Great people in Nauvoo

The teamsters have a great time, there are about 10 more of them than in the picture. We had a barn cook out with the wife's. There were over 40 people there, great food, camp fire, guitars playing and singing and we all took an evening carriage ride to 'Inspiration Point'.

Elder Williams taking care of his horses, there are 22 of them.

Each horse knows his name and were he belongs in the stall, can you imagine a horse that reads, but they do. Sometime it is the teamster that puts the wrong bridle on him, but the horse knows what his name is.

Rain, rain go away. But I love the green, so I guess we need the rain. That is why Nauvoo is "The City Beautiful"

On a Sunday, just leaving and coming from our post at the BlackSmith Shop. These are good friends, E/S VanDam (Utah) & E/S Torrie (Canada). They are also teamsters, great people.

More Things going on in Nauvoo

We are kept busy in the winter to prepare for guests in the summer.

The 'Webb Blacksmith Shop' makes thousands of 'horse shoe nail rings' (which is spoken of as the "Prairie Diamond")duriong the winter months, what a fun ring to wear on your finger, and then they make a small horse shoe, which they make at each demonstration.

Elder Williams organizes 13 'Wagon Rides' each day (every half hour) from 8 am to 3 pm. Each wagon carries 25 people, is that about 325 people. And then 7 carriage rides a day which takes about 175 people. There are 31 teamsters and 18 head of horses. Over 500 people go on these rides each day during the summer months.

The summer time is here now, so as well as being ready for our guests, Nauvoo is also ready with a beautiful array of colors. What a gorgeous place to be.

Winter Time Past Time

During the Winter Months we get ready for the busy summer and fall. The Sisters and even the Elders in the sites are busy making things for Humanitarian needs. Sister Ludwig goes to St. Louis a couple of times a year delivery our items. This trip she took 27 quilts, 209 knit hats, 6 pair gloves, 35 pair slippers, 24 baby blankets, 87 scarves, 5 bandages, 37 pair of baby booties, toys, baby sleepers etc. , in hopes that this will be of help to someone. These are all done in our spare time and donated by the missionaries.
While in the Family Living Center the Elders make about 5,000 ropes for the summer and then make a rope each demonstration during the day.
We dip candles in the winter, to hand out to each child. A good candle maker in 'Old Nauvoo' could make about 200 a day. They were made in a big pot like this one.

The Elders in the Brick Yard, use the clay from right here in Nauvoo, they form their own bricks and take them to the kiln to bake. These racks of bricks are drying before going to the kiln. Thousands of bricks are made each winter. What a souvenir to take home, a 'Nauvoo Brick'.

Down stairs in the 'Nauvoo Visitor Center' is a little kitchen, it has the most delicious smells come from it. This winter 59,613 little ginger bread boys and girls cookies were made in that little kitchen. Each one for a visitor that enters the doors of 'Scoville Bakery'. There a freezer in the kitchen, 1 in the Family Living Center and 1 in the Scoville Bakery completely filled with these cookies. The sisters thought they had made 60,000 but a few got eaten up.

New missionaries in town and old missionaries leave

We love good missionaries, and today we happen to get 2 wonderful mission couples, of course they are from Idaho. What a marvelous blessing to have the Robertson's and Carlson's serve in Nauvoo. The two Elders will be helping Elder Williams with the teams.

We evened took them down 'Snake Alley', one of the steepest windiest streets in the US. It was built in 1896 out of bricks. And a car can make it down.

Elder and Sister Reber are heading back to Utah, they are dear friends and served in the Mission Presidency with Elder Williams. The other couple is serving in the Presidency now, the Hills from Burley. A dinner on the banks of the Mississippi, as the last farewell to the Rebers.

"The 'Teamster' gets his team"

What a dream for a 'Teamster to be able to go and buy a new team for the Nauvoo Mission. They had 3 teams picked out. They spent the first day looking them over talking to their trainers and then writing down which they would bid on. The next day they went to the auction. They were surprised to be able to buy the #1 team and pay the amount they wanted. The Lord blessed them that day and blessed the Nauvoo Teamsters. The Wagon Rides are the number 1 attraction in Nauvoo. So important to get good horses. You can see all the Amish with their straw hats up in the bleachers.

There was everything to buy, many wagons, buggies, antiques, harnesses etc. The men were in their glory at this sale. Many Amish raise these horses and train them well, there were Amish all over the place.

Elder Williams also liked this red team and the little buckskin team, to small for Nauvoo but just right for home. He loves this team, and they like carrots, with their white mane and tail and their dark dapple grey. Good young horses, they will serve Nauvoo for another 15 years.

Extra's on Rel. Society Day

The Sisters of the Relief Society were taken by horse drawn carriage, of course our driver was Elder Williams, down the streets of 'Old Nauvoo' to the 'Red Brick Store'. During this ride they were told of stories of old Nauvoo, the saints, families and the gospel. It was such a beautiful ride, on the way home we could see the stars and the moon and we sang, "Sister's in Zion". We were sisters in Zion at that time.

I wore a 'Snood', like Eliza R. Snow wore. A 'Snood' is a lacy hair net caught up with ribbon that holds your hair in place. We all laugh at the name. Many sisters in Rendezvous now want me to make them a snood like mine. I think I'll call it the 'Eliza Snood'.

Relief Society Commemoration, Mar. 17, 1842

"Welcome to the Red Brick Store, birthplace of Relief Society. I am Eliza R. Snow and I preserved the records of those first Relief Society meetings in Nauvoo." A group of women led by Sarah Granger Kimball desired to form a charitable society. "I drafted a plan typical of women's groups of the time, and when the Prophet Joseph was consulted, he responded." The Lord desired to organize them after the manner of the Priesthood.

"Under the direction of Joseph Smith with John Taylor and Willard Richards assisting, 20 of us met on March 17, 1842, right here in the 'Red Brick Store'." Emma Smith was nominated as President with Sara Cleveland and Elisabeth Whitney as counselors and Eliza R. Snow as Secretary.

What a marvelous experience to be in the 'Red Brick Store', to participate in the founding of this wonderful organization. To start out with 20 and then to exceed 2 million. What service and love the Relief Society has given through out the years. How many homes & families have felt of their love. The biggest women's organization in the world. I was so excited to be able to be a part of this. I was truly blessed by the Lord, my dear husband and Eliza her self to be able to learn and participate in this production. The Lord and this mission does stretch us beyond what we think we are capable of doing. So many sisters would have loved the opportunity to be in Nauvoo on this special day. We are truly blessed to be here serving a mission at this time.

"Charity never Faileth", charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever.

1842 Relief Society Commemoration

'Welcome to the Red Brick Store, birth place of the Relief Society. I am Eliza R. Snow and I helped to peserve the records of those first Relief Society meetings in Nauvoo. Miss Cook was important at this time in Nauvoo, she and Sara Granger Kimball desired to help the men working on the beautiful Nauvoo temple by making them shirts. I, Eliza R. Snow drew a plan of goernement typical to womens groups of the time, and when the Prophet Joseph was consulted he responded. The Lord wanted something better, he desired a womens group under the direction of the Priesthood. And on March 17, 1842 the Relief Society was organized. Twenty of us met at the upper room of the Red Brick Store. Emma was there along with

A trip to Hannibal

A Preparation day for the Savilles, Rebers and the Williams. We were off to see the famous Hannibal, Mo. town. We have been there before visiting Mark Twain and Tom Sawyer areas but this time we toured an old mansion, that was built in the early 1900, "The Rockcliff Mansion". 30 marvelous rooms, just as they were over 100 years ago. He was a lumber king plus many more identities. They are trying to sell the mansion, we thought if we could all chip in we might could buy a couple of rooms. Elder Saville, Reber and Williams worked together in the mission office, Reber was 2nd councilor, with E/Williams and E/Saville is the scheduler, which makes this whole mission keep on our schedule.

We stopped at "Lover's Leap". A famous spot over looking the Mississippi River. The story goes that a young Indian couple plunged to their death at this spot when her father the chief would not allow them to get married. Their love was so strong that instead of living their lives separately they were willing to die together. We finished the day by going to our favorite eating place in Hannibal, "Lula Bell's". An old 'brothel' that has been turned into a restaurant and theme rooms on the second floor. It is decorated as such, and really has great food.

Serving in Carthage

It always makes a Sunday good if we can serve in Carthage. E/Williams does a great job giving the tour and his testimony in the Jail. What a wonderful Prophet, Joseph Smith and a loving brother, Hyrum. What a love they had for the gospel.

It snowed all day, we drove home about 20 miles an hour, with a dozen cars in front and a dozen behind us, with very low visibility, we were glad to get home. We have had a lot of snow this year. Feb. 28

Sleigh Rides in Old Nauvoo / Exodus

So much snow this year, the big red and green sleigh was brought out and "Chuck and Charlie" were hooked up. The visitors and missionaries loved going to 'Inspiration Point' and going past 'King Follets' well. The old song of "A horse knows the way to carry the sleigh" was really true this year. What a beautiful country side. E/S Williams enjoyed the sleigh ride this day. S/Williams loves her warm furry hood.

Feb. 4, 1846. The Saints leaving Nauvoo, heading West ward. Pass the Temple and down Parley Street, "The Trail of Hope", past the Memorial of Joseph and Brigham statue. S/Williams had the Draper family that she walked for. E/Williams and the teamsters hooked up 5 iron wheeled wagons 12 head of horses and 1 black team and buggy for Brigham Young. The teamsters number 13 right now in the winter time. They work hard and in cold weather.

New Years & Birthday at 'Willard Richards Home'

What a grand place to ring in the New Years and to celebrate E/Williams birthday then to be in the Willard Richards Home. His home has been made into a 'bed and breakfast', the rooms are all theme rooms from the Nauvoo Era. The woman that runs it and also the Temple House Gallery let us have our MTC/New Years Eve Party at this beautiful home. She is so kind to the missionaries and wanted us to enjoy it.

The food was catered, I brought two different kinds of desserts E/Williams favorites (oat meal cake & a RiceKrispie-ice cream, strawberry dessert or what ever you call it). She took us on a tour of the home and told us some history, into all the bedrooms and even down into the big wine cellar, with a few bats. We had a delicious meal, played a few games and then Kim Smith and her son, which is Joseph Smiths GGGG Granddaughter gave us history of Joseph and Emma, sang for us and gave us one of her Cd's. It was a marvelous evening. This is the only night of the whole year we don't have Rendezvous, so we have time for a party. We have only one other couple left from our MTC group but we have combined with two others that are smaller also. It was a special night, one that we will always cherish.

Christmas at E/S Williams

Christmas was fast but such a rewarding one this year. We are blessed, our children and grandchildren are doing great and they have had so many blessings, and we are being blessed also. Just knowing that the Lord loves us is wonderful. Our little Christmas tree and a Nativity Scene that we found in the closet is a sign that it is Christmas. E/Williams was so sweet this year, what a marvelous Christmas gift, what a beautiful remembrance of Nauvoo. A Bronze statue of Emma & Joseph, "Dancing". I love this greatly, I love my husband greatly.

During the month of Christmas our little Nauvoo Post Office is piled high with boxes, and little goodies and cards are stuffed into each little slot for each missionary. We acquired 2 boxes of Idaho potatoes and that is what we gave the missionaries this year with a little poem. They loved them, it was different than so many sweets (but they are good to). E/Henrickson, Sugar City, is our post man. This is the week after Christmas, this is our old fashioned mail room.

Christmas Dinner in Old Nauvoo

Christmas in Nauvoo is such a busy time, it's not filled with shopping or driving to Walmart it is filled with love, service, hugs and testimonies. Christmas in Nauvoo is how a Christmas should be. We served the day before Christmas, and Rendezvous Christmas Eve and served in our sites Christmas Day and had Rendezvous Christmas night. We thought of the dear Saints, years ago and their Christmas's.

Christmas Eve we sang Christmas Carrol's on the Temple Steps, in the rain, with 6 inches of snow. Then we hurried to the Stake Center for hot chocolate and goodies, and then some hurried to do their preforming at the Cultural Hall. Always hugging and laughing and serving all the while. Late into the night we sat up 33 tables to accommodate 266 people for dinner Christmas Day. The tables and decorations were splendid and so many willing to help.

Not a time to call your family, that morning we were busy making 500 rolls by 6:30 am, what a marvelous committee I had, S/Hughes, S/Light, S/Boehmer, S/Veteto. I told them it was like being Rel.Soc. Pres. again, these dear sisters have all been there done it. Our meal consisted of Pork loin, served with an orange-cranberry sauce, sugared glazed carrots & corn, a yummy Waldorf salad, home made rolls, pumpkin dessert and apple pudding, and of course Idaho baked Potatoes. You can't imagine how hard it was to get those. They actually came from Idaho Falls, the "Dutchman Store", (Amish) ordered them for me. It was the hit of the dinner.