This picture shows the stars on the gates as you enter the temple block. There are 40 stars you pass through, 20 on each side of the gate. The number 40 in the scriptures represent purification.
The flood lasted 40 days and 40 nights, the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years,
Christ fasted for 40 days and 40 nights, just to name a few examples.
We pass through trials in this life as represented by those stars, but as we enter the
Lord's House we leave behind those cares and focus on things of eternity.
Last Monday night for FHE we had a presentation of the accomplishments of
Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. It was so interesting to hear of all the progress that
Historic Nauvoo has had in the 50 years of it's exsistence.
(Sister Palmer who wrote the article in the link works in the temple.)
We love Wilford Woodruff's quote,
"I left Nauvoo for the last time perhaps in this life. I looked upon the Temple and
City of Nauvoo as I retired from it and felt to ask the Lord to preserve it as a
monument of the sacrifice of his Saints."
It is a great monument to those who lived here. Their spirits are felt here.
We know they watch over this place and that Wilford's prayer was answered.
Training for the new six month missionaries continued throughout last week. We had to work our usual shifts+, but we were able to sit in on the training on Thursday. We watched "Quincy, A Rescue Never to be Forgotten". It is a video about the people in Quincy, Illinois and how they literally saved the saints from dying when they were driven out of Missouri. It is a fantastic video.
"In the annals of our Church, the city of Quincy and its citizens will always occupy a position of the highest esteem. We shall always be grateful for the kindness, the hospitality, the civility with which your people met our people who were exiles from the state of Missouri. When Govenor Boggs issued his infamous extermination order, our people were compelled to leave the state of Missouri. It's almost impossible to comprehend in this day and time that such a thing could occur. But the fact is it did occur, and they traveled across most of the state of Missouri seeking asylum, not knowing where to go or what to do. And the citizens of Quincy welcomed them, took them in, sheltered them from the winter which was all about them until they were able to find a place up the river in Nauvoo, where they established that beautiful city on the Mississippi." --President Gordon B Hinckley 2002
After the video we held our last meeting in the solemn assembly room. (The First Presidency has to give permission to use that room.) President McArthur talked about the dedication, along with others who were also here then; Pres & Sis Nelson, Pres & Sis Hansen (temple presidency). He has a bound book that contains all that was said in each of the 13 sessions. It was a great opportunity to hear some of the great things said by President Hinckley. One of the temple missionaries was in the Tabernacle Choir and sang at the dedication. It was one of those experiences we shall never forget. We didn't want it to end, we didn't want to leave. To be in that room. It was such a great spiritual experience.
"The Lord has beheld our sacrifice: come after us."
This was written by a group of Saints on the wall of the
assembly hall in the original temple just before leaving Nauvoo.
We are so grateful we were able to 'come after'. So inspiring and humbling.
The assembly room has a Steinway piano. It is gorgeous. The music stand on it has a wood inlay Sunstone. Not many people get to see it because that room can't be entered. What a privilege.
This is the view we had while we stood on the temple steps waiting to have our
missionary 'team picture' taken. Because of the trees it's hard to see the beautiful statue of
Joseph and Hyrum on horseback.
We got to have lunch with the new missionaries for a few days during the training.
It was a busy, busy week. Serving as missionaries and ordinance workers is truly a blessing.
"And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them,
and thine angels have charge over them;
"And from this place they may bear exceedingly great and glorious tidings, in truth,
unto the ends of the earth, that they may know that this is thy work, and that thou hast
put forth thy hand, to fulfil that which thou hast spoken by the mouths
of the prophets, concerning the last days."
--Doctrine and Covenant 109:22-23