Our new assignment this transfer includes serving at the Family Tree Family History center one day a week in Park City.

One night after work Natalie and Justin wanted us to go on a ride up the canyon to see the leaves. They said they heard they were beautiful. That is not even the word for it. They were absolutely GORGEOUS!!!! That does not even do them justice. The colors were just spectacular. Then a few days later, when we were coming home from Park City, we decided to come home through Guardsman’s Pass, and it was even more incredible. I have never seen more yellow quakies, ever. What a beautiful world we live in!!!!Millcreek CanyonGuardsman Pass

We have loved the visits from the kids. When Mitch and Cari came a few weeks ago, We we went to watch one of Justin’s water polo games. We were surprised to see our good friends, the Charltons, that are formerly from St. Anthony. We have not had a good visit since they have been back from their mission, so it was fun to be able to see them. Cade and Andrea had come to watch Justin play, and Charltons (Cade's parents) had come with them.With our friends, The Charltons

That afternoon Natalie, Cari, Alexa and I went to Gardner Village and had a fun time shopping.
The girls at Gardner Village which was decorated cute for Halloween!

We (minus Alexa) also had the opportunity to attend the Relief Society General Relief Society Womens Meeting at the Conference Center.
Since we moved here, Wayne and I have been trying to figure how to get out of the conference center doors that come out on the north side right below our condo. The mystery finally was solved when we came out from the General Relief Society Meeting and looked up and there was Wayne, Mitch and kids on the balcony. All three of us forgot to take our cameras to the Conference Center for the meeting, so this is after on the balcony of the condo

General Conference Weekend

We were serving at the South gate as the afternoon session of General Conference ended.

Here we are at the South Gate as the crowd is coming from the Conference Center after the Sunday afternoon session

Brett and Tiffany as they were leaving for General ConferenceRyan and Sheri were able to get tickets from their Stake for General Conference as well!

While serving at the tabernacle on Friday night last week it was rather slow just before closing, so we decided we would sing. It was awesome! The sisters do a pin drop demonstration every 15 minutes, and the acoustics are amazing. My voice is nothing special, but some of the sisters have beautiful voices, and it was incredible, just to be able to sing in there.

Justin has had a Polo tournament at Air Force Academy this weekend so Natalie came to hang out with us. We have had so much fun!! We spent Saturday morning at the Bingham Cooper Mine. That is one of the places Wayne has wanted to go since we have been here.

Looking down into the Kennecott Copper pit and standing by a tire from one of the trucks

We did miss our family last week as they were all together as Brett and Tiffany's Malorie was baptized. We would loved to have been there, but our mission president has put a limit of traveling within 100 miles. We appreciate our family for their understanding and support.

This is our latest view of the changing colors on the back of the Conference Center. We continue to have amazing experiences daily as we interact with people from all over the world.

Mission Moments

What an amazing few weeks we have had. In the short time we have been serving as missionaries, we have gained an incredible appreciation for Temple Square, missionary service, young sister missionaries, the Gospel, leaders, and our ancestors who were so dedicated and sacrificed so much. There has not been a day that we have not had a gospel discussion with people from all over the world. Most of the people who come want to know who we are and how the Church came to be. Some have never heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. But the one common thread we hear is "What is it that makes you people so happy?" Most are genuinely interested, but once in a while there are people who get somewhat agitated, like a man from Germany who walked away from his wife yesterday because she said she would like to go on a tour with the sister missionaries. Our main responsibility is to encourage the visitors to go on a tour . When they do that, they not only learn about the history of the buildings, but a little about the Church as well. Of course, once they are with the sister missionaries, the spirit does the work.


We have had such interesting conversations with visitors. I talked to a couple from Germany on Saturday, they were not familiar with our religion and they were so intrigued with what they had seen and felt. I saw them again on Monday, and they had spent their time seeing every video and building here. They had so many questions for which they were finding answers. They of course filled out a referral for the missionaries to visit and bring a Book of Mormon when they get back to Germany. I only wish we would be able to follow them for the rest of the story........


Tuesday we had the opportunity to have a backstage tour of the conference center. This picture is on top of the conference center with several of the sister missionaries


This morning we went with some of the other senior missionaries and a few sister missionaries to Little Cottonwood Canyon where the rock for the Salt Lake Temple was quarried. It was so interesting as our presenter told us how the rock was quarried, transported, and eventually used in the building.
This is as we were searching the rockbed for our own stones.
It is unbelieveable how the temple was built. As you can see, our days are not all work. However, the hours on our feet are long, but we are slowly adjusting. We are loving our mission!

We had a great surprise last Saturday. Mitch called to say he was at our house in St. Anthony and wondered what we needed him to get while he was there. They were planning on coming down in a couple weeks and he said it would be easier for him to get the stuff while he was there, rather than make another trip to get it. I gave him a big list to gather. About four hours later Wayne hears a knock on the door and opened it. He didn't see anyone, but then he looked down and there was Alexa and Tanner! Mitch, Cari, Natalie and Justin were around the corner. We were so excited to see them. We miss our Grandkids so much (of course we miss their parents too) but it made our day. It was so fun to see them even if their visit was short. That is one of the blessings of serving here - our kids get to visit!

Our Latest Adventures...

Finally, We are missionaries!! Our lives have been very busy this past month getting ready to leave for 18 months.

After more travels, family reunions, cleaning and packing, we are now living in Salt Lake. Thank heaven for children who are willing to help bail us out. We tried to empty most of the top level of our house. What a process ! Natalie came and spent a week with us and she was a lifesaver. I'm not sure I want to ask what happened to most of my things, but I also know I probably won't miss them. I finally said, "Just don't ask", which may have been a mistake, but we certainly did make lots of trips to the dump and D.I.

We were set apart on Sunday night, August 3rd, by President Nichols. Most of our family was there, and we both received special blessings and felt the spirit as President Nichols set us apart as missionaries. We were amazed with the insight he had as he blessed each of us according to our special needs.

We left for Utah on Friday to get settled before we had to begin work on Monday morning. We were very fortunate to secure housing just north of the conference Center. Our balcony looks down on the roof of the conference center and the temple. It is a beautiful view of the city, and especially gorgeous at night with all the lights. Our place is furnished, not exactly to our taste, but it was so nice not to have to move our furniture.

We spent the first week on temple square in training.

We will be working at all the locations on the square, as well as Welfare Square, Humanitarian Center, the Beehive House, and the Legacy Theater. Our first week was amazing as we toured all the different places and spent at least half a day at each post. There are 160 Sister Missionaries here, but a fourth of them are out proselyting in different missions throughout the U.S. at a given time. They are truly amazing. They come from all over the world and the tours are given in 40 different languages. We stand in awe as we watch them and feel of their strong testimonies and dedication.

After spending a week on temple square, we left for the Missionary Training Center on August 18th. I must admit, it was much easier going there myself than it was leaving our sons there.

The MTC is a spiritual haven. Our week there was filled with studying, training, teaching. We were exhausted at the end of each day, but what strength we gained from all the Elders and Sisters there. It was a feast every day, both spiritually and physically. Elder Dallin Oaks and his wife were the devotional speakers on Tuesday night. The first rows are reserved for the senior missionaries, so we were right in front of him on the third row. It was a powerful meeting and as we sang "Called to Serve" with 2000 missionaries, the realization that we are part of that great missionary force hit me. I couldn't even sing. Sister Elaine Dalton, general president of the Young Womens organization was the speaker for Relief Society on Sunday. Another wonderful meeting.

We have made many new friends as a result of our experience at the MTC. We spent the week with thirty-two couples , and several single sisters leaving to serve throughout the world.

The newest kids on Temple Square.

Elder and Sister Rock from Fishers, Indiana

Elder and Sister Bingham from Weston, Idaho

Elder and Sister Johnson

This is the view from our balcony. It is gorgeous, both day and night.




Up Up and Away



Our children gave Wayne a gift certificate for a hot air balloon ride in Park City for his birthday.



We decided he better do it before we start our mission. He absolutely loved it and said everyone should do it some time in their lifetime.

"Lift off"

View from the balloon

Family Reunion

We had our Johnson reunion the end of July. Kirk and Jen planned the activities and they did a super job. The Holloways were kind enough to let us use their cabin and we had such a fun time.

We went to the playmill, four wheeling, floating the river, attended a rodeo and dutch oven dinner and nearly lost four of the men in our family to bulls and three of the grandchildren to calves as they participated in the rodeo --- scary! I don't recommend this activity to any one. A man sitting by me said, "What is wrong with your family"? What could I say?


How many grandkids can you fit in a closet?











The whole tribe on four wheelers. We rode up to the top of the continental divide overlooking Henry's Lake. It was beautiful!









Justin, our son in law, wannabe cowboy. These were almost the last breaths he took.













The crazy Johnsons! Our kids provided the entertainment for the dutch oven dinner.












"Floating down the river on a sunny afternoon"










I'm not sure I want to claim this bunch, but yes, we are all Johnson's. We laughed until we were sick as we all had to perform with various costumes and songs. It was hilarious!







We managed to squeeze one last trip to Oregon before our life was put on "hold". We spent a week at the Whispering Wood Condo in Welches, Oregon. It is by Mt. Hood and it was beautiful. We thoroughly enjoyed the beauty, quiet, and serenity of the area.