On the evening of July 9th the Core Cast of the British Pageant perform

As a treat for the Elders and Sister missionaries we watched the Core Cast of the British Pageant perform....
Our Story Goes On

Our Story Goes On

This performance reflects how the restored Gospel lives on through the ages. From birth, childhood, marriage, raising kids and then grandchildren and then approaches life's passing, but only with our posterity that lives on.

7-11-18 Lily Pads with Lotus flowers on the Mississippi River

Many many lily pads with Lotus flowers grow close to the shore of the Mississippi

July 10 opening night of the pageant with a Country Fair to start with.

British Pageant opens on evening of July 10th with a country fair for all to enjoy just before the Pageant

 Pageant performers in costume enjoying the fair

 Rag doll making

Learning to walk on stilts.

A couple of pictures President Irion shared with me of Turkey Buzzards on top of the Angel Moroni

On July 7th in the evening the community of Nauvoo sponsored a community band concert combined with the young performing brass band members.  At 9:30 pm there was a firework display over the river.  So we sat on chairs on the lawn by the statues of horses with Joseph and Hyrum on them to listened to the band and then we turned our chairs around and watched the fireworks.

We sat next to President Irion and his wife and he showed me some pictures of his family and THEN showed me pictures of the Temple when the fake bird noises did not work.  The fake bird noises keep the Turkey Buzzards away so when the bird noises are not heard, the Turkey Buzzards take over. HA HA

See the Turkey Buzzards

Turkey Buzzards are probably saying....hahah little birds, We win!!!

Summer farm fields of corn and soybeans. Amazing sight

The corn  and soy bean fields have just been jumping out of the ground..  Following pictures are courtesy of fellow Sister Missionary, Nancy Tatro.

Corn fields

And the corn fields are high

Soy Bean Fields

Work vicariously performed for the dead in the temple.....Baptism for the dead

This beautiful stained glass image of John the Baptist baptizing Jesus is in the Baptistery of the Nauvoo Temple. The artist is Tom Holdman and has constructed several stained glass images for LDS Temples.  The panel is the largest that Holdman has ever constructed with dimensions of  6 feet high and 8.5 feet wide. It has more than 3,000 pieces in it with some pieces cut very small and some very light.  Natural light  is shown through to give the image the amazing color and depth to a very sacred event in the history of the world.

Our Savior did not need to be baptized as he was perfect but did so as an example to fulfill all righteousness.  It was His covenant with the Father to be obedient to Him.  As we all know that He was obedient as He was crucified and died, then was resurrection so that all may live through Him and obtain Eternal Life.  The greatest gift of all.

We as members of the LDS (Mormon) faith believe that not all that were born on this earth had this opportunity to be baptized by those who had authority.  Baptism for the dead is performed by proxy by worthy members of the church 12 years and older.

Authority was bestowed upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery after Joseph inquired of the Lord about baptism.  John the baptist appeared to them and by the laying on of hands gave the Aaronic Priesthood to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and thus baptism was then performed to each other in the Susquehanna River May 15, 1829.  By the laying on of hands from one priesthood holder to another worthy member is how the priesthood of God exists.  

The first ordinance of the Gospel is Baptism however, not all have obtained that in this life so members search out their ancestors through Family Search and Ancestry.com and submit names for baptism that is done vicariously by immersion by those having the priesthood authority.

Elder Al and myself work as ordinance workers in the baptistery twice a week for about 5 hours each day.  There are many who bring names of their ancestors or names that are found through research by the LDS church to be baptized by proxy.  After baptism the names are carefully recorded and saved. For what ever is recorded here on earth is recorded in heaven.  This ordinance for the dead is performed only in LDS Temples throughout the world by worthy members of the Mormon faith..

We have had scores of youth who come to the temple to be proxy for those who have passed on,  The youth are asked to research ancestors to do the work for them.

This is what the Baptismal Font looks like

This is an honor and privilege to work in the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.  It is my Testimony that this work is real.  In Jesus name Amen.

President Irion and the chain maille tunic

This is our Temple President Richard Irion.  Every hour before a baptism for the dead session, President or one of his counselors talk to the youth and others regarding the baptism for the dead and its significance to us in the family of God.  I asked him where he got this and he told me that one of his Temple Missionaries from last year felt that President Irion's small chain link piece was not significant enough as a visual aid message about linking families together. So while this missionary was in Europe saw this maille tunic made of links, he decided to buy it and send it out to President Irion in Nauvoo.  When Security told him he had a package, President Irion assumed that it was some ear buds that he ordered.  But Security told him "No, its much bigger and heavier than that. And it weighs 30 pounds."  It is an effective visual aid.