September 13, 2015 - Sunday in Nauvoo

We had a marvelous Sabbath Day today.   It was the perfect weather day with bright sun shine this morning as we walked to the Stake Center with mid 50 degree temperatures.  The opportunity to take the Sacrament each week is such a blessing to us.  We were grateful to be there and to hear the messages during and after the Sacrament, and throughout all the meetings.  

Just as we got to our street after walking home from the meetings, we spoke with our friends, the Hansen's, whom we served with in Carthage, as they were driving by.  They have been released from Carthage and will be returning to Nauvoo this coming week.  He gave his debut as the Editor last night and said he felt such a load off his shoulders after completing his first performance.  We invited them to join us for "breakfast for lunch", and had they accepted.  We had a nice visit with them.

After they left, we had a quiet afternoon of reading and napping.  For me, primarily napping, and then we took a nice walk around Nauvoo on our way to a fireside with Elaine Dalton.  We got to the Stake Center about an hour early and had our pick of seats.  The fireside was wonderful and I had to jot down some significant notes.  She and her husband had been to a conference in Peoria, Illinois, and accepted an invitation to come and speak to the missionaries here in Nauvoo.  

We were told by Elder Dalton that his company did the wood flooring for the Nauvoo Temple.  He said that when President Hinckley announced the rebuilding of the Nauvoo Temple in 1999, he knew his company would do the flooring.  He went on to tell us he had seven ancestors who worked on the original temple and that they made it know to him that he needed to do this.  In his bid for the job, he figured out what his competitors would charge and he bid just the cost of materials.  It was interesting to hear about his family line and the strong desire he had to do what he could on the rebuilding of the temple.  It was nice that he had the means to do this!

Sister Dalton had such a wonderful presentation and I had to write down some specific thoughts.  She was the Young Women's General President when the 'Virtue' value was added to the Young Women's program. Her husband indicated that she worked very closely with the First presidency in adding this value.  She was the General President from 2008 to 2013, and served either as a counselor or on the general board for another 13 years prior to her call to be president!

She had several ideas I had to record.  First, we need to "purify" our lives in order to "hear" the Spirit of the Lord.  Then, once you do this, she asked; can you ever go back to how you were?  We all need to be responsible for our forward movement in this great work.  She quoted Joseph Smith when he wrote that after the First Vision, and not having any communications with Heavenly Father for a long period, he approached Him in the attitude of prayer, "with full confidence" that he would be able to speak to Him!  

I was grateful for that reminder and encouragement to purify my life and be able to approach my Father "with full confidence".  The whole idea is that we will know the Savior when He comes, because we are pure.  And without the guidance of the Holy Ghost, we are nothing.  

It was such a great day that ended with this wonderful fireside tonight and a brisk walk home.  The stars were lighting the sky but I was grateful I had my phone light in one hand and my eternal companions hand in the other!  

Now the countdown begins for Friday's big debut!