Another good week

Never a dull day yet!  This week we had a FHE with 3 other missionary couples - a good gospel discussion and great company. We have visited a few other sites - the blacksmith/wainwright shop (anyone know what a wainwright is?), the Browning Gun Shop, and the Family Living Center where we learned about bread making, spinning, and weaving. Wednesday was our night to help with security at the British Pageant so we got to see it a third time and loved it again!

Thursday we went to the Bagpipe concert and loved it so much we went again on Friday 😊.

Saturday we did our second time seeing the vignette about the early missionaries- Go Ye Into All the World.   Then we went back to Carthage to hear the Brass Band Restoration Concert at the jail. 

Simple pleasures

Life has settled into a comfortable routine. It consists basically of temple service, exploring Nauvoo sites, and in my spare time - family history work and reading. I finished Trail of Hope first - a wonderful book about the pioneers journey, filled with so many excerpts from their journals that really gave you a deeper understanding of their lives. Then I read Heroes of the Restoration - each chapter written by a general authority about one of the early church leaders. I read a fun fictional book about a young family in Kirkland.   And I just finished Window Maker - written by the man who designed and built the windows for the Nauvoo temple. It gave me such an appreciation for the work and inspiration that went into every aspect of rebuilding the temple. I’ll never look at the exterior of the temple in quite the same way. It is beautiful at first glance but knowing a little of what went into it makes you see it in a different and holier “light”.   For variety I’m reading Huckleberry Finn in preparation for an August trip with our PDay group to Hannibal Missouri, home of Mark Twain. It is one of the books uncle mike wrote about in his book on fictional characters who can teach us gospel principles so I’m eager to see what I can learn from Huck.  I also read a few pages every night from David’s 700 page book on Nauvoo that I borrowed- very detailed and informative. And when I wait in the car each day for dad (I pick him up in front of the temple to spare him the walk to the parking structure) I’ve read some interesting articles from a less likely source - a Mormon Dialogue.   On a higher note, when I have time in the temple I read the scriptures. I’m grateful for how much I can read in those moments. I also have opportunities to memorize scriptures and review The Living Christ when I can’t read. Reading is truly a major joy in my life. My little bookshelf here still has several volumes eagerly inviting me to indulge in many hours of pleasure and inspiration. Isn’t it lovely that there are always simple joys awaiting in the covers of a book!

Another simple pleasure is driving the river road into Nauvoo which we do at least every Sunday going to church in Keokuk and sometimes other days too. It’s lovely - the wide Mississippi on one side and lots of wooded areas on the other. Wildflowers line the road and water lilies are now in bloom in parts. There are several scenic turnouts with historical markers. 

Repeat performances

This was a week of attending performances the second (and even third) time. Tuesday evening we went to the Sunset by the Mississippi again. It is so good I told dad I could come every night and not get tired of it. Wednesday night we went to the British Pageant again. I got even more out of it the second time. You feel the sadness and the faith of Leaving your homeland and family that you knew you’d never see again.  Also on Wednesday afternoon we had an unbelievable thunderstorm!!  A regular downpour that broke huge branches and uprooted trees all over Nauvoo. I couldn’t believe they could get all set up again and dry off 100s of chairs so the Pageant could go on. You really come to appreciate the hundreds of behind-the-scenes people who make everything work. Thursday we went to the Youth of Zion and Brass Band performance on Main Street  (again!). Love it!!!   Friday we went to the Anna Amanda play again.  You’re probably thinking we must be really bored to do things more than once but that isn’t it at all. We just love these performing missionaries and want to see them as much as we can before they leave the first week of August. They are so awesome!  

Good things never end

Yesterday after our temple shift we actually went to a movie - in a theater! (We haven’t done that since we all went to see Coco). One of the missionaries arranged for the theater in Keokuk to do a special showing for the missionaries of The Other Side of Heaven 2, about elder Groberg’s experiences as mission president in Tonga. It was excellent and sure made you realize how hard some missions are (and how easy others are🙄). We took my cousin Karen and mike with us and then went out to dinner. Restaurant choices are few and far between but we enjoyed ourselves at a little Mexican place that you would drive by in other circumstances. Today after our temple shift we went to a vignette in the beautiful Women’s Garden about the women of Nauvoo and the beginning of Relief Society. It was so good. I am always amazed at how these performances touch you and share such uplifting messages - even in 15 minutes. Then we watched a brief film in the visitor center called Remembering Nauvoo. Also wonderful. Nauvoo was a happy place those first few years. Great things were done here. And great things are still being done here!

    We also stopped at the Lyons Drug and Variety Store - the largest general store in Nauvoo. The sister missionaries do a great job telling about the sites and the people who lived here.

Grandma’s Sunday sermon #1

I have been thinking a lot since coming to Nauvoo how different our experience is from the pioneers. We traveled those hundreds of miles in 6 days. They traveled them in several months. We rode in a comfortable air conditioned car over smooth highways. They rode in heat and bitter cold over bumpy trails and mountains. We stayed each night in clean motels with warm showers and soft beds. They slept under the stars on the hard ground or in cramped wooden wagon boxes. We could stop whenever we wanted to get something to eat or an ice cream treat. They cooked meager meals over campfires and sometimes went without enough to sustain them. We arrived to a well furnished comfortable apartment. They arrived to the Salt Lake Valley homeless and with few of life’s necessities. We endured basically nothing. They endured  mosquitoes, blisters, frostbite, Indians, wolves, stampedes, and innumerable other “inconveniences.”  I could in no way compare our trip to theirs but there actually ARE a few things that are the same. They traveled because they were called of God to do so, and so did we. They gave up a home and the life they knew and so did we. They traveled because of their faith and testimony and so did we. They went rejoicing knowing there were great blessings ahead and so did we. We have it so easy. It hasn’t required the same faith, courage, and sacrifice for us as it did for them but I’m grateful we are all inspired and blessed by the same great cause. Be true to the legacy they left us!

The rest of the week

It was hard to top the British Pageant but Thursday night we went to the Nauvoo Pageant and it was wonderful too. Stories of early days in Nauvoo and how the people transformed a swamp into the beautiful City of Joseph. And it IS beautiful and we do LOVE Nauvoo!!  It’s a good thing we serve in the temple every day or this would feel like just one long extended vacation!  I’m so glad we can do something to earn our keep.  We also went to the Youth of Zion and Nauvoo Brass Band (first time for dad, 2nd for me). It is SOOOO GOOD.  They do it out in the open on Main Street so it’s up close and personal. We will be going to it several times. I can’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing or watching them. I asked a band member how many songs they have to learn - about 100!!  I also took dad across the street to the tin smith shop (Sylvester Stoddard’s - perhaps an ancestor of some other wonderful Stoddard’s I know -????). And then through the “post office” and John Taylor’s home, and then to the little log home of brother Pendleton that was also used as a schoolhouse (basically a very small home where a few children would sit on the floor and be taught their lessons by brother Pendleton).  Dad and I also wandered down modern day Nauvoo’s business street - lots of tourist souvenir shops. I bought a couple of books of course. I told dad I’m getting as bad as Tyler with my book obsession. Other than that I have spent my time on the computer searching for ancestors and trying to unravel riddles. I’m collecting names for the kids to do baptisms when they’re all together in a couple of weeks - so put that on your schedule some time after Island Park.
Church today was great again.  I’m feeling quite at home in our little branch - at least in primary!  This evening we are going over to another missionary couple’s apartment so dad and brother cook can reminisce about their days as Irish missionaries😊. Life is good. No complaints. No worries.

 No problems ( I even got the car air conditioning to work again).

Pageants begin!

Tonight we went to the first performance of The British Pageant - Truth Will Prevail.  It tells the inspiring story of people’s search for truth - going back to the reformers days and then stories of British saints who joined the church and came to Nauvoo.  It makes you realize that it truly was a marvelous work and wonder to see how from such a very small beginning the gospel spread throughout the world. How could that miracle happen if it wasn’t the truth? The British saints were a prepared people and it’s amazing to learn how quickly they recognized and accepted the truth of the gospel when those early apostles preached to them. The pageant really brings their stories of faith and sacrifice to life. Seems like faith and sacrifice are everywhere in Nauvoo.   The ending was so powerful and we got to be part of it!  It tells how the truth is still being spread throughout the world by thousands of missionaries. Then all the missionaries in the audience come up to the stage singing Called to Serve. I was so overcome with the thought that I am blessed to be one of that number I could hardly sing. If this mission is my “reward” for our 16 years of temple service then I am more than amply repaid. It’s such a blessing to be part of spreading the truth - (for us to those on the other side of the veil.) I wear my badge with pride and gratitude, and am so happy to add my small contribution to the work of the Lord.

Sunday

Today in testimony meeting I was again reminded that it doesn’t take a big ward and the Utah type Mormons to feel the spirit of good people trying to live the gospel. It was a spiritual feast provided by the humble members we are getting to know. The church is alive and well in Keokuk Iowa!
Every fast Sunday the temple missionaries are put in groups for a break the fast dinner so that we have more opportunities to get to know people. It’s impossible to feel lonely here- they do so many things to help you connect with others.
The highlight was a special meeting where some of the Nauvoo cast performers presented a short vignette about the apostles mission to England. It was only about 15 minutes long but again - such a powerful and inspiring presentation. To actually hear and see Brigham Young, John Taylor, wilford woodruff, Heber c kimball and one more (I forget) tell their stories and experiences makes it so much more real than just reading about them in books. I don’t know how they do it and who writes these plays but I’m so grateful for them. Even when you know the story it comes across at a different level when it is performed.
It was another great day in Nauvoo!

The Promise

Saturday afternoon we went to see another show - The Promise. It’s a play about life in Nauvoo and starts out like a sort of romantic comedy but it ends with such a powerful testimony of God’s promise of peace in spite of trials if we live the gospel. I have to say again that the performances are the very best part of the Nauvoo experience. It’s not just the performing missionaries incredible talent but it’s their strong testimonies and the messages of every play. I really love them - and intend to see every show at least twice!

Joseph Smith

We went this morning to the Joseph Smith Historic Site.  It is owned and under the direction of the Community of Christ Church. They have a visitor center with a sunstone and a moonstone block from the original temple. It’s amazing to see what those stonemasons created with simple hand tools. Also there were some other artifacts and some beautiful paintings done by Joseph’s last son David who was born just after the martyrdom. They do a tour of the Homestead, the Mansion House and the Red Brick Store. Learning about the prophet Joseph and being in the places where he lived, taught, and worked really makes your testimony of him grow. Why would anyone go through what he did for something that wasn’t true? How could anyone accomplish what he did without the power of God?  I know more firmly than ever that he WAS God’s chosen prophet and he DID restore Christ’s true church. We are more blessed than we realize to have the gospel in our lives. Every day I am surrounded with the evidence of the faith and courage and testimony it took to give it to us.  We must carry it on and pass on this wonderful legacy.
The third picture is the Red Brick Store. Joseph ran the store for a while and The upper floor is where many important things happened in the church - Relief Society was organized, missionaries sent out, apostles given the keys to lead church, even the beginning of temple ordinances done here.
The bottom picture is the rebuilt Nauvoo House. It was intended to be a large 5 story hotel but was never completed in Joseph’s time.

Dad is standing in front of the Homestead - The log part was Joseph’s first home in Nauvoo. 

This is the Mansion House - Joseph and Emma lived here later.  It was built to accommodate the hundreds of visitors and guests who came to Nauvoo. 

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Nauvoo- truly the beautiful

I love walking around Nauvoo- it is so peaceful, so quiet, so lovely. No traffic, no crowds, no businesses, no big streets, no glaring lights.  The birds sing and you actually hear them and listen to them. There is so much open space that it feels like the country. But also so many places where they have planted the most lovely flower beds and gardens. It’s a delight just to drive or preferably walk around.

And there are such beautiful sunsets over the Mississippi River

Temple service

In case you think I am only doing the tourist things I thought I’d write a bit about our temple service. We are so grateful to be in the beautiful sacred place 5 days a week. We serve Monday Tuesday Wednesday mornings and Thursday Friday afternoons/evenings. It is different in many ways from Timpanogas or LA but of course is the same in all the ways that matter. It’s much smaller and not so busy. I have quite a bit of time in some assignments to read the scriptures (and think of my dear family). I love helping in the laundry and the clothing rental area too. I even get to play the organ in the waiting chapel sometimes. The baptistry is usually busy but I haven’t had as many opportunities to do that. Lots of youth groups come. We typically can do our own family names in sealings every day and they want us to bring them. (Of course that means we need all the previous ordinances to be done, which is more of a challenge).  It’s a long day for dad but he is always a willing worker and a silent complainer. We love seeing people come from everywhere and the temple missionaries are the best people you can find anywhere.  How blessed we are to be part of them doing the most important work there is. We love serving here. I keep thinking a mission is supposed to be sacrifice and hard work and for dad it probably is but for me it is all joy!  I feel a little like Christ’s disciples when Luke says “they were continually in the temple praising and blessing God.”

Week 2 continued

Wednesday we had a dinner with our apartment group - 2 other couples and a single brother. Thursday we had a 4th of July breakfast with our branch. It was a great opportunity to meet people and I especially tried to talk to all the primary kids I could. Then we went shopping and came home for out temple shift. Friday morning I went to another performance of the young performing missionaries centered around the youth of Nauvoo - fabulous songs, skits, etc. followed by the Nauvoo Brass Band and their usual amazing music. I think the performances are my favorite things. The sites are interesting and wonderful but nothing beats the feelings you get from the music and plays. They are inspiring and lively and funny.

And I can hardly wait for this next week - THE NAUVOO PAGEANT begins!

Week 2

I decided to post blogs about once a week so I don’t wear you or me out!  It’s been another great week. Besides our wonderful work in the temple  we’ve done some other fun things. Monday I gave dad a day off from our adventures so he could take it easy. Tuesday we went to the Family History Center and learned some more things from Karen. (I know how to share names with anyone who would like to help save their ancestors 😇.)  we went through the Wilford Woodruff house - the Bible, spectacles and rocking chairs are his. He only lived in it a few months. Wilford was a GREAT believer in temple work. He was baptized for 3,188 of his ancestors!

     We also went to the brick yard and learned how they made the bricks for their homes. Wilford Woodruffs home took 14,000 bricks and he made many of them himself. And of course I got a souvenir brick.

    Last we went to the Lucy Mack Smith home. It was built by another family but was given to her when the saints left Nauvoo. She was very old then and had lost her husband and 5 sons.  She was faithful to the end and had sacrificed much in support of her family and her testimony.