12-22-11

Just a quick post...

Last Sunday night we attended a concert in the Visitor's Center West Theater featuring a bell choir from Wisconsin. The concert was great. They are a very talented group. As I sat there, I looked around at who was attending and the theater was filled with missionaries, local people from the community and others who had come to visit. I also noticed some friends from other faiths. In particular, I noticed those from the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS). These folks have become good friends of mine over the past few months. I was overcome with the thought that the prophet Joseph was pleased that we were all sitting in that room together. Our history and the Community of Christ history is the same history up to and including Nauvoo. They revere the prophet Joseph just as we do. The closing number of the concert was a song that was written to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith in 2005. It was sung as if Emma Smith were singing. It was beautiful. Both Emma and Joseph play a significant part in the lives of the members of both faiths. It was always the intent of Joesph that people be allowed to worship according to their conscience. In fact, if you come to Nauvoo or have been here, you know that there is a Catholic church just down the street from the temple whose spire is almost as tall as the temple. Although Nauvoo holds the significance that it does for the LDS people, I think it is fitting that diversity and ironically, unity, can be found in this sacred place.

12-11-2011

If you really want to have a great Christmas, have a baby!!! Abbie is the cutest thing ever and we love her way too much!!

I don't think there is anything quite like the Christmas season in Nauvoo. For me, some years it feels as if the Christmas season is pushed or forced upon me when I am not quite ready. Well, here in Nauvoo, it does come in like a bang, but you can't wait for it to begin. On December 3rd, there were a host of activities: There was the Christmas breakfast in town, the 5K Christmas run, the Christmas lunch/dinner for the missionaries, the lighting of the tree at the Visitor's Center (which by the way had already been lit right after Thanksgiving), the lighting of the Christmas tree on Mullholland St, Soup at the fire station, appetizers at the Family Living Center, the Creche display at the church, the "Christmas Walk" and the live Nativity performed in the historic Cultural Hall. We were fortunate to attend all of these activities on the same day. In fact, Sarah took second place in the candy making contest for her candy snowmen and Emily took second place in the Christmas coloring contest. It was a day to remember. There is always something happening here.

After the lighting of the tree, horse drawn wagons took anyone who wanted to go on rides down to historic main street where senior couple missionaries were dressed up as pioneers in the various historic site homes. In these homes, Christmas stories were told and then all were invited over to the Family Living Center for refreshments. This activity is what is referred to as the Christmas Walk. Every 20 minutes during this time there was a live nativity running where the story of Christ's birth was told and Christmas carols were sung. This year, for me, at the live nativity is where I truly felt that Christmas was upon us. As I sat there and listened to the Angel Choir sing around the manger scene, I was truly touched by the spirit of Christ. This time of year when we celebrate His birth is magical.

Snow has fallen here and continues to blanket everything in white. At times as I look down Main St. Nauvoo, or see the snow falling through the street lights around the Willard Richards Inn., I marvel that my family and I are in the very place where Joseph, Emma, Hyrum, Brigham, Wilford, Heber and others lived. It is a blessing in my life. They celebrated Christmas here long ago and the same spirit they felt is being felt by us here today.

Merry Christmas