8 - Monday, June 9, 2025 - New Adventures

 

"There's a certain sanctity attached to a dedicated piece of ground. . . .that's where the temple stood; that's where all the hopes of the Saints rested. I believe that ground is sacred ground."  President Gordon B. Hinckley

On Monday a group of temple missionaries went to Cantril, Iowa--a small rural town/village of about 225 people, mostly Mennonites.  The attraction was lunch and shopping at Dutchman's; they had a bit of everything.  There might have been more people shopping than live in the town.  

It was very clean and spacious. . .

it reminded us a bit of going to Buc-ee's in the South.

Celebration of Elder Dale Larsen's birthday.

We are told that the Mennonites use vehicles, but there were also Amish shopping at Dutchman's.  

Not far from Cantril, we saw a sign and made a quick stop at "The Road to Zion."  A very beautiful and peaceful setting now.  Starting from Nauvoo in the late 1840's through the 1860's an exodus of more than 70,000 Mormons passed by here on their way to their 'New Zion' in Utah.  (info on the sign)

On Friday when we finished our weekly grocery shopping in Keokuk, we decided to have a look at the locks on the Upper Mississippi there. Perfect timing.  We arrived just as a tow boat was pushing a string of 15 barges through the locks.  We were grateful for a local man on the platform who "narrated" for us.  Watch the progression:

Just arriving at the lock. Notice the 'helper' tugboat on the right guiding...	In the lock; 3 abreast.  They barely fit.	Moving along in the lock. . .
Clear in the lock--right below us.	The tow boat is still pushing.

All in, and the gate was just raised.

 

 

The water is going down.. .

 

The water is now down 38'.  (I have not moved.)

 

In front of the barges the gate is opening and the barges will be pushed out into the Lower  Mississippi River. 

Notice the large Keokuk Power Plant building in several of the photos.  When it was completed in 1913 it was the largest-capacity single powerhouse electricity-generating plant in the world.  It is now the largest privately owned and operated dam and hydroelectric generating plant on the Mississippi River. 

Later that evening we attended the "Sunset By the Mississippi" production.

The Nauvoo Brass Band--17 VERY talented musicians.	The Nauvoo Performing Missionaries (NPM's) 20 young performers danced and sang and told the story of Nauvoo with  such enthusiasm and energy!!!
They brought the children up close to the stage and told a story especially for them.	The Nauvoo Brass Band performs.

Taken on Sunday, June 8th next to the church.  We thought we would watch the corn grow. 

We ended our Sabbath by attending  a special, sacred "Love of the Savior" presentation. It was the same performing missionaries and brass band turned orchestra as they told of sacred experiences showing the Savior's love in early Nauvoo.  Beautiful hymns and Christian music--"...Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see. Bow the knee..."  and "Is He worthy? Of all the blessing and honor and glory is He worthy? Is He worthy? Is He worthy of this? He is?"

See you next week....