Our day in the center
of Zion on April 10, Thursday, ended in Hannibal, Missouri, home of the famous
author, Mark Twain. Hannibal is
right on the muddy Mississippi River. A
very quaint and fun little place to visit.
We didn’t have a lot of time to spend in Hannibal but we did walk around
and take pictures which are included in our picture albums or files. We knew we would probably take a trip down to
Hannibal on one of our P-days so we could enjoy it more. Mark Twain truly left his mark in
Hannibal. His famous books about Tom
Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are honored.
There is a tour through his boyhood home that we hope to take when we
visit again. We enjoyed seeing the birds
and even spotted a lone cardinal in the top of a tree that was singing. We stayed in a Best Western Hotel and did
walk around a museum that was open that had artifacts and such of the town and
era of Mark Twain. We enjoyed eating at
the Mark Twain Diner across the street from out hotel and seeing the Lighthouse
the next morning before crossing the bridge into Illinois. We knew we were so close to Nauvoo, about an
hour and half away, but we were on our way to Indiana first to see our family
there.
April 11, a Friday,
we drove to Noblesville, Indiana where we would stay for our visit in Indiana
at the Fairfield Inn there. We met
Holly and Bruce for dinner and went to a Mexican Restaurant in Fishers called
the Riviera Maya. It was good and we
enjoyed being with Holly and Bruce.
Across the street from that restaurant was another restaurant called The
Nickel Plate Bar and Grill. This is
significant because Chuck’s dad, Grandpa Whitenack and Chuck worked on the
Nickel Plat railroad before it changed to the Southern and then Norfolk Southern
Railroad.
April 12, Saturday,
we drove to Elwood and met at Ken and Mandy’s new home on 608 S. Anderson. We bought donuts, as well as Holly, for
everyone. Ron and Shari’s family came
over. We enjoyed visiting and getting
reacquainted with everyone and seeing Ken and Mandy’s new home. A decision was made to go bowling at Lucky
Strike. Holly and I opted out so we
could go and do some shopping for the dinner that Holly planned for Sunday
evening. We got back and went to eat at
the Golden Corral in Noblesville and then came back and visited at Ken and
Mandy’s. Such fun to be with our Indiana
Family.
April 13, Sunday, we
went to church and left early to go and pick up Aunt Joyce so she could come to
the family get together. We were so
happy Holly had invited her and she allowed us to go and pick her up. She is still grieving from the loss of her
husband, Norm, and Aunt Janet, her sister is not doing well either. She is wondering what to do with
herself. We had a hoot talking to her
and hearing stories about her and Uncle Kenny and other family events. Before we went to the party we went to see
where Jenny and her family are living. A
very cute house. Jenny always has does a
nice job of decorating and organizing her home.
All of Holly’s kids, Ken and Ron’s family, Rusty and Tia all came. It was held in a building by the Elwood
Community Pool that can be rented out for such events. We grilled hot dogs and hamburgers and there
were salads and desserts pitched in. Of
course, the best item on the menu for us was Bruce’s famous Pea Salad—that is
always a wonderful treat! Mike and Toni,
Doug, David and Mary came over and that was so nice to see them. Sherri had found old pictures and she had
brought those so that was fun going through those. We had also done that at Ken and Mandy’s on
Saturday with other older pictures we had found. A wonderful visit with the family.
April 14, Monday, we
packed up and left the hotel and went back to Elwood. We went to Holly’s and I scanned some of the
old pictures we had gone through at CVS.
We went and had lunch at Lincoln Square.
Another pork tenderloin, naturally.
It was good. Heidi came out as
well as Ken and Mandy and Shari came also after picking Ammon up from
pre-school. We said our good-byes and
headed to Springfield, Illinois. We got
there in the late afternoon and checked into our hotel, a Fairfield Inn. We walked around Wal Mart and Target and then
had dinner at a Mexican Restaurant right by the hotel. It actually wasn’t too bad. The internet at all of the hotels we had been
staying in on the trip was just not working very well with trying to upload
pictures etc. which turned out to be a bummer but every now and then it did
work so we kept trying. We read the
tourist materials for the Lincoln sites and looked forward to our next day’s
events.
April 15, Tuesday, we
headed for the Lincoln Museum and other Lincoln sites. We went to the Lincoln home which is now
run by the National Park Service and is a national historic site. It was a wonderful place taking a huge city
block. They made the neighborhood area
look like it would have looked when Lincoln had lived there. They had a
visitor’s center where we watched a short movie and then we met a park ranger
and he took us through the Lincoln home and then we got to walk around the
area. It was so well maintained and kept
with lots of information on Lincoln and the time period and people that were
living in the area. To read more
information on the site the website @ www.nps.gov is a good resource with good
photos (search for the Lincoln Home). We
then went to Lincoln’s Law Office. That
was an awesome place. It is run by the
State of Illinois Historical Society. We
ended up having a private tour because there was no other people at the time we
were there. We can actually say that we
have walked where Lincoln walked. The
desk that he signed his first inaugural address in downstairs. This desk was owned by his brother-in-law. A very interesting place to see where he
practiced law and the courtroom he practiced in—a great place to visit. We were getting hungry about this time and we
had read about a place called Maid Rite—advertised as a really good hamburger
place with other options on them menu.
We found the place and could not believe what it ended up to be. It was basically crumbled hamburger on a bun
with no lettuce, tomato etc. It was
expensive and the fries were not that good either. When we walked in the place the guy said the
root beer was homemade. I was not
impressed and did not want to stay but, we were there so Chuck ordered the
special which was basically 2 sandwiches and fries. When he opened up the bun to put ketchup on I
couldn’t believe it. We can say we at
least tried it. We can say it was
unique. We cannot say the food was
good. The food was weird. There will be more to say about this place
later on when we talk with a fellow missionary couple about this place. Chuck did eat the food though. We headed for the Lincoln Library which we
had been too in 2005. They happened to
have a Subway as their only food place and so I had that while Chuck went to
one of the movies on Lincoln. We
sauntered around the museum, saw another movie and then went across the street
to the restored railroad station where Lincoln left for Washington DC after
being elected for the rest of the day.
There was an exhibit in Union Station given by Steven Spielberg of the
items used in the movie Lincoln which he made in 2012 which was a fantastic
movie. It was a very good exhibit and we
thoroughly enjoyed seeing it. We have
lots of Lincoln postcards, books etc. in our souvenir stash. We didn’t get to the Lincoln Tomb that day
but planned on going before we left for Nauvoo the next day. Lincoln’s Farewell Address in Springfield was
impressive to us and is added next.
by Abraham
Lincoln
February
11, 1861
This speech, given by Abraham
Lincoln as he departed Springfield, Illinois, to go to Washington to become
president of the United States. A thousand citizens gathered to see Lincoln and
his family depart. Lincoln, of course, never returned. Two versions of the
speech follow, one purporting to be partly from the original manuscript in
Lincoln's handwriting and partly from Lincoln's secretary as dictated by
Lincoln. The second version was printed in 1861 in a Springfield newspaper.
Version 1
"Friends, no one who has never
been placed in a like position can understand my feelings at this hour, nor the
oppressive sadness I feel at this parting. For more than a quarter of a century
I hve lived among you, and during all that time I have received nothing but
kindness at your hands. Here I have lived from my youth until now I am an old
man. Here the most cherished ties of earth were assumed. Here all my children
were born and here one of them lies buried. To you, dear friends, I owe all
that I have, all that I am. All the strange checkered past seems to crowd now
upon my mind.
To-day I leave you. I go to assume a
task more difficult than that which devolved upon Washington. Unless the great
God who assisted him shall be with andaid me I must fail; but if the same
omniscient mind and mighty arm that directed and protected him shall guide and
support me I shall not fail -- I shall succeed. Let us all pray that the God of
our fathers may not forsake us now. To Him I commend you all. Permit me to ask
that with equal sincerity and faith you will invoke His wisdom and guidance for
me. With these words I must leave you -- for how long I know not. Friends, one
and all, I must now bid you an affectionate farewell."
Version 2
"My friends, no one, not in my
situation, can appreciate my feeling of sadness at this parting. To this place
and the kindness of this people I owe everything. Here I have lived a quarter
of a century and have passed from a young to an old man. Here my children have
been born and one is buried.
I now leave, not knowing when or
whether ever I may return, with a task before me greater than that which rested
upon Washington. Without the assistance of that Divine Being who ever attended
him I cannot succeed. With that assistance I cannot fail.
Trusting in Him who can go with me
and remain with you and be everywhere for good, let us confidently hope that
all will yet be well. To His care commending you, as I hope in your prayers you
will commend me, I bid you an affectionate farewell."
April 16, Wednesday,
was our day for the Lincoln Tomb. We
had not been able to go to the Lincoln Tomb on our previous trip to Springfield
in 2005. We only had time for the Lincoln
Library. Since we had planned the trip
to Indiana before we headed for Nauvoo we were given an extra couple of days to
take it a bit slower and so we were glad we had the time this time. We really had no idea what to expect at the
Lincoln Tomb. We hadn’t read a lot on
it, we knew we just wanted to go. When
we arrived we were impressed with the memorial statue and area. Little did we know what we would discover
through the door that was located at the bottom of the memorial! As we entered there was a bronze version of
the Washington DC Lincoln Memorial with Lincoln sitting in a chair. We thought that is good. Then we went down a hallway that curved. Along this hallway were several other bronze
type statues of Lincolns when are replicas of originals in other museums
throughout the country. It was very well
presented. Continuing on down this
hallway we were struck by the size of this place. As we came around one of the last curves we
entered the room where Lincoln is buried and we knew we were in a hallowed
place which is a fitting memorial for a leader who was needed in America at a
critical time. The experience was very
similar to our Mt. Vernon experience when we were in Washington DC. That Sunday we visited Mt. Vernon we felt we
were on hallowed ground also. The spirit
was in each of these places witnessing to us that God does indeed have his hand
in this choice land of America. A
thoroughly enjoyable time at the Lincoln Tomb.
We stopped at a little souvenir shop near the tome and the headed back
to the hotel. On the way we say a Route
66 sign and took a picture. We also had
another Lucas favorite for lunch—Steak and Shake. As we were driving down the road from Steak
and Shake we saw an MCL Cafeteria—yet another Indiana Lucas eating spot. We thought maybe we would go back for dinner
just because but we weren’t sure if we would be hungry. We went back to the hotel and rested and
tried to get on the internet with some luck here and there. We did head back to the MCL Cafeteria just to
have another trip down memory lane. It
is another type of Luby’s so we could pick and choose whatever we wanted which
was not much after our Stake and Shake experience. It was fun to go there though.
April 17, Thursday,
we headed for Nauvoo. Our Mission
arrival date was April 18 between the hours of 2 and 4 PM. We had planned on getting to Nauvoo a day
early just to get there and to have a chance to walk around a bit and get
rested before our mission officially began.
We had a reservation at the Hotel Woodruff. This is an historic hotel on the main street
of Nauvoo. On the website— http://www.woodruffhotel.com/hotel-history.html —the history of hotel is explained. We were very impresses with the room were
stayed in. The tub the largest
Jacuzzi-type tub we had ever seen—our pictures do not do it justice. We just opted for the shower but it was still
a topic of conversation. The bed was
comfortable. We walked around Zion’s
Mercantile, The Temple Gallery and the rest of the town. We ate dinner at the Hotel Nauvoo buffet which
we had eaten at in 2005. It had not
changed a bit. Good food—no desserts to
speak of except an apple crisp. The next
morning we hung out in our room until we had to check out at 11 and then had
lunch at Zion’s Mercantile. After that
we leisurely drove around Nauvoo and became familiar again with the layout of
Nauvoo. We drove down where the housing
is located for the temple missionaries and saw our name in the window. That was fun.
By this time it was time to go the Temple Arrival Center to check in for
our mission to begin.
We were to obtain information and keys as well as meet our
host couple at the arrival center. The
Wilson’s, who had contacted us previously, were our host couple. When we entered through the doors it was a
flurry of activity. President and Sister
McArthur greeted us warmly and guided us to a table to get our missionary
notebook that had been prepared for us.
Shortly thereafter we met the Wilson’s.
Such a sweet couple. They had been
serving here since last year. We did not
stay long at the arrival center because we were told to go get settled at our
apartments. We followed the Wilson’s to
our place—645 S. Partridge Apt. 3—upstairs.
The Wilson’s just stayed briefly explaining a few things about where to
go to get groceries, things about the door lock etc. Everything we needed to know was in the
notebook. There was a lovely welcome
basket with some food items in it as well as some eggs, butter, milk and juice
in the refrigerator. We were in awe of
the apartment we were assigned. We took
pictures, but those don’t convey the spirit of the place. It was so clean and well maintained. It really didn’t feel small or cramped at
all. We found out that this had been the
apartment that President and Sister Fortie had been assigned when they were
here last year for their mission.
President and Sister Fortie were counselor and assistant matron in the
San Diego Temple that we served with when we were assistant coordinators in the
San Diego Temple. Sweet, loving, kind,
quiet and just good people. That was an
indication to us of how the Lord orchestrates tender mercies in our lives. We had the rest of the evening and all day
Saturday to get settled, shop etc.
We did meet our two other missionary couples that would
share the building with us as we all unloaded our cars. Below us are Elder and Sister Hepworth from
Paige, Arizona—temple—St. George. Next
door to them in a single level attached apartment with no apartment above them
is Elder and Sister Bass from Columbia, South Carolina—temple—Columbia South
Carolina. (yes, they know Wanda—formerly
Procopio—and Dean Jacobs—Elder bass was a counselor to Dean Jacobs when he
served as a Stake President before meeting Wanda). Both couples are just awesome. The Hepworth’s had served here in 2007 and
Elder Bass is a sealer.
We did go to Wal Mart and Hyvee (the grocery store)—in
Keokuk, Iowa that evening to get a few things.
April 19-28—Saturday
through Monday.
This begins our Nauvoo Temple Seminar for new
missionaries. We called it our MTC
experience. This was filled with
instruction, tours, activities, lunches, dinners, but most of all the spirit
was in abundance. This is where we
learned that sharing the experience of that sacred time should be tucked away
in the sacred treasure chest of the heart.
These were learning experiences, testimony building experiences and
faith promoting experiences. President
McArthur is a well- organized on time leader who leads with love and
compassion. The way in which he and the
temple presidency and matrons outlined the agenda for that week was truly
inspired. We have included here the
agenda and timeline for that week.
Hopefully the reader will get a feel for what we experienced just by
reading what we were doing. Note the
songs sung. The highlight of that week
was on Friday. To be in the sacred
Nauvoo temple that had been rebuilt after the destruction of it when the saints
were forced to leave Nauvoo, their city beautiful—the city of Joseph, was truly
a sacred experience. We heard about the
cornerstone ceremony led by President Hinckley.
This was different than most temple cornerstone ceremonies. It was to be like the first cornerstone
ceremony when the first Nauvoo temple was built. The highlight of that ceremony was having
President Hinckley, President Packer, President Nelson (the Nauvoo Stake
President at the time and now a member of the Nauvoo Temple Presidency) and
Presiding Bishop H. David Burton give remarks at their assigned corner. We were privileged to hear some of the
remarks that were made by these great leaders.
These remarks showed the Lord’s hand in having His city of Nauvoo saved
in miraculous ways so that His temple could be resurrected from the
rubble. Any study into this city and
what has transpired here since Joseph Smith cleared the swamps to build a city
for the saints would truly fortify one’s faith and deepen one’s testimony.
Nauvoo
Temple Seminar for New Missionaries April 2014
First
11 Days at a Glance
Friday, April 18
2:00 - 4:00 pm Arrive at Temple
Arrival Center to obtain information and keys
Host Couples will meet you there
along with Temple Presidency
Saturday, April 19
Morning and afternoon free to
settle into your new apartment, shop, etc.
6:00 pm "Welcome Dinner"
at the Stake Center for all missionaries
Sunday, April 20
8:00 am Church meetings at the
Nauvoo Stake Center
12:30 pm Sunday dinner with
other missionary couples (groups assigned)
2:30 pm Settings apart begin in
the Temple Presidency Offices. (See Schedule in books) Free after setting apart
Monday, April 21
Free in morning and afternoon to
get further settled, shop, visit sites
7:00 pm Family Home Evening with
Elder George and Sister Susan
Easton Black Durrant at the
Visitors Center (below the Stake Center)
Tuesday, April22
9:00 am to 10:45 am (See
schedule for assigned time) New missionaries meet at the Arrival Center with
their Host Couple for photos and walk through orientation of the temple.
1:00-3:00 or 3:00-5:00 Guided
tour of area. Park at south east terraced temple parking lot. We will start at
temple steps. Assigned groups, will travel in vans.
Wednesday, April 23
8:30 am Opening Session in
Temple Assembly Room
12:00 pm Lunch at Stake Center
1:30 pm Afternoon Session meet
in Temple Assembly Room (Dressed in white with packets, no white coats)
5:30 pm Dinner at Nauvoo Stake
Center
Thursday, April24
8:30 am Meet in Assembly Room
12:30 am Lunch at Nauvoo Stake
Center
2:30 pm Meeting in Assembly Room
5:45 pm Dinner at Hotel Nauvoo
(Buffet)
Friday, April 25
8:30 am Meeting in Assembly Room
12:05 pm Photo of group on
Temple Steps
12:30 pm Lunch at Nauvoo Stake
Center
2:00 pm Walk down Parley Street
(meet at Seventies Hall)
Saturday, April 26
Free Day Visit sites,
"Rendezvous" 7:00 pm at Old Cultural Hall, etc.
Sunday, April 27
Attend assigned Wards and
Branches
Monday, April 28
Temple Opens -- Monday
Preparation Mtg. 7:30 am or 1:30 pm
Nauvoo Temple New Missionary Seminar Agenda
Friday
Afternoon—April 18
2:00 - 4:00 pm: New
missionaries arrive at Arrival Center, meet host couple
Saturday—April 19
Morning and Afternoon
free
6:00 pm: "Welcome
Dinner" at Nauvoo Stake Center (380 Durphy Street)
Conducting: President
James McArthur
Opening Prayer &
Blessing: Elder James Bass
Closing Prayer: Sister Nancy
Lucas
Sunday—April 20
8:00 am: Church
Meetings at Nauvoo Stake Center (380 Durphy Street)
12:30 pm: Dinner
with other missionary Couples (See schedule at end of agenda)
2:30 pm: Setting
Apart of couples in Temple Presidency Offices
7:00 pm: Family
Home Evening Fireside at Visitor's Center
Presiding: President
James McArthur
Conducting: President
Durell Nelson
Opening Song: "We Thank
Thee O God for a Prophet" Hymn # 19
Director: Norman
McClellan Organist: Becky McClellan
Opening Prayer: Elder Dean Lee
Speakers: Elder
George and Sister Susan Easton Black Durrant
Closing Song: "Hark
All Ye Nations" Hymn # 264
Director:
Richard Hall Organist: Greg Gorrell
Closing Prayer: Sister
Linda Davis
Tuesday, April 22
New Missionaries meet
at Arrival Center with Host Couple for photos and a walk through orientation of
the temple.
Lunch on your own
Guided Tour of Area:
Park in southeast temple parking terrace. We will start at temple steps.
Assigned groups will travel in vans.
1:00 - 3:00 pm: Missionary last name
"Andelin to Marshall" / 3:00 - 5:00 pm: Missionary last name
"McClellan to Wilson"
Wednesday—April 23
Morning
8:30 am: Meet
in Temple Assembly Room
Presiding: President
James McArthur
Conducting: President
James McArthur
Opening Song: "Praise
to the Man" Hymn #27
Director: Sharon
Thompson Organist: Marian Henderson
lnvocation: Elder
Dennis Johnson
8:45 am: lntroduction
of New Missionary Ordinance Workers
9:00 am: Musical
Number by Choir
"High
on a Mountain Top / The Spirit of God"
Director:
Becky McClellan Organist: Marian Henderson
9:10 am: Sister
Denise McArthur
9:25 am: President
James McArthur
9:45 am: Break
10:15 am: Please
be in endowment rooms for instruction
Wednesday—April 23
Afternoon
1:30 pm: Meet
in Assembly Room
Presiding: President
James McArthur
Conducting: President
Durell Nelson
Opening Song: "Come,
Come Ye Saints" Hymn # 30
Director:
Kathy Diederich Organist: Suzanne Wilson
lnvocation: Sister
Susan Wasem
1:40 pm: Sister
Elaine Hullinger
1:50 pm: President
David Hullinger
2:05 pm: Endowment
Sessions
5:30 pm: Dinner
at Nauvoo Stake Center
Conducting: Pres.
David Hullinger
Blessing on Food: Elder John Hansen
Thursday—April 24
Morning
8:30 am: Meet
in Assembly Room
Presiding: President
James McArthur
Conducting: President
David Hullinger
Opening Song: "Now Let
Us Rejoice" Hymn # 3
Director:
Judy Moller Organist: Becky McClellan
Opening prayer: Sister Jan Vasas
8:40 am: Sister
Kathy Nelson
8:50 am: President
Durrell Nelson
12:30 pm: Lunch
at Stake Center
Conducting: President
Durell Nelson
Blessing on Food: Elder Albert Murphy
Thursday—April 24
Afternoon
2:30 pm: Meet
in Assembly Room
Presiding: President
James McArthur
Conducting: President
James McArthur
Opening Song: "Joseph
Smith's First Prayer" Hymn # 26
Director:
Marie Terry / Organist: Sharon Thompson
Opening Prayer: Sister Gwen
Stanley
2:40 pm: Rick
Marshall, Recorder
3:00 pm: Please
go to endowment rooms
5:45 pm: Dinner
at Hotel Nauvoo (Buffet)
Friday April 25
Morning
8:30 am: Meet
in Assembly Room
Presiding: President
James McArthur
Conducting: President
Durell Nelson
Opening Song: "Redeemer
of lsrael" Hymn # 6
Director:
Susanne Peterson Organist: David Lindholm
Opening Prayer: Elder Doniel Rich
8:45 Questions
& Answers
10:00 Choir
"The Lord is My Shepherd"
Conductor:
Becky McClellan Organist: Marian Henderson
10:10 Highlights
of Dedication
11:00 Rick Marshall "O Divine
Redeemer"
11:05 Sister
Denise McArthur
11:15 President
James McArthur
Closing Song: "I
Believe in Christ" Hymn # 134
Director.
Mary Anderson Organist: Susan Durrant
Closing Prayer: Sister Melinda
Rogers
12:05 pm Photo
of group on Temple Steps
12:30 pm Lunch
at Nauvoo Stake Center
Conducting: President David Hullinger
Blessing on Food: Elder Don Nelson
Friday April 25
Afternoon
2:00 pm: Walk
down Parley Street (meet at Seventies Hall)
Saturday April 26
Free Day: Visit
the sites, "Rendezvous," 7:00 pm at old Cultural Hall etc.
Sunday, April 27: Attend assigned
Wards and Branches
Monday, April 28
Temple Opens: Monday
Preparation Mtg. 7:30 am morning shift or 12:30 pm afternoon shift
No comments:
Post a Comment