With GRATEFUL Hearts February 14th, 2017

    Today's blog focuses on remembering two historical Mormon Pioneer events with our GRATEFUL hearts. The first event took place on Saturday, February 4th, 2017, commemorating the exodus of those faithful Mormon Pioneers who lived here in Nauvoo 171 years ago.  As we have mentioned before in our previous blogs, amongst those faithful Pioneers were James Allred and his wife, Elizabeth Warren Allred, Elder Peterson's 3rd great grandparents. 

   Although we were serving in the temple the morning of the re-enactment and so we couldn't participate, the spirit of that special occasion resounded throughout Nauvoo.  In the temple that day, several patrons attended both before and after the actual event.  It was special to be blessed to serve those who came to the temple and to realize that we were assisting with a spiritual exodus of sorts through providing sacred ordinances in behalf of those whom the patrons were representing. We are so GRATEFUL to be serving as Temple Missionaries here in Nauvoo!  We have walked down their path on Parley Street, the street where we live, the route of today's re-enactment, down to the Mississippi River several times since we came here last Fall. On this particular day, the weather was cold and blustery, even though the river currently was not frozen over as it was when the Pioneers crossed on the ice to the other side near Montrose, Iowa.  The below marker quoting Newel Knight, a revered Nauvoo pioneer, expresses their tender feelings as they departed for their trek through the unknown, leaving their beloved Nauvoo and  their "magnificent" Holy Temple behind after having them for such a short time.   

     Some of our fellow Temple Missionaries, Elder and Sister Boehm, work the Saturday night shift at the Temple, so they, along with the other Temple Missionaries on the night shift, did attend this special event.  They kindly shared their pictures from that day with us and we will include some of them in our blog so you will be able to catch the spirit of the exodus re-enactment in a small way.  We are GRATEFUL for the sacrifices of the Pioneers and their faith that sustained them on their trek to their new home in the Salt Lake Valley.

Elder Boehm, German Flag and Sister Boehm, Swiss Flag

  

                                 Nauvoo Legend- (LtoR) Elders Mabey,Marshall, &Vinton

                                                                   Horses on Parade

                             Over 200 people marched toward the Mississippi River

                                 For our celebration,  after the temple this evening we went with
                                 the Borrowmans to Dairy Queen in Hamilton, 15 minutes away.
                                                  We are GRATEFUL for ice cream!

     
    On Tuesdays, our Temple shift is in the evening.  So, on Tuesday morning, February 7th, we drove to Quincy, Illinois along with our dear friends, neighbors and fellow missionaries, the Cordovas.  Quincy is a city located on the Mississippi River banks, and is about 47 miles from Nauvoo, approximately a one hour drive. We began this excursion with excitement and drove home at the end of our adventure with GRATEFUL, humble hearts!  Quincy is the site of our 2nd Pioneer event which we wish to share with you in our blog today. 
   " In the late Winter and early Spring of 1839, Latter-Day Saint refugees began appearing on the banks of the Mississippi River opposite Quincy, Illinois. They had been ordered to leave the state of Missouri by decree of Governor Liburn W. Boggs, and the state militia had enforced the chief executive's infamous Extermination Order."
   "Banished from their home, the Saints took the only route out of the state open to them-due east to Quincy, where they hoped they could escape the unspeakable atrocities of Missouri.  The citizens of Quincy looked across the wide river and saw there the starving and freezing refugees, arriving in droves.  Before long, hundreds could be seen on the shore."
   "The people of Quincy were troubled by what they saw.  Who are these people?  What are we going to do?  Their response came to be known as the Quincy Miracle."  "The story that follows is heart-rending history of the Latter-Day Saints in Quincy, Illinois.  It's an emotional story.  At one moment you will feel shock and outrage over the cruelty endured by the Saints in Missouri, and at the next your heart will swell with GRATITUDE unbounded for the kindness shown them in Quincy, the same GRATITUDE expressed in a most unusual way more than 160 years later in the summer of 2002." 
   ( The above quotes are about a compilation of true stories featuring Susan Easton Black(Durrant), as General Editor of the book, The Quincy Miracle, A Rescue Never To Be Forgotten.  We purchased this book while we were in Quincy and it is excellent!)
     The History Museum in Quincy, originally the Public Library when it was constructed in 1888, houses a special display room in tribute to the city of Quincy and their rescue of the Mormon Pioneer refugees.  We will include several pictures which tell their story and express the feelings of both those who were rescued and those who rescued them.. There were about 5,500 Mormon Pioneers who were literally saved by the city of Quincy, a city of 1,500 residents at the time!  They fed them, took them into their homes, provided bedding and clothing for them, etc.  They even allowed them to set up a tent city in Washington Park, which is located diagonally across the street from where the History Museum stands today. This all took place while the Prophet Joseph Smith was being held captive in Liberty Jail. Upon his release, he also went to Quincy and remained until the Saints moved to Nauvoo and started all over again.  
     All those Mormon Pioneers who were part of this miracle are individually listed in the book mentioned above.  Among the names are James Allred and Elizabeth Warren, Pete's 3rd great grandparents!  Our hearts swelled with GRATITUDE and awe over this amazing rescue!  The subsequent act of  reciprocated GRATITUDE 160 years later referred to in 2002 came to the city of Quincy when President Gordon B. Hinckley provided a free concert in Quincy  performed by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at the time of the Nauvoo Temple Dedication.  There is a wonderful, sacred monument on the banks of the Mississippi River in tribute to Quincy and their never to be forgotten goodness to the Strangers whom they so generously took in!  Seeing all of these marvelous remembrances helped us realize more fully why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has such a strong commitment to helping refugees everywhere who are lost, desperate, and driven out of their homes seeking refuge from their storms of life!  We truly have felt great GRATITUDE though learning more fully the spirit of this sacred place.

These are the quotes engraved on the front and back of the monument of GRATITUDE along the Mississippi River as pictured below:

"The citizens of Quincy will be held in everlasting remembrance for their unparalled liberality and marked kindness to our people when in their greatest state of suffering and want."
The Prophet Joseph Smith

"Eternal will be our GRATITUDE for the people of Quincy who provided shelter to the homeless."
Gordon B. Hinckley,
 President and Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

                          After our adventure while we were in Quincy, we went
                          with the Cordovas to Golden Corral where they treated 
                          us  to a delicious lunch.  We are GRATEFUL for good
                                     friends, good food,  and Chocolate, too!

             We send our love to all of you and do so with  very GRATEFUL hearts!

                                               Elder and Sister Peterson in Nauvoo

    

"Ambitious For Christ" January 31, 2017

   Over the last couple weeks we have been blessed to do some extra service in the Mt. Pleasant Branch where we have been assigned to attend church each week during our mission.  On Sunday, January 22nd, I taught Gospel Doctrine class for Sunday School and also taught  Relief Society for the women. Elder Peterson also presented a fireside immediately following church to the youth of our branch on Patriarchal Blessings as requested by President Mayo, our Branch President. The youth thought the huge chocolate chip cookies we made for them were the best!  The lesson I taught in Relief Society that day was based on a talk given by Elder Kazuhiko Yamashita, entitled, "Be Ambitious for Christ", given in October, 2016 General Conference

   The word, AMBITIOUS is defined in the Mariam-Webster Dictionary as " aspiring, determined, enthusiastic, energetic, committed."  Elder Yamashita tells us:"When we are Ambitious for Christ we are motivated, focused, and dedicated to HIS Work."; "We are seldom singled out for public honor"; 'We serve faithfully and diligently ...without complaint and with joy in our hearts."  In today's blog post we will share a few people and places we have experienced recently that exemplify this theme.

   First, meet the amazing, energetic Sister Missionaries who serve in the Mt. Pleasant Branch.  These 2 committed, enthusiastic Missionaries are perfect examples of being "Ambitious for Christ."  Our Branch is a mix of English and Spanish speaking members. Hermana Rushton is from Newcastle, Wyoming and her companion, Hermana Orr is from Phoenix, Arizona.  These Sister Missionaries use headsets to translate the meetings from English to Spanish for the Spanish speaking members.  It is pretty amazing to watch and to listen to.  They are full of fire and the Spirit whenever they are called upon to speak in church or bear their testimonies.  It is a great blessing to see these Sisters "motivated, focused, and dedicated to His Work."

   Last week we took a drive to follow what is referred to as "The Martyrdom Trail."  It is the route that follows the approximate course that Joseph and Hyrum Smith took when they were taken to Carthage Jail, the place which proved to be the site of their subsequent martyrdoms.  We had seen this marker telling about this trail on  Main Street in Old Nauvoo and were determined to find it.

                                                            

    We found the coordinates on the Internet and plotted the course.  The trail actually began at the top of  Parley Street, the street where we live.  Lots of things seem to have began on the street where we live!  The actual trail they followed is now inundated with farms and more farms.  So, we followed the little county roads that were unpaved and meandered  through the farmland  in a zigzag fashion, leading  us the approximate direction.  After traveling about half way, 11 miles, the next turn led us onto some one's farm so we turned back and found the closest paved road to follow the remainder of the distance.  It was actually very serene out there and very enjoyable.  We ended our trek at Carthage Jail and remembered The Prophet Joseph and His Brother Hyrum who were truly "Ambitious for Christ" all their days.  We testify of their "motivation and focus and dedication to His Work."  In Elder Yamashita's talk, he stated, "  In our lives we experience trials, but if we are ambitious in Christ, we can focus on Him and feel joy even in the midst of them and accept them with patience and faith."  This sums up the lives of both Joseph and Hyrum Smith.  I am looking forward to the day when I will meet them and thank them for the blessings of the restored Gospel for which they sacrificed everything in our behalf.

                                                             

   Here are some fun pictures we took of the farms and little towns we encountered on our drive tracing the Martyrdom Trail. They will give you a small idea of the vastness of the farms in Illinois!

My favorite picture is the round brick barn with both the brown cow and the cute pony posing for their picture!

   Our next example of those who are "Ambitious for Christ" was discovered last Friday night when we were driving to Keokuk, Iowa with some fellow missionaries.  We visited the Keokuk National Cemetery. "Keokuk was the location of 5 Civil War Hospitals that treated thousands of injured troops transported up river from the battle fields in the South.  The dead from the hospitals were first interred in a section of the city-owned Oakland Cemetery. The burial of Union casualties continued here until 1866, when the city donated the soldiers' section to the Federal Government, thus establishing the Keokuk National Cemetery."  "In 1912, the Women's Corp of Keokuk dedicated the Unknown Soldiers Monument, a granite pedestal topped with a soldier at parade rest to honor the 48 unknown soldiers buried at the cemetery."( nps.gov, Keokuk National Cemetery, Keokuk, Iowa) It was a beautiful, sobering sight to see the rows and rows of graves containing soldiers whose lives had been sacrificed in the Civil War.  The monument to the 48 Unknown Soldiers is powerful. This cemetery has a very sacred feeling as you notice that each grave had been adorned with a lovely evergreen wreath in remembrance of each individual.  I am grateful for the sure knowledge of the Resurrection and the promise of Eternal Life through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This cemetery should be an interesting place to be on resurrection morning!!!!

                                                               

    While we were in Keokuk, we met up with all the Friday AM shift Temple Missionaries at Angelini's Italian Restaurant to celebrate Elder Despain's January birthday.  It was a nice change to be able to socialize and enjoy getting to know one another better.  The Nauvoo Temple Missionary force is truly "Ambitious for Christ." Elder Yamashita said that those who are Ambitious for Christ "Serve Faithfully, Accept Humbly, Endure Nobly, Pray Fervently, and Partake Worthily."  This defines the special missionaries we serve with in the Nauvoo Temple. What a blessing it is to be part of this motivated and focused missionary force who are dedicated to His Work. We give thanks each new day for the opportunity to be in this sacred place and promise always to remain "Ambitious for Christ".

                                               Elder and Sister Despain, The Birthday Boy!

                                         Elder Mabey, Elder Peterson, Elder Borrowman,
                                          Elder Cordova, Elder Thompson (L to R)

                                           Don't  worry, we didn't visit the Wine Bar!

POWERHOUSE!!! January 22, 2017

   In the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word POWERHOUSE is defined as: A person or thing of great energy, strength, or power.  A source of influence or inspiration.  In our blog today we will share with you a few of those things from our life in Nauvoo that fit this description.

   After reading our last blog post, one of my dear friends back home commented to me that she had decided that all Senior Missionaries do is eat and make new friends!  I have to say that both of these observations are true and are very important, however, the largest portion of our missionary days are spent serving in the temple.  What takes place inside the temple is not secret, but it is sacred. Therefore, most of it cannot be written about in a blog.  We spend our time there at  various locations as assigned by our shift coordinators each day. I, Sister Peterson, might direct patrons where to go to perform the service they have come to do or I might serve in the clothing area renting the necessary temple clothing to those who come to serve without their own.  I also assist in performing various temple ordinances for both those sisters who attend the temple for their first time and for those who do proxy work for their deceased ancestors. Brother Peterson is a sealer.  He performs live sealings for people who come to the temple to be married and for those who come with their families to be sealed for time and for all eternity.  He also performs sealings for those who come to do proxy sealings for their deceased family members, uniting together the eternal family of God through the power of the Holy Priesthood.  When he isn't performing sealings, he also participates in the same type of service for the men that I do for the women.  It is a very fulfilling blessing to serve in this Holy House of the Lord. We are in the temple from 8 AM-1 PM  Weds-Fri.  On Tues and Thurs we serve from 5 PM-9PM. Thurs is our double shift day.   Sat morning , our shift is from  6 AM-1 PM. This week, the temple was also open on Mon, Martin Luther King Day and we served  from  8 AM-1 PM. We love being in the temple each day!  We do get back home tired, however, after a few hours rest, we are rejuvenated and ready and eager for the opportunity to return for a new day of service and love! 

   Sister Bonniee L. Oscarson, General Young Women President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, gave a message in the General Women's session of conference, October, 2016 entitled, "Rise up in Strength, Sisters in Zion".  In her message she said:

 "We need to study and understand temple ordinances and covenants.  The temple holds a place at the very center of our most sacred beliefs, and the Lord asks that we attend, ponder, study, and find personal meaning and application individually.  We come to understand that through the ordinances of the temple, the power of godliness is found in our lives, and that because of the temple ordinances, we can be armed with God's power, and His name be upon us, and His glory round about us, and His angels have charge over us.  I wonder if we are drawing upon the power of those promises?"

Coupling Sister Oscarson's words and counsel with the feelings we experience and share through the temple truly make The House of The Lord, The Holy Nauvoo Temple, a POWERHOUSE in both our missionary life and in our everyday life together.  We rely upon His Power to sustain us each day!

                                                   Nauvoo Temple=POWERHOUSE

   We drive to Keokuk, Iowa, each week for our shopping and cross the Mississippi River which separates Iowa and Illinois.  As we cross the bridge  over the river, we see the Keokuk Energy Center in Iowa.  It is "the largest hydroelectric station on the Mississippi River and was inducted into the Hydro Hall of Fame in 2013, 100 years after its completion in 1913.  The POWERHOUSE is 10 stories above the top water level and is almost a mile long.  The length of the dam, POWERHOUSE, lock, dry lock, and seawall is about 9,000 feet." (HydroWorld.com, The HydroIndustry's Proven Authority)  We find this very interesting, especially during the season when the barges travel up and down the river by way of the lock system.  The mighty Mississippi River itself is a POWERHOUSE and this week's picture of the massive ice pieces along the sides of the river now that it has thawed manifest the power exerted by the river to flow these huge ice blocks along. This river is captivating!

                                                               The POWERHOUSE

                                        Ariel view of lock and POWERHOUSE (Wikipedia)

       Another POWERHOUSE source  that we are blessed to enjoy are our wonderful friends.  This past week we were blessed to have a special visit from our friends, Carol and Dave Eccles, who also live in our Garden Park neighborhood in South Jordan, Utah. They were driving through here en route to serve a full-time mission in the Boston Massachusetts Temple.  Monday night, they had dinner with us here in our little missionary home. They spent the night in the Grand Nauvoo Bed and Breakfast which is also on Parley Street just up the street from us.  On Tuesday morning, the 4 of us went to the Nauvoo Temple and attended an Endowment session together.  It was such a sweet experience to share with them!  We are excited for their service opportunities that await them.  As an added bonus, Elder and Sister Eccles delivered a couple care packages to me from friends back home. Nothing warms a missionary's  heart on a dreary Winter day more than a surprise package from people you love!!

                                                   Carol and Dave Eccles at our home

                                                     Grand Nauvoo Bed and Breakfast

                                                    With the Eccles at Nauvoo Temple

                                                                   Care Packages!

                                                       

     One of the fun things I love to see as we drive around the surrounding area are the old barns that have Amish Barn Quilt Squares on them.  They are so pretty and it is exciting to see them along the way. (For more information about Barn Quilts: peopleof.oureverydaylife.com) I think one reason I love them so much is because they remind me of my mother, Jeannine Mary Kline Archibald.  Today,  Jan 22nd,  would be her 88th birthday.  She passed away on November 11, 2005. My mom was an avid quilter! She pieced quilts and hand quilted them until the last few years of her life when she couldn't hand quilt them any more. She made special quilts for everyone. We all still treasure the ones she made especially for each one of us.  My mom was a POWERHOUSE in my life and always will be.  She taught me unconditional love and served gladly all her days. She taught me how to grow beautiful roses and how to be a good grandma.  She and my dad served a full-time mission to Bristol England as Senior Missionaries and seeing them serve helped me want that same blessing.  I know she is happy that we have chosen to follow in their footsteps.  My mom wasn't a dynamic POWERHOUSE in the eyes of the world, but she was and still is in the sight of all of her family and friends whose lives she blessed everyday with her loving and caring heart and hands.  I am grateful that we know that Families Can Be Together Forever!!!  

                                  4 generations- My Mom, Me, our daughters, and granddaughter

                                          1998 Flashback- Girls' night out at BYU "Quilts" Play

      We thank the Lord, The True  POWERHOUSE, for the blessed opportunity of serving our mission together here in Nauvoo.  This week marked 3 months since we left our home, Oct 18th, 2016, to begin our service and it has changed our lives forever.  We send our love to each of you.