April 27, 2015 - Monday

Here we are at the end of another great day here in Carthage.  It was an absolutely beautiful day and we got an early start this morning.  After our devotional and prayers, we went over to super clean the jail.  On Saturday evening we had a group of 33 scouts who biked from Nauvoo to Carthage and then wanted to take the tour.  The only problem was that they had to ride through mud and puddles of water and came with the muddiest shoes and pants possible and wanted to track the mud into the Visitors Center.  We were able to catch some of the less than considerate scouts and had them take off their shoes.  But then their socks were just as dirty.  So, this morning, our work was cut out for us and I think we got most of the residue cleaned up.

We had about 30 minutes for our morning walk and then we headed home and got ready for the day.  It was another slow day here in Carthage, but a little better than last Monday.  Mom and I took turns going on the tours that another missionary was giving and that was helpful to see how others did it.  We all were very close to the same tour presentation.

I was called this evening as the District Leader for Carthage and the Site Leader.  We will have six young single sisters and 4 senior couples in the district.  We are gearing up for the what is expected to be the busiest summer yet and I am just a little excited to get things organized.  

Mom and I gave a tour to the Iowa, Des Moines Mission President and his wife and granddaughter this afternoon.  He engaged us in discussing the possibility of putting 2 Elders out in Carthage this summer, and we fully endorsed that idea.  They last had a set of single sisters here in Carthage over a year ago and pulled them because they were threatened and had rocks thrown at them.  It is a little crazy here, but mom and I have seen a little softening of attitudes.  The time should be right to bring the missionaries back.  There are two missions that overlap each other.  The Illinois, Nauvoo Mission and the Iowa, Des Moines Mission.  The biggest difference is the ages of the companionship's!  And one of the missions gets to choose their companions!!

This tour guide is up for the very coveted "awesome tour guide of the year" award!  However, he has little chance of taking that coveted title.... Sister Lasher has already claimed that spot!

This is right outside the Visitors Center just after we show the movie.  We tell a little bit about the jail and then start that part of the tour through the jail.

This is the first room inside the jail.  It is the room where the jailers wife fed the prisoners.  The furniture is all period reproductions, but the window sills and the interior door frames are all original.  This building is 174 years old and is our shelter when there is a tornado warning in the Carthage area.  It is a very well built building.

This is the Martyrdom room.  This is my favorite part of the tour presentation.  As I review the 24 years of Joseph's life, from the Sacred Grove, to the Carthage jail, I marvel at what he was able to accomplish.  He was tutored and taught and prepared for his responsibilities, and with the precious experiences he had with those teaching him along with the extreme persecutions he was faced with nearly everyday, he never denied his testimony.  It was here in this room that he sealed that testimony, along with his brother, Hyrum, with their blood.

It will give the visitor a much greater appreciation for the Prophet Joseph when they hear a testimony that includes; "I am grateful for the Prophet Joseph Smith"....

This will be a very interesting and sweet summer for us!  We hope to see you come to Carthage while we are here!  The tours are being booked and the calendar is filling up, but there is always open days, so if you are coming, give me a call!

Our Rendezvous Play went smooth tonight.  I had another part added that was fun tonight.  It comes when Peter asks "is anyone married?"..... and I say; "I'm not, ...... but I can take orders if that is what you mean?"  It is a coveted line that all the guys want!  It was a fun show tonight...  We had a great audience and several were on tours with us in Carthage over the last few days.  That is always a bonus to have them come and treat us like old friends...  well, I guess we are old.... and we are friends....

Thank you for checking in with the "Laoag and on to Nauvoo" Blog tonight!  We are grateful for your love and support!!