Week #15, 19 - 25 March 2017

A Sick Potato Salad Week!

It may sound like an ominous title, but it accurately describes the week.  Bob was most generous and shared his sick with me!  Sunday and Monday were very rough.  I went to the doctor and he gave me the same med and said to stay in bed for two days.  I did, but took longer before getting back to the temple, waiting until Thursday evening.  We were in the baptistry and that made it easier with a cough going on here and there.  We had families in the first hour and then it was quiet the rest of the time.

Our little branch has a potluck after meetings the third Sunday of the Month.  I prepared a nice potato salad to take and then woke up too sick to go, thus we had potato salad to eat for the week.  You know, it really can go with a lot of things, and I even liked it warmed up in the microwave for a different approach.  I had thought of sharing it with others but with being sick, they would not really appreciate it.

Friday evening Dan and Cheryl arrived for a visit and we had a great time sharing experiences, talking, and planning.

We were guest guides for new patrons and assisted them as they participated in the ordinances.  They and their escorts were delightful and enjoyed their time in the Nauvoo Temple.  We joined Dan and Cheryl doing family sealings and traded off at the alter.  When we were finished we had completed 60 family sealings.  We were also excited to introduce them to our fellow co-workers and Temple President and Matron.  Everyone seemed to make a connection here and there of one sort or another.

We took them to Angelini's in Keokuk for dinner and then we played games until bedtime.

Temple Fact:  In my growing up, my mother would tell of her first encounter with a Mormon temple.  Her father was a Baptist Deacon and was very much opposed to the Mormon religion.  When their family moved to Chandler, Arizona in the mid 30's, he gave the kids specific instructions to not go by that "Mormon temple."  He told them the people danced naked in it.  I often wondered how he ever came to that conclusion.

In my studies this week about the first Nauvoo temple, I discovered they did dance in it!  Not the naked part, though.

The 30 December (1845) entry in History of the Church:  "The labors of the day having been brought to a close at so early an hour, viz.: eight-thirty, it was thought proper to have a little season of recreation, accordingly Brother Hansen was invited to produce his violin, which he did and played several lively airs accompanied by Elisha Averett on his flute, among others some very good lively dancing tunes.  This was too much for the gravity of Brother Joseph Young who indulged in dancing a hornpipe, and was soon joined by several others, and before the dance was over several French fours were indulged in.  The first was opened by myself with Sister Whitney and Elder Heber C Kimball and partner.  The spirit of dancing increased until the whole floor was covered with dancers, and while we danced before the Lord, we shook the dust from off our feet as a testimony against this nation."

This was the first instance on record of dancing in the temple.  Dances were held regularly during January 1846.

Week #14, Being Sick, 12- 18 March 2017

We were on the front steps of the temple with the other temple missionaries at 7:30 a.m. for a picture with President Russell M Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and Elder Ulisses and Sister Rosana Soares of the Presidency of the Seventy on Monday morning.  It was overcast, cold, and blowing snow curled around and in and out of the group.  We were laughing and having a great time.  As soon as the photographer was finished we split, those working going into the temple and the rest heading back home.  Inside the mood had a spark of excitement as we knew the visiting group was going to attend a session.  We were all hoping to catch a glimpse of them and maybe even a handshake.

Row 4:  Keith & Darlene Despain, Bill & Merle Adams, Martin & Noreen Peterson, Norman & Evelyn Boehm, Thomas & Lauren Borrowman, Gary & Yvonne Lawson, Jim & Shelley Droste.
Row 3:  John & Ruth Emang, Rod & Dottie cole, Rich & Gloria Irion, President Russell M Nelson, Elder Ulisses & Sister Rosana Soares, Kathy & Durell Nelson, Boyce & Barbara Sorensen, Gary & Judith Beck.
Row 2:  Thomas & Eileen Marshall, Boyce & Diane McBride, Grant & DeAne Bartschi, Richard Marshall, Richard & Claudia Vinton, Richard & Gladys Fetzer, LaMar & Kathleen Mabey, Virginia Udall.
Row 1:  Darrell & Nancy Checketts, Bert & Shirley Rawlins, Kendall & Shirley Morgan, Matthew & Joan Thompson, Bob & Barbara Brown, Thomas & Beverly Cordova, Marilyn Burgoyne.

In the words of Sister Irion:  "Many were cold but few were frozen!"

 Elder Russell M Nelson

Elder Ulisses Soares

One of my assignments was 1-2, which is the main lobby.  While there the group came through from the session and President Irion showed them around and through the Assembly Hall.  Throughout the course of them walking here and there, President Nelson stopped, looked at my name tag, smiled, and shook my hand!  It was pretty exciting.

The temple was busy with Spring Break families and youth trips.  Youth groups have come from Texas and Arkansas and have kept the baptistry busy.  Families were here from all over and when we saw them we were reminded of all of you.  We even met a brother and sister from Gilbert.

We didn't get pictures taken this week.  We did have several days of plenty of sunshine and freezing cold wind.  We did the usual with working in the temple, shopping, cleaning, and laundry.  We did have a fancy last night after shift to go out to eat and had a great meal at Angelini's in Keokuk.  

Dad was sick at the beginning of the week and I am sick at the end.  A nasty cold with a very annoying cough that drives you nuts.  I started with the essential oils right off the bat and they lasted for the first three days and then bam!  I have it hard today.  I called in sick for my shift tomorrow and a Relief Society Re-enactment that will be held in the Red Brick Store.

We went to Sacrament Meeting here in Nauvoo this morning and left before it was over when I went into a coughing fit.  Dad has been a good nurse to bring me meds, food, and remind me of things I should do.  A young man leaving on Wednesday for his mission to India, Bangladesh, spoke and then he and his family sang, "Praise To The Man."  It was pretty stirring to hear it sung here in Nauvoo, and it was great to hear his enthusiasm for his mission call.

Temple Fact:

The current Nauvoo Temple is not the same inside as the original temple.  The first and second floors of the original temple were arranged with seating for 1500 saints each and were mainly used for meetings and gatherings of the general membership of the church.  The current Assembly Hall on the first floor does not cover the whole space as the original one did.  All the ordinances were given on the attic (fourth) floor and was designed with offices on the north and south sides with the middle partitioned off with canvas curtains to separate the various rooms and the celestial room.

Week #13, 5 - 11 March 2017

We began the week with church being branch conference.  The talks were inspiring from the stake leaders and the children had fun in Primary with their sharing time activity.

We joined our group at President & Sister Irion's for our Break the Fast meal.  Dad used his clicker so he barely got in the picture.  We had a delicious meal and great conversation.  It was a fun time together with fellow missionaries.

 Left to Right:  Elder & Sister Beck (Rancho Cucamonga, CA), President & Sister Irion (Temple President and Matron), Elder & Sister Despain (Utah somewhere), Elder & Sister Borrowman (Utah somewhere), and us.  And, you are right, Sister Despain and I have on the same outfit!  They are products of our shopping trip last week.  Who would guess we would come to the same event with the exact same outfit on.

While standing at the Irion's door waiting to be let in, I turned around and took a picture of the temple.  You can see what time we arrived.

As of Monday, we no longer will have a P-day until May.   There are not enough district workers signed up for Mondays so President has asked the missionaries who work Tuesday night to work Monday mornings.  He says our P-day is from 1 p.m. on Monday to 5 p.m. on Tuesday!  I guess that can work.  It certainly makes for a busy week.

We made it out to the Visitor's Center on Tuesday and watched the video, "Remembering Nauvoo," and then taking the carriage ride.  The ride took us through part of the area north of where we live and out to where King Follett had his property when he lived here.  We stopped at a replica of the well that sat on his property and where he died, rocks having fallen on him while he was in the bottom lining it with the rocks.  We had to get a picture since Jeremiah is named after him - Jeremiah King Mortensen.

Dan and Doc were the mighty draft horses that pulled our ride along.  They are Percheons and very powerful animals.  It was a cold and very windy day.  We were provided with as many blankets as we wanted to keep warm on the ride.

A street and two houses sit between the Catholic church and the temple.  Spires rising heavenward together.

Dad took the camera and got some pictures around the temple.  The sky was beautiful and clouds floated here and there.

 The statues of Joseph and Hyrum as they rode off to Carthage for the last time.

 The sunstone capital sits atop a pilaster, thirty in total.  Benjamin Mitchell, a stonecutter by trade, carved the first sunstone and three of the thirty capitals.    The first sunstone, weighing two tons, was raised on 23 September 1844 and the last sunstone, the heaviest, was put into place on 6 December 1844.  One of the original sunstones is on display in the Visitor's Center.  The Prophet Joseph Smith saw in vision the design for the sunstone.

The clock tower and the angel Moroni.

I went to the scanning project on Wednesday at Brother Shurts'.   I put a large file through the scanner and had time on my hands while it fed through.  I told Brother Shurts about our carriage ride and stopping at the King Follett well.   I explained my interest in that our grandson, Jeremiah, is named after him.  When I said his last name, Brother Shurts said:  "Wait.  Did you say Mortensen?"  I told him I did and he then said he had served with Joann Mortensen on a mission in the Church History Museum!  What a coincidence!  He said to tell her hello and I did that with a phone call later.

We were headed to Burlington on Friday for my light therapy when we saw the bridge was opening for a barge at Fort Madison.  We did not see a barge on either side and decided to turned around and traveled up the Illinois side of the river and crossed over at Burlington.  We made the appointment on time and were happy not to be waiting  for the bridge at Fort Madison.

Our time in the temple went well.  We were officiators or patrons on four sessions and that was great. We did not have any patrons in the baptistry Thursday night so I played the organ helped in the laundry helping fold and put away clothes.  I was there on Saturday again with plenty to fold.

Kendal surprised us with the following text:  "Just got done doing Baptism's for the Dead.  Sam's first time.  Can you tell what temple? "

What a neat experience for Sam!  We are so happy for him and to think his first time was in Hawaii!  I told Kendal we were jealous!

Week #12, 26 February - 4 March 2017

 We had a great week with more pleasant weather than freezing weather, even if there was wind to go with it all.  Sunshine and clouds were about even.

On our way home from church on Sunday, we were "barged," as they say.  We have to cross the bridge at Fort Madison and pay a $2.00 toll to get back to Illinois and this time the bridge was opened for a barge to come through.

We were surprised, though, to see it was only a tug.  He was clipping along at a fair speed.

It was pretty cool to see the bridge swing back into place so we could continue our drive.  The McBride's said we were lucky today because the wait wasn't very long at all.

We, along with the Despains were in charge of Family Home Evening on Monday.  We had it planned and that day we purchased fruit and put the treat bags together for the site missionaries.  It was a fun day and we really enjoyed the show!  Wow, some of those site missionaries really are actors!  We had a great time and laughed a lot.  After the show, we temple missionaries stayed in the hall while Elder & Sister Borrowman (temple missionaries) led us in their rendition of Carry On.  We sang it for President and Sister Irion.  The best part was the chorus:  "And we hear the missionaries singing:  Iri-on, Iri-on, Iri-on!"  We could almost not sing it was so funny and President and wife were giggling the whole time.  "Temple halls and walls are ringing:  Iri-on, Iri-on, Iri-on!  Holding aloft our recommends, we march in the glorious dawn.  Oh, Nauvoo Temple missionaries, Iri-on, Iri-on, Iri-on!"   It was a fun conclusion to our evening.

Family Home Evening – Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo

Monday, 27 February @ 8 p.m.

     Come join with the temple missionaries in the Family Living Center for an opening prayer, to get your ticket, and then walk to the Cultural Hall for the performance.  It will be a great time to support the cast and ‘tune up’ for the summer events.

     A treat bag will be given to each performer in recognition of their talent and service here in Nauvoo at the conclusion of the performance.

     Questions please call:  B/S Despain @ ph 309-209-0415, or B/S Brown @ ph 928-615-4109.

 We took an afternoon and walked to some of the sites and learn about the saints who lived here during the early 1840's.  We stopped at the Jonathan Browning Home and Gunshop.  We saw some of his repeating rifles he was famous for inventing and learned about the skill and craftsmanship of his son John Moses Browning as well.

 In their back yard is the grave site of their youngest child, who died as an infant.  It is marked by the small picket fence around it.

 We caught up with the wagon ride and were introduced to Mack and Chad.  They were very friendly and was happy to become the center of attention.  Even though Chad's name badge was on upside and backwards, he was in a very pleasant mood and sociable.

 We got settled in the wagon with driver, shotgun, and narrator in place, and headed out onto the streets of Nauvoo in the flats.  We learned about other residents in the area, history of the lay of the land, and information about the Mississippi River.  As we started out, Dad said:  "We are off with 2 horse power."  Elder Stoker, the driver, replied:  "Yes, but there are 8 on the ground with 2,000 pounds of pressure!"  Mack and Chad are strong Belgian working horses and ready to handle any task.

 The temple from the flats.

Down our street a block and a half is Lucy Mack Smith's home.  This home was given to her to live in when the saints went west.  Her daughter and family lived on the second floor.

Half way down that block is the Calvin Pendleton Home and School.  The cabin was the home and the slanted roof in back is the school room.  We sat on wooden benches and wrote on slate boards about the size of an iPad.

 Down the street from the Browning home is the Scovil Bakery.  You will want to stop in here when you come to Nauvoo and taste one of their delicious gingerbread men. 

 Brother Scovil moved to Nauvoo and asked the prophet what he could do for him.  Joseph Smith told him the town needed a bakery, so he built and ran a bakery.  He was called later to serve a mission in England.  While on his mission he drew a picture of the Nauvoo temple and designed this plate, had them made, and sold them to fund his mission.

We finished our outing with lunch at Grandpa John's Restaurant on Mulholland, and then a stop at the Alyn House gift shop to find Brother Scovil's plate.    Mr. Alyn made all the windows and the doors in the current Nauvoo Temple and the display of his craftsmanship was very interesting.

Thursday was a big day in the baptistry.  It was our double shift day with working 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. and then returning at  3 and worked until  9 p.m.  Youth from a stake in New Orleans, LA arrived for sessions at 4, 5, 6, and 7 p.m., with 30 youth in a session.  This week is mardi gras and they came to Nauvoo to give the youth a better experience.  The youth brought family file names they had prepared themselves and plenty of leaders were on hand to help.  It was a neat experience for the youth as well as for the ordinance workers.

Temple Fact:  In February 1844, temple architect William Weeks came to see the prophet for instruction.
"I instructed him in relation to the circular windows designed to light the offices in the dead work of the arch between stories.  He said that round windows in the broad side of a building were a violation of all the known rules of architecture, and contended that they should be semicircular-that the building was too low for round windows.  I told him I would have the circles, if he had to make the Temple ten feet higher than it was originally calculated; that one light at the centre of each circular window would be sufficient to light the whole room; that when the whole building was thus illuminated, the effect would be remarkably grand.  'I wish you to carry out my designs.  I have seen in vision the splendid appearance of that building illuminated, and will have it built according to the pattern shown me.'"  (Joseph Smith, History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)  The design change was implemented and by May several of these round windows were in place.