Monday, March 21, 2022

What A Difference A Week Makes!

Last week at this time I was writing about my struggle with having to wear a mask in the temple. On Wednesday we went to the temple wearing masks and in our preparation meeting the first announcement was " Effective immediately, masks are no longer required but you may wear them if you choose." Most everyone removed them promptly! It was AWESOME!! The rest of the week has been amazing to see faces and smiles and hear clear non muffled voices! My prayers sure have been answered and it's kind of delightful with the timing of all of it too, it made it feel just a little bit sweeter for me. 

Other than that major thing, the week was pretty much same temple schedule but lots of evening activities. Monday night we had a mission family night gathering with all the missionaries from the Sites, Temple and Facilities Management with lots of food, dancing and singing. The Coffmans were there. It's pretty interesting that we are in the same little town but rarely see each other because our missions are so different. 

Friday evening was another plant dinner and I made macaroni and "cheeze" I was happy to see people taking second helpings. There were only 10 of us but it was very pleasant. 

Saturday after temple, we drove into Washington, Iowa and attended a play that our branch Relief Society President was in. "The Curious Savage". It was fun and I laughed out loud which feels wonderful! We spent the night in a hotel there and the next morning attended the branch meeting with a pot luck luncheon after. Dave made and brought his Hawaiian Chili. This branch is filled with salt of the earth people and we have so enjoyed worshipping with them and getting to know them. 

Sunday, we had mission pictures taken with all the temple missionaries and President and Sister Anderson. Such delightful people all of them!  

Afterwards, One of the couples, The Jergensens, invited all of us to a premier showing of a new documentary of "The Tomb of Joseph". A couple they know bought a mercantile shop in 2019 on Mullholland Street kitty corner from the temple and when they were setting things up, came across a broken sprinkler head which needed to be replaced. While doing so a brick arch was discovered which initiated a digging under the foundation to discover and unearth the potential burial tomb of the Joseph Smith family. Joseph had commissioned William Weeks the same architect of the Nauvoo temple to design a burial tomb like the 9th President of the United States, William Henry Harrison. Those drawings were included with the drawings of the temple by William Weeks found several years ago by some missionaries and are owned by the Church. There were so many miracles involved with this undertaking and the documentary is quite a moving experience. Then we got to go see the museum they have created of Joseph's tomb and why they think it is the tomb Joseph asked for even though he nor his family were ever buried there. 

So now if you come to Nauvoo, you have another really cool historical site to see and learn about! 

Picture set up at the Mission Family Night

Pageant Center where all the rehearsals are done. It's a huge place!

Took a walk on a warm day around Nauvoo 

and found a cool hollowed out log

Another view

The missionaries that started the same time as we did.

The Williams, The Werretts, The Cooks, Pres. and Sis. Anderson, 

The Zauggs and Us.

All the temple missionaries, such a great bunch! Love them all!

Brother Brian Christensen, owner and discoverer of the 

"Tomb of Joseph"

The tomb is on both sides of the railing you see

The drainage well which authenticates that it's a tomb and 

not a wine cellar

    

Fun tree we found on our walk by the river