Prophet of God

Yesterday was Sunday and Bryce and I were assigned to serve at Carthage Jail Visitor's Center. We had been there in the spring and early fall, as visitors ourselves, but had never served there as the missionaries who conduct the tours.  

It was a sacred experience to be in the room where Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered, making them martyrs for their belief in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ here in the latter days.  In that setting, it is a deeply spiritual experience to testify that you know Joseph was a true Prophet of God - just as Moses of old.

How grateful we are for the sacrifice of both Joseph and Hyrum. They were righteous men of God who were true to their knowledge that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints IS Christ's church on the earth. How grateful we are that God continues to provided us with Prophets today. We know that President Thomas S. Monson is God's Prophet today. The following quote is from the talk Pres. Monson gave Sunday morning this last October General Conference: "To each of you, I say that you are a son or daughter of our Heavenly Father. You have come from His presence to live on this earth for a season, to reflect the Savior’s love and teachings, and to bravely let your light shine for all to see. When that season on earth has ended, if you have done your part, yours will be the glorious blessing of returning to live with Him forever.

How reassuring are the Savior’s words: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” Of Him I testify. He is our Savior and Redeemer, our Advocate with the Father. He is our Exemplar and our strength. He is “the light which shineth in darkness.” That each of us within the sound of my voice may pledge to follow Him, thus becoming a shining light to the world, is my prayer in His holy name, even Jesus Christ the Lord, amen."

NEW FOUND COUSIN

Meet the new found cousins! Elder Burns and his wife are serving at the Nauvoo Temple. They came in to the Lands and Records Site where I was serving where we found out that we have a common ancestor - Enoch Burns.  I've never met a Burns cousin before. It was pretty exciting. In Nauvoo in the 1840's, Enoch and his wife Elizabeth Pierce Burns lived in Nauvoo just north of the Temple. They went thru many hardships but held on to their faith in Jesus Christ and His restored Gospel.  I was able to help Elder and Sister Burns find out more about Enoch Burns and other ancestor's they had here in Nauvoo.  It was a good day.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas...

We made sure we brought a bit of Christmas from home... to make us feel more at home. 

Our 4 foot tree has some Nauvoo wooded rounds and some "brick" ornaments Bryce made with cookie cutters.

It looks really good.  

This is the 2nd of 4 quilts I've now made for the humanitarian efforts here in the Mission. It's fun to make quilts for others who don't have much. 

A scarf for good will. So grateful to have learned how to crochet here in Nauvoo! Thanks to all those who've taught me in the various historic sites over the last few weeks. It's fun!!! I guess you know the family will be getting for gifts over the next 10 years!!!

This is a beautiful Nativity in the Visitor's Center. It's absolutely lovely.  

Some of the folks gathered to watch the tree lighting. I like this because the Christus is lit reminding the group of the true reason for celebrating Christmas.  Various local school choirs sang before the tree lighting. 

The highlight of the evening, by far, was the Nativity. The true meaning of Christmas and a love for and belief in the Savior Jesus Christ was tangible in the room. The Mission Presidency were the Wise Men (type casting) and the missionary couple that were Mary and Joseph were tender and loving toward each other and the baby Jesus. It was the highlight for us. 

Three days later we were in Handel's Messiah with full orchestra. It was alot of fun. This will be our 12th year of singing "The Messiah".  Who knew we'd be able to do it in St.Peter and Paul's Catholic Church here in Nauvoo, Illinois! 

I Can Share the News...Can You?

#ASaviorIsBorn (share the news)

Halloween and Gearing up for Christmas in Nauvoo

We had fun at the Bootiful Nauvoo Halloween event. We haven't seen so many amazing pumpkins - more than 200 of them! Last year 5,000 people came to Nauvoo to watch the festivities. There were more this year but I don't know the count. Missionaries handed out kettle corn and candies. There was a parade of costumes. It was alot of fun. 

A couple of weeks ago there was a mission talent show. The Hansen's, fellow Canadians from Barnwell,  and us sang a song together. Bryce wrote the words and we sang acapella and in barbershop harmony to the tune of Winter Wonderland. We were also decked out in red flannel underwear with the women in our white pioneer aprons holding a small Canadian flag and the men in their pioneer vests. The words are as follows:

We're Canadians from the North land.

So we're not always suntanned,

But we know what to wear when it's cold out there.

Go walking in your winter underwear.

Building snowmen and skating,

Well it's just like we're dating.

Just wear your ice cleats as you walk Nauvoo streets,

Go walkin in your winter underwear.

Chorus:

Well we don't care if Nauvoo snows or freezes.

We're so warm we just don't give a hoot, eh?

In the Family Living Center there are breezes,

So put on two pairs of trousers with your flannel suit.

Sleigh bells ring, and we're listening,

As we're scratchin and itchin

Twas so cold outside we could no longer abide

Without our wooly winter underwear.

We didn't think it could happen,

But the back, it's a flappin,

So when you're cold to the core,

Close up the trap door

To go walking in your winter underwear.

Chorus:

Well we don't care if Nauvoo snows or freezes

We're so warm we just don't give a hoot, eh?

In the Wilford Woodruff house you get the sneezes, achoo,

So put on an extra sweater with you flannel suit.

When we start to perspire,

And we think we're on fire,

It's the forge that's too hot in the blacksmith shop,

We'll go outside in our winter underwear

Oh don't forget your winter underwear...

We're so glad we have our winter underwear!!!!!

Now we're gearing up for Christmas. We're in 3 choirs: the ward choir, the community choir doing 4 songs from the Messiah, and the "Miracle of Christmas" regional choir with orchestra. That's alot of choirs. Beautiful songs though. The Messiah will be performed in the local Catholic church. Nice community event. Then on Dec. 4 th there is the Christmas Walk with starts with lighting the huge tree in the Visitor's Center. The center is pitch black and then the missionaries all start singing a song about lighting the tree and we flash our flashlights that have various colors of celephane on them, on and off on and off all thru the song. Then they light the actual tree. Then people take wagon rides, listen to carollers (I'm in charge of them) at 4 different stations, watch a live Nativity at the Cultural Hall and eat lots of goodies baked and provided by the missionaries. It will be really nice. We're looking forward to it.

Missionary wise we had an amazing visit from Elder Hamula and his wife. They both gave inspiring talks over a two day period. He's with the Church History Dept. and he talked about why the church builds and maintains church history sites. There are two reasons: one, to remember what happened there and two, to go there and become a witness to the events that transpired there. As we do this, the Holy Ghost adds His witness and then we have a second witness to the truthfulness of the events that happened there. These witnesses increase your faith. This leads you to do something that will lead you to Christ. You will know first hand that what you have done has helped you. Then the Holy Ghost will add His witness and this will increase your faith on this added principle. It keeps going on and on repeating this process. 

Then there is the added importance of being a witness to the next generation so they never forget. He said that people all thru the scriptures have a tendance to forget so we have to be in the business of remembering and witnessing. He also tied the idea of remembering and witnessing into the Sacrament where we are to remember and to witness. All of this builds faith and draws us closer to Heavenly Father and Christ.

New Shoes Anyone?

This is the Riser Boot Shop in Nauvoo. Pictures of George and Christiana Riser are on either side of the clock above the mantle. George heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from an employee. George wanted to learn more so he sold his business, bought a wagon and travelled 600 miles to Nauvoo in order to meet the Prophet Joseph Smith.

George and his wife heartily joined the church and were baptized in the freezing waters of the Mississippi in January of 1843. They didn't want to wait until spring weather so ice had to be broken for the baptism by immersion to take place.  The Risers wanted to act upon their faith immediately. Just like the Risers, acting upon our own faith is important. 

Serving a mission is our way of acting on our faith. We love telling people about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, of how Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us all, and of how we can feel closer to God. Those of you who are thinking about going on a mission -- DO IT! You will never regret it! Those of you who don't know much about "the Mormons". Find out! Go to mormon.org     You won't reget it! We promise!