Love from Elder and Sister Freestone

[Pat Freestone]

Marvelous Monday to all as we count our blessings and count down to Thanksgiving. So much to be thankful for this week, so many blessings, miracles, and tender mercies from a loving and generous Heavenly Father. 

We seem to be adapting to the flow of our Nauvoo Temple schedule and missionary life. We have a different shift coordinators every day, so each day is just a little different and really quite remarkable. As I walk the hallowed halls of this incredible edifice, I continue to marvel at the design, architecture, interior, and exterior. I find myself forgetting that the temple is a rebuild of the original. The pioneer spirit and sacrifice is imbedded in every aspect of it. I wonder, as so many have, how did the early pioneers built it and how did the modern saints rebuild it to the exact specifications. Here is what I found. 

We are often asked if the Church had the original plans for the Nauvoo Temple.  There were only a couple of photographs that existed, none gave view of all sides of the temple.  Here's the miracle that happened told in the words of Elder Vern Thacker, an LDS missionary in the California Mission in 1946:

"While we were tracting on the outskirts of town one day, we both felt inspired to stop at a small home. A man named Leslie M. Griffin invited us in and told us that he was a descendant of William Weeks, the architect for the Nauvoo LDS Temple."  The missionaries visited him several times to discuss the gospel. Nearing the end of his mission, Elder Thacker made one last visit to Mr. Griffin who "excused himself for a few minutes and went into the back part of his house. He soon returned with a roll of what looked like poster paper about three feet long, ten inches in diameter, and secured with a rubber band. He explained that these were the original plans for the Nauvoo Temple and that they had been handed down in his family from his grandfather William Weeks. He opened the bundle and showed the plans to us. The largest of the papers was a side view of the Temple exterior. Rolled inside of this piece were several other smaller drawings showing various views of the Temple."  He asked Elder Thacker if on his way home he would carry "these plans to the headquarters of the Church in Salt Lake."  The plans were deliver to the Church Historian's Office 28 September 1948, photographed and secure4d in a steel-locked safe."  (Sacred Stone, The Temple at Nauvoo)

Each week as we study Come Follow Me, we marvel that the events took place right here! Like many of you, this week as we study the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum, we will weep for Emma, and the children, for their Mother, Lucy Mack Smith and for all the saints whose lives were shattered. “And yet it was not the end of the divine cause they had embraced. And it was not the end of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. There was more work to do and more revelation that would guide the Church forward. The end of the Prophet’s life was not the end of the work of God.”(Come Follow Me Nov 24-30)

D&C 135:3 Joseph Smith the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in. 

Praise to the Man! Wishing you a wonderful week and a thankful thanksgiving! 

Love to you all, Chris & Pat

Sent from my iPhone

[Pat Freestone]

Hello and Happy Thanksgiving! Ya gotta love this time of year with a special day reserved for family, friends, food, fun, and football! Oh, and gratitude of course! We are so grateful for all of you!!!

Today is our official one month of being missionaries in Nauvoo! Time is passing way too quickly and will kick into hyper speed as the holiday season is already upon us!!!

In preparation for The Festival of Trees and Holiday Boutique for Charity, the Temple Missionaries were asked to design, decorate, and donate a tree. (Another alliteration, unintentional but pretty fun!) On Monday (11/24) a group of us sanded, painted and assembled a Nativity Tree, pictured. We were able to check out all the trees this past Friday evening, they were lovely. I bought a small tree that is perfect for our apartment. In the afternoon we took the Time Machine, actually a wagon ride, through history as well as the historical streets of Nauvoo. It doesn’t take long to find yourself back in the 1800s, dipping candles, weaving rugs, making bricks, or assembling a barrel, all activities that were happening in the Family Living Center. The missionaries dressed in period costume, authenticate the visit to the past. Chris’s Mesa High School friend, Jody Aycock Hatch welcomed us into the Scovil Bakery for a bit of history and a bite of gingerbread cookie. 

Tuesday (11/25) mornings are always busy in the temple because the temple is only open in the morning. Even shrouded in the thick morning fog, the lights from the temple pierced the gloom as a beacon of hope in the darkness. Fog or no fog, the temple is always a symbol of God’s love and greatest blessings for those who will lay aside the things world with hope for a better, as they enter the Lord’s House and find themselves wrapped in His love.(D&C 25:10 And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world⁠, and seek for the things of a better⁠.)  

We took some time after our temple shift to check out the Zion’s Mercantile, across the street from the temple, where we bought a small Nauvoo Inverted Star. It is a replica of the stained glass windows that adorn the 4th floor of the Temple. What a delight it is to be inside the temple and look out through these magnificent star windows! Why is the star inverted? The inquisitive readers will find that story at the end of this email! 

Our temple shift on Wednesday finished at 11am and because we were packed the night before, (of course we were) we were on the road to Naperville by 11:45. When we walked out of the temple, gale-force winds nearly knocked us off our feet. We battled up to 47mph winds across the farmlands of Illinois. Fortunately we traveled the tollway which has fewer semi trucks, to worry about. It is about a 4 hour drive and halfway through snow flurries joining the winds, swirling across the highway! We headed Colette’s advice and took our time, arriving safely at the Goodman’s cozy home safe and sound. It has probably been 10 years since we spent Thanksgiving with Colette and Cooper’s family so it was such a treat!!! Hallee (21) was home from BYU, Taylor (19) brought home pies from Crumble, where he works, and Tilly(12) gave up her room for us. The time with family was wonderful and the food amazing! Colette’s cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving breakfast were delicious and evoked happy memories from the past. Cooper’s incredible smoked turkey, along with rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pies were transported to the their friends the Schaffers who added more delectables to the spread. Their darling little girls had obviously spent hours preparing their home as well as yummy food for us. The girls immediately embraced us and affectionately called us Grandma and Pop-pop! Yeah, we pretty much loved that. It is against missionary rules to hold or hug babies or little children, but we laughed, teased, and enjoyed our arm’s length time together. Our car had a light dusting of snow that night but the next morning on Friday (11/28) the sun was shining, temperature in the teens, as we began our journey back to Nauvoo. A few hours after we arrived home the snow began to fall and continued all night and on into Saturday with 6 to 8 inches on the ground. As promised, the sleigh was hooked up to the horses. We had responsibilities in the temple but many were able to enjoy a glorious sleigh ride. Hopefully the snow will come again tomorrow and we will be part of the lucky ones. The Temple blanketed in snow is an absolutely amazing sight! I guess we are already part of the lucky ones!!!

How wonderful that December begins tomorrow! May we all light to world a make this the most joyous season as the world pauses to commemorate the Greatest Gift, God’s Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Redeemer of all mankind, our Elder Brother!!! 

We send our love to each of you!!!

Chris & Pat ❤️

 Sent from my iPhone