Wednesday,
November 8, 2017 – The Future of “Rendezvous” according to Elder Randy Simmons
Facebook post by:
Randy Simmons to Loretta Sudweeks
Lorretta: I can give you a summation of what I took
away from the luncheon from the comments that E Shultz made and others. E
Shultz talked for a few min about the changes in Nauvoo. One of the mandates
coming from the First Presidency and the Brethren is that they want to simplify
some of the operations of the church. Nauvoo would fall in that category. Also
what was humorous twenty years ago, is no longer humorous in the current
political correctness generation. Mothers were concerned about some of the
content in the Jed and Annie part and “high maintenance women” (my words not E Shultz)
were concerned about the whole Geo and Agatha portion, numerous complaints were
received by the brethren concerning both. Numbers of complaints had reached
numbers high enough that the brethren had to address it. Rendezvous has simply
run it course and is now offensive to the younger generation. It is gone, will
not be back and will not be replaced by something else. Next: twenty four YPM’s
will be called instead of twenty. They will perform in three groups of eight
YPM’s instead of two groups of ten YPM’s. That will allow them to spread out
and perform in Carthage, downtown and in Old Nauvoo. Also E Swain said that
missionaries who have a lot of expertise in “Kiosk interactive Site” design
where you push a button and listen to a story and video are being called and
hired to convert historic church sites to require less senior missionaries.
Sites such as Bluff, UT, the restoration of the priesthood on the Susquehanna
River and Palmyra were mentioned. They are completely interactive now and only
need a couple of senior missionary couples to manage. Wagon, carriage and Ox
rides. I called President Hall last week and asked about the teamster program.
I called to offer to come for six months to help restart the wagon rides. Pres
Hall said there were no teamsters being called at this time. They are currently
giving ox rides, which are very popular, and simply exercising the horses. But
no wagon or carriage rides. He said he would like to see the wagon rides
reinstated but had been given no direction from SLC as to the future status of
either. He also said there had been in some discussion with the brethren about
a six month mission for teamsters which he favored. Part of that discussion was
that winter wagon and carriage rides were something that could be discontinued
and not be detrimental to the mission. Also: the new mission president that was
called, came down with some health issues and was not able to come so a new
mission president had been called to replace him. He told me who it was but I
forgot. In any case Pres Hall will be leaving in Jan and it will be up to the
new president in conjunction with the brethren to determine the future of the
teamster program. Since he would not be part of that he could not really
comment on what that will be. However E McNight told me not to write off the
horses yet. After the luncheon Darcy and I ran down to Panguitch to visit with
the Daltons, Robsions and the Chamberlains. Then we went to the open house of
the Cedar City Temple, then home in time to make our shift at the Vernal Temple
this morning. Randy. Remember this is just what I took away from the luncheon,
it would be great if E Shultz would give us a more accurate version, you know
how easily second hand stories can get twisted. Say Hi to Larry for me.
Loretta
Sudweeks Comment: Thank you Randy Simmons.
I
need to get Larry to drive his new toy to your neck of the woods for a road
trip. We miss you and Darci. I was not really impressed with the Kiosk
interactive sites. I felt more and learned more from the Sister missionaries
who took us down to the Hale homes in Susquehanna afterward and through the
Kirtland and Palmyra sites. The interactive sites were in the Visitor's Center.
They are a good start, but the human connection and spirit filled testimony are
what really makes the church history sites breathe. Nauvoo is so much larger, I
can see the visitor's center being updated, but I hope they don't take the
kiosk idea into the sites. Those should still be shown by people. Visitors love
the missionaries the best (besides the horses..)
Randy Simmons Comment: Thanks for all the feedback
everyone, just remember that was my take. There are others who know more than I
do (Shultz, McNight, Pres Hall, and others) hopefully they will keep us
informed. The bottom line is Nauvoo is and always will be the City of Joseph
and he still has great influence on what happens there and in Carthage. Its
such a wonderful place and will continue to be so, it will always be the place
where the light of the prophet Joseph shown the brightest. I'm so thankful I
got to serve there.
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