Nauvoo Dream: April 2017

Monday came and we headed out from Shawn's after the kids were off to school and he was off to work. It had been a great weekend. We headed west to St. Paul, Minnesota to go to the temple and see sites there. It was overcast but not too cool. We were traveling uncharted roads for us and there were interesting sights to see. One was a purple cow!

Dad broke out in rhyme: "I have never seen a purple cow, I hope I never see one. But I can tell you anyhow, I would rather see than be one."

We arrived around lunch time and found the temple and a hotel not too far away. We settled in and then took off sight seeing. Our first stop was Indian Mounds Park.

It is believed that between 1500 and 2000 years ago, Indian people chose this bluff high above the Mississippi River as the resting place for their dead. Archaeologists today believe that the original builders may have been a Hopewellian culture, similar to the groups in the Ohio valley.

Bottom is St Paul across the Mississippi from the park.

We stopped at St. Paul's Cathedral, vastly different from the one by the same name in London. We went in and was impressed with how nicely it looked. It was built in 1905.

Looking up into the dome.

One of the stained glass windows with organ pipes on each side.

It was a very windy day so we were happy to be finished with sight seeing and take a break at the hotel. We then were out for the evening to see the new "Beauty And The Beast." We had a good time enjoying the popcorn and the movie was entertaining. The music was wonderful.

The temple didn't open until 6 p.m. on Tuesday so we had that day to look around as well. Carson and Kathy Bench are moving to Minneapolis, MN this week, and we stopped by to see their new home. We found her aunt there with the carpet cleaning man and she gave us a tour. It was fun to see their new abode. They are moving here to help take care of her mom who is failing in health.

The mall wasn't too far from their house so off we want to the Mall of America. It is chocked full of stores, speciality shops, eateries, services, and a huge playground.

This huge Lego set is by the playground and shows you just how BIG you can build with them!

We had a great time at the temple. It is a small temple but very adequate for the company that was there. It sits almost secluded in a neighborhood with a stake center sharing the parking lot.

We came home on Wednesday and had a safe trip with a stop in Burlington for gas and a car wash. The bugs were pretty thick on the front. We pulled out into the rain and it has continued with yesterday being very rainy all day long. It was boots and umbrella weather for sure.

On Thursday 24 missionary couples arrived as summer staff in the temple. We hosted Elder & Sister Meadows from Florida. We enjoyed getting to know them and helping them move into their apartment and orienting them to the area to some extent.

Friday began their training and we were in and out of the temple as assigned to help. Dinner was provided for all of us at the stake center and we had a grand time getting better acquainted. Each couple took about a minute to tell something about them. As we were leaving Sister Meadows commented she had lived in New Hampshire for a period of time, and you guessed it, she knows Milton and Lynette. We had a great time talking and she couldn't believe I am his sister. It was a great connection.

Saturday was more training and lunch at the stake center. We were able to squeeze in a trip to Wal-Mart for last minute items and then home for the evening. Sunday was church here in Nauvoo and another meeting at the temple in the afternoon. We then hosted the Meadows' for dinner and Sister Udall joined us. It was a pleasant meal and good conversation.

Our colorful meal of BBQ chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans, salad, and rolls.

We have had some choice experiences with all the training. Three meetings have been held in the Assembly Hall. This room is only used with First Presidency approval. It is a special room with a feeling of reverence and peace. Singing "The Spirit of God," and "Praise To The Man," added to the spirit and brought to mind the great mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as he restored the gospel, had this very temple built from revelation, loved the saints, and gave his all for his master. The recorder, Brother Marshall sang a beautiful arrangement of, "I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked." Talks and instruction were given on the holiness of the temple and our part as ordinance workers as we serve here. The sweet peace the gospel brings was manifest.

Temple Fact: There were issues with using stone to build the first temple. It was harder to move and install and required great skill in cutting and finishing it. The stone actually came from various quarries, one of which was a private quarry belonging to Edmund Nelson. The Prophet Joseph Smith came to him and asked if he could buy stone from his quarry to build the temple. Edmond replied: "No, but I will give you all you need." Edmond and his sons hauled stone to the temple site. His son, William Goforth Nelson, age 10 at the time recalled: "Father paid his temple work and most of his tithing in rock from this quarry, all of which was used in the temple." Edmund is the father of Price William Nelson, the father of Hyrum Nelson, the father of Thomas George Nelson, the father of Olive Nelson, the mother of Robert Edward Brown.

Senior Moment: Okay, so we are slow! We left the camera at Shawn's and didn't even miss it until Jodie sent a text. She was sweet enough to mail it to us. I wonder if we will leave it somewhere else before we go home in December.

I couldn't find the moisturizer I use, so I ordered it from Target. Wow, they think big when they ship!

From Home: That spunky little McKenna is all decked out for her Gifted Program project.

This has been quite the week being on break for two weeks. We were to church on Sunday and then off for travel and adventure on Monday. We drove to St. Louis, MO and attended the temple Tuesday morning. We were surprised when we walked into the chapel and there sat Brother and Sister Carmichael, district workers from the Nauvoo temple. We had just worked with them on Saturday and were happy to see each other so soon. It was neat to be at a new temple for us and feel the spirit we always feel temples.

We headed on to Rolla, MO for lunch with Bill & Joyce Bolerjack. They moved there two weeks ago to be closer to their daughter Trisha and her family. We had the best time checking out their apartment and then going to eat. We caught up with what each of us are doing and wished them well with their new change.

We stopped in Clinton, MO to visit Aunt Naomi. We had tried to call her several times the day before and then after the temple and as we traveled but the line was always busy. We arrived at their house to find no one home and two day's of newspapers on their doorstep. We were sad we did not see them. Driving through the Lake of the Ozarks, we went through the town of Warsaw. Croslin ancestors lived there at one time.

We arrived at Kansas City, MO, found a hotel and a place to eat, and settled in for the night. We had a great meal at the Corner Cafe and really enjoyed one of their gigantic cinnamon rolls. We went to the temple the next morning and enjoyed the session. Did we see anyone we knew? No, but we did meet people who know others we serve with in Nauvoo.

Kansas City, MO Temple.

From the temple we began a church history tour of western Missouri. We went to the Visitor's Center in Independence and then walked the temple lot and visited with a man in the Church of Christ center. It was great to learn more of their history and that of the temple site. He said several years ago our church offered $1,000,000.00 for the temple site but they turned us down. They want to keep the site free from being built on.

The site was dedicated by Joseph Smith, 3 August 1831.

The 90' by 180' dimensions of the Independence Temple are shown by persons on the perimeter.

The spot for the Independence Temple is in the center with the Church of Christ adjoining. Community of Christ Stone Church at lower left. Then clockwise: Community of Christ Temple. Mormon Visitors center and Community of Christ auditorium.

At right is northeast corner marker for projected temple. It was 40 feet west of corner. The other stone found 90 feet south, in roots of tree, indicates southeast corner of temple. Original inscriptions.

We drove to Liberty Jail. It is a sacred place as you realize the prophet received revelations while there, revelations that are so important to us in living the gospel today. We continued with going to Far West, the monument to Haun's Mill, Adam-Ondi-Ahman, and a stop at the Missouri Star Quilt Co. in Hamilton. We had a great time and learned more about these sites and the history of the early church. The quilt company was a bonus and fun for me.

The jail is a replica of the original jail built on the original foundation and is constructed out of some of the stones of the original jail.

The church has produced this map that was very helpful in our travels to the different spots.

I was amazed at how many quilt stores are in this little town. All the black ones belong to Missouri Star and I shopped at #1.

You would think we had traveled enough, but we got home late Wednesday night, washed clothes on Thursday, and were back on the road Friday. We headed to Shawn's near Green Bay, WI. We had a safe trip and a great weekend with the family. These boys have grown and are as busy as can be. We have been schooled in Spoons, Go Fish, Crazy Kings, football, pool and other such youth entertainment. We went out to eat, saw the movie Boss Baby, and enjoyed plenty of blue skies and sunshine. We enjoyed church and hearing Bailey give a talk in Primary. Riley blessed and Hayden passed the Sacrament.