The first thing I saw as we drove into Historic Nauvoo was the top of the Nauvoo temple. It was so beautiful and going to the Nauvoo temple was a primary reason why we wanted to come on a trip here. We walked into the family search center across from the temple to orient ourselves of where things were and to inquire about going to the Nauvoo temple. We were cheerfully greeted by a couple missionary, who had a map and directions of all we could do. Then we asked about the temple, and the moment we asked I could tell something was wrong.
My heart sunk into despair as the missionary informed us that the Nauvoo Temple was closed the entire week for cleaning. Tears welled up in my eyes. The words she was speaking to me simply couldn't be true and I thought to myself, There is no way that we are not able to go to the temple...I wouldn't have received a certain confirmation to book this trip if it weren't possible for us to go to the temple. And in that moment I knew, that somehow, we would still be able to go to the temple. Bryan and I solemnly walked the temple grounds, somber with the thoughts of not being able to go inside. And then Bryan had the thought, We could help clean the temple. And with that thought, hope entered my heart.
We went to the visitor's center and asked a missionary there who we could talk to about helping to clean the temple this week. She had no idea, but was sure that they already had a staff assigned to do the job. However, she did everything she could to help us; she said we would probably need to talk to the mission president, but it was a brand new mission president, and she didn't have his number yet. She called around, trying to find his phone number, but with no success. My heart did not give up hope. I continually prayed in my heart and mind for the way to open up for us to help clean the temple.
Just as we were leaving the visitors center, the missionary that had been helping us shared our desire to clean the temple with another sister, and this sister had our answer! She told us to go to the Harvest LDS book store and talk to the lady that works there. We immediately went there and found the sweetest lady, Gerri. We explained our great desire to help clean the Nauvoo temple and she told us to bring our recommends to the temple that night and that we could help.
My heart rejoiced at the thought and my testimony grew as I contemplated how the Lord truly is in the details of our lives. I was filled with gratitude that the Lord had granted us this tender mercy. And it occurred to me that God had answered my prayer before I had even asked for anything. It was miraculous to me to think of how we and so many other people had to be in the right place at the right time for us to be able to help clean the Nauvoo temple.
The other thing that is amazing to me is how I was so particular to schedule every detail of our trip. I even reserved tickets to the "Randeveu in Old Nauvoo" (which I didn't need to because it wasn't crowded at all). But the point is I called and checked and scheduled everything. And I did indeed check the Nauvoo temple schedule online, but the part where I checked didn't list the temple being closed. And I almost called the Nauvoo Temple to double check the schedule, but was interrupted and forgot about it until we were on our way to the airport. Had we known the Nauvoo temple would be closed, we would have canceled our trip and missed out on the wonderful experience we were meant to have.
The moment I walked into the Nauvoo temple the spirit was so strong. I was first shown the baptismal font and aside from it being beautiful, the spirit there was incredible. We had the privilege of cleaning the beautiful chandeliers in the terrestrial room and in the sealing rooms. We were shown all the beautiful rooms on this floor...there was beauty everywhere we turned. And what a wonderful, peaceful, beautiful spirit was felt in the celestial room. Upon finishing our cleaning, our sweet friend Gerri showed us the rest of the temple. I was so grateful to be able to see this beautiful temple...the brides room, the assembly hall, and the children's waiting room stand out to me, but even the dressing rooms were beautiful. Truly everywhere we turned, there was beauty to be found. This amazing night concluded as Gerri took us up to the tower. We climbed the beautiful spiral staircase, and then walked all the way up the tower, dusted the bell and went on up to dust right under Moroni's feet. It was so neat! Wow! We never could have planned this. But the Lord planned it...He knew all along that this would be part of our trip. God is in the details of our lives...He has a plan for us, and we don't always know the meaning of things and at times, our hearts sink as we feel everything has gone wrong, when in reality, it has all gone exactly right!
I realize this is a small and simple thing, but the part that is HUGE to me is the testimony that the Lord is truly in the details of our life, and as we go about our lives with faith in the Lord, hope in our hearts, and continual prayer, the plan God has for us unfolds and it is more beautiful then we could imagine or could have ever planned on our own.
"...for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him." 3 Nephi 13:8
"Again, my brothers and sisters, our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance.
I believe that no concern of ours
is too small or insignificant.
The Lord is in
the details of our lives."
Pres. Thomas S. Monson
"Again, my brothers and sisters, our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance.
I believe that no concern of ours
is too small or insignificant.
The Lord is in
the details of our lives."
Pres. Thomas S. Monson
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