Temple Sealing, Dinner with Friends, President Nelson, Nauvoo Stake Conference

Each day in the temple we have wonderful experiences.  As an example...  this past week we had the opportunity to serve as guides to a couple that were scheduled to be sealed together.  They were married last month.  This is their second marriage and the sister has a nine year old daughter from her previous marriage.  We were able to be at their sealing.  What a glorious experience that was.  

After they were sealed as husband and wife for time and all eternity, they brought in their nine year old daughter.  She kneeled at the altar and was sealed to them.  What rich promises are given to not only the couple but also to the children sealed to the parents!  The Spirit was very strong in that sealing room that day.

Nauvoo temple, looking from the southeast

We had dinner at our apartment with two couples last Sunday.  Brother and Sister Schmidt (on the left in the photo below) are from the River Ridge 4th ward (our neighboring ward to the north).  They are FM (Facilities Management) missionaries who will be here for 23 months (going home in February).  

Brother and Sister Tolman (the couple on the right) are temple missionaries from Chubbuck, Idaho.  We go to the Kewanee Branch with them on Sundays.  They are here 12 months, going home in December.  

It was wonderful to spend some time with all of them.  They are wonderful people.  We knew the Schmidts before coming here and have gotten to know the Tolmans while serving in the temple, Kewanee and through the activities we have here.

Brother and Sister Schmidt, us, Brother and Sister Tolman

We had our monthly Missionary meeting last Monday.  The topic of the meeting was: "President Nelson:  Insights from his family".  We have two of President Nelson's daughters serving in the temple now.  Sister Gloria Irion (on the left in the photo below) and her husband Richard, are the Matron and President of the Nauvoo temple.  She is the third oldest in her family.  They will finish their three year service here, on November 1st.  They have been wonderful to serve with.  Everyone loves them and we will all miss them when they leave.  

Brother David and Sister Sylvia Webster are on the right.  They are temple missionaries, serving here for six months.  Sister Webster is the fifth oldest in their family.  The four of them shared some memories of life with President Nelson.  It was very interesting.  Much of what they talked about is in the book 'Insights From a Prophet's Life" By Sheri Dew.  

Every time we learn more about President Nelson, the more we love and appreciate him.  We know that he is a Prophet of God and that he receives revelation for the Church and its members.

Richard and Gloria Irion, Sylvia and David Webster

Today (and last night - the Adult session) we attended the Nauvoo Stake Conference (General Session) here in Nauvoo.  The talks were very good.  We heard from our Temple President and his wife (Irion's), the Nauvoo Sites Mission President and his wife (Lusvardi's) and the Iowa City Mission President and his wife (Sterm's).  We also heard from the Stake Presidency and some other members of the stake.  A couple of themes that we heard were  Jesus Christ, love, repentance, temple, missionary work, and prayer.  We always feel uplifted, anytime we attend Stake Conferences.

The October General Conference will mark our 1/2 way point serving here.  It seems like the time has flown by.  We have been able to serve in the Nauvoo temple, serve in the Kewanee branch, and made many friends.  We look forward to continuing to serve here for another six months.  

When we come out of the temple in the afternoons we often see beautiful sunsets, although it is getting darker and darker each time we finish our afternoon shifts.  Below is another photo of a beautiful Nauvoo sunset, taken from the steps leading up to the entrance to the temple.

Nauvoo Sunset

Below are photos of some flowers around the temple grounds.  These are a large variety of Hibiscus flowers and are about 6 inches in diameter.  They are only open one day.  They wilt and new ones come up.  They are beautiful flowers.