Temple Maintenance closure that allows for a little travel .

Since the Nauvoo Temple was closed for maintenance for two weeks, the senior temple missionaries were given the opportunity with permission to visit some surrounding areas.

Our first departure was on a Tuesday the 18th.  We wanted to go sooner but the weather was bordering snow and being that Chicago was the first place to visit and the weather very bad, we declined that destination and left a day later than Monday the 17th.  We traveled first to Springfield and spent most of the day at the Lincoln Museum.  The museum was truly a special place and Lincoln had quite a life and led our country through some very difficult times. He was a man of God.

Standing with the family of Abraham Lincoln

The following are some pictures of the museum

The wax figures depicts A. Lincoln studying in his home cabin by firelight.

Presidential Debate

Negro Servants employed by the Lincolns

Mary Todd Lincoln being dressed by her friend and main before a gala

The dresses are layed over a form to give the dress the appearance of a hoop.

Kitchen in the white house that might have appeared in the 1860's

Another picture of the kitchen

Beautiful gown worn by aristocrat wives worn to the White House

Beautiful dress that may have been worn at functions at the white house.

Beautiful gown worn by the elite women to the White House

Fine china sold in Mr. Lincoln's store before his politic days

Image of Lincoln describing a book in his store before his politic days

Actor in the foreground describing the scene depicted regarding the decisions made by key men in Lincoln's cabinet about the 13th amendment to the constitution.

Confederate Uniform

Union Uniforms

Jewelry Box of Mrs. Lincoln

Gentlemen in Union uniforms

Wax figures of Mrs. Lincoln at the bedside of her son Willy who is dying from Tuberculosis,
A very tender moment. 

President Lincoln looking in on Willy carrying Willy's favorite stuffed toy.
Again a very tender moment for the Lincolns

Mrs. Lincoln mourning the loss of her son Willy

President and Mrs. Lincoln in their theater box that fateful night at Ford's Theater.

John Wilkes Booth at the door of the theater box occupied by President Lincoln and Mary


Couple at Ford's Theater

This museum was so worth the modest price of $12 a person.

Got more than what I bargained for.....

Today we had what is known as preparation day or "P" day.  We did grocery shopping and laundry and the usual things to prepare for the rest of the week.  One of the women I worked with at the temple makes bread/guide slicers and I really needed one when I bake bread.  I don't cut it straight.

This is what it looks like and its just sitting on my stove.

But then I get to her house and little did I know that she makes instruments and many things within her house. I got more than what I bargained for.

Her handiwork with their name on it.  Staircase of wood logs.

This is a harp that she made.

Notice the wood furniture and chair covers.

 Amazing living room with the loft above.

A view of the river from their living room

Orchid that just bloomed today in the window sill of their home.

Sister Tukuafu

She is quite the talent

Serve in the Temple and serve my Sister

I love to serve in the Temple and I love learning more about the history of this place Nauvoo.  I am amazed that I live in an apartment right in the middle of it all.  Its been a little too cold for us to see too many of the refurbished homes as historical sites but we are looking forward to it soon...that is if it keeps above freezing or gets close to 50 degrees.

Serving is a fulfilling activity of any kind.  A Sister that I serve with in the temple needed her dress mended.  I was glad to help her.  She was on her way to WalMart in Keokuk and asked me if I needed anything from there.  Matter of fact I did.  A particular type of flour that I like to use and forgot to get last time I was there was my request. I did the mending and she paid me in "kind".  With flour.  Its the Nauvoo Way.  Love it.

A day trip to historic Carthage. A tender glimpse back into time at the Carthage jail.

Visit to Carthage Jail with aEland Sister Weight

Us with Elder and Sister Weight

Actual door that mobs shot through

 Door where the  lock was shot out

 Joseph and Hyrum Smith

 Upper room where Joseph and Hyrum were incarcerated. Bars were added later.

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Upper room of the jail

Dining Room

Time Period Clock

The original wood floow

Carthage Jail

Us Standing at the Well Site at Carthage Jail

Painting of Joseph and Hyrum Smith looking back at the uncompleted Nauvoo temple knowing they were going to die in Carthage Jail

Spring coming through

April 2, the Temple after a Spring Snow

It snowed all day yesterday but this morning was wonderfully clear but still cold.  Elder Al got up layered in clothing and took some pictures of the temple with some snow.

Stunning View

Nauvoo Temple

A beautiful view of the Temple Spire

 Temple in the morning sun showing the sunstones

Statue of Joseph and Hyrum Smith on horseback

Temple view through the gates

Easter dinner with Senior Missionaries after conference, snow and a special Easter Story.

Senior Missionaries

It is such a privilege to be with other Seniors as we met together for our Easter Dinner after conference.  Even though it snowed most of the day and it was in the 20's.

Beautiful decorations with special ham dinner.

Everyone brought something to the dinner

I contributed some rolls of course.

It snowed from 11 am to 7 pm.  Happy Easter!!!  Spring started three weeks ago.

A special Easter story was related called "An Easter Story"

As Easter time approaches, let me share with you this tender story of an eleven year old boy named Philip, a Down's child who was in a Sunday School class with eight other children.

Easter Sunday the teacher brought an empty plastic egg for each child.  They were instructed to go out of the church building on the grounds and put into the egg something that would remind them of the meaning of Easter.

All returned joyfully.  As each egg was opened there were exclamations of delight at butterfly, a twig, a flower, a blade of grass.  Then the last egg was opened.  It was Phillip's , and it was empty!

Some of the children made fun of Philip. "But teacher," he said "teacher, the tomb was empty.".

A newspaper article announcing Phillip's death a few months later noted that at the conclusion of the funeral, eight children marched forward and put a large empty egg on the small casket.  On it was a banner that said "The tomb was empty."

With John of old, we bear special witness and testify that "The Father sent the son to be the Savior of the world"   1 John 4:14 and that a major purpose of his sacred mission was to teach us how to love and serve on another.

Elder Marion D.Hanks

May Ensign 1992

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