June is gone and we are moving on! It is hard to believe we are at our half way mark. It has been quite the experience thus far. We are learning a lot and serve in many different ways. The temple remains our focus and the peace we feel when serving there in.
The baptistry on Monday was busy with eleven families coming in.
It is always such a neat experience working with them and see the joy
they feel as they serve in the temple. It is a first experience for some
and we try to make it special for them. We attended a session after shift
on Wednesday. It was nice to go as a patron and provide the ordinance for
deceased ancestors.
The Campbell's from our Washington Branch began as temple workers
yesterday. It was fun seeing them in the temple and are happy they
are coming. We caught up on their experience today at church and they are
both thrilled to be serving.
The week was good with a record day on Tuesday of remembering church history and feeling the spirit. The day, the 27th, marked the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
We went to the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds. I didn’t know what to expect but what I saw and felt was special.
The trail from the parking lot led down a path through thick trees and high forest growth.
The trees blocked the sun and the area was very quiet other than the sounds of birds and insects.
We crossed water and could see a round building off to the left. The path took us that way and we stepped up into the building to discover it was a kiosk with the names of many of those buried in the cemetery on the walls. Bob located some of his ancestor’s names.
David Fox joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in New York with various family members in 1842. Those so inclined like David, left their home in New York to join with the Saints in Nauvoo, IL. This included David's wife, Caroline Lisk Fox, and all their children. It was a long arduous journey. They arrived at the time of the martydom of the prophet Joseph Smith. Other family members that went on the journey were his oldest sister, Caroline Fox and younger brother, Jesse W. Fox Sr. The environment of Nauvoo, sweltering heat, muggy and mosquitos, brought on the death of several of the younger children then Caroline and a few months later David Williams Fox died. The older children were looked after by others and eventually all made it out the Salt Lake Valley. Even though his son, David, age 8 months is the only one listed on this board, David Williams Fox is also buried in this cemetery.
William A Green joined the church in 1840 and died in Nauvoo in 1845. He is the father of Ann Alice Gheen, wife of Heber C Kimball our line comes through.
We then went through to steps going up to a hill. When we climbed up the steps and out into the grounds, a feeling of peace and sacredness came over me.
I stood there taking in the sight and feeling the wonder of it all.
There on top of the hill was sunlight shining down onto headstones. I walked on up the grassy rise and checked them out. Other headstones were scattered in various directions.
I stood there gazing heavenward at the tall, tall trees reaching up and making shade here and there in patches. The grounds were edged all around with thick forest growth and trees. The sun was bright and the temp was cool with a gentle breeze blowing. In the distance I could hear the woodpecker sound and an occasional coo of a dove. Birds were chirping and singing back and forth to each other across the trees and thick foliage. Now and then there was the sound of snapping twigs, the rustle of the tall grass and growth caught by the breeze, and the buzz of flies and other insects.
It was as though others were there surrounding their resting place and grateful we had come to honor them. I walked up to the statue of the little family of four depicting them having just buried a child. What a feeling of reverence was there. The Prophet Joseph Smith said: “Where a man is buried is sacred to me.” I could not agree more. Our time spent there was filled with reverence, peace, and tenderness for the lives that lay below the surface and the suffering of their families left to continue life without them. I could only stand and be still in thought of them and their sacrifice. It really was an amazing experience.
We then attended the memorial at Carthage Jail at 5 p.m., put on by the church. Lots of people were there filling the grounds almost to over flowing. It lasted one half hour and was stirring with the readings and music. The Nauvoo Brass Band and the YPM Choir performed and really brought the spirit. Their rendition of "Praise to the Man," at the end of the program properly concluded all that had been said.
The brothers started with the first verse and their deep, clear voices rang with reverence and resolve for the prophet. When the sisters joined them their voices blended and complimented one another in such a stirring way it was as if angels were singing. The closing prayer was said and a feeling of awe and reverence pervaded the grounds. People were slow to get up and as they did so they were quiet, drinking in the sweet peace of the spirit.
We made a trip to Burlington and while we waited for an appointment we drove down Snake Alley. It literally is an alley with a road zig zagging like a snake down the hill. You can only go down. Grandpa had to be very careful with making the turns. It was crazy.
Looking up from the exit you can see the grassy knolls but only the white curb of the road itself.
Saturday night we sat out on the grass across from the temple and watched fireworks go off across the river in Montrose. It was a very nice evening and the Nauvoo Community Brass Band played a half hour concert of patriotic music which was very delightful. The fireworks were quite aways off, but the large ones were okay. The twenty minute finale was the best part with constant fireworks the whole time. We are having quite the experiences here in Nauvoo. Us, Sister & Elder McBride, and Sister & Elder Peterson.
We finished Sunday with Church, Break the Fast, and "Our Story Goes On." Break the Fast was at our house. We served meatloaf, baked potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Other brought rolls, dessert, and fresh fruit. The food was good and we had a great time visiting and getting to know one another. The three couples are all six month missionaries. Left to Right: Elder & Sister Brown from the Denver Temple, Us, Elder and Sister Beer from the Chicago Temple, and Elder and Sister Anderson from the Payson, UT Temple.
"Our Story Goes On" is a live production held on the pageant outdoor stage. We were delighted with the Bagpipe Band and galic dancer and singers. I happened to be sitting right where they exited the stage and got some great pictures. The play was done by the core pageant cast and was great. They can really sing.
Temple Fact: We attended a fireside by R Lane Wright. He wrote the book, Testament In Stone. He gives quite a bit of insight to a lot of the symbolism in temples. From his book: "Few people are aware that, just like the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City sits to the west of the Temple, Joseph and the Saints had planned to erect a Tabernacle in Nauvoo. Heber C Kimball recorded: 'The Twelve were present, together with some of the Bishops and the architect of the Temple and several other brethren. These brethren counseled together about building a tabernacle, constructed of canvas, in Nauvoo.' Elder Orson Hyde actually went east and purchased the canvas. The shape and size foreshadowed the Tabernacle that would eventually be built in Salt Lake City. If this Tabernacle had been completed, it would have been located on the bluff to the west of the temple. (This is where we were sitting to watch the fireworks.) The exodus from Nauvoo prevented the construction of the Nauvoo Tabernacle, but the canvas found great use on the wagons of the Saints as they trekked west."
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