Crump Crew in Nauvoo: A Quick Trip North

This week was much different than our regular missionary weeks. On Tuesday morning we drove up to Minneapolis so that Scott could get new hearing aids to replace the ones that got crushed. On Wednesday he met with the people at the Starkey Center of Excellence (I spent an hour at the Mall of America), and we attended the St. Paul, Minnesota Temple in the evening. What a blessing it is to feel the peace that the temple provides. We have missed it so much since the Nauvoo Temple closed for three months beginning in September. Our drive up to Minneapolis and back took us by way of Waterloo, Iowa so we stopped on the way up to see the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum. It was a fascinating look at WWII and the impact the war had on families, in particular the five Sullivan brothers who were all killed on a ship in the Pacific. They were known as the "Fighting Sullivans". The museum gave me more of an appreciation for the dedication and sacrifice of those who served during that time. Then, on our way back home, we stopped again in Waterloo for a bit to see the John Deere Tractor and Engine Museum. There is just so much to learn every single day.

The Monday before we left for Minneapolis we had a special Mission Training with Elder Steven E. Snow. He is the Church Historian and Recorder. He had some fascinating things to say about the direction the Church is going, the constant inspiration that President Nelson receives, the blessing of having the Joseph Smith Papers and the book Saints, and the significance of Nauvoo in Church history. Here are a few thoughts that I felt were particularly important:

This is an inspired work.
The changes are guided by the hand of the Lord and He will not let it fail.
The Church is mindful of these sacred places.
People come to Nauvoo and their hearts are changed.
Joseph Smith indeed was THE prophet of the Restoration. Sacred ordinances were restored here and that is significant.
Elder Snow recounted a story of Charles Brown, son of Hugh B. Brown. I think he said that Charles was a new bishop at the time and wanted to meet with the young couples to give them some counsel. He thought he'd give his dad a call and see what profound things he had to share. When Charles asked his father what he thought the most important thing was he should tell these young people, Hugh B. Brown said two things...Tell them it's true and tell them it's worth it.

The whole meeting was uplifting, but to me, Elder Brown's counsel was the best.

Sunday morning I finished reading the Book of Mormon like President Nelson asked us to do back in October, marking every reference to the Savior. I am grateful for that invitation from the prophet. It has helped me recognize the Savior every day, everywhere, in every circumstance, and to try to be more like Him. I am grateful for the constant power of the Book of Mormon in my life. I am grateful that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that He gave us the Book of Mormon as a daily aid to help us return to Him. I know it’s all true. And I know it’s worth it :0)

A few pictures from the week: