I know, I know. I still haven’t written a single thing about the Holidays, our 2 year anniversary, etc... I have a million words just bouncing around in my head begging to be written down. I hold true to my promise that I will give an update of all the above things. Right now, however, I want to do a little tribute to my dear Nauvoo.
For those of you who don’t know, I spent a semester taking classes in Nauvoo, IL (Winter 2006), and it literally changed me and my outlook on life. I left on my trek to Nauvoo on this exact day, January 9, three years ago. Last night, I picked up the January Ensign off the floor, and saw that the page had flipped opened to a beautiful picture of the Nauvoo Temple. Looking at that Temple does something to my soul—fills and enlarges it. I bit back tears as my mind wandered back to the short time I spent there. I call my experience there my “mini-mission.” Away from home, family and friends to a place I had never been, I experienced a love for the people there and the gospel that I cannot relate to anyone with just mere words. My heart is very homesick for Nauvoo today. I want to thank Brother Alyn B. Andrus (read the above quote), and his wife, Gloria, in particular. They did, indeed, love us with such a charitable Christ-like love. Thank you both. I doubt that every one of my Nauvoo peers will come across my blog and see this, although I wish they would. Any who do, I want to thank you for helping to shape the person I have become through our experiences at Nauvoo. I love you all too, and hope that you will remember the great things Nauvoo did for you.
I would like to share part of a testimony I wrote about Nauvoo while I was there. “I will never forget the way I felt inside when my eyes spotted the Temple in the City Beautiful for the first time. I was exhausted from a long day of traveling, already homesick and wondering again why I came here without knowing a single soul. Yet, upon looking at the House of the Lord, I felt a sense of peace come over me that impressed so poignantly to my mind and heart, ‘This is where you are supposed to be, Amber. The Lord wants you here.’ Since then I have held onto that feelings, and knowing that I was here for a reason made all the difference in the experience I’ve had. Never have I felt the Spirit so strong in my life so continuously, day after day, week after week, until it literally became a part of me. Not having the Spirit, I realized, would be like suffocation. In a way, it was overwhelming, as though I was at a great feast. With so much food to try, I couldn’t decide what to eat first, where to go, and what would I miss out on if I ran out of time? It has truly been a four month feast, and one that has filled me with a greater understanding and appreciation for the restoration of the gospel, the dear Prophet Joseph with courage enough to obey the Lord, and a people so faithful that they sacrificed their homes, families and so often their lives, to lead the way for the rest of us to the land of Zion.”
And so Nauvoo, I say farewell to you again in my heart. My heaven won’t be heaven unless there lies there a little piece of Nauvoo.
7 comments:
Amber, that was so beautifully said. I loved the experience and am grateful you wrote down your feelings. Thank you for sharing.
I am tearing up right now as I read this. I feel the same exact way you do, but I could never express it so beautifully. I to refer to Nauvoo as my "mini mission." I loved it so much, but often times wish I would not have taken it for granted. Whenever I hear some talk about Nauvoo or the Prophet Joseph Smith, I feel like I light up. I love talking about my experience. I really can not believe it was 3 years ago today that I embarked on that journey. I want you and everyone else to know that I have a love for you and am so grateful for the things you taught me in the short four months we were a family. I am so glad that we have these blogs to stay in touch.
Your closing line pretty much summed up my feelings better than I ever could; thank you, Amber.
Also, thanks for this trip down memory lane--so many memories, so many lessons, and especially, so many friendships. It was a time I will never forget, and it helped formulate my outlook on life more than almost anything else I have experienced.
One more thing...thanks for that quote from Bro. Andrus. I don't recall reading it before, yet it is so beautifully written and summarizes my feelings so well.
That was by far the most important lesson I could take: not only the priceless friendships gained, but the life-lesson in loving and being loved.
Amber, you write your thoughts so well! Thank you for sharing this with us. And thank YOU for impacting and shaping us as well. Love you so much!
Ah. Amen to so much of that. Like Ben, I especially agree with that last line. Every time I struggle with something about the church I just hang on, knowing that the gospel is perfect, and because of my experience in Nauvoo, knowing how amazing the principles of the gospel are when they are lived so purely. I can only hope the Celestial Kingdom is as much like Zion as Nauvoo was to me. Leaving was so hard, knowing I might not have that much pure love for that many people again in this life. We all knew we would never get to go back to that time and place but I will never forget how it felt to love and be loved so totally and unconditionally. Thank you all for that. I miss and love each of you.
Thanks for sharing Amber. I loved reading all your posts and esp. liked your anniversary tribute. Congrats you guys. You are such great examples. I am glad you guys had a great holiday with family. We sure missed being with you.
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