On the Run

There are 'up' times and there are 'down' times. There are times when we aren't very busy; and there are times that we don't know how we can manage - needing to be in several places all at the same time. Such is the life of a temple missionary. This last week, we were excited, thrilled and nervous – all at the same time to start our new calling as shift coordinators. Over all, the day went well but we were tired beyond belief when the day was over – knowing that we need to start preparing anew for next Wednesday when we go at it all over again.

Thursday, we went on a four hour tour that took us to Carthage, Warsaw and then back to Nauvoo during which we learned many of the particulars concerning the events surrounding the martyrdom of Joseph and his brother. We drove the road (as close as currently possible) that the martyrs would have traversed when they rode to Carthage so many years ago. In Warsaw, we saw the building which housed the Expositor that was used in efforts to defame Mormonism and its leaders back in the 1840's. In Carthage we saw the creek bed where the mob probably blackened their faces before assaulting the jail, the jail, etc. Along the way, the likely mindset of people involved on both sides of the conflict was unfolded by our guide.

On Saturday, now back at the temple, we were given a different challenge. A couple, along with their four children, came to the temple to be sealed together for eternity. But before that could happen, the parents and the oldest son, en-route to the mission field, needed to be endowed. No big deal? Well, it shouldn't have been, except for the fact that they were from the Congo and spoke French. The skill set of our arsenal of ordinance workers here at Nauvoo is rather thin – so when various skills are sought, they ask us to stretch our abilities, call on the Lord for help and then barrel forward with the assurance that the job will be done to the Lord's satisfaction. I was told that Becky did a beautiful job as she helped perform the initiatory ordinances for the mother – all in French. I, too, was called on to help in the men's initiatories as well as to help at the veil. In all, it was actually fun, but we were concerned that they would not understand us even though we tried our best to bring these ordinances to them in their native language. After the endowment was completed, Pres. Condie, our temple president (and an emeritus member of the Seventy) performed the sealing ordinances – again using the best French he could pull out of the bag.

Today, I was part of a men's ensemble group that sang in Sacrament Meeting.

Although the pageant here is over for the year, the missionaries are still busy following up on the referrals obtained while it was in progress. I was told, just today, that the success rate so far is 72%. I don't know just what that means – perhaps it simply means that 72% of the addresses given actually exist, or that 72% were really interested in hearing more about the Church, or that 72% are actually taking steps to become members of the Church. But at any rate, it is a far higher percentage than that obtained in previous years – which I am told lies around 17%. I tell you all this, because today I was asked to assist the proselyting missionaries follow up on the remaining Hispanic referrals in the area. The Spanish speaking missionaries that were here during the summer have now been reassigned to other areas. I am excited to get involved in that effort – even while serving a temple mission. It just means that I will be that much more 'on the run' than I already am.