October 16, 2015 - Friday in Nauvoo

We have so enjoyed the beautiful Fall days here in Nauvoo.  This morning we started off on our walk with temperatures in the low 40's.  Since there was no wind, the walk was brisk and wonderful.  We covered the 3.5 miles in just over one hour and our day was off to a great start.  And, as we preceded our walk with our morning devotional and prayers, we were well prepared for the days events.

Mom and I served in the George Riser Cheap Boot and Shoe Shop.  George Riser was a convert to the Church. He apprenticed as a shoe maker for over 3 years beginning around his 18th birthday, and owned his own shoe shop by the time he was 22.  He had his first, very successful, shoe shop in Ohio when one of his employees talked to him about the Mormon Church.  He was so curious about the Mormon Church and Joseph Smith that he loaded his wife Christiana, and their 9 month old son Jacob, in their wagon and rode over 600 miles to meet Joseph Smith, in Nauvoo, and learn more about the Church, and the restored Gospel.

After being taught about the principles of the Gospel, but before he committed to baptism, his young son became very sick and was expected to die.  George sought out Joseph and he and Orson Hyde gave young Jacob a Priesthood blessing.  Young Jacob recovered immediately and that convinced George and Christiana to join the Church.  They were soon baptized in the icy waters of the Mississippi River in mid December 1842.   Their realization of the truthfulness of the Gospel required that they be baptized immediately and not wait for warmer weather!

The first part of the day found mom immersed in one of her favorite pastimes whenever she has the rare chance... take a look;

1000 pieces of pure concentration!

Mom even let me put in the final 10 pieces of this puzzle!  That is about the extent of my concentration!  It was about this time that I was able to get my first nap...  (talk about concentration!)  The boot shop was pretty quiet for part of the day and then we started getting some great visitors and we were able to trade off and tell the George C. Riser story.

Our first visitors of the day were some special people.  We met the 4th and 5th great granddaughters of George and Christiana Riser.  They were here for the tour and visit to Nauvoo from Utah.  That is always pretty special to meet direct descendants of the people who lived here during the Nauvoo years.  Especially those who stayed true to the Church!  

Among the wonderful visitors today we had part of the Durrant family come in.  George Durrant is Susan Easton Black Durrant's husband.  And she is a researcher of extensive Church history.  Brother Durrant is the father of Devin Durrant who made the word "ponderize" a very familiar name!  He is such a kind man and our family has embraced the inspired idea of ponderizing Scriptures.  I was able to tell him that we fully supported his son's message!  Here is their picture -

George Durrant and two of his daughters and family

Isn't it a small world we live in?  The family members were very kind and complimentary of the missionaries here in Nauvoo.  Brother Durrant even mentions that he had seen our picture in the missionary phots and was "hoping to meet the Lasher's".  I felt like he was being sincere in his comment and it sure made mom and I feel special!

About 4:30pm this afternoon, we had not had a visitor for about an hour.  To pass the final 30 minutes of our service I rehearsed the Editor part and got it pretty close.  I was encouraged by this extra effort because right before we left for our site assignment this morning, I got it word perfect for the first time!