Return to Nauvoo for Closure

Since returning home from Nauvoo, we've been going through what we call Nauvoo Mission withdrawal. Except for four teamsters and their wives, most of the senior missionaries who went through the MTC and then to Nauvoo together with us are still in Nauvoo. We miss them and still feel like we should still be there.

 This summer, for the first time, the British Pageant is being put on in Nauvoo. It tells the story of the same individuals as the Nauvoo Pageant only it tells their conversion story in England while the Nauvoo Pageant tells their story after they arrive in Nauvoo. We really wanted to see the British Pageant which alternates nights with the Nauvoo Pageant.

We decided to drive back to Nauvoo to see our Nauvoo missionary friends and the British Pageant. So, we called Keith and Linda Hufstetler who were in a home with an extra bedroom and bathroom to see if we could stay with them while we were there. They said they would love to have us stay there. So, we set a date that we would be staying there and made plans to go for the week of July 13 - 19.

About a week before we were to leave for Nauvoo, Linda Hufstetler called and said that our MTC group was getting together for a pot luck dinner at Facilities Management on July 13 and could we come a day early because they wanted me (Fred) to be emcee at the dinner. So, we adjusted our schedule.

We left for Nauvoo on July 11 and drove through to Lincoln, Nebraska where we stayed that night. The next day we drove on to Nauvoo arriving there about 3:00 p.m. Since we were a day earlier than originally planned, we spent the first night with Steven and Susan Jones of Phoenix, Arizona. Hufstetlers had family visiting them. The Jones' are good friends from our MTC group and he was serving at that time in the mission presidency. That first night our old cast was performing Rendezvos so we went and surprised everyone. Afterwards, we went to Anne's for custard.

Sunday evening, July 13 our MTC group got together for a pot luck dinner. It was good to see and visit with everyone. We got to spend the week visiting everyone at the sites, having dinners with several of our missionary friends, attending the pageant, rendezvous and sunset shows. It was great and provided the fix and closure we needed.

Ann and me with my sister Joy on the right at the burial site of Joseph,
Emma and Hyrum Smith in Nauvoo.

My sister Joy called before we left for Nauvoo and said that since we were going to be in Nauvoo and she hadn't had a chance to visit us while we were serving there, could she meet us in Nauvoo for a day. So, on Friday July 18 after putting in a full day of work, Joy drove from Evansville, Indiana to Nauvoo, about a six hour drive. She arrived at Hufstetler's late that night. The following day, we spent with her visiting and seeing the sites of Nauvoo. After having dinner with her that night, Joy drove back to Evansville so that she would be there in time to teach her Primary class Sunday morning. It was good to see her. We enjoyed our time with her.

Following Sacrament meeting the next day, we left for home. We wanted to get across Iowa and Nebraska to Chyenne, Wyoming where we planned to spend the first night. When we arrived late in Chyenne, we found that there were no rooms any where because of Chyenne Days. So, we headed for Laramie which wasn't too far. However, we learned that Laramie was handling the over flow from Chyenne leaving no rooms there. We continued on to Rawlins, Wyoming arriving there about 3:30 a.m. I told Ann that we were nearly home and asked if she would like to just continue. She said, "No!" So, we got a room and got a few hours sleep before continuing on home.

We really enjoyed our visit to Nauvoo. Going back to Nauvoo after our group comes home this September would never be the same. We really love those missionaries with whom we served in Nauvoo.