JOURNEY HOME

Monday morning came with a foggy mist on the flats.  I think the atmosphere depicted our feelings.  A beautiful day with an overcast in the sky.  With mixed emotions we finished packing our car and left our dear Nauvoo about 1 pm Monday afternoon. As we drove past the corn fields, Sister Talbot pondered about our time observing the corn.  We watched them grow.  When we first came the sprouts had just barely poked their tops through the soil.  We watched them grow high, then turn brown, then thrashed leaving only stubble on the ground. Finally, watching the trucks of corn go to the docks to be loaded on the barges that would be guided down the Mississippi River by the tugboats.  It was the season for the corn just as it was the season of our temple mission.  We know many people have touched our lives and pray that our service has touched many other lives.

First time we had seen this mist in the flats on the Monday morning we left

It took some juggling to get everything in our small car.

Margaret Schneider, a great friend in Nauvoo and an excellent hair dresser!

Sister Talbot and Margaret

One last petunia blossom.  The Canton Branch gave this flower to me on Mother's Day and I kept it in our kitchen window never dreaming that it would survive the entire summer.  At first we always had six blossoms, then one by one it was down to the one final blossom before we left.

Stopped to say a final goodbye to Sister Moss and Sister Jeffords

One last picture of us leaving our apartment.

Our apartment building.  Ours was the bottom left.

Final drive on Parley Street

 As we left Nauvoo, we crossed the bridge over the Mississippi River into Ft. Madison, Iowa and we had to stop at the Putt-A-Round Ice Cream shop for lunch.  The strawberry lemon swirl soft ice cream is yummy.  They also had a miniature golf course connected to the shop.  The only thing weird is it is directly behind the Iowa State Prison!

Ft. Madison Bridge

Putt-A-Round Ice Cream

Iowa State Prison

Our next stop was the Golden Delight Bakery in Kalona, Iowa operated by the Amish.  We first visited this bakery when our missionary group visited the Miller farm, had a ride in a Amish buggy, and ate a delicious Amish meal.  We wanted to take some Traffic Jam and Bear Jam home with us.  Yes, that is the name of the jam and it is yummy!!!!!  Elder Talbot had to check out the corn and soy bean fields.  He determined that on an average, each stalk of corn produced two ears of corn.  On each ear of corn is over 600 kernels.

Corn fields ready to for thrashing.

Soybean fields

Soybean pods

Frequent road sign when traveling through the Amish / Mennonite country.

We had to wait on this buggy to make a turn into the farm equipment shop.

Elder Talbot’s Great Great Grandmother, Ann Allred Williamson and her six children joined the Martin Handcart Company at Iowa City.  Elder Talbot wanted to see the park that the Church and the University of Iowa had developed to honor those Saints who traveled by handcart to Zion – Utah.  There is a path and several markers depicting campsites and a burial site along the path.  It was a special time in reflecting on the Handcart Saints and the faith that they had in following the Church leaders.  It was hot and humid, and the mosquitoes were bad.  He wondered if it was the same for them at that time.  All seven Williamsons, Ann and her six children, made it to Salt Lake City where their father, James Williamson met them.

Typical environment on the Handcart Park trails.

Sister Talbot had become close friends to five sister district workers who serve every other Saturday on the temple pm shift.  She had shared some touching experiences with them in her Temple service.  They only lived 20 minutes from the Handcart Park, so they invited us to their home for family home evening.  Sister Ledesma gave the lesson on revelation and the light of God.  She is a converted Jew who speaks five languages of which Hebrew is her native tongue.  She shared a scripture with us and explained what it would look like in Hebrew.  It is read from right to left and each letter represents another word.  We have great respect for her and the other four sisters.  All five of them are returned missionaries and have strong testimonies of the gospel.  Our only regret is that we didn't take pictures!!!

This is  the scripture in Hebrew showing what each character means in the word light.  Sister Talbot took notes but didn't write down the exact scripture in Matthew.  To read Hebrew, start from the right then to the left.

On Tuesday as we left the Hampton Inn, it started to rain.  It really rained hard for 20-30 minutes from Iowa City towards Des Moines and rained off and on across Iowa. It was windy and dusty when we got to the Hampton Inn at Carter Lake, Iowa just East of Omaha, Nebraska.  Our goal was to attend a session at the Winter Quarters Temple.  Just as we were getting ready to leave the Hotel for the Temple, another horrible rain and hail storm hit the Omaha area but -- it quit just in time for us to get to the Temple.  Little did we know that our Nauvoo experience would follow us on our journey home. As we were entering the Temple, we recognized Sister Kelly.  She is a single missionary sister from Layton Utah served in the temple office.  Then when we got in the session we saw Elder and Sister Pippin from Oregon.  A Nauvoo Temple reunion only two days out of Nauvoo! We loved the Winter Quarters Temple.  The murals and stain glass windows represented the history and culture of the Saints in Omaha.

Elder and Sister Pippin, the Talbots, and Sister Wood in front of the Winter Quarters Temple.

Our next stop was to be at the Sommer home in Fort Collins, Colorado (Caralee, our daughter, Trevor, our son-in-law, Charlee, Trapper, and Sawyer, our grandkids).  We looked forward to seeing our family. The day started out overcast, foggy, and just a little gloomy.  As we were traveling on I-80 West towards Ft. Collins, we passed a pickup loaded with bikes and other stuff.  They pulled up to the side of us and waved and honked.  It was Elder and Sister Wood from California also Nauvoo Illinois Temple Missionaries.  They were headed to Ft. Collins to stay with his sister.  They followed us for awhile and when we stopped near Ft. Kearney, Nebraska, we had another Nauvoo Reunion.  Many of us thought as we left Nauvoo, we would never cross paths in this life, but we were all wrong.  Just as we found out in Nauvoo, the Lord knows us and directs our paths.

The Woods waving to us on I-80 near Milford, Nebraska

Elder and Sister Wood and the Talbots at a Museum/Tourist attraction near Kearney, Nebraska.

An interesting statue depicting two young boys who were shot by the Indians  If you look close they are pinned together by the arrows.  They fell to the ground and the Indians thought they were dead but they both survived.  This was outside the Museum near Kearney, Nebraska.

The day seemed to drag on with the miles not going by fast enough.  We decided to listen to the new book Saints that Elder Cook introduced at the YSA broadcast to help pass the time.  It is now part of the Library App under the Church History section. It is an awesome book written in story form taken from the History of the Church and other church sources.  We recommend that all read or listen to the stories.

It seemed that the rainy weather was just following us.  Just outside Cheyenne, we were met with another hard rain storm.  Sister Talbot happen to have that driving assignment at the time and it was slow going.  It was a good thing we had excited grandkids waiting for us at the end of the long day.  We were able to watch Charlee’s softball game, visit with the family, and get some much-needed rest.  It is always good to be with family especially when they make such a big fuss over us!!!!   We also attend a session at the Ft. Collins Temple while everyone else was at work or at school.  The Ft. Collins Temple is breathtaking with the décor depicting the Colorado culture and history. 

The Sommers tried to talk us into staying another day, but we needed to move on towards South Jordan Utah (Salt Lake City area) to spend a few days with our son Kevan and his family (Jamee, Andrew, and Allison).  Andrew had just returned from his mission to Canada, Toronto the Wednesday before and we were anxious to spend some time with him and hear about his mission.

Elder and Sister Talbot and Charlee after her softball game.

Trapper and Sawyer Sommers with Sister Talbot

Elder and Sister Talbot at the Fort Collins Temple.

Checked out of  Hotel Sommers.  U-Honda on the road to SLC.

As we traveled along, the scenery sure changed-from the green landscape of the Nauvoo area to the barren brown landscape as we traveled further west.  In Wyoming, we wondered what the Saints thought of the area as they were headed to the Salt Lake Valley.  They had left their Temple, their homes, and a lot of their possessions to find a place where they could worship without persecution.  We decided that just maybe a few were sure questioning Brigham Young’s decision concerning their destination.

A lot of brown landscape especially through Wyoming

However, the windmills were fun to watch.

Our stay in South Jordan was awesome and it was great to see the change in Andrew and feel of his missionary spirit.  He is such a great example for our family.  We also watched Allison’s Volleyball game.  On Sunday, we attended their Stake Conference and guess what????  Sitting just a few rows in front of us were Elder and Sister Burton who were our neighbors in Nauvoo.  They were jealous because we still had our missionary badges on.  They had been released and had to take them off.  Elder Burton did have his in his pocket.  It is such a small world.

Allison on the volleyball court.

Elder and Sister Talbot with Allison who is all dressed up for the homecoming dance.

Elder and Sister Burton our neighbors from Nauvoo who are in the same stake as Kevan and Jamee.

Puzzle time with Sister Talbot, Andrew, Kevan, Elder Talbot (in background) and Allison.

Monday morning, we started on our final part of our journey back to Reno and to be released as missionaries.  Again, as the miles and hours passed by, we pondered on our experiences and how sad we were going to be to remove our missionary badges. 

Packing the car for the last time.

Checked out from the South Jordan Talbot Hotel and the U-Honda is headed home.

We arrived in Reno at 3 pm perplexed with all the traffic (in Nauvoo if you had to wait for two cars it was a traffic jam) and all the brown surrounding.  However, Scott and his family have done a fabulous job keeping our lawn and garden green.  We sure have appreciated all they have done for us.  Elder Talbot figured that since we left Reno we have traveled 7388 miles.  From Reno to Nauvoo, we traveled 2008 miles.  In Nauvoo we traveled 5419 and from Nauvoo to Reno we traveled 1969.  That is a lot of miles!!!!

Finally, after a week of travel the U-Honda found itself backed in our driveway ready to be unloaded.

A welcome home sign we found inside our house thanks to the Sparks Talbots.

Home, sweet, home!

From our mission experience we realized the following:  Our testimonies were strong when we left for Nauvoo but now they are much stronger.  We had many friends, but now we have many more from all over the United States.  We had temple experience but after serving daily in the Nauvoo Temple we have a deeper understanding of temple service.  We had some Family Search skills but now with increased skills, many more of our ancestors have their work completed and our research skills are much improved.  We knew of our ancestors’ faith and courage but now having walked on the same ground, we have felt their spirits here.  We now feel in our hearts of their faith and courage.  We loved serving in the community with the various projects and events.  We have been blessed with our community service. We have loved serving with the District Workers and knowing of their dedication and time spent with their commitment to serve.  Even though it was a long commute each Sunday, we have made many connections with the Canton Branch.  Their testimonies, their pure love of Christ for all their members, and their desire to serve the Lord have strengthened ours. 

We had an appointment with President Dobbs at 7pm Monday night.  Scott, Megan, Olivia, Emeline, Abigail, Brady, and Ben came with us.  It was a spiritual time as we shared some of our experiences.  President Dobbs asked us to share our testimonies with our family then read us the letter that President Irion, President Smith, and President MacKay had signed. He then read the certificate that officially released us as missionaries, stressing that we are only released as official missionaries and not from continued church service!  Through the tears we were reminded of a plaque Sister Talbot saw in Nauvoo:  There is a calmness to a life lived in gratitude.  And we are very grateful for the opportunity we have had to serve in the Nauvoo Illinois Temple Mission.  These experiences will be etched in our memories forever.

Elder and Sister Talbot waiting at the Stake Center to be released.

Scott, Megan, Abigail, Olivia Elder Talbot Emeline with Ben, Brady and Sister Talbot in the front row in the President's Office.

Elder and Sister Talbot with President Ryan Dobbs, our Stake President.

Our precious missionary name tags.

Thanks to all of you for all your love and support,

Neil and Barbara

PS.  I also wanted to share the words of the song, Dear Nauvoo, that I sang with the choir at our closing farewell dinner.

High above a mighty river’s shore, A temple stood upon a hill.

Beckoning to Saints to enter in, to seek the Lord, to do His will.

Voices echo through the years.

We hear them still. We hear them still.

Leaving comforts, homes and families, they chose to heed their prophet’s call.

Coming here with faith to work and build, a city grand a temple tall.

How they loved their dear Nauvoo.

We love it still.  We love it still.

But the mobs destroyed it all.  City grand and temple tall.

The Saints did flee, they had to leave their dear Nauvoo.

Built up on the ashes of the past, a temple stands upon a hill.

Beaconing to all to enter in, to seek the Lord, to do His will.

And the Spirit there abides.

We feel it still.  We feel it still.

Leaving comforts, homes and families, we chose to heed our prophet’s call.

Coming here with faith to work and serve within these sacred temple walls.

How we love Thy house, dear Lord.

We always will.  We always will.

And with faith, we will endure, as our blessings are made sure.

We’ll serve the Lord.  We’ll sing His praise here in Nauvoo.

Built up on the ashes of the past, a temple stands upon a hill.

CLOSING MISSIONARY EVENTS

Attending and participating the closing missionary events brought lots of reflection and mixed emotions about the last week in Nauvoo.  When we received our call, we knew it would not be for the full six months and at the time we just felt very grateful for the time we would serve.  Now, that we are packing to leave, we want our “full six months”, but again we are grateful for our time Nauvoo.

It started on Sunday night (September 9^th) watching the live Worldwide YA Devotional with Elder Quinton L. Cook which was broadcast right across the street from the Temple just north of the statue of Joseph and Hyrum on their last ride from Nauvoo.  As we left the Temple on Saturday night, the street was blocked off and a “dress rehearsal” was in progress.  As we were watching the broadcast, we were touched knowing we were here and that several of the YAs in the audience we knew either as Ordinance Workers and/or patrons.  As the discussion progressed, several of the topics were imbedded in our hearts as we could relate and visualize the places of occurrence.  Words cannot adequately describe our feelings.

 Late Sunday afternoon, we had received an email from President Irion, inviting us to a special meeting at 8 am with Elder and Sister Cook.  Our meeting included both the Illinois Nauvoo Mission and the Nauvoo Illinois Temple Mission and was held in the east theater in the Visitors Center.  Elder Cook wanted to shake all our hands, so row by row we walked on the stage and shook both Elder and Sister Cook’s hands.  Their message to us was “Thank you for your service.”  He stressed how important our work is.  We are emissaries of the Savior, but He is the one who converts.  He referred to D&C 31 which was a revelation to Thomas Marsh as he left on his mission.  He reminded us that the Savior organized the Church, but we are his hands.

Elder Cook then asked his wife, Mary, to speak to us.  I especially loved her talk as she stressed the importance of music in our lives.  She quoted Sister Dantzel Nelson, “Music brings the spirit and words teach the gospel.  The only thing stronger than truth is truth in the music.”  Sister Cook shared with us what she did with the attribute activity sheet for chapter 6 in Preach My Gospel.  She took each attribute and linked as many hymns and primary songs as possible to the attributes.  Then the Holy Ghost brings back to us that music when we need them.

Elder Cook testified that President Nelson is truly a Prophet and watched as he received his mantle.  Elder Cook also testified about the revelations President Nelson has been receiving and hoped he was getting full nights sleep now.  He also testified that Christ leads our Church today. 

As we were listening to Elder Cook, we definitely felt the spirit and were so grateful for this opportunity.  President Nelson spoke to us the first of our mission and Elder Cook the last of our mission.  It couldn’t get any better than this.

At 2 pm that afternoon our last missionary meeting was held.  George and Susan Easton Black Durrant spoke to us.  As usual, George presented in his delightfully wry humor but left a powerful message about being prepared in the gospel.  Susan talked about Joseph Smith and his Temples.  She shared a lot of information and now we have a great timeline of his temples.  Her last message was: “You can leave Nauvoo but you can’t get Nauvoo out of you!”  We totally agree!!!!!!

As President Irion titled his email – Monday will be a BIG day!, and he was right.  Immediately following the Durrant presentation, I attended the last temple missionary choir practice.  I have loved being in this choir under the direction of Sister Irion as she was a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  We sang a very touching song about Nauvoo.

Monday night was the Farewell Dinner and Testimony Meeting at the Pageant Headquarters– one final time all the Temple Missionaries were together.  The meal was delicious, company superb, music was awesome, and the spirit was strong.  A great ending to a long, busy, but spiritual day.

Choir at Farewell Dinner

Choir singing Dear Nauvoo

Farewell Dinner at Pageant Headquarters

Tuesday morning we had our exit interview with both President and Sister Irion.  It has been such an experience to have served under them.  President Irion has such a sense of humor yet a very spiritual leader.  Sister Irion is so warm and caring.  We expressed some of our memorable experiences in our service.  Words cannot express the blessings we have received serving with the Irions and their counselors.  We were impressed with them from the start when we received a personal call from President Irion the night after we received our call.

The next few days were spent trying to pack, organize ourselves, and find places for all the food and supplies that were left from our stay.  At first, we were tried of traveling to Iowa to the store every time we needed something to take to another “food” event that I had over bought “just in case”.  As I said in the last blog, Sister Moss and her companions gladly came over and took a lot of the food. Then Sister Bush came over and brought us some of her famous Brazilian Fudge and took the rest to the DI located in the back of the mailroom.  We sure appreciated her service to us.

On Friday night we experienced a very touching and spiritual temple session.  We attended a special temple session with 52 other temple missionaries (the other half had their special session on Saturday night) with the Temple Presidency officiating.  It will be a spiritual experience we both will cherish forever.

We entered the Temple at 12:45 pm on Saturday afternoon and left the Temple at 8:45pm for the last shift of our temple service.  It was with mixed emotions as we served the patrons of the Nauvoo Temple for the last time.  Again, we can leave Nauvoo but Nauvoo will never leave us.

Last sunset as we left the Temple for the last shift on Saturday night.

Sunday, we attended Nauvoo 1^st Ward and soon decided that Bishop Gérald Caussé from the Presiding Bishopric was sitting on the stand and he was one of the speakers.  His favorite place in Nauvoo is the statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith on their horses.  On one side is the Temple and the other side is the Mississippi River.  He loves the quote that is on statue plague: 

Bishop Caussé said reading this quote is what life is all about – the ups and downs.  Last Sunday he attended Sacrament Meeting in Park City which was a completely different setting than Nauvoo.  An Elder reported on his Italian mission.  Since coming home his brother passed away and his family was on a roller coaster ride between joy and sadness but were comforted knowing their family was sealed for eternity.

He also shared an experience at the Paris France Temple open house tour for the community leaders and church leaders from other churches.  In the Sealing Room, one Priest from another church said he was impressed that our church prepares for eternity which helps members handle adversity.  His church did not.

Bishop Caussé's main message for all of us was that if on our roads with bumps and turns we have thoughts of eternity, and have faith that all these experiences are for a purpose, we can handle adversity.

Sunday afternoon we attended the Temple Devotional for all (not just missionaries) in the Assembly Room in the Nauvoo Temple.  We came early at 2:30 and it has given us a lot of time to listen to the prelude music and ponder about what would have occurred in the first Nauvoo Temple.  I wondered if Joseph saw this part finished?

As I looked around the room (which I have many times during our time of service), I was touched by all the stars, the semi-circle arched windows that reminded me of the rays emitted from the sun and the love that is emitted out to all of us from our Savior.  All the endowment rooms sit above this room.  Also, around the room are several pillars with the sunstone on top.  There are also two oval windows with the sun like image in the middle with rays coming out of them.  I have been asked several times what all these symbolize, but both President Irion and President Weed have said:  “whatever they mean to you”.  We can all receive our own revelations and store them in our hearts.  All this pondering left our hearts open to the messages we received from our Temple Presidency.  Our hearts are still spiritually overflowing.

Thank you for all your love and support,

Elder and Sister Talbot

PS.  One more blog will be posted on our journey home

Talbots, Ashcrafts (Texas), Pritts (Florida)

DeSimons (Utah) Talbots, Hales (California)

Talbots, Allens (Oregon)

Talbots and Ashcrafts (our very good friends)

Talbots with Alma La Riva, (Nauvoo)

Leaving the temple grounds for the last time with the "small peoples" - Sue Ashcraft, Sister Thompson from the Quad City, and Sister Talbot.