Thanksgiving in Nauvoo

December has arrived. We have enjoyed some very crisp days with temperatures dipping down to the single digits. But the locals are telling us to be aware. Things are likely to get a lot colder yet. But today, we are basking in warmth as we are at the moment a little above freezing. In contrast to where we have been, this almost feels like a warm summer day. Since we have been here, we have seen a few snowflakes blowing around. But no accumulation yet. Just plenty of frost on the windshield. This last week we enjoyed Thanksgiving in Nauvoo. The temple closed down for Wednesday and Thursday, allowing workers the ability to spend with their families. We chose to stay here and prepare for the temple days that would follow. Thursday afternoon we joined with the other missionaries that stayed here for the holiday, about 220 to 230 of them. Together we all sat down to a scrumptious meal at the Stake Center, followed by a short program put on by some of the site missionaries. Our day at the temple on “Black Friday” was indeed a busy one. We found ourselves running all over the place making sure that there were workers where they needed to be to help meet the needs of all who came. Two came for their own endowments. Two came to be sealed to their (deceased) parents. We had an extra session that evening as the Quincy Ward came. They had their own endowment session (the largest session of the day) and they also brought their youth which kept the baptistery busy for a couple of hours. We went home that evening tired but rejoicing to be a part of that busy day. We recognized the fact that the Lord was definitely in charge and that we were only there to help carry out his will. There is no other way to explain how we were able to complete all that happened with the small number of workers that were there to do all the work. We definitely felt his Spirit as it prompted us with the solutions needed at every turn.