Progress, Hope and Blessings

 We enjoyed another good week. Our investigator is still making progress reading the Book of Mormon.  We are often able to form our lessons around topics he is encountering in his reading. It is also great that his learning/reading is reinforced in Sunday School each week. He will eventually have to take a stand on the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon something he has not yet done during his 30+ year association with the church. He doesn't seem to be much of a seeker. It is the social part that draws him to the church, the local members are pretty much all the friends he knows. (Epiphany!, why have we not been bringing members with us to express their love and to invite him to get baptized?) We will change that paradigm!
 Our two Less active brothers are making progress as well. Br. Klingman shared with us a desire to begin to re-read the Book of Mormon. We shared with him a video from the Neal A. Maxwell Institute that outlined exciting discoveries validating some near eastern Book of Mormon geography that, in part, helped that decision. Br. Matson said he would be OK if we started a weekly Gospel Principles class with him. We shared with him an amazing conversion story. It is on the Internet and was referred to us by some other Senior Missionaries. If you want to watch an inspiring story of faith and prayer watch, " Baptist Missionary Becomes Mormon", it's in four parts. Even though it is a YouTube video I could only find it by doing a Google search by the title.
 We received a response to a letter we sent to the Elder from our branch who is in prison telling him we will visit him on Memorial Day. He is quite strong considering his situation and will be a great addition to some unit upon his release. I've included a copy.

 Visiting with him is a sure way to remember to count your blessings. He has about 2 years to go if I remember right.


With much thankfulness,
Elder and Sister Johnson

Artesian Water and a Wild Rabbit

  It has been a relatively slow week. Our "normal" teaching opportunities broke down this past week with excuses given that I am sure sounded good to those who gave them. We didn't lose anyone and we did have another strong meeting with Bob Peters our investigator. He is starting to move farther ahead in his reading of the Book of Mormon each week than we expect of him. His questions are better and he is much more engaged. We still feel like persistence (boldness) tempered with love and patience is the key to his eventual baptism. Also this was pasty making week...again, however for the first time in 35 years they are suspending the pasties for the summer months. We will start up again in September.
 Cole Paquette, a 22 year old member, spoke Sunday prior to entering the MTC later this month. He did a good job. We're hoping that his mission, the first in the branch in over five years, will help bring the branch closer together while lending some additional focus to missionary work.
 Spring has pretty much arrived. As you might guess it is green, green everywhere. It is beautiful. Here are some more scenes from the U.P.

Artesian spring in Norway...great water

Falls coming from the Fumee Nature Preserve  

Bridge in Crystal Falls over the Paint River.

  It is a wonderful time of year, birds and animals galore. We have a rabbit that lives under our deck, we are continually startling each other at various times of day. This morning it came tearing around the corner a hundred miles an hour, saw me, stopped on a dime and tore off in the opposite direction. Great fun! We just don't get that back home.

Not that rabbit!!

We're having a great time. Wish you were here...really,
G-pa and G-ma Johnson

A Deck, Trillium and Tatting

  We enjoyed a fairly normal week. We took some extra personal time to prepare lessons and talks (I was asked to give a Mothers Day talk in Sacrament Meeting). We have noticed that working with less active members requires us to prepare 2-3 different lessons each week in addition to the lessons for Sunday classes. We're not complaining it is just an observation. We did have one enormous bright spot. Br. Klingman had actually read and studied the lesson we asked him to in the Gospel Principles manual. This allowed us to have a fruitful discussion about "worthiness". Our meeting concluded with his volunteering to say the closing prayer, we have heard few prayers as heartfelt and meaningful as this one. He has committed to study, with us, a different Gospel Principles lesson each week. He has also committed to re-read the Book of Mormon. He will soon be returning to church and, by his own admission, is looking forward to the Elders Quorum party at his place on the 28th of July. Here is a picture of his new deck overlooking his backyard. He recently took a picture, which he showed us, of a bobcat that came into his yard to looked at the figurines he has there. Curiosity! 

Notice the quality of workmanship displayed; he made the beautiful design with the paddle and I will admit the railing design is a suggestion I made. As we have said before, his return to activity will be an important one for the branch as well as him.
  In our travels the last couple of weeks we have encountered a very pretty flowering plant which, in many places, covers the entire floor of the forest. It is called Trillium and it's picking or removal on public lands is prohibited in NY, MI and MN.

Trillium

It seems when you pick the "flower" (really leaves called bracts), it injures the plant by preventing the leaf-like bracts from producing food for the next year. For that reason it takes many years for the plants to recover. We have encountered a much more common flowering plant of which a person may pick as many as they want.

Yes, that is an entire field of Dandelions. I don't think the leaves will be harvested to be used in salads however. They grow everywhere. Very few people even try to spray for them. Our 1st counselor called them the State Flower...I think he was kidding.
  Bob Peters gave us some mixed messages. He very gently told us he doesn't like feeling pushed into any decision implying that he was feeling pushed. He is enjoying reading, with interest, the B of M for the first time in 30 years (since the rest of his family was baptized). We told him we would continue to support his reading and had him commit to baptism "when" he received his testimony. He said he would. We further asked him to not let stubbornness or personal pride get in the way. Again he agreed. We have had many discussions about faith, baptism, truth, testimony, etc. and he has, by his own admission, made progress. He is always friendly. We will keep visiting/teaching. We just hope he will receive his testimony before either he or we die. We asked him directly if he thought he would ever be baptized and he said yes...so therein lies our hope and faith.
  Sister Johnson enjoyed conversing/Skyping with almost all of our children and grandchildren on Mothers Day. It really brightens our day to hear of their many adventures and growth. When we count our many blessings, family is always number 1 on the list. Sister Johnson has told some of you about her new passion of Tatting. Here is a picture of some of her recent work.

Tatting is a technique for handcrafting a particularly durable lace constructed by a series of knots and loops. Tatting dates back to the early 19th century and is not uncommon in the U.P. It is used to make doilies, collars and other decorative pieces. Cindy Gordon the Relief Society President and Sister Johnson's Visiting Teacher tats and collects tatting. She taught her some basic techniques. At least it's not the other kind of tatting (tattooing), because I would be her practice canvas.

Off to another fantastic week,
Elder and Sister Johnson

A Printer, Trofeo and Sweetheart City

 This week we had a very good first serious discussion with Br. Klingman about his return to activity. He has lived in the area about two years. He built a house with a beautiful, large backyard overlooking a marvelous wild vista. On our very first visit a couple of months ago he volunteered that we should use his yard for a church function. We have taken him up on it. On July 28 we will have an Elders Quorum party. He said, "I guess I had better come to church so that people will know who I am". Well, YES!! We reminded him of the Gift of the Holy Ghost and His role as a testifier of Christ's atonement the greatest act of comfort of all time. He seemed touched. We then showed him videos on Mormon.org and LDS.org, made an appointment for next Friday and went home. Before leaving he asked if we would like a slightly used printer (to replace the, at least weekly, visits to the library) he had replaced it with a newer one and a triple chocolate cake (not a replacement but an actual cake). We said yes to both. What an amazing man. It is great how the Lord moves to bless his missionaries.
 While in Crystal Falls we also visited the brother who experienced much improved health after receiving a priesthood blessing.  He has been "unable" to see us when we have called for an appointment. This time we just stopped at his house and made an appointment with him for this coming Wednesday. He has asked for some help understanding some of the church doctrines and other things he has heard from detractors. He is a very good mechanic. When we first met he wanted to know if I had ever heard of a Trofeo. Of course I knew this 80's Oldsmobile two door coupe sister to the Buick Riviera. In the time we have been here he has rebuilt the damaged front end on the one he was working on and purchased a second one already restored. He was so impressed with my interest and obscure knowledge that it has lead to a special relationship. This will make it easier to speak frankly with him, if needed.

1988 Oldsmobile Trofeo

 We had two non-members attend church this week. One was Br. Peters with whom we are still working and, so far, seems to be making progress. The other is the 40+ year old daughter of a solid member. She was one of the first investigators we had just shortly after our arrival. On our third visit after teaching her the first lesson she told us in no uncertain terms that "she was definitely not interested and to please not call on her anymore." Well...she has attended church with her father the last two weeks, she has quit smoking and yesterday attended the Gospel Principles class that I teach. We are hopeful she will allow us to re-introduce her the gospel.
 While looking for "lost" members on Saturday we encountered the completely charming town of Sweetheart City. A very small community placed adjacent to a small lake containing clean well kept houses with trimmed and manicured yards.  The part member family we met seemed very happy. they were active in their church and their children were well behaved and intelligent. Their goal of maintaining a happy focused family was being realized in this small and very out-of-the-way village with the completely apt name of Sweetheart City.
 For your enjoyment I have included an Alex Boye' video I found very compelling.

 
Happy in the work,
Elder and Sister Johnson

 For those that are interested, here is the local paper's account of the outcome of the trial of the accused killer of Joyce Johnson, much loved member of the Iron Mountain Branch.

Levack convicted

May 5, 2012

By NIKKI YOUNK - Staff Writer , The Daily News

CRYSTAL FALLS - A jury of seven women and five men has convicted David Levack of first degree premeditated murder, first degree felony murder, first degree home invasion, and witness intimidation for killing 81-year-old Joyce Johnson of Stambaugh Township.

Levack, 45, of Kingsford will be sentenced in Iron County Trial Court at 9 a.m. on June 11.

He faces life in prison on both of the murder charges, 20 years in prison on the home invasion charge, and 15 years in prison on the witness intimidation charge. He is also listed as a habitual offender-third, which doubles the maximum penalty of the primary charge.

Jurors deliberated for about nine and a half hours over the course of two days before reaching the guilty verdict at approximately 1 p.m. Friday.

After the verdict was read, Johnson's family members expressed their gratitude and relief.

"We'd like to thank the sheriff's department, prosecutor's office, Michigan State Police, and everyone who worked on the case," said Johnson's son Paul Johnson.

"We'd also like to thank the jury for their time."

"She finally had her day in court," added Johnson's daughter Sheri Branham.

Johnson was found deceased in her bath tub on Sept. 27, 2011, the same day that she was scheduled to testify in a stolen property trial against Levack. An autopsy determined that Johnson died of manual strangulation.

Iron County Sheriff Mark Valesano agreed with the jury's decision.

"I am very proud of the job my staff, the prosecutor and her staff, and all of the agencies that assisted us during this investigation and prosecution have done," he said. "We would like to thank the jury for their sacrifice, time, and the accepting of their civic duty. We believe that their verdict is correct and just. And, we would once again pass on our deepest sympathy to the family of Mrs. Joyce Johnson."

Levack's defense attorney Dan Jaspen of Iron Mountain was disappointed.

"It was a hard case," he said. "I'm obviously disappointed, but the jury worked hard, paid attention, and I wouldn't second guess their decision."

Although the murder case has come to an end, Levack still faces felony charges stemming from other incidents.

In Iron County Trial Court, Levack faces one felony count of receiving and concealing stolen property and one felony count of larceny in a building for allegedly stealing Johnson's jewelry in November 2008. A jury trial in that case was scheduled to commence on May 15.

Iron County Prosecutor Melissa Powell previously said that the trial might be canceled if Levack was convicted on the murder charges.

In Dickinson County Circuit Court, Levack faces two felony counts of felonious assault and one felony count of carrying a concealed weapon for allegedly pulling a knife on Detective/Sgts. Chris Bracket and Jean Belanger of the Michigan State Police.

That incident occurred on Oct. 3, 2011 when the two attempted to make contact with Levack at Motel 6 in Iron Mountain.

The last murder trial in Iron County occurred in 2007, when teens Eddie Andrew Mesik and Bradley Starnes were convicted of killing 67-year-old Darrel McDonald of Iron River.

They were each sentenced to mandatory life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Nikki Younk's e-mail address is nyounk@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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