Nauvoo is coming back to life

The wind is blowing; the air is cold; snow has been falling and will likely do so a bit more before the day is over.  Yesterday we enjoyed 80 degree temperatures.  Spring is fickle.  But there is hope.  Many of the magnolia trees in the area are starting to bloom.  A few daffodils have been brave enough to produce a bloom or two.  The tulips are hopefully not too far behind.  The rest of the trees still have no leaves or buds – except for those that are still hanging onto their dead leaves from last year.  But the sun has been out; the fields of grass have turned green again; and the NRI have recently completed their first pass at mowing the grass.  Again we have seen the bunny rabbits and even a turtle or two.  The birds have been around a plenty, as have the squirrels.  These have been chasing each other all over, up and down trees, back and forth all over the fields – they are really a lot of fun to watch.

The activity at the temple had also picked up with many sessions that were close to being full.  We had even provided a few extra sessions to accommodate those that could not make the regular sessions.  Saturday we had several weddings and families coming to be sealed together forever.  But then Saturday was the end of it.  The temple locked its doors that night – not to reopen to the public for two full weeks.  I suppose many were coming realizing that they would not have another opportunity again until the temple reopens.

Every fall, the young sister proselyting missionaries are reassigned to other missions during the long winter months.  This last week they returned to Nauvoo.  When we meet for Sacrament Meetings each Sunday, they are invited to sit in the choir seats – all sixteen of them.  Yesterday, they also had four of them speak to us giving examples of how the atonement of Christ has helped individuals they had worked with during this last winter.  They bring a lot of wonderful spirit into our meetings – if not YOUTH – which we definitely lack through the winter.  We are so happy they are back.  The number of site missionaries is also increasing.  They are gearing up for the promise of lots of visitors here during the summer months.  Yet to arrive are the new temple missionaries and the performing missionaries.  Give them time, Nauvoo is coming back to life.