Praise to the Man

Wait for it…wait for it…here they all come! The large youth groups have begun to arrive in earnest.  It’s a great thing to witness.  It brings a spirit of purpose to all we do here.  We want those who visit Nauvoo to feel what those early pioneers felt, to know how much their Heavenly Father loves them, and that through Christ we can find happiness and peace.  We each work harder, study more, are more deliberate in what we focus on and try to do it with more love and caring for others.  It all has a great synergistic effect.  Nauvoo is a busy place and we get exhausted sometimes, but it’s the best place to be to understand the past and have excitement and hope for the future of the church.

The typical Nauvoo heat and humidity has finally arrived as well.  We've been so blessed with mild temperatures and have been pretty spoiled.  But this week the temperature has been in the 90s and the humidity almost as high.  For the first time as we performed Sunset by the Mississippi  I was hot and sweaty, really sweaty.  It doesn't help that my dress is a dark green and shows the ring of sweat around my neck and running down my back :0(  But it's all good.  Soon it will all be a memory and I'll miss it.

The most important event this week was the 175^th Commemoration of the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at Carthage Jail, 27 June 1844. Over 1,100 people filled the chairs on the grounds of the Carthage Jail Visitors’ Center to honor the lives of those two men.  The American Heritage Choir from American Fork provided beautiful music and Mark H. Taylor, a great-great grandson of John Taylor, spoke about the events of that day.  My love for the prophet Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, John Taylor and Willard Richards has increased so much as we’ve been here in Nauvoo. I have tried to study more about the lives they lived, the principles they taught and the influence they had on others.  All of that has built a more firm foundation for my own testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Knowing how they served, loved and gave all for the gospel increases my desire to improve the way I serve, love and give as His missionary. I have a long way to go but hopefully headed in the right direction.

Here are a few pictures from the week, including the Commemoration, sister missionaries, a surprise visit and another Nauvoo sunset.

175th Commemoration
Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith

President Lusvardi welcomed guests to the Commemoration.

The American Heritage Choir from American Fork, Utah
sang some beautiful numbers honoring Joseph Smith and the Savior.

Mark H. Taylor, great-great grandson of John Taylor spoke
of Elder Taylor's experience in Carthage jail with Joseph and Hyrum.

There were over 1,100 people who came to the 175th Commemoration.

Preparing for the Nauvoo and British Pageants. Pageant
season begins on July 9th and runs through August 3rd.

We went early Saturday morning to set up chairs.

Ready to go.

On Friday evening we went to a performance of the American Heritage Choir.
Afterwards one of my former third grade students came up to say hi.
I totally remember having Tiffany Densely in my class.  She was a cute little
blonde with a happy personality and always eager to learn. Tiffany had two children who were performing in the choir.  It was awesome to see her!
What a small world it can be, especially when the gospel plays a part in it.

Poor Angel Moroni.  Friday afternoon around 2:00 a
thunderstorm rolled through, dumping rain and
bringing thunder and lightning.  A bolt of lightning struck
Angel Moroni, leaving him a bit charred.

The young sister missionaries riding home in their own little
peloton  after a day of service in the historic sites.