps for air and then sighs.
He eases into his mother's arms and blinks many times until his eyes close and he is breathing softly.
"I have never seen such a miracle as this." Christiana whispers, in awe.
Joseph smiles and shakes George's hand.
"The priesthood power - given to man- is one of Gods holiest gifts. It is meant to bless all His children.
Thank you for asking me to come."
"No, thank you. Thank you." George embraces him. "We were so very worried, but we can now rest."
"It was my privilege and honor. Let me know how he is in the morn."
Orson and Joseph leave and head back home.
George turns to Christiana. "Was that not miraculous?"
She laughs. "It is remarkable to think I was concerned about death only moments ago,
when he is now sleeping soundly and breathing as if he hasn't a care in the world. God be thanked for His prophet."
"And God be thanked for you my dear, and your beautiful faith.
We heard you finish singing a hymn as we entered the house."
Christiana smiles. "It was how the Lord was comforting me."
George kisses her forehead. "It was not comforting to you alone, but to me as well. Thank you."
After this experience, George and Christiana simply cannot wait another day to be baptized.
So they choose to cut a hole in the frozen ice of the Mississippi river to do so!
It is an expression of their gratitude to the Lord and a desire to join His church.
As George comes up out of the frigid water, he cuts through the ice,
gets on solid ground and embraces his beloved wife as she wraps a blanket around his shoulders.
"I've n-n-never been ha-happier in my life!" He exclaims, shivering from head to toe.
Christiana laughs and hurries over to the waters edge for her turn.
Joseph stands in the frozen river, hugging himself to try to stay warm. She can see his breath in the air.
That moment, as the icy water climbs up her legs inside her dress, Christiana gasps and takes a step backwards.
She pauses and says a little prayer in her heart.
Father, please give me strength.
The words of the hymn from the night before re-enter her mind, this time the second verse.
"Shrink not from your duty, however unpleasant,
But follow the Savior, your pattern and friend.
Our little afflictions, tho painful at present,
Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end,
Ere long, with the righteous, in glory will end."
Christiana smiles and wades even deeper, pushing forward into the freezing water.
Im doing this for you God. Thank you.
   ********************************
To be continued.......
Because George and Christianas story doesn't end there! The third and final segment of this journey
I will write later on(: 
I love the Riser family! They had such faith. And when they came to know the truth,
they were willing to make sacrifices for the Lord. That is a common theme among the early members of the church!
They sacrificed so much. 
A favorite quote of mine by one of those early saints said
"I make a sacrifice of my all for Christ's sake to do his work.
Powerful. Why did they sacrifice so much? 
Because they knew the Savior. And they loved Him. 

What can we do to show our love for the Savior? What can we do to give our all to Him? 

This is what I've been pondering these past couple weeks.
I know that as we give ourselves to the Savior, as we offer Him our hearts and our lives,
He can make much more of us than we can by ourselves. 

Have a great week! Thank you for reading, I know it was a long one. 

All my love, 
Sister Bush 

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