Alright so this post has been a week in the making.
As all of you know last week I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Nauvoo, Illinois for EFY (Especially For Youth), and what a blessing it was. Last year I was extremely fortunate to go to Fiji for HEFY (Humanitarian Experience For Youth) and I thought that no other EFY could ever surpass the experience and spiritual growth that I had there.
In some ways I was correct; there is nothing like serving your fellow man and the bond of friendship and love that is created between the one serving and the one receiving the service, especially when you are immersed in another country and culture. Most think that it is the one receiving the service that gets the greatest benefits, but to me it is the one giving the service that truly receives the greatest benefits and lessons. There is nothing like service to bring you closer to God and understand the love that He has for each and every one of us. Not that I had exactly forgotten this, but it reintegrated itself within me while in Nauvoo.
I didn't head to EFY with negative thoughts, I was nervous of course, but I didn't go in thinking that I wouldn't get anything out of it. I just wasn't prepared, I hadn't prepared myself for the wonders and amazements that were to meet me there.
There is a spirit in Nauvoo, the Saints are still there, and in many ways I feel like they never left. They lived in Nauvoo for only seven short years, their prophet was martyred while they lived there, they dedicated their glorious temple and then had to leave it the same day. The faith that these people had is beyond my comprehension; I hope that if I had been one among them that I would have had the courage to exercise half as much faith as they did.
This EFY was a Special "Extended" EFY, meaning that we only had one day of classes, two teachers, and one dance, but we got to tour around and see our church's history up close and very personal. Part of the extension was that we were able to do baptisms for the dead in the beautiful and wonderful Nauvoo temple. (I have to say that the Nauvoo temple has stolen my heart, sorry New Port.) Before I left Dad found three names for me to do in the temple, two female and one male. Earlier that day I had fallen and scraped up my knee and gotten some pretty major blisters on my feet, it was looking like a rough day. But when we walked (limped) to the temple there was something special in the air. I've never done family names before and this was extremely special for me. After my company had changed into our baptismal clothes the temple president spoke to us, it was then that I began to feel the spirit. I knew that these two women were with me. While in the confirmation room I could feel them so strongly that I began to cry (the only one in the room crying by the way). I was second to be confirmed, but since I had names I was the first to be baptised. As I walked towards the font I was completely overcome and couldn't speak, my friend Africa, assuming something was wrong, asked me what the matter was. One of the temple workers there knew exactly what I was feeling, and came over and gave me a hug. When I entered the font and was baptised for them I knew that they were happy. When I was confirmed at the waters edge I was so overcome with the spirits of these two women that I could barely contain myself. The temple worker noted that these weren't close relatives, one being from the 1700s, the other from the 1500s. Still I felt them within me, their long wait was finally over and they were full of joy. Here's an excerpt from my journal right after: "Now several minutes after my marvelous experience, I suddenly find myself very tired. I know that the spirits of my ancestors have left and returned to heaven. But they are happy, I know it. It is quite a tired though, being so full of the spirit and then to have it lessened as I feel them leave. It is a happy exhaustion though, I feel truly touched, dare I say changed. There is a sweet spirit here in the Nauvoo temple, the saints are still here with it; I don't think that they ever truly left. Joseph and Hyrum never saw the completed temple, but I believe that they love this one and are so happy to see us coming and doing the work. Even in death there still is hope and love. Even in death you can move forward."
Suffice to say it was a very spiritual and beneficial moment for me personally. Before the temple we were able to take a horse drawn carriage ride through part of Nauvoo. This is when it began to truly hit me, I was in NAUVOO. Joseph walked these streets, rode these hills, sought inspiration in this forest, was shot, killed, and martyred in this room. The following day we took a bus to Carthage and the spirit is there. It is not a happy place but it is full. It was strange to walk the stairs the mob ran, it was sickening to see the bullet hole in the original door; my whole company felt the spirit there and as we left the house we all found a place on the grounds and knelt and prayed. Twenty-two kids kneeling in prayer in public, it was a beautiful sight; then we gathered together and sang Praise to the Man. I have always had a love for the Prophet Joseph, but my love has been strengthen and emboldened by this experience.
Sorry for such a long post, but I wanted to share with you some of my experiences while in Nauvoo and to continue to show you the depth of my testimony in this Church. I love you all very much and am so grateful that we can be together forever.
I Love you
