A Nauvoo Temple detail. The photograph below is of a painted glass window located in the baptistry. This beautiful portrayal of the Savior's baptism is placed so that it is seen by patrons as they enter the font. The names of the artist and his three assistants are in the lower right-hand corner. Above their names is the message, "Glory to God."

Behind this window is a well lit hallway. A local temple worker pointed out to us that on the back of the window, in the lower left-hand corner and just above the artists' names, is another message, "I love Gayle." The light has to be just right to be able to read this almost indistinguishable message.I assume one of the artists painted it as a keepsake for his wife, though its appropriateness is questionable. In the computer software world a hidden message like this is called an "Easter egg."

We serve in the Temple five days a week. Our schedule for May is:

Sunday:  attend church in a branch or ward in the temple district (yet to be assigned)
Monday: preparation day
Tuesday - Thursday: 7:25 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday:  7:25 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday:  7:25 PM  - 2:00 PM

We shop for groceries at two stores that are new to us, Aldi and Hy-Vee. The shopping carts at Aldi required an orientation from a fellow shopper.

When stacked, the carts are connected by chains. To use a cart, a quarter is slid into the black box visible above the hanging chain. Once a quarter is inserted the chain falls free from the next cart and the cart can be pulled from the stack. To get the quarter back, the cart is stacked and the chain is inserted into the black box. The coin can then be retrieved. I assumed that this arrangement was to minimize theft. When we went shopping yesterday another idea occurred to me. I think the real purpose is to encourage customers to return carts to the store. This way employees are not needed to retrieve carts from the parking lot. It works.

We served in the temple today, from 7:25 AM until 1:00 PM. We had an enjoyable time. I was able to do three sealing sessions with patrons and ordinance workers, performing the sealing ordinances primarily for family file couples and children. I found particular satisfaction in not having to get back to the office and attend to administrative details.

We took a walk this evening in our neighborhood. A bit humid, but very peaceful.

We freqently see tugs pushing barges up and down the Mississippi.

The Mississippi River.

The Nauvoo Temple

There is a street called Parley Street that runs through Nauvoo to the Mississippi River. When the saints were driven from Nauvoo in February, 1846, they traveled on Parley Street to the river where they then crossed to Iowa. The Church has named a section of Parley Street, "Trail of Hope." Here is what the introductory sign to the trail says: "1846 began the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo. Leaving behind their homes, beautiful city, family and friends who they quite possibly would never see again in this life. As they journeyed west, they recorded their feelings and experiences in personal journals. From these journals we get a sense of what it would have been like to have traveled with them. Some selected writings from these journals are reproduced on the signs along this trail to the river."

This is Sandy's favorite journal entry:

As I read this it occurred to me that Sandy would have done the same thing.

We attended Church today in the Nauvoo Third Ward.

There are five stakes in the Nauvoo IL Temple district:

     Nauvoo, IL
     Peoria, IL
     Davenport, IA
     Iowa City, IA
     Cedar Rapids, IA.

The farthest unit from the temple is a branch in Fayette, IA; a drive of about three hours.

The Nauvoo Temple is surrounded by the following temples:

     St. Paul Minnesota - 394 miles
     Chicago Illinois - 277 miles
     St. Louis Missouri - 170 miles
     Kansas City Missouri - 265 miles
     Winter Quarters Nebraska - 318 miles

Last week was great, and we are looking forward to this week. The Nauvoo Temple is considered a "destination" temple, and we are told that things will be very busy from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

We served our first shift in the temple today, from 7:00 AM until 3:00 PM. We enjoyed being there.

Our Sunday branch/ward assignment has been postponed until next week.

We were trained in the temple today from 8:00 AM until 1:00 PM. We were served lunch in the stake center, then had the afternoon off until 5:30 PM. We then attended dinner with the missionaries and listened to a presentation on the restoration effort underway in Nauvoo. Everything has been well organized and appreciated.

It's been overcast and rainy since we've been here. Hopefully, brighter photographs to follow.

We attended Church this morning with all of the Nauvoo missionaries, both temple and site missionaries. It is our understanding that we will be assigned a ward or branch to attend within the temple district. Travel time can be as much as 2 1/2 hours one way.

President McArthur set us apart as ordinance workers this afternoon. In a few minutes, we have dinner scheduled with a few missionary couples. Later today we start our training in the temple.

The first photograph is our apartment; we live upstairs and another couple lives downstairs. The second photograph is the view from our bedroom window. Sandy loves the view.

Nauvoo Temple

Statue of Joseph and Hyrum; the Mississippi is in the background.

This statue is in front of the temple.