Over the past couple of weeks we have had several "GREAT VIEWS" which we would like to share with you in our blog today. With the advent of Spring just around the corner, we enjoy seeing the color green beginning to appear in the fields that surround us everywhere we travel. As a result, the birds are feasting in huge flocks on what they find on the warming ground. When we say huge flocks, we are not exaggerating! Here is one of the "Great Views" we enjoyed last week as we were approaching Nauvoo. These small black birds were having a very large family reunion. As the cars approached, they took flight instantly in unison, filling the sky with blackness. It was simply fascinating to watch!
The next "Great View" we will share occurred Sunday, March 5th, in our MT. Pleasant Iowa Branch where we attend Church each Sunday. In our Relief Society meeting, we had about 14 sisters in attendance. That week, the lesson was taught in English and translated into Spanish simultaneously. The last portion of the lesson time was dedicated to testimony bearing. That is a time when anyone in the class who is moved by the Spirit may stand and testify of the truthfulness of The Gospel to the other members of the class. On this day, one by one the Spanish speaking sisters stood and shared their testimonies. As they spoke, Sister Rojas who is bilingual, translated their heartfelt words to the rest of us into English. Their testimonies were powerful as they spoke of their hardships and trials and that they were led to The Gospel and feel so very blessed and so happy. Some of them were forsaken by their families and made great sacrifices to become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It was so humbling to be in their presence and to feel of their great love of Jesus Christ. Each of them has a "Great View" of the Plan of Happiness that is spoken of in The Book of Mormon (Mosiah 5:3). "And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have 'GREAT VIEWS' of that which is to come..."
Hermana Lance, Hermana Sanchez, Hermana Loor, and Sister Peterson
Waiting on Nauvoo Temple steps for the group photo
Our Full-Time Spanish Speaking Missionaries
Hermana Rushton (L) and Hermana Orr(R)
Driving back home to Nauvoo from Mt Pleasant that same Sunday, we stopped in Denmark, Iowa to see the town. We had been seeing the "13 miles to Denmark" sign for weeks and decided to check it out. It was a brief visit, but here are a few pictures from our "Great View" (or not so great view) of that little place in Iowa called Denmark!
After our detour to Denmark, we came across a really "Great View" as we turned toward home, The Quarry Creek Elk and Bison Company. It was fun to see these least expected animals right next to us on the side of the road. Iowa is always full of surprises!
One of the "Greatest unforgettable Views" occurred Sunday, March 12th and lingered through the morning of Monday, March 13th. The Missionaries here in Nauvoo were blessed with a visit from President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Quorum of The !2 Apostles, and Elder Ulisses Soares of the Presidency of The Seventy and his wife, Sister Rosana Soares. Sunday night they presented a beautiful Fireside for all of us at the Nauvoo Stake Center. Our Temple Matron, Sister Irion, is President Nelson's daughter. She told us how excited she was to show us off to him and to show him off to us. Sister Irion said that her Dad taught her how to ride a bike and and how to ski and how to share love with others. She is very good at sharing Christ-Like love with everyone! It was so tender for President Nelson to begin his comments telling all of us how as a Daddy, he was so proud of the service the Irions have given and are giving. Seeing President Nelson and his daughter together made me totally think of my own father. It was wonderful to see them together and for them to share this special time with all of us.
The Spirit was strong as we were taught so masterfully by an Apostle of The Lord about The Atonement of Jesus Christ using the scriptures contained in Handel's "Messiah". President Nelson is 92 years old, yet he is being fortified by The Lord and seems like he could be about the age of all of the Senior Missionaries whom he was teaching. President Nelson showed us a sneak preview of "The Easter Initiative to The World" which The Church will be releasing at Mormon.org #PRINCE of PEACE. It is a powerful message of the true meaning of Easter, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, and His eternal love for each one of us through His Atonement. As President Nelson ended his comments, he left an Apostolic Blessing upon all of us, that we would be good missionaries and that we would be an attraction to those who come to Nauvoo as we exhibit God's love to them through our service. His final blessing to us was that he sensed many of us had concerns for our family members and loved ones with sicknesses. Then he promised that they would be healed according to God's will for them. The Spirit was so strong causing tears to flow freely. It was a very sacred moment and one which will never be forgotten.
On Monday morning, all of our Temple Missionary Family met on the front steps of the Nauvoo Temple at 7;30 AM for a group picture with President Nelson and Elder Soares and his wife. President and Sister Irion had put together a "Standing Chart" according to our heights so everyone could be seen. It was a very "Great View"! This will be a treasured souvenir from our mission forever. I should mention that it was a brisk 20 degrees when this was all taking place so everyone wore coats for the picture. We will share a few casual pictures our friends took that morning, and when we receive the actual big group picture, we will share that "Great View" with you in our next blog.
President Russel M. Nelson shaking Elder Peterson's hand
(L to R) Elder and Sister Cole, Sister Adams,
Elder and Sister Peterson, Elder and Sister Boehm
Elder and Sister Passey and Elder and Sister Peterson
Noreen and Donna
"Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo"
Dr. and Sister Rasmussen
Sunset Over The Mississippi River
Elder and Sister Peterson, Elder and Sister Boehm
(L to R) Elder Peterson, President and Sister Irion,
President Nelson, Elder Soares, and Sister Soares
Our final "Great View" we wish to share took place on Wednesday, March 15th. Our next door neighbors once removed (Juile Postma lives between us),in South Jordan, Utah, Elder John Passey and Sister Donna Passey, came to visit us. They were on their drive home after completing a 12 month mission in the Boston Massachusetts Temple. It was such a treat to be with them here in Nauvoo. We had a home cooked roast beef dinner at our little missionary apartment. It was great fun for both couples to share their mission experiences with each other. Although we serve in 2 very different locations, much of the spirit and feelings and friendships were similar. We drove up to the Nauvoo Temple and took pictures together of course. Just as we drove past President and Sister Irion's home, they walked out on their way to the Temple for the evening shift. It was very fun to introduce the Passeys to them.
Afterward, we spent 45 minutes driving along side The Mississippi River for a very "Great View" of the magnificent sunset! We literally watched as the sun sank into the west, leaving bright golden and orange and lavender colors throughout both the sky and the river itself. The pictures below will give you a tiny peek into what we saw that beautiful evening. We completed our evening with the Passeys by attending the Site Missionaries' production of "Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo." It was enjoyed by all of us! Many of the Site Missionaries who performed that night were people we are blessed to serve often when they come to attend the Nauvoo Temple. That made it even more fun! Two of the cast members, Dr. and Sister Rasmussen, did their final performance tonight. They are wonderful examples of enduring to the end in service to The Lord. They have blessed countless lives here in Nauvoo and wherever they are found. We are including a fun picture of them in their Pioneer performing costume from the play. We delivered the Passeys back to their accommodation at The Nauvoo Bed and Breakfast. It is interesting how you can be away from your friends for a year, yet when you reunite, it seems as though you were never apart.
Dr. and Sister Rasmussen
Sunset Over The Mississippi River
Each day as we say our morning and evening prayers together, we give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the "Great Views" we have blessed with through The Gospel of Jesus Christ. We know that everything we have been given and everything we are entrusted to do is because of the constant love and goodness and mercy and grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. We know that because of the "Great Views" we receive each day through our service in His Holy House, The Nauvoo Temple, that our family will be together forever. We give thanks constantly for our dear family and for their constant support as we serve our full time Temple Mission. We send our love to all of you and hope you will have "Great Views " wherever you are in this great big beautiful world!
Sending Lots of LOVE your way!
Elder and Sister Peterson in Nauvoo .
