Meridian Magazine - 16 Stunning Photographs with Eyewitness Accounts to Help you Remember the Martyrdom on this 170th Anniversary - Page 3 - Meridian Magazine - LDS, Mormon and Latter-day Saint News and Views

Meridian Magazine - 16 Stunning Photographs with Eyewitness Accounts to Help you Remember the Martyrdom on this 170th Anniversary - Page 3 - Meridian Magazine - LDS, Mormon and Latter-day Saint News and Views

CHAPTER 8--WEEK of JUNE 15 to JUNE 21 2014

This year we can say that both Mother's Day and Father's Day has been spent here in Nauvoo, the beautiful.  Today, however, was a special treat because Josh, Sherri, Chase, Anna, Ellie and Rex were here to spend Father's Day with us.  How fun is that!!  Their family arrived Saturday evening around 8 pm.  We immediately went to eat at the Hotel Nauvoo Buffet.  Everyone enjoyed!  Rex liked the catfish and examined the bones thoroughly.  The white country gravy was a hit with Josh and the turkey was especially good that night.  We then went to Annie's Frozen Custard for dessert.  Lemon with raspberry topping was a hit along with chocolate.  We drove down to the Mississippi on Parley street and then we were all off to bed.

June 15--Sunday--we went to the 10 am church here in Nauvoo.  It was a surprise, but not really because it involved a Nolte, when we sat down and immediately after that here comes Mark and Emily Nolte and their family.  Emily's parents are site missionaries and have responsibility for Rendevous.  What a treat to see them.  They are living in Wisconsin now and love it.  Then a few minute later Sister Laura Warner came back and said did you see Steve Fenn up there in the back of the chapel.  Sure enough Steve Fenn was there with James and Alexander Steimle--Heather Fenn's husband and son.  They were here on a church history trip before Alexander goes on his mission.  So that added to our Sunday.  After church we came back to our apartment and had lunch then headed down to Carthage.  We got there just in time before the crowds started showing up.  It was a wonderful time there.  We came back to Nauvoo and went to the  Brickyard, the Blacksmith and Wainwright Shop and Scovill's Bakery and then went to the Brigham Young Home before going to Josh and Sherri's hotel for the kids to go swimming.  We had dinner at our apartment with salsa, guacamole, and chicken soft tacos.  We then turned in for the evening.

June 16--Monday--Josh and Sherri went to the temple while we brought the kids back to the apartment for breakfast.  When Josh and Sherri got back we went to the Visitors Center and then had lunch at Grandpa John's.  We had a few minutes before they had to leave for Indiana and so we went to the Allyn House.  What a fun time with Josh, Sherri, Chase, Anna, Ellie and Rex.  Here is a link to the Picasa Album with pictures of our time together.

Josh and Sherri Nauvoo

June 18--Wednesday--Today at the temple we were invited to go to dinner at a place called Ogo's with 2 other temple missionary couples.  We went and it turned out to be not that bad of a buffet--not like Hotel Nauvoo, but decent food.  The big deal is Fried Chicken.  It is pretty good.  It reminded us of Knott's Berry Farm chicken dinner.  They also had delicious chicken tenders.  Later that evening we went to see BYU Synthesis and the Contemporary Dance Team.  This was held in the outdoor theatre and it was a good show.  I particularly liked the tap dance routine.  It was quite impressive.  They Jazz Band was very good.  It was a very humid hot evening and the performer's endured the heat very well.  These groups took the place of BYU Legends.

June 19--Thursday--Today we stayed late for a special session for the site missionaries.  When we got out around 9:15 we received a message from our neighbor and friend who is taking care of our house.  He said that when they went over to the house today that they could smell gas.  They called the gas company and sure enough, there was a gas leak.  This was from a valve on a the gas pipe near the water heater.  There may have been an issue outside by the gas meter also so SDGE replaced the whole thing.  THIS WAS A MAJOR MIRACLE FROM THE LORD.  This could have been a disaster with devastating consequences to the neighborhood.  Hayley Makinster, the girl watering etc. for us, had a dream the night before that our house blew up.  We will be forever grateful for these wonderful neighbors who are so conscientious with taking care of our home while we are serving our mission.  We testify that the Lord is in the details of our lives.  He is watching over us.  Let us remember each day how the Lord has shown His hand in our lives.  As President Eyring has counseled and taught by his example in his classic talk, O, Remember, Remember, let us look each day for the Lord's hand in our life.  It may not be as big as the miracle we received yesterday, but each day there will be something noteworthy to record and remember for ourselves and our posterity.  This daily exercise will build and strengthen testimonies, we guarantee it!  As President Kimball loved to say, JUST DO IT!!

Our neighbor sent us these pictures.  See the bubbles in the first picture--that is showing where the leak was.  FYI--the gas has been turned off now until we get home.

June 19 Nauvoo Moment from Chuck:

Nauvoo Moment (Miracles)

Thursday is a day we will not forget. (June 19)

Our neighbors the Makinster family (John, Barb, & Hayley) are kindly watching & taking care of our empty house while we serve our mission here in Nauvoo. On Friday they smelled something and thought it might be a gas leak. They tried to reach us and could not do so. They then decided to call the gas company to have it checked out. When the gas company man arrived he confirmed that it was a gas leak & he immediately shut off the gas and repaired the gas line into our house. Now that the gas is shut off we can have the needed repairs to the gas connection to our hot water heater done at our convenience sometime before we return home.  (see our Nauvoo Mission Blog for pictures & more details)

Haley, a UCLA sophomore, had a dream Wednesday night that our house blew up. This is one of the reasons that led them to make a more complete inspection of our house on Friday. We will forever be grateful to the Makinster’s for their extra mile care and concern for us and our house. Many times when we need a miracle God sends a friend or a neighbor to perform it. This was certainly true for us on Friday.

I know the day of miracles is not passed. I know that our prayers for each other matter. I know that angels attend us more than we realize. I know none of us will be disappointed when we see all that the Lord has done to ensure our happiness.  I know He remembers us even when we forget Him. I pray that His will be done in all things & that we will faithfully follow & trust in His kind care and keeping.

One Scripture:
For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name.    D&C 35:8

One Quote:

Miracles are happening before our very eyes. The Lord is working great wonders, and his children are rejoicing as the blessings of the gospel touch their lives. It is marvelous to behold.     Elder Ezra Taft Benson

CHAPTER 7--WEEK of JUNE 8 to JUNE 14 2014

This morning on our AM temple shift we were assigned to direct patrons from the clothing area to the dressing rooms.  We knew that BYU Legends performers were going to be coming to do a session.  Sure enough here they came in their blue blazers for the guys and matching skirts and blouses for the gals.  So impressive.  They have been here performing since June 2 and their last performance will be June 15.  We knew we had to try and go and see them but just didn't have the chance until tonight.  We were fortunate that the crowd was not too large and we had good seats with good views of the stage.  They are a fantastic performing group.  They have such beautiful smiles, boundless energy and bring such a wonderful spirit to their performance.  They used to be called the Lamanite Generation but changed their name to Living Legends.  One special part of the performance that they don't normally do comes from the Tongan performance.  They added a part to honor Joseph Smith.  It was very sweet.  The costumes were absolutely fantastic.  The pictures are from the Living Legends Website--livinglegends.byu.edu--on the website you can also get a feel for the performance on the posted video on the front page.  We were once again reminded of the season's of our lives as they performed.

 

Today, Tuesday was our P-Day.  Besides a trip to Wal Mart and lunch at Angelini's, a pretty good restaurant in Keokuk, we went on The Martyrdom Trail tour with Craig Dunn, a church history enthusiast who put together a great tour.  You go on an shuttle and he talks about the days leading to the Martyrdom and then when Joseph takes the road to Carthage.  Very well done and interesting.  He brought a great spirit to this piece of church history.  He added a drive to Warsaw to see the printing office Thomas Sharp.  No one wants to have anything to do with this property. It has been like this for many years.  Could there be a lesson in this for those who persecute the church? Pictures following are of the tour--the gravel road is part of the actual road Joseph Smith travelled on the way to Carthage.  We purchased a book Brother Dunn made of his tour which is a record of the tour as well as goes further in depth of some of the history he has researched about the Martyrdom Trail. 

 

 

 

Today, Wednesday, the week continues to move forward.  We wanted to complete going to all of the sites which we did today after our am temple shift.  Here is our experience at the Seventies Hall and the Webb Brothers Blacksmith and Wainright Shop.

 

Chauncy Webb, along with his brothers and father owned one of 48 blacksmith shops in Nauvoo.  The blacksmith was a very important member of the community.  Every city needed a blacksmith.  It is a credit to Chauncy Webb and his skill that Brigham Young chose him to make the wagon that carried him to Salt Lake.

 

We learned 4 important lessons in our experience today at the Blacksmith and Wainwright Shop.

 

 

First Lesson--BE PREPARED

The following is taken from a Friend article: When the Saints were preparing to leave Nauvoo for the long, difficult journey west, many choices about what to take and what to leave had to be made. Many items were vital not only for the trek but for survival when they reached the Salt Lake Valley. Seeds, tools, and equipment would be needed to rebuild homes and establish farms in the wilderness. Families had to leave whatever wouldn’t fit in their wagons. Many cherished possessions had to be left behind. The following is a list of things a family of five needed for the wilderness journey. The approximate amount of each item they were allowed to take is noted where possible (this list is from the Brigham Young Home):

 

1 strong wagon, well covered

2 or 3 good yoke oxen, ages 4-10

2 or 3 milch cows

1 or more good beeves

3 sheep, if can be obtained

1,000 lb. Flour or bread stuff in good sacks

1 bu. beans

100 lb. Sugar

1 good musket or rifle to each male over 12

1 lb. powder, 4 lb. lead

1 lb. Tea, 5 lb. coffee

a few pounds of dried beef or bacon

25 lb. Seed grain

25-100 lb. Farming and mechanical tools

clothing and bedding per family, not to exceed 500 lb.

Cooking utensils; bake kettle, fry pan, coffee pot, tea kettle, tin cups, plates, forks, knives, spoons, pans, etc.

A few goods to trade with Indians

15 lb. iron and steel

a few pounds wrought nails   1 gallon alcohol

10 lb. dried apples, 5 lb. dried peaches

15 lb. Salt, 2 lb. black pepper, 20 lb. soap, 5 lb. soda

1 lb. cayenne pepper, 1 lb. cinnamon, 1/2 lb. cloves

1 doz. nutmegs, 1/2 lb. mustard

a good tend and furniture to each 2 families

1 or more sets of saw and gristmill irons to each 100 families

1 fish seine for each company   4 or 4 hooks and lines

2 sets of pulley blocks and rope for crossing rivers, to each company

2 ferry boats to each company, each wagon to carry one ton without people or 2800 lb. with them

10 extra teams per company of 100

N.B--in addition to the above list, horse and mule teams can be used as well as oxen.  Many items of comfort and convenience will suggest themselves to a wise and provident people, and can be laid in in season; but none should start without filling the original bill.

 

Second is regard to the wheels.  The wheels, of course, carried the loaded wagon with the necessary supplies that the saints needed to cross the plains.  Here was the list of items that was required for them to take:

 

The wheel of the wagon is made of strong wooden spokes and iron rims fitting together under the wagon bed allowing the wagon and the load inside to be pulled forward by the oxen.  The wheel has to work properly to move forward.  The wagon wheel is like a family centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The hub of the wheel is the center part of the wheel.  The hub of a family is Jesus Christ and His gospel.  The spokes are each member of the family.  The felloes plate is where the spokes are attached.  This plate is our prophet and apostles and leaders who help us keep our family strong in the gospel.  The flat steel tire is the love of God wrapping our family in his love.  Such a beautiful image comparing the wheel to the family.

 

The third lesson is from shoeing the horses or oxen.  When picking up a nail to use to put the shoe on the animal there is a diamond pattern on one side only.  This allows the blacksmith to pick up the nail and with touch he can recognize the correct side that he needs to put the nail in correctly.  If not the nail will hurt the horses foot.  By following the pattern of the gospel of Jesus Christ correctly life will be easier to live.

The fouth lesson comes from the load that is put in the wagon.  As seen in the list that was required there was not much room for extra items in the wagon.  The story of John Taylor’s son was a good example of the heart ache that can happen when the realization sets in that everything can’t be taken.  The necessities to sustain life were the most important things that needed to be loaded first.  After loading the cart, wisdom was needed as to what else would be added.  Sometimes it was necessary to step back, pause and think to receive clarity.  Oftentimes, it was necessary to remove extra baggage.  What a thought to help us in our lives.  How often do we step back, pause and think to receive clarity as to what extra baggage we may need to remove from our lives so that we can truly do the essentials needed to return to our Father in Heaven.  Definitely a thought to consider.

·         The Seventies Hall or as the site missionaries call it—The Nauvoo MTC—The Seventies were the missionaries sent out from Nauvoo, patterned after those “seventy” that Jesus called to carry the Gospel to every city and place (See Luke, 10:1). In this hall, the Seventies learned gospel principles and missionary skills. They went forth from Nauvoo to carry the gospel to every state in the Union, to the American Indians, to Canada, Europe, and the Pacific Isles.

The Seventies made great sacrifices to complete this building. They worked on the docks where they were paid with lumber, and they fired their own bricks. The hall was completed and dedicated in December, 1844. Brigham Young offered the dedicatory prayer and asked, “…may it (the Hall) be filled with thy spirit that it may be called the gate of Heaven, and may all who enter within its doors be made to feel thy love and power.”

Thank you to those who have served missions and are continuing to serve in whatever capacity in the “hastening” of the work.  The world has need of willing men and women who are willing to put their shoulders to the wheel to help the kingdom of God on earth move forward.

 

 

 

One other fun note.  We also went to The Promise again today.  One of the sister missionaries was directing people to their seats and we noticed that her name was Sister Newell.  We asked her if she was related to Lloyd D. Newell, one of our favorite authors and the voice of the Spoken Word, and she said, "He is my dad!" with a great big grin on her face!

 

Today, Thursday, was a sweet day in the temple when we were able to officiate the 4 PM session where 3 cousins all came together to receive their endowments before going on their missions.  This reminded us of our other sweet experiences when we went with our sons to the temple for the first time before going on their missions for which we are truly grateful.  We love serving in the Nauvoo Temple.

 

June 12 Nauvoo Moment from Chuck:

 

We are reminded daily that it is a tender mercy of the Lord for us to be called to serve in the Nauvoo Temple. We continually meet people who inspire us and we are humbled to be serving with them. The dedication, faith,  love, and sacrifice on which Nauvoo was built continues today.

This morning I was listening to a devotional given at BYU recently and the speaker talked about tender mercies.

Each of you are a blessing and a tender mercy in my life. You have always treated me so kindly and shown me so much love. To me there is nothing more exciting than seeing the hand of the Lord in our lives. The miracle of the gospel is that everything we do benefits us – as well as others. Our duty is to love and help each other.

The commandments are really tender mercies that lead us to safety, happiness, and growth. I pray that the spirit will be with each of us and teach us what we need to know today.

 Tender Mercies  (Elder Bednar)

The Lord’s tender mercies do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence.

Faithfulness & obedience enable us to receive these important gifts.

Frequently, the Lord’s timing helps us to recognize and acknowledge them.

They provide comfort and encouragement to us.