This performance is called Rendezvous, and is performed on the stage of the historic Cultural Hall. We have fun goofing off, but our director reminds us that our performance must be "clean and sharp." It is a humbling experience when we remember that the early Mormon pioneers also performed on this very stage over 170 years ago. Not only do we dress in 1840 period costumes, we women must wear "day caps" and slick our bangs back so that we look the part. Tom is loving his performance of "Willingly." One of the verses says "So say a prayer and move along, willingly, because we have to. And make these words our battle song, Willingly, because we have to." This song refers to the winter exodus of the Mormons, who were driven out of Nauvoo in the winter of 1846. It is a powerful song with all the men of the cast holding fake rifles and marching onto the stage, singing this battle song. |
Missionaries come in the spring, like Tom and I, but some go home. Sweet Sister Saline came to tell me goodbye while I was working at the Wilford Woodruff home. This home is amazing with eight bedrooms and eight fireplaces, and has been restored to the original condition. Wilford Woodruff was a missionary, apostle, and fourth President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo, his home was sold for $675. The home was lived in continuously until the LDS Church purchased the home again in the 1960's. The Woodruff home was one of the first historic homes purchased by Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. | Nauvoo Post Office and Merryweather Dry Goods Store is next to the John Taylor home on Main Street. In our tour of this building the guests are allowed to try on a wooden yoke and imagine carrying water from a well to the top of the hill where men were working on the temple. They say if you run, more of the water remains in the bucket. Therefore, this was the first "running water" of Nauvoo. |
In more recent years, original architectural drawings were miraculously found and used to reconstruct the temple on the original temple site. Great lengths were taken to make the new temple as near as possible to the original. The new temple was dedicated in 2002.
I love this quote from Wilford Woodruff. "I looked upon the Temple and City as they receded from view and asked the Lord to remember the sacrifices of his Saints." Thousands come to remember and celebrate the dedication and sacrifice of our ancestors. It is the memory of their faith and testimony of Jesus Christ that gives us strength.
The temple was often called "Joseph's temple." Although the Saints knew they were being forced to leave, they completed the construction of the temple in honor of the Prophet Joseph. Even to the very last days in Nauvoo, thousands received individual temple blessings and promises that their families would be sealed forever.
Both Tom and I have grown by accepting the requests made of us. We have stretched our comfort zone, way beyond what we would have anticipated. We take on the physical challenges with faith and prayers. We pray for spiritual opportunities to share the stories of Nauvoo and of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
We send our love to our precious family and friends. May your summer be filled with lazy days of sunshine, fresh fragrant flowers, fresh strawberries and the bluest of blueberries.