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.

Release and Return Home

We spent Friday and Saturday (March 27 - 28) cleaning our apartment and packing our belongings and car for our return trip home. Since Dave Herbold with whom I have worked while in the cabinet shop was gone home to Seattle, Washington for a visit my last week in Nauvoo, I didn't feel like I really had a chance to say goodbye.

Following Sacrament meeting on March 30 and having said our farewells to our missionary friends who we have learned to love, we met with acting President Chynoweth for our exit interview. He gave us our release papers to take to our stake president. We then returned to our apartment for a bite to eat and to finish loading our car. It was with real mixed emotions that we were leaving Nauvoo and those with whom we had served and loved.

Kelsey with us in Council Bluffs

At about 2:30 that afternoon, we left Nauvoo headed for Council Bluffs, Iowa. We planned to spend our first night there and to see our granddaughter Kelsey East who is attending Western Iowa College on a soccer scholarship.

It was after dark when we arrived in Council Bluffs. We got a motel then drove to Iowa Western to see Kelsey it was fun to spend some time with her.

Lynette & Lee Jones

Monday morning following breakfast, we drove to Denver, Colorado where we spent Monday night through Wednesday morning with Lee and Lynette Jones. Lynette is Fred's sister. It was fun to spend some time with them. While there, their son Ryan and his family came to spend some time with us. It was good to see them, too. Ryan is working with his dad in the semi trailer business.

We left Denver Wednesday morning and drove home to Layton, Utah. When we arrived home, there was a "Welcome Home" banner on the garage door.

Our kitchen with raised ceiling

 There were two surprises awaiting us when we entered our home. Kevin and his family were there and we noticed that we had a newly raised kitchen ceiling with cam lights. Kevin with the help of Justin had spent the last two weeks raising the ceiling and installing new LED lights. He had also changed all of the lights in the family and dinning area to the new LED lights as well. What a surprise it was. We've talked about making the change to the kitchen but hadn't gotten to it. Jodi and her family had been living in our home while we were gone. In order for Kevin and Justin to do the work, Jodi and her family had to move to her husbands mother's home for two weeks while the work was done.

It is great to be home. However, we miss Nauvoo and the many friends we made while there.

Last Visitors From Layton

Ann & Tami Daich 

This was our last day of serving as missionaries. We then have two days for cleaning our apartment and packing before leaving for home. Ann was given a choice of where she wanted to serve. She chose to serve in the Brigham Young home where she has been the site leader. 

About the time I had started cleaning up the shop and was feeling somewhat down about leaving, I had a very pleasant surprise. Greg and Tami Daich of our Layton, Utah ward walked into the cabinet shop. What a surprise. They had come to Nauvoo to attend the wedding of their friend's daughter who wanted to be married in the Nauvoo Temple. 

Fred with Greg & Tami Daich

Greg and Tami had already stopped at the Brigham Young Home and visited briefly with Ann. Ann told them where to find me. It was nice to see them. Their son Matthew, his wife and son are joining them here in Nauvoo for the wedding and associated activities.

Nauvoo On The Road

Missionaries who went to Bowling Green
dressed in their site clothes

Our mission has a program that is called "Nauvoo on the Road." We have a large trailer that is pulled by a ten passenger van. The trailer contains portable stations and items for teaching pioneer skills and crafts of the 1840's. The mission sends out information to all of the schools and communities within a one hundred mile radius of Nauvoo offering to attend community events and schools to demonstrate pioneer skills and crafts. Each year, several communities and schools extend invitations to the mission to bring the program to their community functions and schools. When events are scheduled, site missionaries are assigned to go to the school or community.

Ann & Sister Tucket at candle making station

I (Ann) had the opportunity to go with "Nauvoo on the Road" today along with three couple missionaries and two other sister missionaries. All of us wore our site clothes. We went to an elementary school in Bowling Green, Missouri which is about two hours away where we met with the fourth grade students.

Sisters Phillippi & Thompson at cookie making
station showing model bustle oven

When we got set up, the students were divided into groups. The groups would then rotate through the different stations. They learned about making candles and how bricks were made. They could roll out gingerbread dough and cut out little cookies after which each child was given a gingerbread cookie which was already baked. Each group of children were able to help make rope and each class was given one of the ropes made by the students.  We also had pioneer games they could play. The children were encouraged to come to Nauvoo with their families where there are more things to do including wagon and carriage rides and everything is "free." Many do come.



When "Nauvoo on the Road" goes to community events, it is a great way to let people know about Nauvoo because most people have never heard about Nauvoo. They are encouraged to come and bring their families. Once in Nauvoo, they are able to feel the spirit that is here as the site missionaries give spiritual messages as part of their presentations and the teamsters tell stories and bear testimony. 

Photo Board

Fred with photo display board

We have quite a few new missionaries coming over the next two months. Pictures of all the missionaries are posted on a picture board in the presidents office. Acting Pres. Chynoweth put in a work order to make a four foot display board to match the one in the president's office. I was given the task to make and mount it.

The frame and strips are made of oak. The back board is one quarter inch mdf with an oak veneer. The strips are raised just enough so that the edges of the photos can slip under it. The board was a fun project.

Testimony

We are so blessed to have a loving Father-in-Heaven who knows us each by name. He loves us so much that He has provided a plan by which we can return to live with Him and our Savior. To make that plan work, His son and our Savior who also loves each of us was willing to come to earth and to take upon Himself all our sins, short comings and imperfections if we would just take upon our selves His name and do all we can to be like Him.

Through the prophet Joseph Smith, our Father-in-Heaven restored His gospel and church in our day. He has also given us another witness of Jesus Christ in the form of the Book of Mormon which provides knowledge that enables us to draw closer to our Savior who guides and directs his kingdom through a living prophet.

We are also blessed to have a living prophet on the earth today to provide guidance and help to each of us in our effort to return back to live with our Father-in-Heaven and Jesus Christ.

Families are what this life is all about.  We must always follow the living prophet so that we won't be led astray and can always be a family throughout the eternities.

No matter what people say or do or whatever events may transpire, know this, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Christ's restored church.

To this we bear our solemn testimony in the name of our Lord and Savior even Jesus Christ. Amen
Fred E. & Ann M. Hansen

Relief Society Re-enactment

Ann with other sister missionaries in wagon
 en route to the "Red Brick Store

Yesterday afternoon Ann was able to participate in the annual re-enactment of the organizing of the first Relief Society. The Community of Christ Church which owns the red brick store which was owned by Joseph Smith Jr. lets us use the upstairs room of the store for the re-enactment. This is the very place where the Relief Society was first organized right here in Nauvoo.

Ann at the re-enactment

All the sister missionaries in front of the
"Red Brick" store

Because of limited parking, the sister missionaries assembled at the Nauvoo Visitor Center. From there the teamsters took them to the "Red Brick" store in wagons for the program. Ann's assignment was to offer the invocation.

Visit to Horse Barn

Nauvoo Mission Horse Barn

We got up this morning, ate breakfast and went up to the horse barn to watch the teamsters call the horses as they do each morning. We've been going to do this for some time.

The mission has 20 Percheron and Belgium draft horses (10 teams) that are used to pull wagons and carriages for the visitors to ride to see Nauvoo and it's country side. The horses are kept in a pasture by the horse barn.

Some of the Percheron Horses

Each morning, one of the teamsters will call the horses. They come trotting to the gate where a teamster opens the gate and each horse goes right to the trough with its name painted on it for their oats. Some of the troughs are in the barn and some are in the corral next to the barn. Its amazing to watch as each horse knows where they are to go for their grain (breakfast).

The horses which will be used that day for pulling wagons and carriages are curried (brushed) and their harnesses are put on them. Each horse also has a halter with its name on it.

Ann with one of the teams

These are beautiful animals. They play a big part in Nauvoo. People love to go on the wagon and carriage rides.

More Visitors from the Past

Last evening after we had gotten home from our assignments for the day and were in the process of preparing dinner, we received a phone call. Ann answered, It was from the visitor center saying that someone was there who said they knew us and then a voice said, "Hi Sister Hansen. This is Mark Pyne."

Mark was the son of my first counselor at the time I was made bishop of the Layton 16th Ward. He is about the same age as our son, Tad. I don't think we have seen Mark since he was married. He is currently living in the Dallas, Texas area. He, his wife and four children came to Nauvoo during their spring break. Mark's parents told him we were here and to be sure to look us up.

Mark said that he would like to see us. The only time we had was this evening right after the sites closed at four o'clock. So, we arranged to meet them at the visitor center. It was a real surprised to see that he had children as old as they are. One daughter had stayed back at the hotel because she was not feeling well. Mark is currently serving in the bishopric and indicated that he is going with a Scout group to BSA's Philmont this summer. Mark's wife said that she had dated our son Tad a few times. Anyway, we had a good visit. It was good to see Mark and his family.

Shutters

Front (south) side of John Smith Home
without shutters

Yesterday, Elder Bowen from Riverton, Utah helped me install 34 shutters on 17 windows of the John Smith home. John Smith was the uncle of Joseph Smith Jr. He was the brother of the prophet's father.

The outside of the home has a stucco finish. A very old black and white photo of the home showed that it had dark colored shutters. So Facilities Management wanted shutters made and I was given tlhe assignment to make them.

East and south side of John Smith Home
without shutters

I took me almost three weeks to make the shutters and have the paint shop paint them. I also had to get the Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventalation Department to to make copper caps for the shutters to protect them from the wet of rain and snow.

Fred installing upstairs shutter

John Smith Home with new shutters

Installation of the shutters on the ground level windows only required the use of a step ladder. However, the second story windows were a different story. Trying to use  ladders for those windows wasn't practical because of having to drill holes in the brick and rock and holding the shutters while screwing them in place required two people and that wouldn't work on a ladder. The ground has been thawing and is becoming quite soft. Using the "Genie" lift with it's extended arm wasn't possible because of it's weight. So, I suggested that we use the big CAT fork lift that can extend to to about 25 feet. We have a basket that can be used with the fork lift. The basket will easily hold two men, our tools and some of the shutters. Using the fork lift, we could reach the second story windows without having to drive on the lawn.

John Smith Home with new shutters

While here in Nauvoo, along with other projects, I have made and installed 62 shutters for 31 windows. Those shutters were for the Coolidge and Smith homes plus two windows on the Carthage Visitor Center.

Change in Mission Presidents

Pres. and Sister Hunter

We have been anxiously waiting since the middle of January for our new mission president, Richard A. Hunter (son of Pres. Howard W. Hunter) to arrive. He has been having some medical issues for which the medical people have not been able to diagnose. In the mean time, the church missionary department designated the first counselor President Chynoweth to be the acting mission president until President Hunter could join us.

Since President Hunter's condition has not change nor has there been any way to know when it may change, it was determined on February 27 that he would be released as our mission president. 

Pres. and Sister Gibbons

On the following Thursday, March 6, Larry W. Gibbons was called to be our new mission president. He will take over as of April 1. He and his wife live in Texas. He and his wife are currently serving as Sunday School teachers. He has served in the Second Quorum of Seventy, area presidency, two stake presidencies (one as president).


We were looking forward to meeting President Hunter before we were released. Now we will have another president who we will not meet before we go home.

President Chynoweth and the other counselor President Jones have been doing a great job in keeping things going during this time of uncertainty related to the mission leadership. 

Farewell Breakfast

Fred doing his monologue 

This morning was the mission breakfast for those who will be departing for home this month. It is the tradition in the mission for those who are going home to put on some sort of skit then the mission sings a farewell song. There are eight couples going home throughout the month. We will be the last ones leaving. Our release date is 31 March. 

Our departing group singing our songs

Elder Germer put together some lyrics for a "fun" song. He and his wife from Fruit Heights, Utah are retired music teachers. Elder Monney, who was in the heavy equipment and construction business in Texas, wrote the lyrics to a more serious missionary song. I was asked to sort of emcee for our departing group by saying something and introducing our songs. I did humorous one liners related to eating and dieting mixed in with somethings related to our Rendezvous show and introduced the first song. I then did some humorous one liners related to exercising and aging and introduced our second song. Everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves.

I have included the lyrics to the two songs. 

Sung to "Put your shoulder to the wheel"  
We'll Remember Rendezvous

There is a place where people go to show that they are true,
They pack their truck and with some luck they come to Rendezvous
When at first they hit the stage how they cry
But they try to learn their lines before they die.
It's true some fret, boy do they sweat
When they act - in Rendezvous

Now you may think that they can't act or make a person laugh,
But then they pull a miracle and it really is a blast!
They come running up the aisle two by two,
But then there was a guy who lost his shoe.
But what the heck, (spoken) "See Annie, I can change"
When they act - in Rendezvous

Well now it's time for us to pack and hit the dusty road,
It's sure been nice, (spoken) “YES WONDERFUL!” we feel that we'll explode!

But we'll always think of you when we go,
You've meant so much to us you'll never know,
The time has past, it sure went fast, 
We'll remember Rendezvous!

The second song we did was sung to the tune of "Do You Here the People Sing" from the musical "Les Miserables."

Do you hear the peo-ple sing sing-ing the songs of old Nau-voo 
this is the mus-ic of the right-ous who have suf-fered for me and you. 

As the feel-ing of our heart sent us here to serve the Lord, 
so we can help the peo-ple want to climb on board. 

We have tried to tell the tale of all the saints who were so strong 
and how they la-bored ev-ry day and why it took so long.
They ne-ver looked back and they al-ways looked for-ward to see. 

How the Gos-pel would go forth and it would fill the ma-ny lands 
since it was tru-ly brought to Earth and we can preach it as we stand. 
We will stand up for the right We will nev-er shun the fight for we all are sons and daught-ters of our God. 

     (new part for the repeat)

We will give all we can give so that the Gos-pel will ad-vance, 
We know that when we la-bor ev-ry man will take a stand. 
The blood of the mar-tyrs will bless each com-mon man! 

Now the Gos-pel will go forth and it will fill the ma-ny lands 
and we will do our part on Earth so  o-thers fol-low God's com-mands, 
We will al-ways keep in sight that we can pull with all our might, 

Hea-ven-ly Fa-ther made us strong and we will be Free!

The Rocking Horse

Rocking horse carved by John Taylor for his son
resides in the John Taylor home in Nauvoo.

There are lots of very interesting stories related to the Saints who lived here and their lives. One is about John Taylor which shows the love he had for his young son. 

The following is the story which I've edited. The unedited story, "The Love of a Father," can be found in the "Friend" magazine, March 2010 as written by Amie Jane Leavitt.

Soon, the Saints would be leaving their homes on the bank of the Mississippi River to travel west.

“Joseph, I need you to load the wagon,” his mother called from the kitchen.

“We’re only taking the necessities, Joseph,” his mother said. “I thought you understood that. There just isn’t enough room for everything.”

Joseph’s eyes started to fill with tears. It was bad enough leaving his comfortable home, but now they had to leave all of their favorite things too.

Joseph ran upstairs and into the toy room. It was his favorite part of the house. He had spent hours here imagining grand adventures while riding his wooden rocking horse that his father had carved for him. Joseph ran his hand over the horse and felt its golden mane of real horsehair. He realized that he would have to say good-bye to it forever.

On a frosty morning, Joseph’s family tied the canvas covering over their wagon and shut the door of their home for the last time. After inching their way through the snow, they boarded a ferry and pushed off to cross the icy river. Joseph watched as Nauvoo—and his beloved toy horse—slipped farther into the distance.

That night when the Saints set up camp, Joseph wrapped up in a quilt and warmed his hands over a fire. But nothing could help the cold ache in his heart.

Joseph’s father placed a hand on his shoulder. “Please tell me what’s wrong,” he said.

Joseph felt foolish. Everyone had left important things behind. “I miss my horse,” he said, starting to cry. “I love him so much, and I’ll never see him again.”

Joseph’s father pulled him close. “I understand,” he said. “You shouldn’t feel ashamed for missing something you love.”

When Joseph awoke the next morning, his father, who was an Apostle, had left to help some other families in need. Joseph gathered wood and fed the animals. He filled pots with ice from the creek so his mother could cook supper.

As the sun dipped below the horizon that evening, Joseph saw his father coming into camp. He looked exhausted. Ever since he had been injured at Carthage, he had needed to use a cane to help him walk. Today he was limping more than usual. His face was red from the cold, and there was snow on his jacket.

“But it hasn’t snowed all day,” Joseph thought. “Where has Father been?”

Then he saw it. Tied to his father’s horse was Joseph’s rocking horse. His father had ridden all the way back to Nauvoo, across the icy Mississippi River, and risked being caught by the angry mobs just to retrieve Joseph’s beloved horse.

“I think he’ll like going on this adventure to the West, don’t you?” his father asked as Joseph raced into his outstretched arms.

The rocking horse (shown above, 20 inches tall by 34 inches long) traveled all the way to the Salt Lake Valley.

Pendleton Log School House

Calvin Pendleton Cabin with school room attached

Today, I (Ann) served in the Pendleton Log School. This was originally the home of Calvin Pendleton. He attended the Eclectic School of Medicine in Ohio and practiced preventative medicine. He used the healing power of medicine and herbs.

Ann in Pendleton cabin with photo
Calvin Pendleton on the fireplace mantel

When his cabin was restored, a school room was added on the back to be used to tell about the schools in Nauvoo. Calvin Pendleton was a strong supporter of education.

Ann in school room. Notice the spelling of "City of
Joseph" on wall above her

Nauvoo had every kind of school starting with the University of Nauvoo. It was charged with all education in Nauvoo including the university, seminary or secondary schools and common schools. School for first through eighth grade were held in each neighborhood. There were 86 teachers who had passed exams and had teaching certificates. Reading, writing, arithmetic were taught in the neighborhood schools.

In the 1840's a lot of the spelling was done phonetically. So, we have visitors see if they can figure out common words used like the following examples:
BERTATOES --Potatoes
CURBERT -- Cupboard
GERRIL -- Girl
ISHOUE -- Issue
WEREENA PARIL -- Wearing apparel

To the left is a photo of Ann holding a slate used in the school. The number 2500 is the number of homes in Nauvoo at the time the saints left.

First Granddaughter Missionary

Kaitlyn East
(Raleigh North Carolina Mission)

Tonight at 8:30 following our Rendezvous show, we got on Skype to watch our granddaughter Kaitlyn East open her mission call. When she surprised us with her announcement via a text back on January 27, we called and talked to both Kaitlyn and her mother and told them that we wanted to get on Skype with them when she opened her mission call letter.

Kaitlyn scheduled the opening for tonight. She had several friends and family members there. Her sister Kelsey had made a surprise visit home for the weekend from Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs. It was nice that she could be there because this Saturday her brother Cooper will receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained a Deacon. His dad was the only one who knew that Kelsey was coming home. So, he arranged for Cooper to be presented in Sacrament Meeting last Sunday so the he could be ordained while Kelsey was home.

Back to the mission opening. There was a great deal of excitement in the room for the opening. Kaitlyn opened the letter and read that she was called to serve in the Raleigh North Carolina Mission. She is to enter the MTC on June 4th. We are very excited for her. 

Day at the Print Shop

Ann & Fred by the printing press

Since it was Sunday and our week to serve at a site. Ann and I got to serve together. We were assigned to the Print Shop.

It is still cold and we got more snow yesterday. We are expecting a freezing rain tonight.

The only person to come to the site was Sister Monney. She came to get a picture so we had her take one of us by the printing press.

Later this evening we held our monthly district meeting in our home.

Valentine Activity

Third Floor of the Nauvoo Cultural Hall

This evening, the mission held a Valentine dance on the third floor of the Cultural Hall. You might ask what is the significance of that, if any? It is the original wood floor on which Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and other church leaders of the Nauvoo era danced. The third floor was discovered during the restoration of old Nauvoo. At that time when the church purchased the building, the third story had been removed. However, the third story floor was still intact.

The suggestion was made that a Valentine dance for the mission be held there. The question was taken to the director of facilities who contacted the church history department in Salt Lake City for permission. The response was that if the facilities director performed an inspection of the building and determined that it was structurally sound enough, it would be alright to have a missionary dance there. The inspection was performed and request granted.

Photo taken from the orchestra balcony

The dance couldn't start until after sites were closed and the Rendezvous performance in the Cultural Hall was over. So, the dance started at 8:30 p.m. and was over by 10:30 p.m. Senior missionaries can't take too much night life, especially when you have to be to your site assignments in the morning. 

Elder and Sister Taylor who are the pageant missionaries where there taking pictures of missionaries by a window through which you could see the temple in one of the panes of glass.

Picture taken with the Nauvoo Temple
seen through the window

It was an enjoyable evening. Everyone wore their period clothing so that those participating would be dressed like the early residents of Nauvoo. It has been awhile since we've been to a dance. However, it didn't take long to recall the steps. We had a live band. The band was the same missionaries Who                                                                                             played for the New Years Eve activity.

Winter Sunrises in Nauvoo

We've included some photos of beautiful sunsets that can often be seen here in Nauvoo. However, there are just as beautiful sunrises. 


Here are photos of two of them taken this winter. The one is taken with the temple in the foreground and the other is taken from in front of the cabinet shop where I spend my days working.

A Working Day in the Temple

Nauvoo Temple Spire a sunsset

Being Monday, the temple was closed today. So, Dave and I were able to install some sliding doors he made for some open cabinets in the laundry supervisor's office. When we had finished and while there, the assistant temple engineer took us on a tour of parts of the temple not seen by most temple patrons. Among other areas of the temple, I got to see the equipment rooms and go the the top of the temple spire on the inside just under the dome. Not only was it interesting but the view was quite impressive.
 

The two photos were taken by Elder Taylor, the Pageant missionary, from his model helicopter. The above sunset photo shows the four levels of the temple spire. In the lowest level with louvered windows that look like dark windows, there are speakers which produce various sounds of a falcon every five minutes to keep birds away. The next level houses the four clocks seen on the spire. The third level is where the tower bell hangs that sounds every hour and half hour of the day. Under the top dome is where the Angel Moroni is mounted.


The above  photo on the left shows the Angel Moroni atop the temple spire facing west toward Salt Lake City, Utah with the city of Nauvoo in the background.

It's Been a Cold Winter

Blacksmith & Wainwright Shop

Those who live here say this winter has been colder than normal. However, I remember my missionary days out here in northern Iowa as being very cold with some days so cold we could not go out. Of course, this is not northern Iowa.

Along the Trail of Hope

The temperature for most days has not gotten above the low twenties and has usually been in the teens or lower for a high. The lows have hovered near zero or below with the wind chill being anywhere from ten to 25 below zero. That's why when we had the Exodus Walk and it was twenty and no wind, we thought that it was a very nice day. The forecast had indicated a minus nine for a low which would have been in the morning of the walk making it extremely cold for the activity.

I have included some pictures to give a feel as to how things look during this cold winter time.

Joseph Smith Mansion House

Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store
(where the Relief Society was organized)

Home of Patty Sessions

Patty Sessions was one of the most famous Mormon midwife. She delivered 3977 babies. Her son, Perigrinen Sessions was the one who was sent by Brigham Young to settle what is now Bountiful, Utah.

William Field Cabin

The field cabin was the home of Mary Field who lived to be 107 and the last living person to have known Joseph Smith. 

This year two young oxen were purchased to supplement the two older oxen. They are a matched pair. Training has been on going throughout this summer to get them ready for the ox cart rides. They have grown quite a bit this year. The picture below is of one of the young oxen lying in the snow.





There is a lot of wildlife that can be seen here in Nauvoo during the winter. It is during the late Fall and Winter that you can see eagles here along the river. When the warmer weather of Spring and Summer come, they move from the area. In the cities of Keokuk, Iowa and Warsaw, Illinois eagle watching days are part of the annual Winter activities.


Numerous Canadian Geese also spend the winter here along the river. They don't go inland very far but spend most of their time foraging in the corn fields.

Canadian Geese 

Bald Eagle perched in tree by river

The photo to the right is of a Cardinal which was perched outside of our window by a bird feeder in which we had filled with bird seed. It has its back to us and is looking over his back toward the window.

There are also lots of White Tailed Deer all around our homes. However, it is  difficult to get pictures of them.

Aerial view of the frozen Mississippi River

To the left is a photo taken by the Pageant missionary from his model helicopter prior to the last snow storm. He is able via WiFi to view what the camera sees on his cell phone as well as control the vertical movement of the camera. Horizontal movement is made by moving the helicopter.