June 15, 2015 - Monday

Today was a good day.  Not because it was hot and humid and raining, but because it was just a good day to be serving here in the Illinois, Nauvoo Mission.  

Before arriving at the Visitor's center this morning, mom and I took a nice and wet morning walk.  The rain had not started yet, but the humidity had!  We had our morning devotional and then went to the jail for our Monday cleaning assignment.  What a wonderful blessing it is to have this cleaning assignment!

In a tour I gave at the Carthage Jail in May, the young performing missionaries sang a song I had never heard before.  It was a tribute to Joseph and Hyrum and I just received a copy of the words to that song.  I have them here ready to include in my blog;   

                                                          

                                                         NO ORDINARY BROTHERS 

They were no ordinary men,

Nor were they ordinary brothers.

As joseph went his fearless way, beside him hyrum chose to stay,

Always, always at his younger brothers side.

 

They were no ordinary men,

These two extraordinary brothers.

One who the bible did foretell, the other brother served him well,

Always, always at his younger brothers side.

 

Guided by the spirit, came joseph’s words of truth

Words that hyrum always believed.

And when the winds of persecution were swirling all about,

With enemies tormenting him, spreading hate and doubt,

Inseparable, they faced them with loyalty devout.

Together, facing those who would deceive.

And now we grieve

 

They were no ordinary men,

Nor were they ordinary brothers.

Beside him hyrum chose to stay as joseph went his fearless way

Faithful to the lord, faithful to the call, faithful and purified.

Now always and forever,

Together,

By each other’s side.

 

 We knew them both,

Thanks be to god we knew them,

 

For we were blessed to be among the few

Who walked and talked

And looked into the eyes of a living prophet,

Who brought us light and taught us truth.

 

( A capella, as ensemble kneels in prayer)

Father in heaven grant us this day

Strength to move forward,  forgive and obey.

Spreading thy gospel now and forthwith

Ne’er to forget that we knew

A prophet of god,

Our brother, Joseph smith.

 

 

This song was a most remarkable tribute to Joseph and Hyrum as these young performing missionaries sang together in the martyrdom room.  They had no music, no piano, no musical instruments.  All they had were their voices and their overflowing hearts for the love of Joseph and Hyrum.  It is an experience I will always cherish.

 

Mom and I went into Nauvoo this evening for our Sunset performance.  The skies were dark as we got closer to Nauvoo.  About half way there, the clouds burst open and the rains came down in torrents.  It lasted for about 10 minutes and then it tapered off.  When we got to the Nauvoo Visitors Center where the performance would be held, it started up again.  We just made it inside with dry weather before the rains came again!  

 

The Sunset play is always more fun inside because we can hear it so much better.  However, there really is room for only half of the cast.  It is very tight when we all assemble on that small indoor stage!  It was a good performance anyway, and mom and I were heading back to Carthage by 8:10pm.  It was still light outside, and Heavenly Father even provided us with a beautiful, complete rainbow that we drove under on the way home!  It was a fitting tribute to a great day in the mission field.