March 20, 2016 - Sunday in Nauvoo

It was such a nice morning, a little cool, and in the high 30's, with a few clouds and a few stars in the morning sky, that we decided to walk to our church meetings.  We had our morning devotional and prayers as we began our day.  We have continued to fast each week for our mission and for our family members.  Since the walk to the stake center is under a mile, and we have no site assignments today, the decision to walk was pretty easy to make.

The Sacrament meeting was one of the best we have had.  The Sacrament was sweet and edifying, and the talks were so uplifting.  Then we walked down to the Visitors Center for our Sunday School and Priesthood and Relief Society meetings, and enjoyed getting acquainted with some of our new missionaries.  We met Elder and Sister Norman, a brother and sister-in-law to our friends from the Creekside Ward in Fremont, Grant and Linda Norman.  We have a lot to catch up on with them!  And there were several others we had the chance to meet and welcome to the mission.  They will each be a great addition!

Then we walked home and broke our fast together.  We also had the McKnight's over for our breakfast for dinner meal.  It was Sister McKnight who spearheaded getting this wonderful home ready for us with Sister Hopkin.  We are very grateful to have this home just in time to receive our families coming this year!

Later, this afternoon, Sister Lowe dropped by our home.  She was in charge of the interfaith Easter Choir program and production that was scheduled for tonight.  We have so enjoyed getting to know the Lowe's.  They have had a family show in Branson, Missouri, and have performed, as a family, with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!  Needless to say, a very talent filled family.  Two of their performing daughters came to support her and participated in the program tonight.  

Well, the purpose of Sister Lowe's visit was to ask me to fill in tonight as one of two narrators for the presentation. The man who was going to do it had laryngitis.  I was happy to help her and what a privilege it was to be a part of one of her productions.  I will always be thankful that I said, yes!  Here are some pictures from tonight.  There were several churches who participated tonight.  The First Presbyterian Church of Carthage,  Fort Madison Methodist Church, an Interfaith Choir, a children's Choir, and our Nauvoo Stake Choir with the Nauvoo Mission Choir.  

The Children's Choir with Sister Lowe's daughter, Kayliann

The Interfaith Choir

What a tender mercy it was to be involved in this special Easter program!  I could not help but think how all these men and women and children of faith came together to sing praises to our Savior... and I got to be a part of this activity.   What a way to end a marvelous Sabbath Day!

March 19, 2016 - Saturday in Nauvoo

It was just one year ago, today, that mom and I moved into the Carthage home and began our nearly six month assignment there.  Now we are here in Nauvoo and gearing up for our 2nd summer season here in the mission field with a little different view of what is coming.  Last year we saw the calendar there in Carthage and recognized some big groups were coming.  This year we are in a more simple role of site assignments and handcart responsibilities.  This will be a great summer!  Then we prepare to return home!!!   Yea!!

We were up pretty close to our normal time this morning after our late night, two show, Rendezvous.  We had our morning devotional and prayers and then our morning walk around Nauvoo.  The air was cold and brisk, but it made for a wonderful workout.  We got home around 7:20am after leaving at a few minutes past 6:00am.

Mom had the Post Office assignment today, and I had the George Riser Boot shop assignment.  We were just a block away from each other.  We had three tours in the boot shop, and I spent most of the day reading or talking to my companion.  We attempted to solve all the mission problems, so it was a productive day....??  The visitors are starting to come more frequently forspring breaks, and the weekends seem to be the time that they start heading back home.  The first part of the week seems to be the arrival times!

Often times we get caught up in complaining and murmuring at some point in our lives.  I have been thinking about this concept a lot lately.  It is especially prevalent when there is a changing of leadership in a ward or stake or a mission.  I have done a little research on this subject and took a look at what Elder Neal A. Maxwell had to say about murmuring;

First, the murmurer often lacks the courage to express openly his concerns. If the complaint concerns a peer, the murmurer seldom follows Jesus’ counsel, “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” (Matt. 18:15.)

Second, murmurers make good conversational cloak holders. Though picking up no stones themselves, they provoke others to do so.

Third, while a murmurer insists on venting his own feelings, he regards any response thereto as hostile. (See 2 Ne. 1:26.) Furthermore, murmurers seldom take into account the bearing capacity of their audiences.

Fourth, murmurers have short memories. Israel arrived in Sinai, then journeyed on to the Holy Land though they were sometimes hungry and thirsty. But the Lord rescued them, whether by the miraculous appearance by quail or by water struck from a rock. (See Num. 11:31; Ex. 17:6.) Strange, isn’t it, brothers and sisters, how those with the shortest memories have the longest lists of demands! However, with no remembrance of past blessings, there is no perspective about what is really going on.

This powerful verse in the Old Testament reminds us of what is really going on: “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” (Deut. 8:2.)

Perspective makes such an enormous and constant difference in our lives. It shouldn’t surprise us, therefore, that Satan, we are told, does not know the mind of God. (See Moses 4:6.)

Perhaps when we murmur we are unconsciously complaining over not being able to cut a special deal with the Lord. We want full blessings but without full obedience to the laws upon which those blessings are predicated. For instance, some murmurers seem to hope to reshape the Church to their liking by virtue of their murmuring. But why would one want to belong to a church that he could remake in his own image, when it is the Lord’s image that we should come to have in our countenances? (See Alma 5:19.)

The doctrines are His, brothers and sisters, not ours. The power is His to delegate, not ours to manipulate!  One especially fundamental fact about murmuring is contained in this verse: “And thus Laman and Lemuel … did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.” (1 Ne. 2:12.)

Laborers in the Lord’s vineyard who murmur over life’s inequities, declared Jesus, murmur “against the goodman of the house.” (Matt. 20:11.) The goodness of the Lord is attested to in so many ways—mansions await!—yet we ungrateful guests still complain about the present accommodations.

The pleading of one filled with faith who is also concerned with the welfare of others, as with Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail, is not murmuring. This is not the murmuring of a superficial follower who is quick to complain and who is slow to endure. Reassurance and further instruction followed with Joseph being told: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment.” (D&C 121:7.)

I especially appreciated this insight by Elder Maxwell;

Damage to ourselves is sufficient reason to resist murmuring, but another obvious danger is its contagiousness. Even faithful father Lehi, for one brief moment, got caught up in the contagion of murmuring. (See 1 Ne. 16:20.) Similarly, when Moses lapsed, very briefly, it was under exasperating pressure from rebels. (See Num. 20:7–12.) No one knows how to work a crowd better than the adversary.

Instead of murmuring, therefore, being of good cheer is what is needed, and being of good cheer is equally contagious. We have clear obligations to so strengthen each other by doing things “with cheerful hearts and countenances.” (D&C 59:15; see also D&C 81:5.)

It is so easy to get caught up in complaining and murmuring about our leaders, our circumstances, or even the lessons that we have been given to prove ourselves to our Heavenly Father.  I think that for me, and those I might be able to influence for good, being of "good cheer" is the way to go, and really is much needed in this challenging time in our different and varied circumstances!  Who will join me?

March 18, 2016 - Friday in Nauvoo

Today started off a lot cooler than yesterday.  The clouds and the slight wind brought the temperatures into the 30's for our walk this morning.  So, after our morning prayers and devotional, we bundled up and took off on our morning walk around Nauvoo.  It was a great start to our morning of being able to serve together in the Seventies Hall.  Here is a great picture of mom sharing the Seventies Hall story;

These folks are from Rexburg

This sister knows Tyson Taylor.  She worked as his trainer at the motel in Rexburg.  It was fun to make the connection with them!  We invited them to come to Rendezvous tonight and they came for the 2nd show!

We had a few visitors today, quite a few less than yesterday.  There is some work being done on the stairs at the Seventies Hall so we had to wait in the car until about 10:30am this morning before we could settle into the site.  We opened up on time but just had to stay out of the way for a short time.  It was cold waiting in the car, and I was thinking how nice it would have been to wear a jacket today!  I did get some good pictures, though, from our walk this morning;

Quite a sunrise just down our street

The colorful sunrise surrounding the temple

A shot of the temple just before the sunrise

We got off of our shift at 5:00pm and got ready for the Rendezvous Play.  We had two shows tonight.  The first one was packed with over 100 in the audience, and the second one was about 80 people.  The second show had several new missionary couples who are just arriving in the mission field.  It was fun to meet several of the couples as they came out of the show tonight.  Ahhhh memories.....

In the first show mom and I had the roles of Editor and Relief Society President.  As the Editor, I get to watch most of the show from a side seat.  Well, tonight, Alan Osmond and his wife were sitting right next to me.  I would not have known them, except one of our cast members recognized them and let me know.  What a treat!  And they were so kind after the show!

And tonight, we said goodbye to one couple belonging to our cast who are headed home.  Elder and Sister Veenker have been so much fun to be around.  They felt like long time friends almost from day one way back in February 2015!  We will miss them....

Elder and Sister Veenker

It is the tradition of the cast to sing one final song to members who are heading home.  Probably not the easiest thing to do!!  Lots of Nauvoo memories, so far, and soon we can make some additional precious memories with the Jeppson Family!!! ... just eight more days!!!

March 17, 2016 - Thursday in Nauvoo

Today marks the 174th anniversary of the Relief Society.  It is now the oldest and the largest women's organization in the world, and it started right here in Nauvoo on March 17, 1842, in the upstairs room of the Prophet Joseph Smith's Red Brick store!  Imagine that!  All the sites had been scheduled to close at 3:00pm today so that the activity and reenactment could begin at the site of the official organization.  

However, the mission presidency forgot to plan on spring break crowds coming to Nauvoo.  Even though the crowds began arriving last Saturday and continued heavy all this week, it wasn't until 12:15pm today that they decided to have all the Priesthood brethren stay in the sites until 5:00pm.  

Oh well, you can't catch all the details....  I ended up walking back home, after my shift, to get ready for the Sunset practice tonight.  Interestingly enough, I met mom coming home almost at the same exact time.  I sure did not want to sit at the Blacksmith's shop another hour after our shift had been extended!  But my legs and particularly my knee is feeling the aches and pains of the over-extension.  I am hoping to find some relief for the ache in my knee that seems to affect my shin and lower leg muscles.

I worked in the Blacksmith's shop today and we were sharing the tour assignments with the Seventies Hall about a block away.  We kept very busy walking back and forth to show these sites and relate the key messages contained in these historical settings.  I especially love teaching the youth!

I had a chance to teach a young guest the art of horseshoe making!

This family of six came in this afternoon after doing baptisms in the temple.  This precious young lady reminded me of our granddaughter, Cambry, who will be coming in just 10 days to do baptisms here in Nauvoo!  I can't wait to show them how to make a horseshoe!  And I had another family, a grandfather and his daughter and three teenage grandchildren, who came to the Seventies Hall and discovered ancestors who had been here in Nauvoo as members of the 3rd, 6th and 18th Quorums of Seventy.  They were so excited and very emotional to have connected with their family members.

On our walk this morning I caught the first glimpse of the sun coming up over the street near our new home.  This  view was happening just as we were walking the last block of our 3.5 mile trail.

The sunrise coming up as we were finishing our morning walk

Then, as we were going over to the Seventies Hall from the Blacksmith's shop this afternoon, I caught these pictures of the amazing clouds;  All three shots are right over the Mississippi River!

And we can't forget the Sunset practice!  We are in our third week of practicing and mom's dance routine is really coming together.  I am sooooo glad I have the camera!!  Take a look;

Just think of it:  some of these sisters love being on the stage and reliving their teenage years!  And singing and dancing these marvelous routines... when mom and I would just love to be their audience and be clapping for them!!  This is as good as it gets, and some of our family and friends will be able to see us on stage this summer! .... (after they sign a statement that promises that they will never tell anyone what Elder and Sister Lasher were doing under these mission pressure situations.... !)

March 15, 2016 - Wednesday in Nauvoo

First note is, Happy Birthday precious Hayley!  Granny and Grandpa love you!!  We hope you had a great day today, and we are looking forward to seeing you again when we get home!

Another day in paradise!  Or.... a work in progress!  Each day brings new opportunities to serve and fulfill responsibilities that will help move the work of the Gospel forward.  Today was a good example of pressing forward with faith and diligence.  I had the assignment to serve in the Browning Gun Shop and mom was on the wagons as a Narrator.  We both had a busy day!

The morning began with our prayers and devotional.  There was not much time for exercise this morning because of the 7:30am training meeting.  Next week the president wants to start at 7:00am.  We are seeing a huge contrast in leadership styles from the examples we have seen in mission presidents.  We are being stretched to learn the role of a missionary from the Preach My Gospel format, while singing and dancing and acting, and giving multiple 10 to 15 minute tours, at the various historic sites.   The new mission president has hit the ground running and has now increased that pace to a sprint.  Hang on!  So much to learn!

Mom is really enjoying her time as a Narrator.  She is currently doing three wagon rides per shift.  The rides are about an hour long and her schedule has her doing one ride every two hours.  I served in the Browning Gun shop and we had a full day of tours.  We had several non members come in today from cities around Nauvoo.  Some were first time visitors and others came with first time visitors.  I enjoyed giving them the historical perspective and then inviting many of them back again for the full calendar of summer shows.  

I walked down to the gun shop this morning since mom needed the car.  It was a beautiful morning filled with brisk fresh air.  As I was working today in the gun shop, I was watching the marvelous cloud coverings and caught these pictures of the threatening clouds this afternoon after the tornado warning last night;

 

Shot on the steps of Browning Gun Shop

Taken with my phone!

The cloud looked full of water or hail to me!

I have seen so many marvelous cloud formations here in Nauvoo and Carthage.  We had the tornado warning last night and the alarms all went off.  Then we found out that the tornado was only 40 miles away!  The wind was just picking up this afternoon when I took these pictures.  However, there were no warning alarms today!  Just beautiful clouds!

Mom and I capped off our evening with a temple session at 6:00pm.  When the summer season hits, we probably won't even be able to attend so we are taking full advantage!  We were asked to be the witness couple tonight.  It is always a pleasure to boost our missionary service with a temple session!

March 15, 2016 - Tuesday in Nauvoo

Our schedules really got the workout today!  Mom went to work at the Facilities Management with the gardening crew, and I went to the Brickyard.  Both assignments were exhausting!  Mom got home at a little past 1:00pm after starting at 7:00am, and I got home at a little past 5:00pm after starting at 10:00am.  Mom worked hard cleaning some yards full of leaves and grasses, and I was so ready to sit down and rest these tired legs!

We both started off our day together with our morning devotional and prayers.  Then mom had to quickly get ready to catch a ride to the FM department while I went ahead and did our usual walk trail by myself.  That certainly contributed to my heavy workout on my legs!  I walked almost 5 miles with the morning walking path and then my walk to the Brickyard.  The walk to the Brickyard was another 1.5 miles.

Then, at my ending time, mom came down to pick me up from the Brickyard because we had Rendezvous tonight.  It was a blessing to have a garage to park in, because just as we got home and ready to eat our dinner before Rendezvous, we had a tornado warning.  A few minutes later, it started hailing some big balls of ice!  We know that these ice storms can really damage the cars here in this area.  We were so thankful for the extra protection of getting home on time and then having the shelter for the car.

The Rendezvous Play had over 80 people in attendance.  The play went well, but right after the play, the wind picked up pretty good.  Mom and I made a bee line to our home and just five minutes after we got home, the hail began again!  Another tender mercy!  Take a look at these ominous clouds;  

I was not able to take all the photo shots I wanted, but these clouds were forming as we started the play!  Just an hour and ten minutes later, we got home right before the hail hit again.  We are so grateful for the new home and the garage for Moroni!

March 14, 2016 - Monday in Nauvoo

We had a very busy P-day today.  Our plan was to get our immediate shopping done in Keokuk and then take a ride out to Amish country and look at some Amish furniture.  Mom and I were excited to go and share the day with Elder and Sister Davenport.

After our morning devotional and prayers, mom stayed here at the house and did some exercises, and some laundry, while I took a shortened walk.  I got back home about 6:45am and we finished getting ready for the day so that we could leave for Keokuk by 8:00am.  We did some shopping at Wal Mart and Aldi's and got back home by 9:30am.  We met the Davenports at the temple for initiatories and then we all got into our car and drove to Cantrell, Iowa, to the Amish furniture store and then to the Dutchman's grocery store a few miles away.  

The drive took about an hour and the shopping took about 2 hours of looking and appreciating their excellent work.  We did find a lazy susan  piece at the furniture store that will match perfectly with our oak dining room table back home.  And mom found some very solid bedroom furniture that she really liked.  Maybe we should stock up on the way home???  Maybe rent a U-Haul???  Here are some pictures of that lazy susan;

Solid Oak Lazy Susan

Filled with our condiments!

We got back from our day trip at about 4:30pm.  I then took the opportunity to take the car over to the facilities management yard and washed it thoroughly.  Since we have a garage, there is no reason why I can't keep Moroni clean!  I sure enjoy keeping our cars clean and good looking!

The final item on our schedule was the Sunset practice tonight at 6:30pm.  We met for about an hour and we are getting the songs and the dance steps down for the opening night May 28th.  It appears that the senior missionary parts should be a little different this year but, the Sunset performance by the Young Performing Missionaries, is still a mystery to us.  But the performance is more fun than pressure for the senior missionaries!  And the opening night is coming fairly soon!  Rehearsal time is the priority!