Time sure flies when you are serving the Lord!

I can’t believe that another week has flown by.  This Friday we will have been here a month and we have enjoyed it everyday that we have been here.  It seems that each day brings another memory to add to our journals.  We have met more people, visited more of the Nauvoo sites on our service days (non temple days), and watched the nightly fireflies' show

One of the site missionaries had arranged a trip to the Zeph Mounds east of Hannibal, Missouri with a personal guide.  (When I found out that we had to take bug spray, I backed out as the bugs and me do not get along.  I’ve had bites on arms, legs, shoulders, and neck.  They just seem to like me.  Our kids say that is because I’m so sweet!  I wonder why Neil doesn’t get any?  Since then I think I have found the right bug bite remedy). 

The Zeph Mounds were discovered in 1834 when Joseph Smith led an expedition known as Zion’s Camp on a march from Kirtland, Ohio to Jackson County Missouri.  On June 3 while passing through west-central Illinois near Griggsville, some bones were unearthed from a mound and were assumed to belong to a Lamanite Chieftain warrior names Zeph.  Neil said it was interesting to see but was definitely full of bugs and was quite the hike to the top. The area is not developed and is not a tourism site.

The fun sites we have visited this week are the Family Living Center where they give demonstrations on bread making, candle making, rug making, weaving, and displays of the early tools that were used during that time frame.  We also visited the brick factory and watched the process of how bricks were made.  We walked the steepest stairs in Nauvoo in the Lucy Mack Smith home.  At the Seventies Hall we found out that if you had a relative that was in the Seventies, then you could sign a book.  Of course, Joseph Skeen was a Seventy, so it was pretty cool to sign my name in the book.  We also did the wagon ride, the carriage ride, and then the oxen wagon ride.  These were all informational and enjoyable.

In Nauvoo there are several types of missionaries under a different presidency.  The Temple Missionaries, the Site Missionaries (couples and young sisters), and the Young Performing Missionaries.  None of these missionaries are actively proselyting.  Any of those proselyting are part of the Des Moines Iowa Mission. 

We invited three Young Site Missionaries to dinner, Sister Moss and her two new companions.  It was enlightening to listen to them explain more about what their responsibilities were and how much history them must learn.  They are not assigned to just one site, but they rotate every week and have to learn the history connected to that site.  As all missionaries do, they asked if they could leave a message with us.  We were impressed by all three of them.  Their message came from the conference talk by President Russell N. Nelson about Revelation for our lives.  The thought that touched my heart was about after praying about our concerns, fears, and weaknesses, then listen and write the thoughts that come to your mind, and then act on them. This will be a talk that I want to read again and again.

Our visit to our small Canton Branch (158 miles round trip) was an experience yesterday.  The schools hold their graduation ceremonies on Sunday, so attendance was very scarce.  In fact, they didn’t hold Primary because no Primary children were in attendance.  Next week we get to talk in Sacrament Meeting and then sub for the one teenage Sunday class (only 4-5 teens).

Of course, the highlight of this week has been our temple service.  We are continuing to learn the “Nauvoo” procedures and are gearing up for the busy season which will start June 1^st.  At that time, we will have one day as a p-day and then serve in the temple five days.  We’ve also had the opportunity to serve patrons as they come to the temple to receive personal revelation, worship, and to be sealed together as families forever.  The temple is definitely a House of the Lord.

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Video of President Nelson from last week that didn't work

Picture in case video still doesn't work.  President Irion, President Ballad and security guard in back.  President Nelson and Sister Irion in front.

Wagon Ride

Oxen ride

Dan and Duke

Barge on Mississippi River.  Zoom in to see the little Tugboat pushing the 9 barges (3 in a row for 3 rows)

Sister Moss and her companions for dinner.  Her companions had only been here for 2 days.

First process of the brick making

Great Great Grandpa Skeen listed in book of Seventies