March 12, 2015 - Thursday

I think this was the best day so far here in Nauvoo as missionaries, thanks to my daughter-in-law, Mary.  Let me tell you about those details in just a minute or two!

First, mom and I were up early for our morning devotional which consists of prayer, reading the message for the day from President Hinckley's book "Stand A Little Taller", and Scripture study together.  We then went out for a morning walk of two miles and greeted the sun rising over a slightly foggy morning here in Nauvoo.  We stopped by the Visitor's Center and rode the stationary bikes for 10 minutes and then continued our walk back to the apartment.

Two miles or 100 calories - whichever comes first!

 We like to take the bikes for a spin each morning and it has become quite a workout!  Mom refused to have her picture taken so I volunteered - sort of...

Our cute little house about a half block away!

 We are walking south on Partridge Street and our little home is a quick right at the stop sign.  How many grandchildren can see the stop sign?  Granny and Grandpa are on the 2nd floor where the tiny little window is above the doorway.  Who can point to Granny and Grandpa's window?

We got home about 8:00am from our morning workout.  We knew this because the bells in the temple rang out 8 rings!  At least we think it is coming from the temple.  We are working on confirming that!  It sounds so nice anytime we hear the bell ringing...

After breakfast I went out to give the van a good wash and dry.  I worked the interior as well as the exterior and Moroni is now clean again!  This is the first official wash since we leased him on January 29th.

A clean car is a happy car!

 The morning was so nice.  Some of the trees are starting to blossom and the air is so fresh and cool, not cold and frigid!  It was great to get outdoors and get the car cleaned!

After our own clean-up, we headed to our site assignments.  Mom went to the Scovil Bakery and I went to the Seventies Hall and the Blacksmith Shop.  Just a note about the Scovil Bakery; 

 The Scovil Bakery

The Scovil Bakery was one of several such establishments in Nauvoo in the 1840s. Lucius Scovil and his wife, Lury, built and operated this bakery. They supplied Nauvoo residents with bread; a variety of jams, jellies and confections; and marriage cakes from one to twenty-five dollars. They also catered banquets and parties held in the Masonic Hall.
The Scovils were converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kirkland, Ohio, and were baptized by Joseph Smith. They traveled with the Saints to Missouri, to Quincy, Illinois, and finally to Nauvoo. They suffered much adversity here in Nauvoo. Lucius buried four family members before departing to serve a mission in England at a very difficult time. You won't find his name in any history books, but Lucius' courage, faith, generosity and ingenuity set him apart as one of the great and noble Saints of the Restoration.
Lucius could have been bitter about losing his loved ones without the sealing ordinances of the temple.  He and his wife and their children were all sealed as a forever family.  I know that he was so sad to have his family members pass away, but he looked to that one sealing blessing his entire life without bitterness over the passing of his precious family members.
In the reconstructed bakery, you will see one of the original "Temple Plates" and hear the amazing story of how these plates blessed the lives of many Saints. You will learn how the Saints baked their bread in their "bustle" ovens, and see many interesting and unusual items used for baking during the Nauvoo period. If you are very good, you'll be treated to one of Nauvoo's famous gingerbread cookies, baked by missionaries serving here.

The Scovil Bakery next to the Cultural Hall

The Temple Plates

In the center of the plate is a picture of the original Nauvoo Temple, reproduced from what had to be one of the few photographs taken of the temple, a copy of which must have been taken to England by Elder Lucius Scovil. On the rim of the plate are the names of members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and several other Church leaders serving at the time Elder Scovil left for his mission to England. At the presentation, members of the Area Presidency thanked Mr. Durrant for his generous gift, shared with him some of the history of the Nauvoo Temple and the Church, and told him of the significance of the names on the edge of the plate. Elder Scovil commissioned 150 dozen of these plates in 1846, but only 12, including this one, are in the Church History Museum and 2 more are here in Nauvoo, one at the Scovil Bakery and one at the Heber C. Kimball home.  Here is a picture of this treasured plate:



Now, let me tell you about Mary's Story.  When she visited Nauvoo as a young girl with her family, she remembers visiting the Blacksmiths shop and being introduced to the "Prairie Diamond".  The story she may have heard goes something like this;  there were several young men traveling with the pioneer company crossing the plains heading for the Rocky Mountains.  They all became interested in this one young lady and each approached the father to ask for her hand in marriage.  The father was very strict and told each of them that they could have her hand in marriage if they proposed with a diamond ring.  Well, this was disappointing to the young men because where would you find a diamond ring in the middle of this trek to the Salt Lake Valley?  All but one of the boys gave up their quest...  This one young man knew that the nails used to shoe the horses and oxen kind of looked like a diamond with a checkered design on the head.  He did some research and fashioned the nail to the size of her ring finger.  He then approached the father with the ring and informed him that he had the "diamond" for his daughter!  He called it a "Prairie Diamond".  The father looked at the ring and I am sure was somewhat impressed, but he told the boy that it was not a diamond.  At this point the young man produced a box that the nails came in.  And on the box the name of the manufacturer was obvious.... "The Diamond Company".  The young man won the father and ultimately the young lady!

When Mary heard that I was working in the Blacksmith Shop she related this previously unknown story to me and told me that she had that ring and thought about her future husband and how she wanted to be perfect for him.  Within the next 10 years, she met Bob and was a most worthy young lady for him and he was a most worthy young man for her.... so here is the story today:

I gave a tour of the Blacksmith's Shop to 15 Young Women from Utah who were on Spring break with their Young Women leaders and had just come to Nauvoo today for the experience.  I got to explain the significance of the Prairie Diamond to them and encouraged them to carefully prepare for their future husband.  It was a sweet experience.  They then sang to me a Primary Song "Follow The Prophets" and I took this picture - (the first group visitor picture I have felt impressed to permanently record in my records!)  

The Young Women Tour from Utah today

Actually, it doesn't get much better than this!  They each took a ring and my companion, Elder Walton, made sure the rings fit each girl.  Rob and Laura - this post is for you!

This has been a wonderful day!  Can it get any better than this?  Thank you for checking out the blog!  We love you!