Nauvoo

Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store, Nauvoo

Yesterday we went to Nauvoo. We drove down with the missionaries from our ward and another family. I always have reservations going- it takes a long time to get there and pretty much you block out an entire day for it. But, without fail, I always leave wishing I had taken more time to be there. We got to see a few of the sites and then the pageant. I will never cease to amaze me what the early Saints went through and sacrificed for their religion. Each time I think of building my home and city, not once, but sometimes 6 or 8 times, I think my life is so easy, and they are ultimate examples of sacrifice.Am I willing to make those sorts of sacrifices for my God and religion. It is definitely a question that I must ask after seeing all they did. I am also in awe of all the hard work they did each and every day, just to live. I think, here I am sitting at home in air conditioning, doing nothing but expressing. We haven't had dinner yet, but no worries, we can have something on the table in about 5 minutes. Those early Saints would have been working for several hours already for dinner, probably starting yesterday to have something on the Sabbath. It is just amazing.

We recently drove to Utah making the trip in about 18 hours. I can't imagine what it must have been like for the saints and pioneers- sometimes making only 1 mile a day. In some ways I think taking your time to get across the plains would be nice. No work to rush home to, no swimming lessons, no if we push it we can make it one day. You would be able to smell the smells, take in the landscape, actually see the places you were going through. But would I want that (or would they) with all the suffering, hardship and loss they faced? I don't know. Many pioneers have said that they knew the Lord was with them on those treks, that they wouldn't ever trade that experience for an easier one. It seems unthinkable to me to have that kind of perspective. Although, after thinking about it, the times that I have closest to the Lord is when I depended on Him and His perspective the most (duh). Many of those times have been when times were tough.

I think for me, the crowning experience of Nauvoo is the temple. It is so beautiful set up on that hill. I hope the Saints of Nauvoo can look down and see it there. Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley said that each person should at some point in their life experience Nauvoo. I couldn't agree more. It is a marvelous experience and I feel so blessed and priveleged that we can go often. I thank those early saints for their testimonies and sacrifice and example.

On a lighter note, here are some pictures of the pre-pageant fun. Here we all are waiting for our turn at the log saw. Below, we are playing a pioneer game with two stick and a ring. You put the ring on the two crossed sticks and pull the sticks apart- it sends the ring flying and the other person has to catch it on their sticks. Waiting outside the blacksmith shop- the kids are all sitting on the hitching post.This is Brett and Emilio doing the log saw. it took them less than 15 seconds- they were proud.