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.