OUR TREK

One would think the weather is a crazy topic for a missionary post, however, when it happens once or twice a week it is part of our experience.  This week we thought the sudden down pour would cancel the pageant, but it quit long enough for the performance and then started up again.  Nauvoo didn’t have any tornado warnings but there were several around us.  Our friends, the Ashcrafts were in Walmart at Keokuk when the warning went off.  The store was closed, and they moved everyone to the back of the store.  When they drove home, everything was dark and scary.  Elder Talbot was at the temple and got pictures of the down pour as he was driving home.

Rain storm on Thursday night that Elder Talbot took through the window of the car.

Just a few of the large raindrops that fell Thursday night.

In addition to all the bugs and insects we have seen here, we have watched a lot of wildlife.  We’ve seen hundreds of geese and their young ones, red cardinals and orioles.  Squirrels and rabbits are everywhere. Deer are quite often found in the flats.  Elder Talbot has even seen turtles on a log in the river.  And, we have had raccoons right beside our apartment.

Young raccoon just in back of our car in our driveway.

Squirrel eating cob of corn in the Park in Quincy where the Saints stayed when they crossed the Mississippi River before coming to Nauvoo.

A mom and her children eating dinner.  Elder Talbot saw them on his way to the Old Nauvoo Cementery last night - 15 July 2018.  Not many leaves on the lower branches of the tree.

Another unique thing in Nauvoo is the old Cyprus tree which was planted in 1857 and is the oldest tree in Nauvoo.   The roots are growing out of the ground.  It is located up the hill on Parley Street.

Look close at the Old Cypress Tree roots growing on top of the ground.

An interesting visitor to the temple this past week was Sister Smith from El Paso, Texas.  As she was leaving she told us that it was so nice to hear the ordinances in English.  Her stake and two others are assigned to the Ciudad Juarez Mexico Temple as it is closer than any other temple.  Also that is the area in Mexico for a lot of drug traffic and turmoil, the members were concerned about their safety for traveling to the temple.  Elder Scott told them that if they would travel directly to the temple and then travel directly back home, the angels would keep them safe.  She and several sisters have been traveling to and from the temple for several years now and have been safe.

Elder Talbot made a trip up Parley Street last night to visit the Old Nauvoo Cemetery where two Skeen children are buried  A lot of the headstones are breaking down from the wear and tear of the years.  

Old Nauvoo Cementery.  Many graves do not have headstones as they were afraid after they left Nauvoo that the mobs would dig up the graves

Plaque at the Old Nauvoo Cementery.

As we have watched the pageants, it brings to mind some of my ancestors that have made the trek to the Salt Lake valley.  Not all of them went through Navuoo.  The British Pageant tells of the Elders being sent to the British Isles in 1837.  My great great great grandfather John England joined the church in England in 1847 and made the trek across the plains to Salt Lake.  His daughter, Selena England Gibson, my great great grandmother, on my Dad’s side also came using the Perpetual Immigration Fund.  While still in England when she was 8 years old, she was put to work turning a wheel in a sails cloth factory for 10 cents a day.  When her father joined the church, she was “scoffed, rotten egged, and sneered at”.   She walked barefoot all the way across the plains until they reached the divide in Utah when she rode for one week as she had developed mountain fever.

Speaking of being scoffed and sneered at, we often have hecklers outside the temple and at the pageant entrance.  I would like to tell them that we acknowledge their right to heckle and carry signs so why don't they acknowledge our right to worship as we choose, but I don't because I know they do not want to listen.  The locals tell us that many of these hecklers are paid to do what they do.

Heckler outside the Temple this morning.

On Sunday in the Canton Branch, Brother Thomas talked about the 24^th celebration for the saints arriving in Salt Lake.  He talked about the Trek that Moses and his people traveled. He also talked about the trek of Lehi and his family.  He then related the trek the early saints made to the Salt Lake Valley. The last trek he referred to is our trek back to our Heavenly Father, which is the most important trek of our lives.  He asked us what we are doing with our Trek.  I have pondered his talk since them and wondered how I am doing on my Trek?  It gives one a lot to think about.  But I do know that whatever trials or challenges we are having at this time, John 17:3 is a reminder of what life is all about and how much Christ is there to help us as we use our faith in every footstep we take as we continue on our trek. 

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God,

and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.

Nauvoo Pageant

Have we said that we love serving in Nauvoo?  We do!!! 

Love,

Elder and Sister Talbot