CHAPTER 17 WEEK of SEP 2 to SEP 11

As we begin this newest post today, we are reminded of the date, September 11, 2014.  What a day that was in 2001.  It has been 13 years since that day and the question for all us should be "Do I remember" not only what happened on that fateful day, but what that day represents for all past days where freedom has been challenged and blood spilt.  We are reminded once again of one of the greatest challenges we learn of in the Book of Mormon--"lest we forget"!  "Lest we forget" can be applied to so many aspects of our lives.  So today LET US REMEMBER.

Things are quieting down in Nauvoo.  Some of the local eateries have changed their hours because business has definitely lessened now that summer is over and fall is here.  What hasn't lessened is the spirit of this beautiful city and what this city represents.  We have not had one day that we have not had a moment to remember what has happened in this city in the past and what is happening in this city now.


We eluded to this in our last weeks post but it is official now and we have been given a temporary schedule change thru the 27th of September.  Our AM shift remains the same but we leave one hour earlier.  Our PM shift has changed to reporting at 5 and ending when the last session is completed around 10 PM or so.  The presidency is trying to see if the added evening sessions will be used by the patrons in the temple district.  We are happy to be part of the experiment and get tickled by the comments and analysis of our fellow missionaries--all who support the presidency 100% also.  So that is where we are on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from 5-10 PM Central Time Zone.

J

Last Friday we went to Burlington, Iowa for a little shopping and then went Mt. Pleasant, Iowa the place Chuck has been wanting to go to since he found out about it on his eternal quest for the best breaded tenderloin in the world.  The pictures tell it all.  My personal opinion was that it was not and so far Grandpa John's wins out for me and Chuck says it was good but not the best yet so I guess the quest will continue!  The piece of chocolate cream pie was excellent (Josh, wish you were with us) and that made up for any lack of flavor in the tenderloin.  Please note the sign on the fence for the reason we went there.

 J

 

 

Brother Hepworth planted tomato plants by our apartment and we have been reaping the rewards.

 



 

Last Saturday we had a fun time with President Jergensen.  He was in town to go to the temple with some members he had worked with when he was the mission President of the Iowa Des Moines Mission.  Sister Jergensen had hip replacement surgery in July so she was not able to come with him but she is doing really well.  We had dinner at the Nauvoo Hotel Buffet with him and Elder and Sister Warner our friends from the Ramona Ward in our Poway Stake.

 

Monday night we went to a fireside at the Visitor's Center with R. Lane Wright speaking about his book that we love, Testament In Stone, about the symbols of the Nauvoo Temple.

www.testamentinstone.com

Chuck's Nauvoo Moment about this book has been posted previously, but we were reminded that in one part of the book Brother Wright discusses the gates of the Nauvoo Temple that we walk through each day to serve.  Brother Wright's interpretation from his book tells us that "the Nauvoo Temple features forty stars on each gate structure entering the temple."  He discusses the number 40 and what it represents from the scriptures--40 days and 40 nights of the flood, 40 years the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, Christ fasting 40 days and 40 nights etc.--and that "the number 40 represents purification (through a period of trial and testing)."  He says, "that these stars on the gate posts remind us that we pass through trials, but as we enter the Lord's House, just as the ancient Israelites, we now enter into our covenant land."   Something to think about.

What we also received from this fireside was yet another deeper conviction of the prophet Joseph Smith and his role in having the Nauvoo Temple be constructed exactly as the Lord had shown him vision what the Lord wanted it to be.  Such lessons to learn and ponder as we contemplate the importance of the temple in our lives.  Needless to say, as we go through those gates, we will always think of those 40 stars.

Note the new picture we added at the top of our blog and the pictures below to show the gates and stars we have discussed.

 

 

Quincy, Illinois

 

We have yet been able to get a picture for ourselves of this fantastic picture of the flags on the Knapheide property in Quincy.  We found this one on the internet but it doesn't do it real justice.  The wall beneath the flags says, ONE NATION UNDER GOD.  Each time we leave Quincy to go back to Nauvoo we go by this beautiful presentation.  It is very inspirational.  We went to Quincy yesterday when we accepted an invitation to go with some of our fellow missionaries for a tour by Brother Gentry, our PM shift coordinator, a penny whistle performance by Sister Gentry, our Sat PM shift coordinator, and a meal at O'Griff's restaurant where Sister Gentry would be playing her penny whistle as part of a Celtic Music Group performing there.  What a fun time that was.  Brother Gentry's tour, the Celtic music, the food and the company was all just grand.

 

What is a penny whistle?

 

 

The tin whistle, also called the penny whistle, is a simple, six-holed woodwind instrument. The tin whistle is closely associated with Celtic music.

 

 

We were also given a tour of the chapel in the Quincy building by Brother Gentry.  The reason being is shown in the pictures below. 

 

 

The town of Quincy is a very special piece of Church History.  After the Saints were expelled from Nauvoo the people of Quincy acted just like the good Samaritan and helped these ravaged Saints with a Christ-like hand.

We also went to a very unique Veteran's Home.  They had some unique memorabilia on their grounds.

Quincy is known for some beautiful brick homes.  The story goes that one of the first planned communities was on a street in Quincy.  No drive ways in front, all homes had to be a certain number of feet back from the street etc.  A beautiful tree and grass median was in the middle of the street.

Riverview Park is where a monument President Hinckley commissioned be given to thank the people of Quincy and was there for the presentation with the Mormon Tabernacle choir.  This excerpt from an lds.org news Story—5 July 2002 beautifully states the gracious goodness of the people of Quincy and is lesson for us all to continue to try an emulate their charity and goodness to those in need: (pictures follow--one of the statue and two of the bridge that takes you to Missouri)

 

"Mormon Tabernacle Choir choir announcer Lloyd Newell read a moving tribute to the generosity of early Quincy citizens. In part, it said, "Quincy bears a legacy of mercy that ripples down the centuries, reminding us that the milk of human kindness is always more powerful than force or fury."

In 1839, persecution in Missouri forced the departure of nearly 10,000 Latter-day Saints into neighboring states and communities. Large groups began leaving in February of that year, headed for various locations in Illinois and Iowa.

Many came to western Illinois. With a population of about 1,500, Quincy was the region’s principal town at the time. In an extraordinary act of humanitarian service, Quincy’s 1,500 residents sheltered and assisted more than 5,000 Latter-day Saint refugees.

Notable among those helped was Emma Smith. Her husband, Church founder Joseph Smith, was imprisoned at the time in Liberty, Missouri. After walking across the frozen Mississippi River with her four children, Emma settled on the outskirts of Quincy.

Arriving refugees needed accommodations and jobs. Quincy citizenry provided both. Despite snowstorms, Quincy citizens repeatedly rescued Latter-day Saints stranded without adequate food or clothing on the Missouri side of the river. One observer at the time noted that the citizens "donated liberally, the merchants vying with each other as to which could be the most liberal."

Local groups in Quincy interacted with Church leaders and representatives to carry out successful philanthropic activities. They provided jobs and donations of cash, clothing and provisions to needy Latter-day Saint refugees. They raised money locally and signed endorsements authorizing fundraisers in St. Louis and New York City.

A Latter-day Saint historian has described Quincy’s aid to the beleaguered Latter-day Saints as "a lasting example of benevolent people extending help to those in need.."

This next picture is from another park we went to.  The statue is of George Rogers Clark, one of the explores of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

 

Today we went by the Prairie Grass acre in Old Nauvoo.

 

 

 

 

 

When Nauvoo was being settled it was divided into 4 acre blocks. Each was divided into 4 one acre lots. The prairie grass is planted on one acre. Here on each acre the Saints could build a home, have a small orchard, a garden and a small pasture as well as a yard with shrubs and flowers, root cellars, wells and barns.

 

A burning demonstration is done on this prairie grass early spring of each year.

 

We would like to add a link here of Tom Simpson's photography page.  He is the photographer that took our pictures we added at the end of the album of John and Jen's pictures.  His website has some fantastic pictures of the burning demonstration and also of the pageants this year and other pictures of Nauvoo.  He is a wedding photographer also but we are sure those interested in the site and the pictures can figure out how to maneuver the website.  http://www.tomsimpsonphotography.com/

 

J

 

What a very fun time for us this morning as we finally took a bike ride.  The missionaries were given a coupon to take a free bike ride anytime they wanted with these cool bikes.  It was very fun.  One of you reading the blog will totally understand why Nancy's fun was extra special.

 

We now end this post trying share goodness--the first scripture is one of our very favorites!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of our favorite photos of the Nauvoo Temple found on lds.org.

 

 



Sep 11, 2014 Chuck’s Nauvoo Moment

Nauvoo Moment 7 Truths—(Includes my favorite quote)

We went to dinner last night in Quincy IL with several of our missionary friends in Nauvoo. During the conversation it came up that I am a collector (as you well know) of quotes. I was asked, “What is your favorite quote”? My favorite quote came to mind but I could not recite it so I provided a quote that I had read in the Bible that day. Attached are 7 Truths and the 1st one is my favorite of all time. It is from Theodore Roosevelt whose biography I read as a young man and has always been a source of inspiration to me. The other 6 quotes are from Ezra Taft Benson a singular world leader of the 20th century.

I believe that sharing truth can help us carry the "heaviness" (1 Peter Chapter 1) of the world that at times presses down on each of us.

We are taught in 1 Peter that the trials of our faith are more precious than gold.

They are necessary so that we may qualify for the inheritance that is reserved for us in heaven.

 

"The boy who is going to make a great man must not make up his mind merely to overcome a thousand obstacles, but to win in spite of a thousand repulses and defeats."—Theodore Roosevelt (My favorite quote. I discovered this truth when I was 18 years old & it is the foundation of my personal life philosophy.)