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.

A few Distinct Pictures in Nauvoo, Illinois

Here is a couple of pictures that touches my heart

Love the Sunset behind the statue of Joseph and Hyrum on horseback going to Carthage

Gorgeous view of the temple 

Pioneer hat and dress

While I am here I wanted to make a Time Period Dress and a Fancy Hat

I was able to wear this dress at a talent show last night and I told in the first person the story of my great great grandmother Martha Ann Bronson Ferrin

The basic form for the Time Period Hat

Sister Lassen cutting the felt

Me modeling my bonnet

cutting of the felt

Catching up with the blog

We have been so involved in the new summer schedule and making of a pioneer dress and bonnet I have not had a chance to journalize in my blog.

We had some wonderful visitors around Memorial Day.  Elders niece Alicia and family came to visit and we had a wonderful time.  We took a tour around some of the sights and a Carthage trip Sunday afternoon, out to dinner at the Drake in Burlington....all nice.  A quick visit from my Sister Delynn and brother in law David.  We really enjoyed seeing them.

Greg, Sam, Alicia in the back, Al and I

Selfie with Greg

Visit to the Post Office site with Greg, Alicia and Sam

Part of the goods sold in the Post Office....used for a lot of different things

Young Performing Missionaries on stage first night

We were with Greg and Alicia and Sam

So Sad Sam with Young Performing Missionaries

Delynn and us. They came to visit us on their way to Idaho to see a grandson graduate from High School.

Missionary Day in Mount Pleasant, Iowa

We enjoyed serving as missionaries in the Mount Pleasant Branch in Mount Pleasant Iowa about an hour away from Nauvoo.  There are about five Senior Missionary Couples that attend and we support the membership by teaching classes and giving talks in their Sacrament Meeting.  The Primary is small, about 20 kids but there are many more that could attend but for one reason or another they do not come.  There are some inactive members that have issues or just feel that it is too far to travel. The Branch President has asked us to help with some members by visiting them.  This will need to be done on Sunday as we serve in the Temple everyday. But we are glad to do it.

We never know if we have assignments until we get there.  Elder B was approached one Sunday to teach the Gospel Doctrine Class.  And we both help out in Primary teaching a class of 6 to 9 year olds if the teacher did not show up.  Today Elder B taught the Elder's quorum about  Family History family history and genealogy with an investigator attending.  He had never heard about family history and was quite intrigued and interested to know more. I taught a Primary class today and they are sweet kids.

After church we were invited to the home of Brother and Sister Sanchez who wanted to feed all the Senior Missionaries at their home.  They are from El Salvador where Pupusas are the specialty food in their country.  Of course that is what they served us with some delicious fruit drinks.  Pupusas are two corn tortillas filled with beans, shredded pork and cheese.  A special sauce was made that was poured over the shredded cabbage on top of the pupusas.  Very good indeed.  With watermelon as the dessert.

Last week was Mother's Day and I received flowers from Randy and Joanna and family, A picture I featured last week.  Son Brad has ordered flowers also but was delayed until today.  Nice to have flowers anytime.

May 13, 2018 Mother's Day on our mission.

Today, Sunday, Mother's Day we went to our branch assignment in Mount Pleasant, Iowa and spoke in Sacrament Meeting.  The topic of course was on Mothers.  We were able to relate history of Mothers of  noteworthy from the scriptures.  Namely: Eve our first mother, Mary the mother of Jesus, Sarah wife of Abraham, The Mother of Moses, the Wisdom of Solomon when approached by two women and their dispute on whose baby it was (look this one up folks, it's a good story). And my own personal experience.  The one thing I always wanted to be was and is, is a mother.  Loved all the memories of my six children.  What treasures that each one of them are and their families.

We also taught Primary, as one of the teachers could not come today.  The branch is very small so there are two classes.  One class for 6 years old to 9 years old and another class 10 to 12 year old.  It is a pleasure to be with these precious children.

We were invited to have Mother's Day lunch at the home of Brother and Sister Moore, members of the Mount Pleasant Branch.  There were about 14 of us. Most all are missionaries here in Nauvoo. Either as Temple Missionaries or Facilities Management Missionaries. It was good to visit with all of them. Everyone brought something to the meal.  I made Mary Todd Lincoln's Almond cake.  It was good but involved.  Mary didn't know any shortcuts and the flour and sugar at that time were not milled as fine as what we know today.

Pictures follows.

 Brother and Sister Moore our hosts for lunch

 Buffet of food we all brought

 Lunch with the seniors

 Mary Todd Lincolns Cake that I made from scratch

 Group picture of all of us

 Young Missionaries selfie with all of us

Tulips from Randy and Joanna Burningham and family.  Thank you.

Mothers Day from Brad one week later

Elder Al's bike ride to Carthage on Service Day

Elder Burningham likes his challenge in distant bike riding.  This morning he got up early and donned his bicycle clothes and gear and set out on a bike ride to Carthage, Illinois which is about 26.5 miles away.  Another bike riding Elder showed Elder B a way to get there which didn't take the main roads that potentially would be dangerous.

Here is Elder Burningham with missionary badge on in front of the statues of Joseph and Hyrum Smith