It is the season of goodbyes. Lots of goodbyes.
It started with the departure of the temple presidency.
Presidents and Sisters McArthur, Nelson, and Hansen have finished up their service
as the Nauvoo Illinois Temple Presidency.
(Except the Nelson's are staying to serve in the new presidency with the Irion's.)
Each couple in the presidency received a woven blanket that had been made
with the Temple Missionary picture.
We love these couples so much. They have taught us and loved us and helped us
in so many ways. It was a joy to serve with them.
We had a nice goodbye dinner. It is really hard to see all these missionaries go home.
Some of them are staying with us a little longer, but most of this room were on their way home.
There are usually approximately 30 six month summer missionary couples and
20 twelve month missionary couples.
Sisters Udall and Bougoyne
President and Sister Nelson
Elder and Sister McDonald
President and Sister McArthur
Elder and sister Kerr
Elder and Sister Kessinger
Brother & Sister Marshall (Temple Recorder)
Elder and Sister Marshall
The Massey's
The Jones'
The Hurley's
President and Sister Hansen
The Droste's
The Dalling's
Brother & Sister Dewey (temple secretary)
Elder and Sister Boehm
Elder and Sister Burns
The Chamber's
Elder and Sister Gentry
The Bingham's
The evenings program was lovely. We had a missionary choir, some remarks by
Elder Chambers and a song by Elder McDonald.
It is hard to leave Nauvoo. It tugs at your heart to see dear friends leave.
We had a wonderful group of missionaries that loved each other,
worked hard together, and developed a little bit of heaven right here in the City of Joseph.
It was a wonderful final week for the missionary couples.
We had our farewell dinner and testimony meeting.
But the highlight of the week were the two special endowment sessions for the missionaries.
It was an experience that we shall never forget.
Our session had 25 missionary couples on it and was such a spiritual celestial experience.
Sister Durrant's last lecture put a cap on the entire week.
She spoke of the last few days of the Prophet Joseph Smith's life.
It was moving and inspiring and a testimony builder for all who were there.
Our feelings were already tender for the things we had experience throughout the week.
There is something that happens when you are in Nauvoo and speak of the Prophet
in his city where he walked and taught. The spirit, his spirit is strong here. We love that.
The fall colors continue to be impressive as we say goodbye to summer.
We have loved watching this tree in our yard turn colors.
This is the River Road on the Iowa side.
This is the River Road from Nauvoo to Hamilton on the Illinois side.
This photo was taken from the temple parking lot looking over to the Arrival Center.
Sister Thompson had a little procedure to remove her big toe nail.
She was having some trouble, but now is doing much much better.
It was good the two week temple shut-down has begun so she could get it to healing.
The new winter schedule will begin after the shut down.
Things will be exciting as new missionaries arrive and training begins.
But, before that we have two weeks to rest and recover and visit with some family.