Love from Elder and Sister Freestone
Pat Freestone
Hello Family and Friends!
January seems to be flying by, not too difficult with wind gusts up to 35 mph. Winds that can plunge a -7 degree temperature to a “feels like” -27. So what does “feels like,” feel like? Glad you ask. Well, you have to keep blinking so your eyelids don’t crystalize, glasses not only fog, they immediately frost and ice over! The cold bores into your forehead like an instant, brain-freeze headache! What would the early Nauvoo saints have given for my polar parka, earmuffs, boots, and thermals?
This week we drove down Parley Street in our nice warm car and stopped at the edge of the Mississippi, which is completely frozen over. It was sobering! We got out of the car and braced the glacial, bone-chilling winds to take a picture. I wanted to weep for these noble saints, but it would have frozen my eyelids closed, you think I’m Helenizing but I’m not!!! This is the very weather that froze the Mississippi solid so the saints could cross over to Montrose on the ice when they were forced to leave Nauvoo on February 4, 1846.
In their honor, the first Saturday of February is the annual Exodus Commemoration, and this year marks the 180th anniversary.
Because we work the Saturday afternoonsession in the Temple, we will have the privilege of participating. We will dress in pioneer clothing, add layers of warm coats, and then to preserve the authenticity of the event, we will cover everything with our pioneer, wool capes. Then, just as the early saints did, everyone will gather outside the Cultural Hall on Main Street for instructions and an encouraging send-off.
The Youth (14+) will march with the Nauvoo Legion and Flag Corps, leading the parade
south on Main Street to Parley and west on Parley to the Pioneer Memorial. Each person is encouraged to research their family tree and find a name of an ancestor who lived in Nauvoo or traveled the Mormon Trail at any point. We will create a badge with our ancestors’ name on one side and their story on the other and wear the badge to honor them and share their story as we walk. I know some of you are already saying, “That’s amazing, (because it is) how do I find a name?” Follow these steps:
- — Log in to your account on FamilySearch.org
- — On Menu, select All Activities (then scroll to “All about your ancestors”)
- — Select Nauvoo Ancestors and/or Pioneer Ancestors and see what names come up. Select and learn more.
Chris and I have found over a dozen ancestors who lived here in Nauvoo. Some helped build the Temple, some knew the Prophet Joseph personally, some walked the Trail of Hope down Parley Street as they left Nauvoo February 4, 1826.
When you find your ancestors name, you might consider wearing their name as you take your own commemorative walk in a place that is sacred and special to you. If you would like your ancestors’ name to be included in the Nauvoo Exodus Commemoration, email them to me before February 7th and I will make sure your dear ones are included and honored in the walk.
As another week begins, we thank you all for your support, prayers, and concern for our health and safety. This past week we have been just on the northern edge of that big doozy of a storm! Temperatures have stayed in the negative range, all week. The storm dropped about 3 inches of snow while we were serving in the Temple last night, it was just enough to make everything clean, white, and really pretty!
Picture taken today right outside of our apartment. If you follow the box that’s behind and between us straight up, that white clock tower is the temple. Our shift is really early on Tuesday mornings and so dark. From our apartment, we can see the light shining on the Temple, so incredible!!!
Jeffrey R. Holland
Truly the temple is like a beacon lighting our way home to Heaven. The temple is the greatest symbol of Jesus Christ on earth!
May our Savior’s Light shine on each of you this week, warming your soul and lighting your path.
Love you all so much, Grandma & Grandpa, Mom & Dad, Chris & Pat