The Past Comes to Life in the Present.......

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                .....Remembering the Nauvoo Exodus

On February 4, 1846 the Mormon people began their exodus march from Nauvoo on a journey that would take them to the Great Salt Lake Valley where they would begin to find some peace from the continual harassment they had faced for years in Missouri and Illinois.

     On February 4, 2017 Descendants and missionaries marked the 171st anniversary of this event.  My 2nd Great Grandfather, Joseph Stallings, was the reason I was here today.  I was honored to walk Parley Street with Sister Gibson as we proudly wore the names of Joseph and his family.  Standing on the edge of the Mississippi where they stood waiting for their turn make the crossing brought to mind the many feelings that poured over them as they were saying farewell to their home and temple that they had worked so hard for.  It was a cold and bitter day as they left....but ahead of them was the hope of a place where they could find peace and be able to live and worship as they chose.  They were dedicated and committed to their faith and the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.  I for one, am honored to be a part of their legacy!!
     The celebration began a week earlier with a fireside that told of their stories.  I was a little disappointed that my story of Joseph was not one of the twelve that were selected.  Shortly after the stories began to be read I realized that there were many, many, remarkable stories that were submitted and committee that selected stories to be read had a daunting task.  We were all inspired at the stories of dedication and sacrifice that night....who could even imagine that hardships and persecutions the early Saints had endured.
     Saturday morning we gathered in the Family Living Center and had muffins and milk as we realized that this was more than a missionary tribute.  People had come from all over to take part in the walk.  They all proudly displayed those who they were walking for.  Heading the parade was a color guard and carrying the American flag was Lon Simpson who I had worked with in the cabinet shop.  I volunteered and joined the Nauvoo Legion and got to wear the red and blue scarves and carry a fake gun and empty ammo bag.  Elder Lindeburg was selected as the Sargent  Major and got to bark out cadence.  He is soft spoken so his bark is a little muffled. 
     Once we reached the memorial another tribute was read and taps were played.  It was a great day!!
    

A Work in Progress........

    Work for Sister Gibson and myself was pretty much the same things we had been doing.  It was decided that we hadn't torn enough of the Schenk (no longer the Packard ) house apart.  You see, Salt Lake had determined that there was not enough evidence to officially call it the house where Noah and Sophia Packard lived so it reverted back to the name "Schenk", since it was the people who had owned it before the church.  At this point it really didn't matter because we had pretty much covered up any evidence the house by burying it behind new walls.  The last vestige of lath and plaster was in the upstairs room and our fearless leader directed we tear it out. Tearing out lath and plaster in a fire charred room is about as fun as wrestling with a pig in the mug.  The pig might enjoy it....I didn't even though I could smile for my selfie.

     Sister Gibson, on the other hand, kept up with cleaning the artifacts and accounting for them.  She made a stop in browning gun where she grabbed the hammer to show how the gunsmith beat flat iron into a barrel of a rifle. 

The Birthday Girl..........

     

                        .....Brownie Sunday's and Oreo's

    As mentioned last week, Sister Gibson's birthday month is upon us and the celebrations have begun.  We are so fortunate to have made so many friends here and they certainly rose to the occasion to make the celebration remarkable.  It started on Friday night when, as per Nauvoo cast tradition, we through our cast a birthday party in her honor.  We provided the brownie sundays with ice cream, brownies, toppings, and whipped cream plus a package of Oreo's and they paraded her in front of the cast, had her hold the birthday sign while they sang to her.....Here in Nauvoo the song goes something like this:  Happy Birthday to You.....Whew!!   Happy Birthday to You......Whew!!!

This comes from Rendezvous where on the opening number four lucky Elders are paraded out in front where they do a "kick" as a verse is sung...."Smile a While (Kick) and everybody by tradition says "Whew" indicating their success that they could do it.  I have had this pleasure on a few occasions already.

     As we served in the Cultural Hall on Sunday afternoon the family called at various times and wished Grandma a happy birthday.  One thing about the Gibson family....when it comes to singing

it is "SPECIAL"!!!

  On her actual birthday Sister Lindeburg invited us over for Sunday dinner, gave her a cute card, hot pads, and hand soap.  After we went to the Ugo Parego fireside she invited all of our close MTC group to share in an elaborate birthday cake she made.  The Beecher's were late of course so they didn't make the picture......but their duet of Happy Birthday was "special" as they are very talented.

Farewell to Old Friends.....

                            ......Setting a New Standard

     It has been a couple of months since a farewell breakfast honoring the soon to be departed missionaries.  It has always been a tradition that those who are leaving to present a small skit that leaves those behind laughing at many of the nuances and funny things that have happened.  Maybe even poke a little fun at the Mission President.  Well, this group was about as small as it could get...The Strouds and Sister Cluff.  It had been rumored that they were going to involve their whole cast so we all expected something really off the top.  Instead it started out with the three standing in front with music stands.....after a solo by Sister Cluff a reader's theater commenced as they told of our urpose in Nauvoo and used parts of our messages to visitors.  The testimonies of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith were resounded by "I Do!.  As it rolled to a conclusion their cast began singing "Praise to The Man" which was soon joined in by all the other missionaries.  I, and many others, were deeply moved by this.

     I thought back to a time in the Parkway 4th Ward when our youth, unbeknownst to most, had a special fireside prepared.  and ward members were  invited.  I can't remember much about the first of the program but it was focused on Christ.  The program called for a piano solo.....I Know That My Redeemer Lives".  The pianist played heavenly through the first verse and then started on the second.

And then....in the back of the room Kayson Eggers stood and started singing "I Know That My Redeemer Lives......eyes turned to him....and then he was joined by another voice from heaven, and then a third.....soon they youth were all standing and singing.....What courage....What a message.  I am getting chills just thinking of those youth I associated with and love and miss so much.