Elder & Sister Bevan in Nauvoo 2013

Today is Mother’s Day, and the Temple Presidency presented each sister with a gorgeous long stemmed red rose. They expressed their love and appreciation for our influence.

I’ve been pleased to talk with all of our kids. Today is Matt Dial’s “homecoming” talk in Sacrament Meeting. I’m sure there will be many people and much good food at the Dial home today. John gave me a nice apron (“bless our home”) from the local souvenir shop for Mother’s Day. His sweet card said that not only was I a wonderful Mother but that I was the Mother of wonderful Mothers. We are blessed to have daughters and daughters-in-law who are great mothers.

It’s been a good week in the Temple. There seem to be more visitors, especially on weekends. A family with seven beautiful children from 3-19 was sealed last week. A young woman of around 30 was here with her Mother from Logan, Utah. She said this trip was a special “Mother’s Day” celebration. They flew into Kansas City – went to that Temple and Independence, rented a car and drove to Nauvoo. They were having a wonderful, memorable time together – just the two of them.

We have many workers from the Nauvoo Temple District who come once a week or twice a month to work. I met Sister Forrest yesterday from the Quad City area – 2 ½ hours away. She is 91 years old and has served in the temple since it was dedicated. She drives her own car but usually has another worker to share driving time. She’s very sharp and able to do anything she’s assigned.

The young Sister Missionaries often come to the Temple on their P days. I was able to meet and visit with Sister Petrucek, who was adopted from India when she was very young by a Polish couple in Wisconsin, where she was raised. She is an effective missionary and really stands out in the crowd of young Sisters who sit on the stand in our early Sacrament meetings on Sundays. She served her proselyting time during the winter in South Carolina and loved it.

John loves to drive on our P days. This week we made a large circle of over 200 miles, ending up in Quincy, where we had a nice dinner and then crossed the bridge over the Mississippi into Missouri. It was the people of Quincy who were so good to the Saints when they crossed the river in 1839. A few years ago, the Tabernacle Choir gave a performance in Quincy. Following the performance, President Hinckley presented a check of $75,000 (proceeds from ticket sales) to the mayor of Quincy in a gesture of appreciation for the kindnesses shown to the Saints.

On our drive, we stopped in Hamilton (about 15 miles away) to check out the Deer Run Golf Course. John went in and asked about the course, rates, etc. ($12 with a cart for 9 holes). The man said, “Just take a cart and check out the course.” So we had a fun golf cart tour of the course – beautiful, open country – rolling hills. I think John had almost as much fun as if he’d been playing the course. We will go back on a P day soon.

President Condie had some interesting news for us this week. Susan Easton Black, one of the premier historians of the Nauvoo era, is coming to Nauvoo with her new husband George Durrant in August for a one year mission. He said George Durrant visited her Church History class a few months after her husband had passed away. She asked him to give the opening prayer. His wife had died of cancer a few years before. Before he gave the prayer, he told the class, “I love your teacher. She and I have had offices next to each other for many years. Today I’m asking her to be my wife.” Can you imagine? Anyhow they were married for time in the Mt. Timpanogas Temple.

We are soaking up the spirit and history of Nauvoo. We plan to visit one or two of the historical sites at a time before the huge crowds come. We have seen the senior site couples’ production of “Rendezvous” – Nonie Sorensen’s creation – it’s good fun. Other programs are just beginning to rehearse. We feel so blessed to be here!

I’m sending a couple of photos. Since the former Catholic Girls’ School has been torn down, there is an gorgeous view from the Temple to the Mississippi. Across from the Temple are the statues of Joseph and Hyrum as they left for Carthage on that fateful day in June, 1844. John got a nice shot with the sunset behind.