Today we took a tour to learn about the Hopewell Indian Culture and a possible connection to the Book of Mormon. As a way to introduce this culture I've included below an excerpt from the Encyclopedia Britannica:

"[The Hopewell culture, a], notable ancient Indian culture of the east-central area of North America. . . flourished from about 200 bce to 500 ce chiefly in what is now southern Ohio, with related groups in Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Pennsylvania, and New York. . . . The earthworks [built by Hopewell Indians] sometimes suggest defensive purposes, but more often they served as burial mounds or apparently formed the bases of temples or other structures. . . . Trade routes were evidently well developed, for material from as far away as the Rocky Mountains and the coasts of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean are found in Hopewell sites, and articles identified as manufactured by the Hopewell Indians are found in localities as far distant. After about 400 ce the more spectacular features of the Hopewell culture gradually disappeared. The quantity and quality of fine articles and mounds declined, and the people apparently became less sedentary and more loosely organized."

It is estimated that the Hopewell Indians built as many as 155,000 mounds. Our guide, who showed us a few of these mounds, was Cal Christensen, a member of the Church and Nauvoo Temple worker.

Brother Christensen is on the left. The others pictured serve with us in the temple. (Blaine and Dawn Russell, Idaho Falls, ID; Randall and Judy Peterson, Nauvoo, IL; Vernon and Susan Moon, Ogden, UT; and Dane and Barbara Chapman, Manti, UT.)

We began our tour on the east bank of the Mississippi River near Nauvoo. (Brother Christensen believes the Mississippi is the River Sidon.) Below is a photograph of a ramp built to access the top of a mound, which was probably used for defensive purpose. The next picture shows a defensive earthwork that appears to have been thrown up.

We read in the book of Alma (50:1-6) the following:

"And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities. And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high. And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city. Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land."

Below is a mound on the west side of the Mississippi. The top is used as a cemetery now.

Looking to the south from this mound is farm land that reminded Sandy of Adam Ondi Ahman.

Brother Christensen believes that the City of Zarahemla was on the west side of the Mississippi across from Nauvoo. A revelation in the Doctrine and Covenants directed that this area be called Zarahemla (D&C 125:3).

"Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it."

Below is a picture from material prepared by Brother Christensen regarding the general location of Book of Mormon lands.

The tour was interesting, and what we were told seems credible.

This evening there was a talent show for the temple missionaries. It was enjoyable. On the way back to our apartment (9:00 PM) we drove past the temple and took this photograph.

The Nauvoo Temple faces west; most temples face east. In 2002, President Hinckley said: "Today, facing west, on the high bluff overlooking the city of Nauvoo, thence across the Mississippi, and over the plains of Iowa, there stands Joseph's temple, a magnificent house of God. Here in the Salt Lake Valley, facing east to that beautiful temple in Nauvoo, stands Brigham's temple, the Salt Lake Temple. They look toward one another as bookends between which there are volumes that speak of the suffering, the sorrow, the sacrifice, even the deaths of thousands who made the long journey from the Mississippi River to the valley of the Great Salt Lake." (Gordon B. Hinckley, "O That I Were An Angel," Ensign, November, 2002).

We went to the Family History Center this afternoon. With the help of a family history consultant we were able to identify some ancestors that need temple work done for them. We printed family file cards and are excited to complete needed ordinances.

Tonight we attended a "Sociable" at the stake center featuring the BYU International Folk Dance team that's in Nauvoo for two weeks. They sang and performed with musical instruments. Several of the team members also gave short talks about gospel principles. It was an excellent event.

On our way home we took this picture of a sunset by the Mississippi.

Today I performed a licensed marriage for Michael James Judd and Danielle Elaine Pack. The groom is from Sacramento, CA, and the bride is from Des Moines, IA. They met at BYU-Idaho. Before I performed the sealing I spoke with them and was able to establish that the bride and I are cousins through John Pack. What a treat to be able to come to Nauvoo, meet a distant cousin, and then seal that cousin to her husband for time and all eternity.

The Church sponsors dozens of performances and activities during the summer in Nauvoo. Tonight we attended three shows. The first was the Nauvoo Brass Band composed of performance missionaries. The second show was Sunset on the Mississippi composed of performance missionaries and site missionaries. The third show was the International Folk Dance Ensemble from BYU. It was an excellent night of entertainment.

Performance missionaries are young men and women who audition to serve for three months during the summer. In addition to their performances we see them regularly in the temple attending endowment sessions and performing proxy baptisms. Site missionaries are senior couples who typically serve for eighteen months. They are hosts during the day at historical sites, and then at night they perform in four different productions.

Tonight we happened to sit behind the grandparents of the bride I sealed today. We had a nice visit with them.

We walked to the performances. It was dark on our way home and we saw dozens of fireflies.

There are three missions in Nauvoo, each with a president and counselors: 1) proselyting missionaries; 2) site missionaries; and, 3) temple missionaries.

Below is an email Sandy sent to our family on June 6.

Hi all!

Just to keep you updated on the deer sightings: Saturday morning we came across a "family" of three (a fawn and parents), and on Sunday after church we saw a large white tail feeding in the shade by the woods.

On a less positive note, "road kill" is a frequent sight on the highways (maybe possums?). Last night we had so many "May flies" that they actually formed a layer on the front door and porch. Our downstairs neighbor sprayed them with bug killer and after he swept them away, it looked like sawdust had been sprinkled in the flower bed.

Tonight we went with four other couples to the home of some local temple workers (the Tukuafu's) who live in a "round house" near the river. The wife builds musical instruments (harps, dulcimers, psalteries, and banjos), and the couple plays them. After a tour of their unique home, they entertained us with some lovely music.

Sending much love...

P.S. The corn stalks in the fields are growing like crazy! Apparently they can grow as much as six inches a day!!

She sent this email on June 2.

Dear Ones ...

Just wanted to tell you how much we love and miss you and let you know that you're always in our thoughts and prayers. I'm glad we've made some happy family memories to reflect on during the next five months -- but oh how good it would feel to be together right this minute!

The summer tourist season has begun here and busloads of people are coming into town. On Thursdays your dad and I have been assigned to serve in the baptistry where there are always interesting people to meet. Today the young performing missionaries came to do baptisms, and also family and youth groups from Arizona, Missouri, and Utah.

It's easy to find something lovely/interesting to see every day in this rural setting. For example, the corn fields that were planted just weeks ago have changed from tiny green sprouts to stalks that must be about a foot tall now. Today your dad had a meeting after our shift, so I walked home from the temple. In the distance I spotted a deer jump the fence, cross the road, and then run into the nearby woods.
It was so neat!

For the most part it's quiet in our neighborhood, but my favorite sounds are when we get to hear the birds chattering, the temple bell ringing every hour on the hour, and trains whistling in the distance. Life is good.

Hugs and kisses to all!     SURE DO LOVE YOU EVERYBODY...

Yesterday, our home evening group went to the home of Tomosia and Irene Tukuafu. They live in Nauvoo in a round house next to the Mississippi River. They are from Hawaii; he is Tongan and she has a diverse heritage. They are ordinance workers, and she builds and play harps, dulcimers, psaltries, and banjos. They are the parents of 14 children and 56 grandchildren. Sister Tukuafu demonstrated some of the instruments she has built. They then played and sang for us. They served us fresh homemade herbal bread, and slices of watermelon. It was an enjoyable evening.

This bed is made from Mississippi River drift wood.

Loft

View from the loft.

As a young father, Brother Tukuafu speared fish in the ocean surrounding the island of Oahu, and fed his family.

Next to their home is Sister Tukuafu's workshop.

"The Music Maker"

Today I spent some time in the Baptistry as a recorder. A family from Utah came to do baptisms with their teenage children. One son was severally physically handicapped, though mentally normal. The father carried his disabled son into the font. Another son helped support his brother while the father stated the prayer. As the father immersed his disabled son, his other son supported the head of his brother and held his nose closed. I was mesmerized and emotional as I watched this example of faith and love. This is one of the highlights from serving in the Nauvoo Temple.