Katie & Gary's Family Visit Nauvoo

Dear Family and Friends,

This has been a marvelous week. Katie, Gary, Broox, Cooper, Mackayla, and Sue McGiven (Gary's Mom) were able to come share Nauvoo with us. It was so great to let them feel the spirit of Nauvoo. Gary, Katie, Broox and Sue were able to go to the temple.  We also went on a wagon ride, carriage ride, many sites including  Carthage. It was fun to share and be the missionaries with them in some of the places like Bob on the band wagon and carriage, and I was in the Brigham Young home and Lucy Mack Smith home.

Nauvoo's very own Band Wagon!

Look who's driving the Band Wagon!

Yes, that' Elder Long (AKA Grandpa Long)

They were also able to see the play "Rendezvous." I think they were surprised to see their Grandpa and Grandma in a play singing, dancing, and acting.   

"Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo"

Another Nauvoo miracle,  Katie and her family made it to church early even though it starts at 7:50 AM.  They were all there by 7:40.  It can happen.  So proud of you Katie!

We also ran into Jake Ure and his family.  So delightful to see friends and neighbors.

We are loving our mission and love to see family and friends. (Hint, hint) 

Got to run. We keep busy and happy.

The Lord's work moves forward.  It is true. I know that and love it!

Love,

Elder and Sister Long

Done for the Week by Elder Long

Done for the week! Heading to the pasture. It's neat to watch 17 draft horses walk down the street with very little guidance. The nighttime pasture is rotated each night, so the horses don't even go the same direction each night.

I drove the new three-year-old team this afternoon. So Sweet, you'd think they were 12. The Amish guy is a great trainer. I had them on a cart and pivoted them 180 degrees in the street by stepping over. They did exactly what I asked them to do.

~Elder Bob Long

Elder Bob Long driving the horses back to the pasture

Serving & Baking Beehive Brick Oven Bread

Hello Everyone,

Hope you have had a good week. My how they fly! Part of that could be because I didn't send an email until Tuesday this week.

I served in the Brigham Young home, print shop, Lucy Mack home, John Taylor home, and the Family Living Center.  We give school tours but of course no religion is taught.  Many times the students go home and bring their whole family back which is what is best anyway.  The kids are very well behaved and grateful to come to Nauvoo.  I think it would be a great field trip.

While taking some school kids through the John Taylor home, some of them commented that he seemed to be a very kind man.  I'm glad they can feel the spirit of the home. I love hearing about these great, humble people.  They were so kind and shared all they had with each other. 

Elder Long has great experiences with those who go on carriage rides, wagon rides, and oxen rides. He comes home so happy and usually a story about some cute little kids that just loved the rides.  He is learning how difficult it can be at times to drive the wagons through unexpected obstacles, like a cement truck that can't read the "Do Not Enter" signs. He said that it's amazing how much responsibility you feel driving loads of people, keeping them safe,  and ready to  understand all that is being taught.  He loves every minute though.

I baked my first batch of beehive brick oven bread.  It's quite the process for the Elders to get the fire going and then the final ashes out of the oven before the bread goes in.  While that is happening , the bread is being made and rises.  It takes about 2 hours for everything to be ready to go in the oven.  The first half of the  batch (4 loaves) bakes for about 20 minutes.  The second half of that  batch (4 loaves)  takes about 30 minutes because the oven has cooled.  During the summer, to have enough bread for the high volume of visitors, a second and sometimes third batch of bread is made, totaling up to 24 loaves a day.  The oven has to be reheated in between batches.

We had mission training/conference this week with Elder Zwick of the seventy.  It was very inspiring and he let us know that we are God's tools to let others know and come to Christ. We were also told the process by which missionaries are assigned to the various missions.  Each missionary goes where the Lord wants and needs them.  I am grateful and honored to be in Nauvoo.

We love serving here and can feel hearts being touched each day.  The Lord knows and loves each of his children and knows each of us by name. It's a rich and wonderful adventure being here.  We love sharing it each week by email and would love to see you come to Nauvoo.

This is the Lord's work and Joseph Smith is the prophet that brought it back to the earth for our salvation.

Love, Elder and Sister Long

My First Batch of Bread in the Beehive Brick Oven!

Baking Beehive Oven Bread is quite the process! It takes two hours to heat the brick oven from the fire that's built in it and then removed. We even use a proofing box. The bread is delicious!



Text Messages:

Sue Gentry: Yummy!

Katie Long McGiven: I wish you could zap some this way! That looks so good right now!

Kristen Long Lemon: Looks great! (But I'm feeling a bit torn about its validity. You're not even wearing oven mitts.) hahaha! JK I bet it's great!

Sister Maxine Long's reply: Actually took everything off for the picture: hair net, sleeve protectors, white apron. The bread is delicious, and it's custom that you try it!

Katie: This better be a promise for visitors...I'm already salivating. ;)

Comment from (801) 380-6671:
You look like a real frontier baker. The bread looks delicious!

Historical Buildings & Shops in Nauvoo

Scovil Bakery

John Taylor Home

Nauvoo Sunshine

Dear Family and Friends,

I'm a little late on the email this week because I talked to my great kids on Mother's Day.  It was wonderful to hear how they're doing and feel their love. Of course, as Senior missionaries we can call at other times, but it's nice to have a dedicated time to share.

We are busier than ever and the whole of Nauvoo is preparing for the summer. Flowers are being planted, sidewalks being poured, and just that general "getting ready for company". Over 50,00 people will be here.  That's a big deal.   The young performing missionaries have arrived, the Nauvoo brass band, and the young single sister missionaries. Wow they work hard! Practices are often 12 hours a day to get ready for all the shows and the pageant people are still to come!

Tonight we have practice with the young performers to set "Sunset By the Mississippi" in place. Senior missionaries have been practicing since the middle of March, 2 nights a week for 1 1/2 hours each practice. It will be fun to put it altogether. Performances start Memorial Day weekend. There are 3 different senior casts. That's how we can alternate "Sunset" and the play "Rendezvous".

I've got to get back to the Print Shop. I've been on a lunch break. The sights are getting busy so I'd hate to be late.

There is much good that comes from Nauvoo. It's rewarding to be a small part of this great work. It's true what is said about each part being important. No one could do all this alone.

The church is true. I know it and love it. Forever is where I want to be with all of you and the Savior.

Love,

Elder and Sister Long

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Love, Karen

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there! This is definitely the hardest and most rewarding job I've ever had. Shout out to my incredibly hardworking mom. I had no idea the amount of work you did while I was growing up. Now that I'm getting a taste by taking care of your home. I am truly humbled. You are amazing! Also, a shout out to my busy, crazy, energetic, 3 boys. I love you more than you'll ever know! #feelingincrediblyblessed #happymothersday

Happy Mother's Day! From Kimi & Matt's Family

Happy Mother's Day! We love you so much!

Visit from Morgan School District!

The Morgan school district purchased a new bus somewhere near Nauvoo and sent the bus driver from Utah to pick it up. What a FUN surprise when my friends from Morgan came to Nauvoo and found me at the Scolville bakery. Small world! :)

Nauvoo News

Dear Family and Friends,

We've been on our mission for 2 months as of yesterday. Wow it's hard to believe how much we've learned in that short amount of time. I honestly didn't know the learning curve would be so steep.

Today at church was an amazing experience. The young performing missionaries came this week along with the young single sisters that come just for the summer months. The chapel was completely full and half way back through the cultural hall. If you aren't at least 15 minutes early in Nauvoo, you're late. Everyone is seated, listening to the prelude music, and in deep thought. The opening song sounds like a choir. Everyone sings! The sacrament is passed with great reverence. The mission president wants just 8 men to pass so it takes at least 20 minutes , giving time to really enjoy this sacred ordinance. It was fast and testimony meeting and the testimonies borne were powerful. If you don't run up and get in line, you won't have a chance to testify. Each person bears strong witness of the Savior and his restored church. What a privilege to be so spiritually filled.

The temple is just 5 minutes from our home. It's wonderful to take advantage and go as often as possible. I am still amazed that the saints built this magnificent structure when they had so little in the way of worldly needs. They had to have a firm conviction of the heavenly blessings they could have through the temple.

Today I was thinking about how members are so necessary to help nonmembers find Christ's church. Here in Nauvoo, the Lord drops his children right in our hands but we too have the help from members. This time it just happens to be members from the other side of the veil. I just can't begin to explain how the spirit of Nauvoo is so strong and real. I know the people who lived here have strengthened my convictions and testimony. Joseph Smith is a prophet and the Lord guided him in all he was able to do. There are so many other early saints that gave their all, for us to have the blessings we have today.

We are keeping busy. I am loving being in the sights. Elder Long loves the horses, oxen, and messages he shares.

Elder Long's lassoing skills!

We are both performing in "Rendezvous In Nauvoo" and practicing for "Sunset By the Mississippi". It keeps us fit. Everyone is hustling about getting ready for summer. We've been told it's crazier than you can imagine.

We rode our bikes 6 miles on Friday. I love my new bike. I am still walking each morning about 2 1/2 miles. Elder Long gets plenty of exercise at the barn and with the wagons.

We love you all,
Elder and Sister Long

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Rendezvous In Nauvoo

This delightful musical comedy, performed by senior tour guides, tells the story of the Latter-day Saints who built Nauvoo in the 1840′s, and then had to leave the city they loved.

Will George find the peace and quiet he needs?
Will Abigail ever get a pickle barrel?
Will horses with wings ever leave Nauvoo?

Find out the answers and come and see the story, laugh, ponder and shed a tear for Old Nauvoo. 

LOCATION: Cultural Hall

APPROXIMATE LENGTH: 60 min

SHOW TIMES: Year round, Monday – Saturday at 7:00 pm   Second show at 8:15 if needed

Scene from Rendezvous in Nauvoo

Scene from Rendezvous in Nauvoo

Sunset By the Mississippi

“Sunset by the Mississippi” invites you to sit back for some old-fashioned, toe-tapping fun in this one-hour variety show, performed as the sun sets over the Mississippi River. The show runs during the Summer everyday.  Preshow starts at 6:30pm, Sunsets starts at 7:00pm, except Sunday.   May 27 - August 12, 2017

Sunset by the Mississippi

Beautiful Evening down by the Mississippi