HELLO FROM SWEDEN!

Beloved Missionaries from the Hartford, Conn. Mission.,

HELLO FROM SWEDEN!

We are now living in the country where my husband served his mission 62 years ago. It has always been his dream to return here to live. We are serving in the Swedish Temple and it is just wonderful to be in the Lord's house and serve with such spiritual people.We are tired at the end of an eight-hour day but live close by so we don't have to commute.

We were disappointed to be away when the reunion was planned and had hoped that it would go forward but we understand that it was postponed. We are sad that some had made plans and we missed you and hope everyone received the word.

We think of you often and today when we greeted the missionaries here we remembered our treasured days with you. We frequently tell others of our great experiences in Hartford, of the miracles, the tears and the laughter.

I was thinking of you when our temple president told us that the "Tree of life" is to be found in temple work, that that is indeed the door to Heavenly blessings. It makes sense to me. And that the three missions of the Church, namely: perfecting the saints, missionary work and redeeming the dead are all accomplished in the temple.

So I recommend in your futures you consider, along with missions, to be ordinance workers. As one friend in the temple in Bountiful said, "It's the best kept secret in the church".We will be here a year or a year and a half depending on our health and family considerations.

It has been interesting to me to learn how many of you have had autistic children. We have a grandson who is now sixteen and austistic. Of course they are celestial people and choice spirits but represent alot of prayer and sometimes expense. Also there are those of you who have handicapped children who are also celestial. Some have even lost children.Would you be interested in communicating with one another? To share successes and challenges and ideas? These children have been given to very choice parents who bless their lives.

Our love goes out to each one of you and how we are blessed to have you as our other family. We have never prayed, laughed or cried as much as we did on our mission with you. As we read your names and look at your faces I wish we could tell you each one that we still remember and love you and pray for you. I hope that in the next world we can mingle one with another.

Hosting, China and The Isle of Man were unusual in their own way. Sweden is a modern city, very clean. So there isn't anything much to tell you, nothing funny. Lots of water and islands and Ikea, blonde hair, red houses with white trim, funny language and lots of Swedes. The Gospel is true here as well as there and testimony meeting was very spiritual today. What a marvelous thing this Gospel is in our lives. It is and will be our life-line in days to come. Hold fast to it's principles, be patient with your children and with yourselves and know you are dearly loved

Love always, The Pres. and Sister Ensign

Reunion Update

With President and Sister Ensign being gone on a Mission to Sweden we have postponed/cancelled the Reunion in June. We are sorry for the sporatic information and how late this official word is.

We are also looking for feedback on whether or not we should plan a reunion while they are gone. Please voice your opinions. We have a group set up on Facebook specifically for the Ensign's. There we have a discussion question specifically for this. Please let us know how you feel.

Twitter

In an effort to get word out to everyone possible. We have set up an account at Twitter for the Ensign's. You can follow them at http://twitter.com/EnsignCHM.

Sweden

Our Beloved,       Thinking of you and would like to bear my testimony before we leave for Sweden.      We have been working in the Bountiful temple and have enjoyed it more than we can say. Over the years we have been on missions and have had many spiritual experiencesbut working in the temple has added a new dimension to my testimony.        I was thinking that it reminds me of schooling in higher education. Colleges and Universities often invite prospective students to visit the campus, see the environment, and above all determine if they can achieve their goal of being educated and graduate successfully.        Well, the temple certainly represents a Higher Education, a house of learning with a goal in mind-that of obtaining the Celestial Kingdom. There we receive instructions, make covenants, receive marvelous promises in glorious surroundings equally dressed in white. It is to me the opportunity to experience Heaven, as we feel the love, the reverence and the -Spirit of the Lord. It is truly His House. And we work to receive a degree in a Kingdom.        Now we are planning to go to Sweden to work in the temple there. Some people say we are great, noble and all that but to be truthful we are going because we are the happiest when we are on missions. At home our time is fragmented as we keep busy doing busy work. On a mission we are focused on the Lord's work and it is a wonderful experience  for couples. We have always gotten along very well but there is something about serving together, without demands from children or anything else that brings a sweeter relationship and stronger bonds.        As for the family, they seem to be more greatly blessed when we are away. We have had miracles pronounced upon our children, and they rely more on each other.        I've never been happier; I feel such peace and have the faith that we can put our trust in our Father-in-Heaven come what may. While I think I am all-wise and have all the answers at 76 and continue to impart them to my children, nevertheless I know they will be alright, all because of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and because of the atoning sacrifice of our Saviour Jesus Christ. I know that He is mindful of His children and is there for us to comfort and bless.        Of course we will get homesick for our family and good neighbors but look forward to the temple there. I am working on my Swedish that of course my husband is proficient in. He is encouraging but nonetheless I'm not that great.        Could be that something could happen to one of us while we are away but there again I feel peaceful about the whole thing. I would consider it a graduation and would get my report card. I don't think the Lord grades on the curve.          So grateful for all you mean to us and pray the Lord to bless you always. My husband joins in sending our love to each of you.   Broder och Syster Ensign

Our Beloved Missionaries, Sisters and Elders,

It has been awhile since we have communicated with you. We had hoped to spend alot of time finding all of you but we have been extremely busy with family, ect. I'm convinced it will be a lifelong work as you move so much. This is surely the busiest time of your lives but remember, they are some of the best.

We are making plans for the reunion June 20th. If you email me I will try my best to find the contact info to find your great former companions and try to meet up with them then. It is so very important to hold close to each other and stay strong in the faith. These surely are the last days and will be the best for the strong but tough for the world in general.

Recently our grandson returned home from his mission and we felt his missionary zeal and loved it. He told us about a woman who had joined the church and years after had refused to move in case her missionaies tried to contact her. It was sad for her and also for them that they had lost contact. Sister Uckjdorf? told us how important it is to keep in touch, how her missionaries still communicate with her. We are sure you are very busy but if possible try to find your families duals you taught. Our phone number is 801-2942672.

With regards to the reunion, we will have a get-together Saturday, March 28th here at our home in North Salt Lake. We hope to haave several here so the preparation will be divided among many. We will have juice and donuts. We have our temple work on Saturday afternoon so we will meet here at 10;00 am until noon. We will need to contact, some for the program, some to plan activities for children, ect. The blowup worked well for the children last time I understand, so we will do that. The drink and icecream will be provided. We should have activities for two or three days and attendance at our ward the next day if you wish, we have an incredible ward starting t 11:00 a.m.

We know you are the greatest missionaries ever and remember you and will always love you. We are so very blessed to have served with you and to have benefited from your shining example to us. We are very excited to see you and yours.

We are thinking about going on another mission because that is REALLY living.

Love to you, each one.

Pres. and Sis. Ensign

Reunion Info

The 2009 Reunion is coming soon. The Ensigns are looking for those who would like to help. There will be a meeting on March 28th at 10am for those interested. If you need directions contact the webmaster on the mission website.

Here is what we have planned so far

June 19th - Temple Night (Temple TBD)

June 20th - Lunch in the Park

Pass the word! Lets get everyone at the Reunion this year!

Christmas Greetings

Beloved Missionaries,

     Here it is Christmas once again and our hearts are drawn to you in remembrance of the Christmastimes and wonderful days we spent with you.  Over and over we have said that those were the most beautiful days of our lives!  And we truly mean it.  And you made it all possible for us.  How can we ever thank you enough?  Again this year so many have sent us emails and cards that we thought the best way of responding was to send this message of love and greetings to each and every one.  Thank you for your individual remembrances including pictures!   We savour those.

     We know you are celebrating this season with your individual traditions which is makes for family memories, especially for the children.   May we add our testimonies to yours that we know that the birth of the Saviour came about just as Luke described it in his second chapter.  Christ the Lord, son of the Father, the Creator of Heaven and Earth, suffered His magnificent glorious Creative Spirit to be born of a mortal mother in, of all places, a manger in a stall with animals.  What a humble tribute to the majesty of his divine spirit.  Surely he is the Christ, the Annointed One who appeared with his Father to the young prophet Joseph Smith who truly did translate the Book of Mormon from the gold plates.  President Thomas S. Monson, in his last October Conference, asked members to pray to soften the hearts of the leaders of nations who have not permitted missionaries, to please open their doors so that the doctrines of salvation may come to every nation, kindred, tongue and people.  Surely in this way the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ may be hastened.  May we invite you and yours at this Christmastime to join us in this latest request of our prophet to appeal to the Father of us all to hasten this glorious day.  Coming from our mission in China we are first hand witnesses to what this blessing would be to millions of our brothers and sisters who we learned to love.

     We extend our special love to you and yours.  May this Christmas be special to you and may you feel the love of our Heavenly Father surrounding your family.  Once again, we send our sincere love and greetings and we hope to see you in June at our reunion.  

The Ensigns