Sunday, July 24, 2016 – Sacrament Mtg., Excessive heat and watering, Wagon Rides, Letter from Samantha

At church this morning we only stayed for Sacrament meeting. Sis. Johnson and I had to go back to Carthage early to water all of the planters at the visitor’s center before the guests start arriving at 12:30. We’ve had excessive heat this past week. Everyday there has been an “Excessive Heat Warning.” It has been 95 to 97degrees each day and with 70%+ humidity it feels like 109 to 110 degrees. 

The flowers in the flower beds have deep roots and can go several days without being watered but the planters can’t. Their containers are shallow and they have no reserves. This is only the second time we’ve had to water on Sunday.

When the “Heat Index” (what it feels like) is 105 degrees or above, the Historic Nauvoo wagon rides have to be stopped and the horses returned to their barn. Yesterday the wagon rides had to be stopped a little after noon because the “Heat Index” reaches 105. Today they won’t even start the wagon rides.

While we were in Nauvoo we stopped at the mail room and we discovered MAIL FROM HOME! It was a letter from our oldest granddaughter Samantha. Oh, how sweet it is to receive mail from our family. Thank you Samantha for your letter.

 

This afternoon Sis. Johnson and I had our companion study time together. This time we did something different. I stumbled on a book while searching the internet for something else. It was a book of Pioneer poems and hymns by Eliza R. Snow published in 1856. It is titled: “Poems, Religious, Historical and Political, by Eliza R. Snow.” It was published by F.D. Richards, 36 Islington, Liverpool, England. It has 269 pages of poems and hymns dealing with the history of the saints from 1836 to 1856 but most of which are about the Exodus from Nauvoo and their trek west to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.

This was a wonderful book to read, especially considering that today is “Pioneer Day” when we commemorate the arrival of the Saints in the Valley of the Great Salt Lake. This book also has special meaning to Sis. Johnson and I as we serve in Nauvoo and Carthage about which many of the poems and hymns were written. Sis. Johnson and I are truly blessed to have the privilege to work and serve right here, right now.