For the past 12 months, we have joyfully called Nauvoo, Illinois our HOME. In an article written for the Smithsonian Magazine, May, 2012, By Verlyn Klinlenborg, entitled "The Definition of Home", it states, "Be it ever so humble, it's more than just a place. It's also an idea-one where the heart is." This is exactly what Nauvoo became to us during this "year never to be forgotten".
I shared this picture of a little plaque I purchased shortly after we arrived in Nauvoo in one of our earliest posts. I never knew at the time how powerful these words would become as each precious day and week and month solidified our deep rooted feelings of HOME and LOVE within us. Our hearts are filled with GRATITUDE for our 900 square feet of pure peace and belonging we have enjoyed together in our little Missionary apartment, our "Home away from Home".
The last few weeks of our Mission in Nauvoo were filled with experiences which were both wonderful and emotional. So many people reached out to us and to the other missionaries who were leaving in acts of service and love. The people who we met and worked with and worshipped with and shared with were a huge part of what made us feel at HOME here while serving our Mission.
Sunday, October 22nd, was our last week serving as Missionaries in the Mt Pleasant Iowa Branch. We have grown to love so many of the people who faithfully attend this tiny Branch each week. I do not know of any earth shaking impressions we have made over this year in the Branch, however, we have learned so much from these humble, faithful members.
I received a huge surprise from the Jacobs Family for a going away gift. Sister Dorothy Jacobs presented us with a lovely card from their whole family, along with a keepsake doll for me which was a little pioneer boy from Iowa. His name is Ira Elder, and he was created after an actual pioneer boy by that name who was ill when the Elder family left Nauvoo in 1846. Because of this, he was left behind to come to Iowa the next year with the Winters family.
The doll maker is Betty LaFollette-Johnson and she owns the Trail Dolls and Treasures shop dedicated to antiques and dolls. In 1996, the Mormon Church celebrated their sesquicentennial by reenacting the Mormon Trail that began in Nauvoo, Illinois. The group traveled the original route through Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah. Johnson had an idea of hand making a doll to commemorate the event and created Lissie Elder, Ira's sister. This Trail Doll was named after Johnson's grandmother, and told the story of a young girl who crossed Iowa in the cold winter of 1846 when the Mormons first left Nauvoo. Endorsed by the Iowa Mormon Trail Association, she was asked to make a second doll. That is when Ira Elder was created. She continued and made 5 dolls in 2 years, one for each state the Mormon Trail went through. Every doll is named after real people, and each has a storybook based on fact with emotion put into it.
Sister Jacobs chose the Ira Elder doll for me because he represents Iowa, the Nauvoo pioneers, and mostly, her 2 awesome grandsons, Corey and Codey Jacobs. They are two fine young men for whom I have developed a very special place in my HEART this year. These boys, Corey(18) and Codey(17), prepare and bless the Sacrament each week in the Mt Pleasant Branch. Because of them, we have been able to renew our Covenants with the Lord each week as we partake of the Sacrament. I know the Lord has great plans for them and I feel very blessed to call them my friends forever.
Another one of the dear, selfless families in the Mt Pleasant Branch is the Sanchez family. Throughout our year, from time to time, they have opened their HOME and their HEARTS to the missionaries, inviting us to lunch after Church. They prepare food from their native country, El Salvador, and share it with all of us. You can feel their love for the Lord surround you as you enter their humble, welcoming HOME. Sunday, October 22nd, marked the last day the 4 Temple Missionary couples and the Site Missionary couple would be in Mt Pleasant prior to all of us returning to our HOMES. What a sweet experience we had in the Sanchez HOME that day. You can tell why the MT Pleasant Branch truly became our HOME unit this year! We leave a portion of our HEARTS behind as we bid farewell to these devoted fellow Brothers and Sisters in the Gospel.
The Missionaries and the Sanchez Family Farewell Photo
We were blessed to enjoy a delicious meal at the Marshalls' HOME. Rick Marshall is our Nauvoo Temple Recorder and Chris works in the Sealing Office some days. Brother and Sister Marshall were so welcoming and we enjoyed getting to know a bit more about their family and the path that led them to Nauvoo. Seeing Brother Marshall in the Nauvoo Temple each day is another thing that helps us feel like we are HOME when we are there.
Brother and Sister Marshall at their Nauvoo HOME
Another person who has made Nauvoo seem like HOME to us is Shanni Bollin. She owns and operates Winning Looks, the salon where both Pete and I get our hair cut. She has lots of missionaries come and go each year, however, her friendly, welcoming personality toward us made Nauvoo feel like HOME, too. Nauvoo and its humidity have a way of causing strange things to happen to your hair. We appreciate the service Shani offered us in spite of what our hair decided to do on any particular day!
Shanni Bollin
Another person who has made Nauvoo seem like HOME to us is Shanni Bollin. She owns and operates Winning Looks, the salon where both Pete and I get our hair cut. She has lots of missionaries come and go each year, however, her friendly, welcoming personality toward us made Nauvoo feel like HOME, too. Nauvoo and its humidity have a way of causing strange things to happen to your hair. We appreciate the service Shani offered us in spite of what our hair decided to do on any particular day!
One of the truly selfless servants of Nauvoo is Susy Swing. She opens her door, literally, and invites missionaries to come at an appointed time each week to learn Family History by her side. My time slot was Wednesday morning from 8:30-9:30 AM. I never knew when I accepted her invitation that I would become a Family History Addict! Together, we patiently searched and searched for my maternal great,great grandparents' information. They were Russian born Germans which added to the nature of the task. We did find one KLINE family that actually turned out to be a brother of my 2nd great grandfather. Susy ignited the spark in me, which led me to contacting a dear FaceBook friend I have, Sally Grey, whose deceased mother is my deceased mother's cousin, where I was able to receive the information we had been searching for. Nauvoo became the HOME where I discovered not only my 2nd great grandparents, but the 3rd and 4th generations back beyond them, linking my Eternal Family in a way which possibly wouldn't have occurred without Susy Swing and our Nauvoo Temple Mission where the spirit of Family History is powerful! I will be forever grateful to Susy Swing for leading and guiding me along. This is a Nauvoo miracle in my opinion, however I know that the Lord knew this would happen from the start!
Susy Swing and Sister Peterson at the Swing Family History HOME
President and Sister Irion host a special dinner at their HOME for the 12 month missionaries prior to their departure. Saturday, October 21st, was our date to attend along with Elder and Sister Despain who were also leaving at the end of the month. How we LOVE the Irions!!! They have made us feel at HOME here in Nauvoo and in the Temple, too. Prior to our dinner, we took the opportunity to take a few photos together in front of their HOME. I will always cherish this picture!
Elder and Sister Peterson with President and Sister Irion
View out the Irions' living room window
Each year on the last Saturday night before Halloween, Nauvoo has a huge celebration featuring hundreds of carved and lit Jack-O-Lanterns. There is also a parade and lots of other community activities.This years' chairperson was Rick Marshall, our Temple Recorder. It was called, "Boo-tiful Nauvoo" and it was! We arrived in Nauvoo last year just a few days before their celebration, so this is our 2nd year to attend. People come from miles around to join in the festivities and it is pretty amazing actually. Last year, the weather was quite temperate. This year, it was quite the opposite! People were bundled up and it felt like winter was on its way for sure! We saw several of our missionary friends and our Nauvoo local friends on this spooky Halloween night which was a great way to spend our last evening here.
Sister Green(Sister McBride's Mom), Elder and Sister McBride and Family
The Site Missionaries' Dragon Costume
A sampling of the many Jack-O-Lanterns
You need a tractor here to make everything complete!
Fellow Nauvoo Temple Workers-
Brother and Sister Droste Elder and Sister Cline
Elder Borrowman is always good for a laugh!
Throughout the final week before the Nauvoo Temple closed for its 2 week cleaning, and all the 6 month missionaries and the two of us left, treats abounded in the "Break Room" during each Shift. Many things were tasty, but my favorite thing that magically appeared were these beautiful Star cookies, replicating the unforgettable windows surrounding the Nauvoo Temple 4th floor. They were almost too adorable to eat, so I brought mine HOME so I could photograph it and remember it forever!
President and Sister Irion host a special dinner at their HOME for the 12 month missionaries prior to their departure. Saturday, October 21st, was our date to attend along with Elder and Sister Despain who were also leaving at the end of the month. How we LOVE the Irions!!! They have made us feel at HOME here in Nauvoo and in the Temple, too. Prior to our dinner, we took the opportunity to take a few photos together in front of their HOME. I will always cherish this picture!
Each year on the last Saturday night before Halloween, Nauvoo has a huge celebration featuring hundreds of carved and lit Jack-O-Lanterns. There is also a parade and lots of other community activities.This years' chairperson was Rick Marshall, our Temple Recorder. It was called, "Boo-tiful Nauvoo" and it was! We arrived in Nauvoo last year just a few days before their celebration, so this is our 2nd year to attend. People come from miles around to join in the festivities and it is pretty amazing actually. Last year, the weather was quite temperate. This year, it was quite the opposite! People were bundled up and it felt like winter was on its way for sure! We saw several of our missionary friends and our Nauvoo local friends on this spooky Halloween night which was a great way to spend our last evening here.
Brother and Sister Droste Elder and Sister Cline
Throughout the final week before the Nauvoo Temple closed for its 2 week cleaning, and all the 6 month missionaries and the two of us left, treats abounded in the "Break Room" during each Shift. Many things were tasty, but my favorite thing that magically appeared were these beautiful Star cookies, replicating the unforgettable windows surrounding the Nauvoo Temple 4th floor. They were almost too adorable to eat, so I brought mine HOME so I could photograph it and remember it forever!
While I am writing about the Temple, I would like to share one more time the definition of the word, TEMPLE, found in the Bible Dictionary. "A Temple is literally a HOUSE of the Lord, a holy sanctuary in which sacred ceremonies and ordinances are performed by and for the living and also, in behalf of the dead. A place where the Lord may come, it is the most holy of any place of worship on the earth. Only the HOME can compare with the Temple in sacredness." We have felt so at HOME during these 12 months as we have been blessed to serve from 5 to 6 days a week inside this sacred HOUSE of the Lord. The Spirit which dwells within this HOLY HOUSE has blessed us and our eternal family beyond measure. What a priceless gift Temples are to everyone who enters in. We both desire to strive to keep the tender feelings we have developed as we have served here forever, so that our HOME will truly "compare to the Temple in sacredness".
The long dreaded, yet inevitable day, finally arrived for our mission to conclude, and on the morning of Monday, October 30th, we completed loading our car for our travel back to our HOME in Utah. Just like when we arrived, Pete deserves a medal for getting everything packed tightly into our trusty car.
M&N 17= Martin&Noreen, 2017
For Valentine's Day, Pete gave me "Our Nauvoo Love Lock". We saw countless numbers of these locks on the bridges over the canals when we were in Copenhagen, Denmark the August before we came to Nauvoo. With their Love Lock, people declare that their bond with one another will never be broken. Since we have no accessible canal bridge to place our lock on, we chose a tree branch to lock our LOVE for one another, our LOVE for Nauvoo, and our LOVE for the Lord, bonding all of these relationships together forever prior to driving away and ending our Celestial season here in Nauvoo. It was better than we had ever dreamt it could be, for which we will be forever grateful! Now we must go HOME.
No one could have ever prepared us for the deep wells of emotions and sadness which encompassed us as we drove away from the HOME we loved so much here in Nauvoo the Beautiful. I can honestly say that it was a heart wrenching experience for us that endured for several days. The most difficult "Good-Bye" we had to face on that morning was to the Historic Nauvoo Temple where we labored so diligently. We drove up the hill and parked our loaded car as we wandered around and savored the sacred surroundings for one final time. I kept thinking if it was this difficult for us to leave the Temple behind, how must those early Saints have ever endured walking away after laboring to build their Temple, then only being able to use it for 3 brief months?
For Valentine's Day, Pete gave me "Our Nauvoo Love Lock". We saw countless numbers of these locks on the bridges over the canals when we were in Copenhagen, Denmark the August before we came to Nauvoo. With their Love Lock, people declare that their bond with one another will never be broken. Since we have no accessible canal bridge to place our lock on, we chose a tree branch to lock our LOVE for one another, our LOVE for Nauvoo, and our LOVE for the Lord, bonding all of these relationships together forever prior to driving away and ending our Celestial season here in Nauvoo. It was better than we had ever dreamt it could be, for which we will be forever grateful! Now we must go HOME.
No one could have ever prepared us for the deep wells of emotions and sadness which encompassed us as we drove away from the HOME we loved so much here in Nauvoo the Beautiful. I can honestly say that it was a heart wrenching experience for us that endured for several days. The most difficult "Good-Bye" we had to face on that morning was to the Historic Nauvoo Temple where we labored so diligently. We drove up the hill and parked our loaded car as we wandered around and savored the sacred surroundings for one final time. I kept thinking if it was this difficult for us to leave the Temple behind, how must those early Saints have ever endured walking away after laboring to build their Temple, then only being able to use it for 3 brief months?
The view from the steps of the Nauvoo Temple as we descended each time at the end of our Shifts was one of our favorite things to behold. It is a view that you never tire of seeing. Each season brings a different look and lighting to that beautiful setting. This day as we departed from Nauvoo, that view focused us on The Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum as they rode away from their earthly HOME in Nauvoo on horseback that fateful day headed for Carthage Jail. They had competed their earthly missions, and were prepared to enter into their HEAVENLY HOME where God and Jesus dwell. It totally puts our departure from Nauvoo in a different category. We are forever grateful for the sacrifices these 2 faithful men endured so that we could be here serving the Lord and helping to perpetuate the Great Gospel Plan of Happiness which will lead us to our HOME on High in the due time of the Lord.
Joseph and Hyrum on their way to Carthage
Beautiful Mississippi River in the background
Our next good-bye was to sleepy downtown Nauvoo
One last drive over the Ft Madison Bridge awaited us.
We missed being barged by seconds, so we saw our final barge
Nebraska!
600 people are buried here, many are babies and children...
Such hardships their parents faced, yet their faith sustained them
The Saints spent up to 2 years here preparing for the trek West
Winter Quarters Temple, next to the cemetery
It is hard to tell who looks worse for wear, us or the car!
The good news is that we made it HOME!
Our daughter, Jenny, left dinner for 2 nights in the frig
and a bowl of homegrown gourds to welcome us back!
Sunrise over the Wasatch Mountains the morning after we got HOME
We got HOME just in time to celebrate Grandpa Pete's birthday
Our Nauvoo Star, Brick, and Sun Stone found their way to our HOME
Lucy turned 10 on Nov. 6th and Grandpa's birthday was Nov. 5th
Beautiful Mississippi River in the background
Our next good-bye was to sleepy downtown Nauvoo
We missed being barged by seconds, so we saw our final barge
We never knew how much you could LOVE a river!
We will miss having this mighty river for our neighbor!
Farms and Iowa are 2 parts of our HOME-life on our Mission which we have grown very fond of. They weren't part of our planned job description, so this has been a surprise for us being city folk back HOME. We have grown accustomed to this place! We passed by miles and miles of farms on our drive through Iowa and Nebraska on our way back HOME.
Our final destination for day one of our drive home was Omaha, Nebraska. We made an interesting stop in Kanesville to visit the replica of the Kanesville Tabernacle. Much of the information about the Mormon Battalion they shared there was like what we had seen previously in San Diego at the other end of the Battalion's march. Pete had Allred relatives in the Battalion, also. It was interesting to learn about the sustaining of the First presidency which took place here.
We drove on to Nebraska and went to the Winter Quarters Visitors Center, the old Pioneer Cemetery, and the Winter Quarters Temple grounds. It was Monday, so the Temple was closed, however the setting of being on the hallowed grounds next to the burial grounds was touching.
The 2nd day of our drive home took us from Omaha, Nebraska to Laramie, Wyoming. This day we experienced snow throughout the day. Though amounts were small, the roads were snow covered and the driving tedious, for we traveled about 9 hours that day. Just thinking of traveling in these conditions in a covered wagon or a handcart made us realize that we had nothing to complain about, being in a warm, sturdy vehicle with 4 wheel drive.
We were both still suffering from "Nauvoo HOME Withdrawal". We seemed as though we were under control until it was time for us to pray vocally as we traveled home. Neither of us could speak very long through our prayers without bursting out in tears of leaving that heavenly Nauvoo Temple experience, even though we were so grateful that we had completed our assignment well and whole and faithfully together. A dear friend of mine, Joy Wingo, who is serving as the Matron of the Panama City Temple told me in an email last week, "Keep in mind that you are trading your mission season for your Family. It is a good trade off." This was the advice we needed, because we are looking forward very much to being with our Family once again.
Our final day's drive was from Laramie. Wyoming to our HOME in South Jordan, Utah. The elements we had to endure that day were 70 mile an hour winds. All of the large high profile trucks were banned from the freeway. They lined the Rest Stops and the freeway from time to time. The sound of the wind was deafening! We tried to hold a conversation, however, even yelling wasn't enough to be heard by one another. The wind continued until we reached the Park City Summit. Once again we were sympathetic toward our pioneer ancestors and wondered how they could ever survive by wagon or by handcart in these bitter conditions.
At last we were HOME, and as we pulled into our garage we found "WELCOME HOME" signs, both inside and out, along with balloons, yellow ribbons, a new Fall wreath on our front door, plus dinner in the frig, all provided by our loving Family and friends.
The good news is that we made it HOME!
and a bowl of homegrown gourds to welcome us back!
We arrived HOME on Wednesday, November 1, 2017, having left here on October 18th, 2016. Interestingly enough, as we unloaded our things into our house, we felt like we were moving into someone else's HOME. We had left part of our HEARTS back in Nauvoo, and it took about 3 days for the tears to cease and this to feel once more like our HOME where we belonged.
A few hours after we returned, our Stake President, President King, came to our home and released us from our Nauvoo Temple Mission. We live in a brand new Stake which was created last September, so we have a brand new Stake President. We are grateful to him for helping us feel at HOME and telling us how happy he was to have us here. He left by offering a powerful prayer in our behalf that we would be able to make the transition back home quickly. We appreciated his kindness and love on a night that we were both weary of body and soul. Before we removed our Missionary badges for the last time, President King took one last picture of us wearing the name of JESUS CHRIST over our Hearts, something we will also miss terribly. However, HIS name will always be carved in our HEARTS forever! What an honor it has been to be a full time servant of the Lord for the past 12 months. We will cherish this sacred season of service forevermore!
Over the past weekend we have been able to talk to all of our children and be with our 4 families who live in Utah. It is truly a sweet experience to hear each of them express how glad they are that we served our mission, and how happy they are to have us back HOME. Our son, Scott, and I happened to be driving in the car together the day after we returned. He asked me this question, "Was your mission worth the sacrifice?" My answer to him came without hesitation, "It was never a sacrifice, not for even one day!"
This is the view from our front porch. If you look over the bridge slightly
to the left of the center, you will see the spire of the Oquirrh Mt Temple.
We do miss the lovely Nauvoo Trees but we love the mountains!
Our Nauvoo Star, Brick, and Sun Stone found their way to our HOME
These 2 share Nov. 5th birthdays. Jesse also turned 10
We bear testimony to you that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Within the teachings of the Gospel are found the rich promises of the Eternities. We know that the Great Plan of Happiness is the way whereby we may return to the presence of our Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. We know that we have a living Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, upon the earth today. President Monson signed our Mission calls. We know that when you follow the Prophet, your life will be blessed.
We read the Book of Mormon out loud with each other while we were serving in Nauvoo, and have done so for the majority of our marriage. We know that the Book of Mormon is true and it was written for our day. Each day when you read it, you will find the strength you need to fulfill your life's mission, too. We know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ know each of one of us by name and They Love YOU! We know that Families are Eternall.
We know that in the Holy Temples, you can make sacred covenants which will prepare you to return to live with your Heavenly Parents after this mortal existence is complete. We know that "through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, all mankind can be saved". We know that God has a personal plan for each one of us, and when we turn to Him, He will lead us along so we can accomplish everything according to His will for us. We know that you are never alone, for angels are always watching over you.
When we married in the Los Angeles California Temple 481/2 years ago, we promised the Lord that we would serve a full-time mission for Him when "we grew up". We thought we were fulfilling this promise to bless others, however, we were the ones who were blessed throughout each and every day of our service. This has always been true and always will be true. When we serve others, we are serving the Lord, and He in turn blesses us.
I wrote in my Best Companion's birthday card this week, "We made it to Nauvoo and back together. Enjoy our precious memories and whatever the Lord has in store for us in the future!" For now, we are HOME and we send you our blessings and our love for sharing "these times that will never be forgotten" with us.
Martin and Noreen Peterson
South Jordan, Utah
November, 2017
THE END
