Go Team!

Here is the team photo for summer 2016.  This photo includes all the 12 month (20 couples) missionaries, the summer 6 month (33 couples) missionaries, a couple of full time district temple workers and the recorder. The temple presidency is in the back row middle, left to right: The McArthur's, Nelson's and Hansen's. Not sure why we had to stand front and center, but at least you can find us!  These are all amazing people with amazing talents and testimonies.  It is a privilege to know them and work with them.

The temple is beginning to get more busy (yay summer!).  Saturday in the baptistry we were busy all shift long. Monday we had some good size sessions.   (Yes, we were open on Memorial Day.  We are open all holidays except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years!  Even the 4th of July, we will be open!)

This is a view of the temple from Parley Street. 

 The baby geese are growing!  Sadly most of those large families are down to about 3 or 4 babies.

 This crane standing in the Mississippi River shows just how shallow that river is in most places.

Remember the prairie burn?  Well, this is the field that was burned.  It is growing and beautiful.  

It will be allowed to grow until burn day next spring.

Elder Thompson was the closing speaker Sunday in sacrament meeting in the Galesburg Ward.  His topic was based on Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the of the Twelve Apostles conference talk entitled, "Standing with the Leaders of the Church". Many in the Ward came up to him after the talk and at our linger longer and commented that it was a very good talk, including the Bishop's mother who was particularly touched by it.

Elder Rasband said,
"Many times in conferences, sacrament meetings, and Primary we have sung the tender words, "Lead me, guide me, walk beside me."  What do those words mean to you?  Who comes to mind when you think of them?  Have you felt the influence of righteous leaders, those disciples of Jesus Christ who have in the past and continue today to touch your life, who walks the Lord's path with you?  They may be close to home.  They may be in your local congregations or speaking from the pulpit at general conference. These disciples share with us the blessing of having a testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ, the leader of this church, the leader of our very souls, who has promised, "Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you".

There were about 80 people at the linger longer.  This ward on the 5th sunday has a pot luck after church.  It was fun.  It makes it a bit longer of a day for us.  But, hey, we are happy to be here.  Sister Thompson gets to substitute Primary in a couple weeks!!  They have a new Primary President as of last sunday, a darling YSA!

Here we are waiting to go see "The Promise" a production put on by the Young Performing Missionaries.  Behind us is a sunstone from the original Nauvoo Temple which as it says on the front of the temple, building was commenced April 6, 1841.

The Young Performing Missionaries pre-show singing from the mezzanine.

The stage of The Promise. It's a great show!

The calendar of events happening for the summer is unbelievable.  

There is lots to see and do here in Old Nauvoo!