Carthage, Illinois

In Primary a couple of weeks ago, we had the kids act out the story of King Noah's court and the testimony of Abinadi.  Jackson Jacobs played the part of Abinadi and was enjoying his role of testifying of truth especially when he told the wicked priests to not touch him because they would be hurt by the power of God.  He said that he had a message for them and God would not allow him to be harmed until he was done.  (what little boy doesn't like the idea that he was filled with power like that.)  Well, then King Noah (Jared Unck) again commanded the wicked priests to take Abinadi and burn him.  One of the "wicked priests" said no way, I will get hurt.  Abinadi quickly agreed but then I as the story teller said that this time the wicked priests did take him and he was burned to death.  Abinadi (Jackson) looked up and me and said, "Why, Teacher, would God let him be burned?"."Because, " I replied, "sometimes people must give up their lives to testify of what they know is true."  I don't know that those six year olds understood what I meant, but I thought about them as we walked around the jail at Carthage.  Here is another place where two men were allowed to be killed by wicked people to cement their testimonies with their blood.  It was a quiet and solemn visit to this spot.

June 27, 1844

Joseph and Hyrum

The jail view from the visitor's center

This building had been continuously in use since it was built.  It remain a jail for many years after the death of Joseph and Hyrum and then became a private residence.  Most of the items inside were from that period although a few I think were actually from the house.

 The window from which the dying Joseph fell----

The original mob entered the building and went up the stairs to the upper room where Joseph and Hyrum and two others were at.  The senior missionary said that when the Church brought the building, they found this panel with a bullet hole in the basement and restored it to the door which had been repaired.  It is assumed to be the hole from one of the bullets shot into the room.

Like other solemn places in the world where bad things have happened, it is a holy spot.  Where innocent blood is spilled the ground, the place holds that memory always.  I feel it at battlefields and war grounds, and I am sure it is felt worldwide in such places.  These places remind us of the wickedness of men but also the hope of eternity and justice and mercy which will be exacted.

The Shows....

or as we liked to refer to it---The Elder Brandon Dickson watch---

Elder Dickson and his family are one of our dear friends and neighbors.  He lives just around the corner from us except while he is serving his mission in Nauvoo.  He actually was one of the missionaries who spoke when Jena did.  Brandon and Jena have been close friends since kindergarden when they moved in and have been in many plays together over the years.  Although taking Jena to Nauvoo had always been on the list of things to do, since she was just a baby last time, we decided to go this year so that we could share Nauvoo with Brandon.  He is one talented young man and it was so fun to share our time in Nauvoo watching him (and texting pictures to his mom).

Here is a sample:

"Sunset on the Mississippi"--this was an evening variety show and the first time that we saw Brandon.  He knew we were coming but didn't expect to see us until Friday.

The Brass Band is also young performing missionaries

I think this is one of the opening numbers where Brandon (in the blue hat) did a long whistling number.

 "Grandmother's feather bed"

 Brandon has good comic timing and did great in this "advertising song" about a rug whip.

Brandon had seen us as he with the other missionaries had walked through the audience during the Children's parade.  When he did his solo, he came and sang to Jena during part of it.

 These trumpeters are playing each other's trumpets.  It was fun to watch.

 Closing number where the young performing missionaries did sign language with their song.

 Our favorite performing missionary!

Elder Dickson and Jena

We quickly left that show and headed to "The Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo".  This was performed in the Cultural Hall by the Senior Missionaries. This show talked about some of the emotions and experiences of the Saints as they prepared once again to leave their comfortable homes and head west.

This song, sung by the men alone, was my favorite.  I wish that I had the words because they were so powerful sung by these men, many I am sure who have never performed before their mission here. The dialogue right before this talked about whether they should fight the mobs with guns or should they leave like their leaders had asked.  They left, because they had to----and they left because they wanted to-----definitely worth seeing just for this song alone. 

Friday morning we got tickets for "Just Plain Anna Amanda" and to our surprise--after the puppet show part of the show

 out popped our favorite performer---

 He was grandpa on the Monday, Wednesday and Friday casts.

This is a cute little show about Anna Amanda learning that she is special just the way she is and she needs to be the best at what she is.

Friday afternoon was "The Promise", a show that we knew that Brandon would be in.  It was held at the visitor's center.

We still got surprised when we were waiting in line.  All of the sudden we heard singing from above and looked up and saw the missionaries sing in the balcony.  I had not even noticed the upper floor.  I think they sang "Love at Home".  It was beautiful.

 A bit fuzzy from my cell phone but there is Elder Dickson who smiled when he got our glance.

"The Promise"-

Waiting for the show to start---

His "Bishop" role---

After this show, we got a family shot with Brandon.

As we waited to take this picture, we got to observe Brandon as he interacted with the other audience members.  One part of their service is to talk to people after their shows and share their testimonies when appropriate.  Watching Brandon talk to these "strangers" with his happy nature and kind heart, I realized that he wasn't just called on this mission because of his great talent in performing and music but because of his sweet and kind nature and his happy smile. I wish that his mother could have been there that moment (although as I write this, they are in Nauvoo sharing these experiences with him. Nauvoo is the only mission where families are encouraged to come and visit their young missionaries.)

Brandon asked us to come back again to the "Sunset by the Mississippi" because he wanted Jena to come with him during the Children's Parade. He pulled a tambourine for her and she walked with him through the audience and up on stage for the opening number.  Clearfield Falcons--on stage again!

How fun was that!!!

And there was still one more show "Trail of Hope".  At dusk, they light some kerosene lamps along the Parley Road down to the Mississippi River and some of the young performing missionaries tell the stories of different Saints who traveled down the road and across the Mississippi.  Often these were words from the person's journal (how did they keep a journal in those days when I can't today with all of the modern conveniences?)

No pictures were allowed along this short walk but we did get some before it started:

When we visited in 1997, this was known as the Trail of Tears.  When Pres. Hinckley dedicated the Nauvoo Temple in 2002, he asked that the name be changed to the Trail of Hope.  There were certainly tears as the Saints left their homes and headed west, but they did it out of hope for a better future for themselves and for their families.  And now that the Nauvoo Temple once again sat on the hill of their beloved Nauvoo, it is a reminder that their hopes were realized in the west.

 Our guide down the path---one of the performing missionaries

Brandon told us that he performs the part of Brigham Young on Sundays for this walk, but tonight he only had to sing some songs while we were waiting for the walk to start. (We were able to pass him some chocolate candies for which he was very excited.)

We ended up at the Mississippi River and had some quiet moment there looking across this river--about a mile across at this point, and imagined what it was like on those winter days so long ago.

Like many others, I knelt down and touched the water's edge.  I have mentioned before that there were some things which must be touched--to cement the moment or honor the experience.  I don't know why--that is just how I am--and this was a quiet touching moment as I ponder not only the Mormon pioneers who crossed this wide river, but my own relatives who traveled west to Oregon. This river has thousands of stories to tell!

Humid weather is not good for my hair.

Another magical moment happened as we left the river and started walking up the hill.  We saw Brandon and he was able to spend some time with us, sharing more about his experiences as a missionary and things about their daily lives.  It was great.

One reason we had chosen June to make our trip is so that Jena could see the fire flies.  I love fire flies but she was too little to remember them from Plano, but I knew that they were in Nauvoo. However we had not seen any at all on the first night we were here.  While walking down the Trail of Hope, I had seen a few but not quickly enough to show them to Jena.  I mentioned that to Brandon and immediately fire flies were everywhere.  We had turned a small turn and along the base of a row of trees were hundreds of fire flies.  Brandon was able to catch one and showed it to Jena.  They were like little fireworks going off all around us.  It was the perfect end to the Trail of Hope and our visit to Nauvoo.

Brandon told us that when he saw us the first time, it was like his two worlds collided.  At each show he would look for us and sing and dance for us to enjoy.  I asked if it made it harder for him and he (being the kind person he was) said no, he loved it.  He knew his parents would be there in a few weeks as well and in a day or two our neighbors and his friends, the Allens would be there.

It was wonderful to be in Nauvoo and share these moments with Brandon.  It was perfect.

Nauvoo (continued)

For those reading who don't know, Nauvoo is a historical city which was very important in the history of the Latter-day Saints.  After being kicked out of Missouri in 1838/39, Saints came into Illinois and were welcomed and cared for by the citizens of Quincy, Illinois, before they eventually settled into the swamp bend in the Mississippi which Joseph Smith named Nauvoo.  As the Saints moved to the area, it became the second largest city in Illinois and an important stop along the Mississippi River. The city prospered until Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed and again in 1846, the Saints were again forced to leave their homes in the winter and seek refuge to the west. The Church has bought most of the historical area and rebuilt many of the homes and filled them with items from that period.  Senior missionaries serve here and tell the stories of life in Nauvoo and in this section of the US in the 1840s.  In addition to the many restored buildings, you can take wagon rides around and learn other interesting things about the people and the places of the times.  And on top of all of that, there are the shows which include not only the senior missionaries but a group of Young Church Performing Missionaries who serve for 3 1/2 months and perform in 3-5 daily shows throughout the summer.  If you like history and theater, Nauvoo is a great place to be.  Everything is free and it is great family fun.

Our wagon ride through some of the unrestored areas of the city-

A typical wagon of the times

The Women's Garden outside of the Visitors Center---these statues were done in the 1980s, I believe, and represent some of the significant aspects of women.

Joseph and Emma Smith

 Gary decided we should pose like them and Jena took this picture.

Then things got silly as Gary's head became Jena's model while she posed as "Creativity". (GAry can be silly)

Another wagon ride through the restored area of town on Friday morning--

Many of the houses were done in this red brick because there was a perfect mud nearby for making it.  Now the senior missionaries make little bricks and provided them for all of the visitors who come to the Brick yard.

Some of the houses are actually still private residences where people live.  In addition, some of the buildings were restored on the outside but set up on the inside to house the missionaries who serve at the temple.

This is the dance hall on the third floor of the Cultural Hall.  Dancing, music and acting were important parts of life in Nauvoo and that continues today.

Through the dance hall's windows you can see the top of the Nauvoo Temple.  The senior missionary said that served as a good reminders to the couple courting during the dances.  The goal was the temple.

Just a sample of inside the tinshop--this is an old fashion mouse trap.  They would put a small piece of food on top of the stick and then the mouse would follow into the water and drown.  Uck!!

The tinshop--it is hard to imagine that EVERYTHING they used was mostly made locally, either by themselves or by a craft men.  Even to make a simple pan was quite a process when it was done by hand.

Here is one of the senior missionaries who explained the process of making bricks to us.  He and his wife were also in charge of teaching dancing to all of the senior missionaries.  These senior missionaries were very impressive--learning the long stories they told and the information that they shared plus dancing and singing and acting in the shows.  Gary's dad also served in the brick yard and his mother worked in Lands and Records and also the bakery.