"Fasten your seatbelts!"

Mississippi River lily pads...

This is somewhat of a long post but there was so much that happened this past week.

We had another "first" here in Nauvoo.  Our performance of "Sunset" was rained out so we went to the Visitors' Center to practice in the west theater.  While we were there the Nauvoo Tornado Warning Siren went off!  We headed to the basement to wait it out.  We had our whole cast, all of the Young Performing Missionaries and some guests that were in the Visitors' Center, so about 85 people crammed into the basement.  I don't really know how long we were down there (maybe an hour) but since we were with the Young Performing Missionaries they sang for us, which made the time pass by quickly and calmed nerves :0) Everything ended well, no tornados actually touched down.

Elder Schultz directs the Young Performing Missionaries.

Results of the high winds.

While I’ve said there are so many things that I hope I never forget about Nauvoo, or that I don't allow to become commonplace, there are a few things that I could really do without…mostly all of the bugs; mayflies, spiders, wasps, beetles.  You name it and it seems to be here in Nauvoo.  And they’re everywhere! The other night I went to climb into bed and there was a big, black spider that scurried off of my pillow!! Ugh!

We had a surprise visit from Aunt Connie and Uncle Harry!  It was so great to spend an afternoon with them, especially to attend the temple!

Scott and I have talked about how difficult it can be to remember everything we need to remember when we go to a particular site and need to give a tour.  There’s just so much information.  But this is what we have decided.  When we do our part to study and honestly try to feel the Holy Ghost help us, then we are guided what to say and when to say it.  The people whose homes we are in have a vested interest in what we tell our guests and the spirit we convey.  So, they whisper things to our hearts and minds and help us remember.  The Holy Ghost “shall bring all things to your remembrance.” John 14:26

Last Monday we had the chance to drive out to Springfield, Illinois with some other senior missionaries, the Craners.  We went to see Lincoln’s home, the Old State Capitol and visit the Lincoln Museum. There is so much more to see in Springfield so we’ll have to make another trip at some point.  The main thing I learned about Lincoln was his total dedication to truth and right.  Regardless of what others said about him, he always tried to make the right choice as he made decisions for our country. His heart ached for those who suffered because of the Civil War.  He agonized over the Emancipation Proclamation.  The whole visit made me appreciate him even more.

Lincoln's home in Springfield, Illinois.

Scott in front of the Old State Capitol where
Lincoln served as a representative.

The Lincoln family, made of wax. The little boy, Tad,
in front of me was kind of creepy :0)

This week I served at Lucy Mack Smith’s home with Sister Cornwell and Sister Andrus.  We had a few tours but weren’t too busy.  Near the end of the day we had a family come in, grandparents, children and grandchildren.  They had one young boy that appeared to me to be mildly autistic and had a rough time standing still and focusing on the tour Sister Cornwell was giving.  His dad said he would take him out.  I leaned over and told him that when he came back in I’d show him the super steep stairs in the house and what was upstairs.  His family finished the tour and then left.  I didn’t think much more about it until he, Sam, came up the walk with his dad and he wanted to go upstairs.  So I showed him the stairs (some say they are the steepest stairs in Nauvoo, but I don’t know for sure about that.) and we went up to the rooms.  I showed him the little kids’ room and he loved it all.  He was a pretty happy kid when they left. 

Sam & Jacob

The next day Scott and I were serving at Pioneer Pastimes when Sam came running up to me and said, “You’re the one that showed me the steepest stairs!”  He was so cute and wanted to know my name.  I told him what it was and he kept repeating it over and over.  He wanted me to play all of the games with him.  After a while his grandpa came up to me and said thanks for being so kind to Sam.  They know he is different and are working with him.  I just said how fun it was to spend time with him and that he has a big heart.  His mom took a picture with us and his older brother Jacob.  She later sent me the picture with a text that said thanks for being so sweet to her boys.  It was one of those missionary tender mercies :0)

Elder Kim B. Clark

Thursday night and Friday morning, we had Elder Kim B. Clark visit our mission for a Mission Tour.  He is the Church Commissioner of Education and spoke at our Summerhill Stake Conference last year.  Elder Clark spoke to all of the missionaries on Thursday night for a little over an hour and then we continued the next morning and he taught us again. My notebook is full of principles that he taught us, but I just want to share two things I learned (maybe next week I'll share a few more).

• Pay very close attention to the things President Nelson has recently counseled us to do. Because of what is coming, we need to prepare better.  He has used words like urge, plead, rise up and press forward. Elder Clark said this is a new day in God's Kingdom and to "fasten your seatbelts!"  He feels like Pres. Nelson's last conference address, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our lives" will become a landmark talk in the church. Read it often and put into practice the principles he teaches.

• President Nelson has plead with us to increase our spiritual capacity.  What does that mean and how do we do it? If we want to increase something, then we need to make changes. This is a quote I heard on my mission and I think it fits perfectly, “If you want to achieve something that you’ve never achieved before, then you have to do things you’ve never done before.” Time to step it up! We can always BECOME more.

Meeting with Elder Clark for two days put us all on a spiritual high.  The difficulty comes in trying to stay there.  I try each day to do something just a little bit better.  My motto has become, "I will win today's battles" and focus on what I can do TODAY.

This is in the backyard of Heber C. Kimball's home,
which is next door to us.

The "kick" in Stouthearted Men!
Scott's right in the middle in the yellow-ish shirt.