Temple Service, Temple Worker Devotional, Monthly Temple Missionary Meeting, Fall in Nauvoo

Temple Service and Temple Worker Devotional

Our service as ordinance workers in the temple has been wonderful.  Every day we are in the beautiful Nauvoo temple, we have the opportunity to serve the Lord in various ways.  We are given a different order of assignments each time we go, including serving in the Baptistry and Initiatory areas.  We are often on Endowment sessions (as either officiators or patrons).  In fact, this past week we were assigned to be on an Endowment session every day.  Some weeks we are on a few endowment sessions, and some weeks none.  We are often assigned to help out with Sealings.  Some days we serve as trainers or floor coordinators.  When the ordinance workers serve as  floor coordinators (which could include Baptistry, Initiatory, Veil, Endowment areas, or Sealing Office), they are assigned to that area for the entire shift. 

One of the blessings we didn't expect was to be able to serve as patrons during our shift, doing work for our ancestors.   This happens almost daily.



Yesterday when we were serving in the Baptistry we had eight families come in, most were from out of town.  Each family was thrilled to be in the Nauvoo temple.  Some times when a group or a family comes into the temple, a member of the Temple Presidency talks with them about temple work, specifically, the importance of baptisms for the dead, and the significance of the Nauvoo temple.  We think the patrons really appreciate this.



Sunday we had a wonderful Temple Ordinance Worker Devotional in the Assembly Room of the Nauvoo Temple.  The Temple Presidency and Matrons spoke (see picture above - Smiths, Irions, Mackays, and Brother Marshall - who was our temple recorder until June of this year).  They gave beautiful messages about some of their experiences serving here in Nauvoo.  We will miss President and Sister Irion, and President and Sister Smith, who will all be released on October 31st.  President and Sister Mackay will remain here and will be serving in the new Temple Presidency.


Monthly Temple Missionary Meeting

Yesterday afternoon we went to our monthly temple missionary meeting.  Lach Mackay (pronounced Lock Mc-eye) spoke about the Kirtland Temple.  This was a very interesting presentation.  He has spoken to us before - the previous time about Nauvoo photos and paintings from the 19th century.  He is a fountain of information.  He is also an Apostle in the Community of Christ Church.  We have a very good relationship with the Community of Christ Church.  Much of the credit for this can be attributed to our temple president (President Irion) and other Church Leaders here, Lach Mackay, and many of the Church members of both of our faiths who live in Nauvoo or serve as missionaries here.


Fall in Nauvoo

This month in Nauvoo there are many signs of Fall.  One of the signs are the many scarecrows (in many forms) on Mulholland street in celebration of Halloween.  Below are some pictures of these.  There will be pumpkin carving, pumpkin walk, haunted house and a parade this week.














There are so many trees here in Nauvoo, and they are turning different colors now.  And they are beautiful.  Below are some pictures of these trees in Nauvoo and Fort Madison (which is a city about 12 miles north of here).