Break the Fast Dinner, Fireside on Endowment, Temple District, Nauvoo Jail, Sunset over the Mississippi, Temple Service

Break the Fast Dinner -- we had a very nice dinner yesterday with two other couples who serve in the Nauvoo Temple - Elder and Sister Smedley (from Lehi, Utah) and Brother and Sister Hawkes (who live here in Nauvoo and serve in the temple three days a week).  We have these dinners on Fast Sunday on most months.  This month it was our turn to host one of these dinners.  It is a wonderful opportunity for us to get together, get to know each other better and have dinner together.




Fireside on Endowment - last night the Historic Site Mission President presented some information on the restoration of the endowment to all of the site and temple missionaries.  Most of what he discussed can be found in the Gospel Library app in the Church History section.  It was interesting to see all of this information, kind of summarized.  He didn't go into any details on what occurs during the endowment but rather, gave us details about when the first endowments were given and some other pertinent historical information about this topic.


Temple District - tied closely into what the Historic Site Mission President discussed on the restoration of the temple endowment is the development of the temple district - just west of the Nauvoo temple.  There will be three restored homes (Gheen, Hunter and Weeks) and there will be a new display area (covered) that will have information about the purpose of temples and the building of the Nauvoo temple.  This area is expected to be completed by Fall of 2020.  Here is a photo of one of the homes (Hunter home) that is being restored.  





Nauvoo Jail - this jail (not in use now) is one block east of the Nauvoo temple.  Its walls are made of stones from the original Nauvoo Temple.  It is a very small jail encircled by an iron fence.



Sunset over the Mississippi - The sunsets here in Nauvoo are beautiful.   Today we took some pictures (see below) of the sun setting over the Mississippi.



Temple Service -- We love serving in the temple.  Every day we see the Lord's hand in the temple.  The patrons and ordinance workers are wonderful.  They all serve with love.  It is such a blessing to be able to be with them every day.  This past Thursday Antoinette Hall came to the temple.  She attends the Kewanee branch.  We taught her and her grandmother the temple preparation lessons last year.  And they received their own endowment on December 31st.  It was here birthday Thursday and so she wanted to do something special for her paternal grandmother.  Antoinette took her name to the temple and was proxy for her grandmother's baptism (and confirmation) and endowment.  She was  thrilled to be able to do this work.  We are so happy for her.  She has such a strong testimony of the temple.