August 30, 2015 - Sunday in Nauvoo

We had a wonderful Sabbath Day as we spent our first Sunday back in Nauvoo.  We were up early and ready for the day by 6:30am.  We had a great morning in preparation for today and then we walked to the Stake Center for our Sacrament Meeting and then over to the Nauvoo Visitors Center for the balance of the meetings.

The topic for the Sacrament speakers was, how the spirit helps us make decisions in our lives. Probably the biggest revelation to most of us is the fact that the spirit talks to us everyday and we don't recognize it!  One point that the last speaker made was that he and his wife's decision to serve another mission right after this one, would extend blessings to their families.  It made me think and wonder if the blessings we are having on our families, while we are away, is worth considering extending the sacred time away from them.  

Very sobering thought, and, today, as we read and reread notes from our families, the emotions were overflowing.  I can't imagine being away from our family for another mission unless we could help them in their struggles and challenges by staying out here.....  I'm open to the thought, but we have surely missed our precious children and grandchildren and friends already....

In our fifth Sunday combined meeting, the message, from our mission president, he passed on this comment from Elder L. Tom Perry at a mission presidents conference last year:  He said "we were once asked as the Quorum of the Twelve; Are you the best the Lord has as His Apostles?  And the answer was "apparently, YES", because you are here and this is His Church!  

He then repeated and asked the same thing to all the Mission Presidents; "Are you the best mission presidents the Lord can call?  And the answer was - "apparently, YES", because you are here and this is the Lord's Church!"   

Then President Gibbons's made this a little more personal when he said; Are you the best missionaries for the Illinois, Nauvoo Mission?  Apparently, YES!"  Because this is the Lord's Church, and you have been called by a Prophet of God!"   It was a powerful message.

Then mom and I walked quietly home in the peaceful surroundings of Nauvoo.  We made lunch together and enjoyed the balance of the day reading, relaxing and taking naps.  We are ready to hit the ground running in our next assignments, here in Nauvoo, whatever they might be!