Early in April of this year I noticed a posting on the church website for a facilities manager for the Historic Nauvoo site. I also noticed that the hiring manager for the position was Kent Hinckley who, at one time, was Randy Turner's direct report at Church HQ in SLC. Randy has been my direct supervisor in the Northwest since I began working for the church in August of 2002. Given this relationship, I knew Kent well as he had responsibility as DTA (Director for Temporal Affairs) for the Northwest area for about five years. So I called Kent and asked him about the position. He filled me in on what might be involved with the position and that he appreciated my interest in the position. Fast forward to June of this year and I receive a call from Kent asking if I could come to Church HQ for an interview on June 21st. I told him I would be happy to, but that I would be down there the following week to take Angie to EFY at BYU. He said that would not be a problem and that I could come in a speak with him when I was down there anyway. On Thursday, June 30th, I met with Kent Hinckley, Dale Kofford, Ed Howell, and Roger Bond. They were good interviews, but there were some very qualified individuals that had applied and I really didn't think it would go much further and neither did Barb. We were wrong. We came back home and life went on as normal. I was involved with our pioneer trek and other activities. I was informed by the Stake President (Greg Mackay) that I was going to be released from the bishopric and receive a new stake calling. Things were going along fine and then on Thursday, July 14th I received a call from Kent Hinckley asking me if I would accept an offer as the Facilities Manager for (NRI) Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. in the newly created Nauvoo, IL FM Group. This changed our lives forever.
Kent wanted our decision by the following Monday. This only gave us the weekend to decide what we were going to do. So on Friday, the 15th, Barb and I flew to St. Louis and drove up to Nauvoo. We spent time with Elder Light (who had previously been managing NRI) and Sister Light They were very gracious to us. We were able to attend the Nauvoo Pageant which was amazing. Elder Light showed us around the complex and some of the sites at Historic Nauvoo. We had dinner with them at their home which if we accepted the position would become our home. We attended both wards that meet in Nauvoo on Sunday to get a feel of what the youth programs looked like and then on Monday we attended the Nauvoo temple and did an endowment session and then went home. It was a whirlwind weekend and we had very mixed feelings about how to proceed. I really struggled with the impact that moving to Nauvoo would have on my girls. Angie just entering 9th grade this fall. Sarah is going into 7th and Emily is entering 5th grade. How could I, as their father, pull them away from all their friends and all that they have known as far back as they can remember. I remember one night in Nauvoo, just sobbing because I felt the pull to come to Nauvoo, but did not want to disrupt the lives of my girls so drastically if it was not necessary. I received a blessing from my brother Tyler while in Nauvoo. In that blessing I felt that either decision that I made, the girls would be OK. There were blessings to come if I stayed in Sammamish or if I came to Nauvoo.
The way the Lord usually works with me is that I make a decision and then pray for confirmation. In this case, I did not want to make the decision, I just wanted the Lord to tell me what I should do. I did not get very far with this line of thinking. In the temple that last day in Nauvoo, I felt very calm and peaceful. As I went through the veil at the end of the session, I felt an overwhelming sense that my children would be blessed forever. As Barb and I drove back to Saint Louis (3 hours), most of the time was spent without words. Emotions were very tender as we considered our future and what may lay ahead, especially for our girls.
We arrived home late Monday with out enough time to inform Kent of our decision. So Tuesday, after talking with my Dad for a bit in the morning, I felt that I should seek out Pres. Mackay (our stake president). I found him at his office. We talked for a bit and discussed how kids react to situations such as this one. We also talked about leadership in the church and how accepting this new assignment would affect the calling to the high council that he had issued to me. He informed me that Lord will use me where ever he can. I am grateful for the visit that I had with Pres. Mackay. He is a great man and helped put my mind at ease.
Following my visit with Pres. Mackay, I felt to seek out my dear friend Bishop John Hansen. I served as his counselor in the bishopric for nearly two years. He is a man that I trust and do not take his counsel lightly. He is very busy trying to sell a software company and it was a small miracle that he also had time, on the spur of the moment, to meet with me. His office is right up the street from Pres. Mackay's office. We sat down and I told him where I had been for the last weekend. On the Friday previous, I had just sent him a note that I had been called away on church business the last Sunday, but no details. Anyway, I explained what was going on. It was mainly through this visit, that I received confirmation that I should take my family and relocate to Nauvoo.
Bishop said that many times there are two good decisions to make and that our Heavenly Father does not care which of those two decisions we make, but He is not indifferent. There is a big difference, and this idea had a profound impact on me. He is very concerned with what happens in our lives. We considered together, the direction my life would take in either scenario. If we stayed in Sammamish, if we went to Nauvoo. He said that now is the time to decide whether or not you want to jump in with both feet. You have to decide if you want to be on the Lord's errand for the rest of your life or keep one foot in the world by staying here and pursuing other interests that may come up. If you go to Nauvoo, your life will forever be changed as well as that of your children. He said that as we worked in Nauvoo, we would be under the microscope and many people would be watching - especially those from Church HQ. Nauvoo would become the identity of our family. We also talked at length about the girls and that they were already beginning to diverge from the world (most kids at Skyline HS have never touched a chicken let alone own a whole flock). He mentioned that as the girls diverge from the world, the Midwest is a good place for them and that they would be fine either way. He said is was not by accident that I knew Kent Hinckley and he knew of my skill set for this position. We talked of other sacred things that I will retain in my heart. Bottom line is that Bishop Hansen and I received confirmation together that I would be going to Nauvoo. He is a great man and I love and admire him a great deal.
From the moment I told Barb that I had received my answer there has been no turning back and she has been %110 supportive. She is a remarkable woman. As we began the process of moving our family, Barb was more than six months pregnant. She does not complain and she continues to be very positive although I know in her heart, at times, she sometimes wonders what became of our life in the Northwest. I will love her forever. She has remarkable faith and our daughters are fortunate indeed to have have her for a mother. The attitude that she displays is the attitude that my girls reflect. I don't know of many other women who could have their enchanted life in Sammamish turned completely upside down and retain the positive, vibrant outlook on life that she does.
On Wednesday, the 20th of July, after I had talked with the Bishop, both Barb and I had the opportunity to attend Girl's Camp where both Angie and Sarah were. We had not informed them of our decision to move to Nauvoo. At the fireside that night, the Bishop announced that we would be leaving and asked me to say a few words about our decision. This came as a surprise to the girls, especially to Sarah. She came up to me after the fireside, full of emotion, and asked if it were true. I told her that it was and that all would be well. My heart aches for Angie, Sarah and Emily as they have always been in Sammamish and have many friends and memories. As I have prayed that the Lord would comfort them, I am already seeing how their lives are changing here in this place. They already have many friends and the relationships are beginning to deepen.
School began on August 16th in Nauvoo, this did not leave us much time get our affairs in order to leave. A few miracles during that process...
1. Within two hours of listing our house for rent at a rate that would cover the mortgage, we had two solid candidates. The house in now rented and all fees paid.
2. We held a massive garage sale prior to leaving in which we sold many items. Including tools, trailers, furniture, etc., the net income was over $9,000
3. We had buyers for both of our vehicles and a good price within short notice.
4. All of the pets found homes.
5. Found someone to manage any outstanding side jobs that were in process.
Bottom line is that within two weeks all of our items that we need to sell were gone and we were able to take care of any outstanding business.
So, the girls flew to Saint Louis on August 10th and stayed with my brother, Ty. I began the long road trip the same day from Sammamish. I met up with the family on August 12th and as a family we arrived in Nauvoo on August 13th. This was the last day of the summer season here in Nauvoo, and we were able to take in a few of the final productions of the shows. Our dear friend Kris Allen organized an amazing race (scavenger hunt) and we have spent the last two weeks seeking out the clues here and there around Nauvoo. It has been fun for the girls and we have finished and the girls are waiting for something in the mail as the final prize.
As I contemplate this sacred place of Nauvoo, I am drawn to the thoughts of our forebears who lived here - my third great grandfather David Cluff, his wife Betsy, their 12 children, their friends, the early leaders of the church, Joseph, Brigham, Heber C. Kimbal, John Taylor, and the many individuals that were common ordinary people of remarkable faith. One of the reasons that this place is sacred is because of those that have gone before. They consecrated their lives to make it so. Without them, this place would not be what it is or feel like it does. The spirit of those individuals is here and the spirit of the Lord combines with them to permeate the lives of all that come to this place. I pray that I will always be able to feel the significance of this place. As the months and years roll by, I hope to always be able to reflect on the significance of the love that our ancestors held in their hearts for Nauvoo. I have walked down Parley Street many times already to the point where our ancestors crossed the frozen Mississipp on Feb 4th 1846. I cannot imagine taking a family from a warm and comfortable house into the frozen unknown. This required great faith, courage and strength. We talk of it often in the church, but it really was remarkable. I will walk down that street on the next Feb 4th and remember those early saints and what indeed earned them the title of "saint".
When we first arrived here in Nauvoo, we found ourselves living in a small home on Water Street literally on the banks of the Mississippi river near the end of Parley St. I have posted a picture of the house and the view across the river. I love the setting of this small house and the place where it is located.
In the last show of the year of High Hopes on the River, one of the productions here in Nauvoo, one of the actors asks himself "What is it about this place that draws people here?" This is a question that I have thought about as well. He thought about it in the 1840's and I think about it today. It is a question that I will continue to attempt to answer of the next months and years. As I walk the streets of this sacred place, I pray that the Lord will enlighten my mind and quicken my understanding of those that have sacrificed so much that we may have what we do today in the fully restored gospel of Jesus Christ. In many ways the restoration began in Palmyra, New York and finish here in Nauvoo, IL. I think that Barb said it best when she said "True sacrifice if giving up something you have for something you want more" Well, the thing we want more is to feel the spirit more abundantly in our lives. That is one of the reasons we have come here.
Over the past two weeks we have been able to meet and have dinner with the Pres. Ludwig (mission pres.) and his wife. They are remarkable people and are very kind and gracious. I have been able to meet with Pres. Condie (temple pres.). He is amazing and very lively and upbeat. I have had various meetings with the mayor (John McCarty). He is a great guy. I have met with Lock Mackay (representative of The Community of Christ here in Nauvoo). Who is very humble and down to earth. We have gone to dinner and refreshment gatherings where our whole family has felt as if we were in a wedding reception line, but no one was getting married (the girls are troopers and always have a happy, positive impact on those whom they meet). I have also met one on one with all of our missionaries and full time employees we have working here at NRI. They are all remarkable people and do great work. Our ward is great. The girls are making fast friends. Our bishop Glen Anderson is great. I am serving in the Young Men's (which I love) and Barb is working with the Activity Day girls (Emily is in her group).
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