Nauvoo activities

Last Monday, the temple missionaries had a talent show "sociable" - as they call it here.  It was an assigned pot-luck dinner with a fun talent driven program following.  I participated in a barber shop octet as well as in another number (along with Becky and four other couples) where we sang "getting to know you" along with a little soft shoe, etc.  We are starting to pull together as a close-knit group of missionaries.  Working together in the temple by day, having great "sociable"s a couple of times each month,  attending church together on Sundays and enjoying home evenings and dinners together on a regular basis as well.  It's fun and fulfilling.  We are really enjoying our time here in Nauvoo.

This week, we made it to Carthage.  After all, Thursday was the 27th of June, the day that Joseph Smith was martyred 169 years ago.  We went there to attend a commemoration held in his and Hyrum's honor.  We weren't the only ones there.  We were told to take our own folding chairs.  We assembled on the lawn below the window from which Joseph fell.  Music was provided by the Nauvoo Brass Band (16 of the Young Performing Missionaries) and a choir made up of the other 24 Young Performing Missionaries and another choir consisting of the Young proselyting sister missionaries assigned to Nauvoo and yet another singing group (BYU's Vocal Point singers) which happened to be in town for the occasion.  The Nauvoo Mission President, President Gilliland, gave the oration and President Condie, president of the Nauvoo Temple, gave the benediction.  The whole was short and sweet - only lasting about 45 minutes.  Because of the crowds, that day was not the day to tour the jail - we will return in a week or two to do that.

The core cast (about 20 members) for the pageant arrived last Wednesday. The "family cast" (everyone else that does not have speaking parts) will arrive this week to prepare for the production that begins the following week.  As I understand it, the family cast, some 100-200 people will be replaced every week of the production - giving many a chance to participate,  each group arrive the week before, to see how it is done and to help with the "country fair" that occurs each night prior to the pageant itself.  I have been asked to help with the Spanish translation two or three times each week throughout the 4 weeks that the pageant will be provided.  I will sit under a canopy off to the side and will wear a headset so that I can easily hear what is going on - English in one ear and Spanish in the other.  I will be given a role to read such as Parley Pratt or Joseph Smith.  It will be my duty to read the Spanish equivalent of that role as that actor says his lines on the stage in English.  I, along with the others doing the same for the other roles, will be speaking into microphones, so that those in the audience wearing headsets can hear the presentation in Spanish.  I have been practicing a lot over the last few weeks to learn to sync my words with those spoken on stage.  We were each given a DVD of a previous year's production to help us learn.  I only hope that this years' cast members talk at the same pace.  Sometimes it is really difficult to keep up - especially when two are in excited conversation.  My Spanish is not all that good.  But this is a great building experience.

Rehearsals

The President of the Nauvoo Temple, Spencer Condie, told me one day that he prayed me here. I doubt that it was me in particular that he was praying for, but I am helping to fill some voids that he thought needed filling. As a result, I find myself attending a lot of rehearsals for upcoming events. When I arrived, there was a men's ensemble that I was invited to join. They wanted me to sing tenor. Now I find myself trying to develop my falsetto so I can reach the notes that they expect me to hit. With my lack of rhythm and inability to find the right note, I am surprised that they still want me in the group, but as I am still trying to do my best, they still invite me to the practices. Tomorrow there is a talent show - put on by the temple missionaries - for the temple missionaries, in which we will be performing. This will be my first attempt at barbershop harmony. Then in a different number, they expect me to do some soft shoe while singing (along with several other couples). Have you ever tried to dance while your back is still recuperating from a compressed (almost herniated) disc? The results could be very interesting.

I am also rehearsing for the pageant. The cast will be arriving in another few days. I already have the script in hand and am working to be able to help with the Spanish translation. As the cast members say their lines, I and a few other volunteers are to read the Spanish equivalent to be heard by the Latino community through headsets we provide. The trick is to keep up with the cast and still read it with expression. I don't know that my Spanish is all that good. But I know that the Lord will help fill the gap caused by our weaknesses.

Those of us that were complaining of the cold a few months ago are now basking in the humid warmth for which Nauvoo is famous. Temperatures are climbing up into the 80's and 90's. And so is the humidity. The rain is falling less often – but it still chose to come down a bit today. Fortunately we are usually in the temple or in our apartment, both of which are air-conditioned. So we're not out in the heat for very long at a time. If this is as bad as it gets, I do not complain. I find it quite tolerable actually.

Every once in a while we run into someone that we know or we are approached by those that recognize us – either from our years in California or in Utah. Its always fun to get back in touch with those we have known years ago. On the other hand, it can get a bit embarrassing when they know us and I have no idea who they are. Another difficult moment is when they know us by name and I am really struggling to remember theirs. Oh well.

I often work the recommend desk at the temple. Here, in Nauvoo, more than anywhere else, we get people coming into the temple, wanting a tour. They are not members of the Church – but would like to see what the temple is like on the inside. Non-members are not allowed beyond the recommend desk. But we are missionaries – and have been set apart to do missionary work and this is where it starts for us. Our job is to not dampen their interest, but at the same time, try to direct them across the street to the “arrival center” where they can see videos and talk with the temple missionaries that are assigned to be there so that their questions can be answered more fully. By the way, we have been assigned to be in the arrival center tomorrow. We look forward to that opportunity.

Tender mercies

Yesterday, I got a package in the mail. It was literally from all of my children. It was a book – a composite of pictures and letters of appreciation from each of my 11 children, each written with Father's Day in mind. As Mom and I opened and paged through it, reading the tributes and looking at the pictures, we wept – as the years that we dedicated to being parents to them was highlighted by this simple gesture. To each of you, I voice, and we both concur, that we have been rewarded with some of the best children that we could ever have desired, the cream of the crop, the best that our Heavenly Father could ever have sent into our home. They are, indeed, the jewels and gems that are worth more than all else throughout the universe. They are the kind of children that would make any set of parents look terrific. We thank our dear Father for sending them to be with us – and to be our treasures.

I took a vacation from the temple last week for a couple of days, not being able to work because of back pain. With each day that arrives, I never quite know how it will be: some days are good, some not so good. But in general, they are getting better. My back is no longer inflamed. But the muscles do choose to tense up every so often, making certain efforts very painful – even if only for a fraction of a second. The worst, is trying to stand after having been in a sitting position for any length of time. The simple solution to that, is just not sit down. Unfortunately by feet and legs won't stand for that – and, especially while in the temple, it just isn't convenient to just go lie down somewhere. Sunday is tough. After sitting through sacrament meeting, Sunday school and priesthood meeting, my back really wants to complain. But still, it was better today than last week. Things are getting better.

Last Tuesday afternoon, Sister McClellan and I were left alone to coordinate all the activity in the baptistry in the temple. It wasn't suppose to get too busy. No one had made any reservation except for the last time slot, where a half dozen or so were suppose to come. But from the very beginning of our shift, there were several coming wanting to do the Lord's work – and of course we always say “yes” and so the fun began. There were also large groups of endowed members attending upstairs, as well, thus dividing the workers between them and us. But, as always, the day ended with happy faces all around and we, a bit wiser as to how we will cope with similar situations in the future.

Trials and Tribulations

Okay, never tell the Lord that you are currently lacking in trials. He never has problems in finding something to give you that will keep you humbly working to overcome. One of the biggest trials that I have had to deal with over the years is that of a poor back. I suppose that I have not yet learned how to deal with that trial sufficiently yet since he decided to level it on me anew – with all of its force and fury that I have ever felt. Unable to work in the temple, I finally broke down and went to see a chiropractor. As I walked (?) into his door, the good doctor took one look a me and knew exactly what was wrong. He told me I had a compressed disc (possibly herniated) and immediately took steps to reduce the inflammation that was causing the excess pain. Well, I still have the spasms and problems associated with sitting but at least I know what is causing the pain. Some tell me I should stay in bed for a week. Others tell me that I should be up and about, exercising it as much as possible. Some tell me to keep it iced while others tell me to use heat. I don't believe the Lord would call me to serve here only to have me confined to bed all day, so I will try to use wisdom and still do what I can to be up and doing in the temple as often as I can. Please pray for me. And pray for us, that we may have the health and the strength to complete this mission as we have been called.

This last week, we have had the fortune to have the BYU Folk Dance group here to liven things up. They put on a show every evening, alternating between two different programs. To see it all, you need to attend on two different nights. Tonight they are also scheduled to provide a fireside for all of us. They will be here for another week, then they will move on and will be replaced by another group – BYU Vocal Point. After they leave, we will be ready for the pageant. So goes the summer. Something is always happening throughout the summer here at Nauvoo.

Although it has been raining a bit here today, we have had several (two or three) days without rain this last week. Spring temperatures have remained in the 70's. So it has been relatively quite nice. It's a nice time to come visit. So if you ever get opportunity to come this direction, come look us up and enjoy the Spirit of Nauvoo. There is nothing quite like it anywhere else in the world.

Fond Thoughts and Fawn Memories

Today, as I was sitting in Fast and Testimony Meeting, a thought hit me with great force. I had been contemplating my many blessings though out my life. There had been many that had expressed how blessed they were to be able to serve missions here in Nauvoo. We, too, feel that very same way. Another young sister missionary had expressed that she didn't feel that she had had any trials in her life until she turned 18. I, too, have frequently thought that the trials in my life had been minimum. (Then I remembered that we had had children, lot of them! And I suppose that each of them has brought with them a number of trials and challenges for us to deal with. But somehow, the magnitude of each of those trials, has diminished with time – to the point that sometimes I wonder if they ever existed at all. The Lord had stepped in and, in His kind and loving way, has dealt with those trials for us that we have not had to be weighed down by them. After considering these testimonies and how they also voiced my feelings, a phrase from my patriarchal blessing popped into my mind, one that I had seldom ever even paid any attention to before. It reads “There is not a gift you desire in righteousness that the Lord will not give you”. Suddenly, I realized that such had been the case throughout my life. Becky and I wanted children – lots of them. And we got them! We wanted a righteous posterity. In spite of our sometimes feeble efforts, the Lord provided us with stalwart children that love the Lord. They've all turned out so good! We wanted to come serve this mission in Nauvoo: another righteous desire, I think. And here we were! There is not a thing that I can think of that I have righteously desired that hasn't come our way. The Lord has indeed fulfilled his promise to me. There is no question in my mind that the Lord is aware of me and that he loves me. Of that I am certain. There are so many other of God's children that could perform this mission so much better than I could, but the Lord used us anyway, for which I am grateful.

On another topic, a couple of days ago, I looked out our bedroom window to see a fawn laying in the grass not far from our apartment. It was alone, I suppose its mom had told it to stay put til she came back - and in spite of the rain that fell, it was obedient. Hours later, when it was time for us to leave and go to the temple, it was still there. We walked out to where it lay and took a picture before climbing into the car. Wet from the rain and shaking with cold or fear, I don't know which, it didn't try to move even then. But it was gone when we got back that evening. I assume that its mom eventually came back to collect her charge when her time elsewhere was completed.