Sunday in our new branch

We have been assigned to the Keokuk Branch. It is about a half hour away - a lot closer than some missionaries who travel 1-2 hours. They have a lovely new building and is a good size branch. There were probably about 80 people- some were visitors of course. 4 missionary couples are assigned there. They were quite happy to find I have done primary music so I have my assignment for church. We can’t have callings - just assignments to help where needed. It is a good branch and though very different from Utah there is a good spirit there and I already met some very faithful people. I’m happy I can serve there.
Tonight we went to another performance and the wind seemed like a mini hurricane to me. When it started to rain 10 minutes into the program they had to cancel. 😢. Disappointing. I hate to miss anything!

Carthage

Today was our P Day so we had the whole day to do whatever we chose. So we drove the country roads past miles of cornfields to Carthage.  Don’t quite know how to describe the feelings and the spirit that the jail causes. Sad but sacred. Joseph Smith really comes alive in these places. Being there is different than reading about it. The church has made the grounds a beautiful peaceful place.   

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I loved this quote.

The window is the one Joseph fell out of. Dad and I are standing outside under the window.

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The stairs that the mob rushed up. 

The room where Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and Willard Richards were. It is actually a bedroom of the jailer's family. He was kind to the prisoners and didn’t keep them in the jail cell. 

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The jail is the original building.

The door is the original one with the bullet hole that killed Hyrum.

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Sunset by the Mississippi

Saturday night we went to a performance by the Nauvoo Brass Band and the young performing missionaries. It was SOOOO great!!  They were truly amazing - so energetic so entertaining so fun! They had a band concert,  a children’s parade, the old senior missionaries singing and dancing (but not temple missionaries- we’re too dignified), humor and serious mix, and lots of patriotic music. I especially loved when they played the marine corps music and asked former marines to stand. The whole evening was thoroughly impressive!

End of first week

We’ll we made it through our first week - 7 out of 8 days in the temple. Dad is a trooper - but I’m glad he has a weekend to regain some energy. We can now find our way around all 5 floors of the temple (no small feat) and have done most of the assignments. I really love baptistry assignments- the youth from everywhere are so great!  Today we had a group from the choir of the American Heritage School across from Timpanogas temple. Impressive young people!

Since we didn’t start our shift til 12:30 we had a free morning. I walked down the Trail of Hope again. I really love it.  Then we went to a play which was very cute - mostly directed to a young audience but it had a great message of everyone is important. Outstanding young people who perform about 9 different plays through the summer. They’re amazing. 

    We drove to the temple through the beginnings of another major thunderstorm.  An hour later in the temple we heard the LOUDEST clap of thunder I’ve ever heard. Apparently it took out all the computer system and even hit the Angel Moroni😢. Now he has a dark face. Lightning rods aren’t foolproof.  All in all it’s been a totally wonderful week!

A significant date

Today is June 27. It is the 17th anniversary of the Nauvoo temple dedication. And it is the 175th anniversary of the death of the prophet Joseph and Hyrum. We went to a memorial service at the Smith family cemetery. It focused on the words of the hymn A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief.  Some of the young performing missionaries took turns singing a verse (each verse sung to a different hymn melody so it didn’t get repetitive) with a spoken message of  Joseph Smith’s words from scripture or letters that emphasized the message of the hymn that when we serve others we are serving Christ. It was a lovely program. We had to leave early to do the afternoon/evening shift and unfortunately we couldn’t go to the evening memorial program at the Carthage Jail. I hate to miss ANYTHING but we ARE here to serve in the temple!  Tonight I went back over to the cemetery. They had candles all over the lawn. It was SO quiet and peaceful to sit there looking at the Mississippi River and think of Joseph and Emma walking this very ground. I thought of all that Joseph Smith did during his 38 years. How can people doubt that he was a prophet. He surely couldn’t have done so much good that continues to bless millions of people if not inspired and directed by God. And Hyrum - what an example of a humble, loyal brother - totally devoted to Joseph and the gospel. I looked at Emma’s grave also and thought about her many heartaches and sacrifices, yet she was faithful and true to Joseph through everything. I used to think a little critically of her for not going west with the pioneers but tonight I wondered if she just couldn’t leave Joseph even in his grave. I have been getting a better understanding of Joseph’s words as he left for Carthage - “ this is the loveliest place and the best people under heaven”.   Oh how I love it here!

Temple service begins

 This morning we began our real temple service. I love being in this wonderful historic building. And we work with such amazing sweet people. The shift is a bit long for dad but he is holding up well. And for me it is easy. We stopped on the way home from the temple at the Heber C Kimball home which was dad’s first chance to go to one of the historic sites. You can just feel the love and hope that the Saints put into building these beautiful homes.

That evening we had a special dinner with the Temple presidency - just the three new couples that arrived when we did. I am beginning to feel like the temple presidency are dear old friends.  They are so kind and personable and make you feel so welcome and loved already. On Tuesday we worked again in the morning and then stopped by the family history center where my cousin Karen and her husband Mike work.  Then dad came home for a nap and I went back to the family history center to begin learning from my cousin. We also had dinner with Karen and Mike that evening so we had another pleasant time to share together. We went home in the midst of a thunderstorm the likes of which I have never seen!!

The Family History Center- Karen and Mike live on the top floor. 

     Wednesday we also worked the morning shift and that  afternoon three other sister temple missionaries invited me to go with them to the neighboring town of Burlington Iowa. We were on a shopping trip leaving the husbands at home since they wouldn’t enjoy that. It was a fun afternoon - we went to about six different stores. Burlington is a pretty big city about an hour away - lots of different places to go and explore. One sister in particular who is very friendly and outgoing loves thrift shops so she took us to one and we all had a great time finding bargains. I got a very warm sort of dressy winter coat  for $4 - a good substitute for garage sales!  Every day is filled with wonderful things!

Walk the Trail of Hope

I don’t want to forget these words of the people who walked this trail so I’m preserving them for me and anyone else who wants to read these inspiring words.

Come take a “virtual tour” with me!

First Sunday

We went to church here in Nauvoo. Sometimes they have 2000 people in attendance it was a wonderful meeting - good people everywhere you go.  It’s so easy to love the missionary couples. Everyone of them comes over to meet and welcome us. They come from all over and from every temple. All strangers, but we feel immediately connected to them in this great work. There is nothing more wonderful than temple service and the good good people who do it.
Soon after church we were back in the temple for four more hours of instruction, training, and counsel from the temple presidency and matrons. It was all wonderful. After that we went  with Karen and Glen to what is called the Trail of Hope. You walk down the very street that the pioneers walked on as they left Nauvoo. The young performing missionaries are stationed all along the trail telling stories in the words of the pioneers who were leaving Nauvoo. It was so touching. Some places had singing and instrumental music that were part of that particular pioneer’s story. It was all so well done! At one point on the trail you could look back and see the temple all lit up and so beautiful. How hard it would have been for them to leave something they had worked and sacrificed so much for. I felt such a love for the temple here already. I can still hardly believe I have the blessing of being here-  immersed in temple service and in the history I love so much.

This is Parley Street - the wagons rolled down this street to the river. 

History lessons😊

 Saturday morning Karen and Glen were in Nauvoo so I left dad to rest up for our afternoon temple shift and went with them for my first experience with visiting the Nauvoo sites. I loved them all! We began with a wagon tour - a great way to get an overview of Nauvoo.  Then we went to the cultural hall, the Scovil bakery, the tinsmith shop, the Browning gunsmith and blacksmith shop, the post office, John Taylor’s home and printing shop. Every one of them was interesting, informative and had inspiring stories. I loved hearing the words of the people who actually lived in these places. People talk a lot about the spirit of Nauvoo and it is real. You can’t help but feel something different on these grounds and in these buildings. It was a wonderful introduction to the historical sites.

An ingenious pioneer mousetrap. Can you figure out how it works??