Norm and Marge Nauvoo

We stayed one night in Waterloo, Iowa so that we could go to the John Deere factory to watch how they manufacture large tractors.  We went to the tractor cab assembly plant because we couldn't see the large harvesters as their plant was closed that week.  It was a great tour.  We rode on a tram pulled by a little John Deere tractor as we traveled around the assembly floor of this 48-acre plant to watch the tractors being assembled. It was amazing to watch how well coordinated the whole process was, even though there were many different things going on at the same time.  Many parts of the process are completely automated to be done by "robots" with little human supervision.  For instance, in the section where the green or yellow paint is applied it is done by an automatic sprayer tube that was able to twist and turn to reach all surfaces of the part being painted.  And when it gets done, it knows to go back down and suck up all the excess paint so it won...

When we visited this area in 2008, we were there when the temple was closed so we missed going inside.  Our goal this year was to arrange our trip home so that we could be there for a session.  Even though the session was small, it was wonderful to see this beautiful temple that blesses the lives of the people that live in Omaha, Nebraska and the surrounding area.  One feature that was especially beautiful was the abundance of stained glass windows which contain images significant  from early church history. The Winter Quarters Temple Will we ever master the Selfie? The next morning we went to the Visitor's Center to learn more about what happened here when the pioneers had to stop and camp for the winter.  Amie called my attention to one of our ancestors who was here as well as in Nauvoo.  The father died before they arrived in Nauvoo and Sarah and her daughter and sons were left in a rather desperate situation.  She remarried in order...

Joseph and Emma lived here for about a year. It was here that that in the middle of the night, about 30 men pulled Joseph from his bed and Oliver Cowdrey from his sleeping place, Oliver was staying across the street from the Johnson farm. The mob tarred and feathered them. They broke out one of Joseph’s front teeth while trying to poison him. This raid caused one of the twins recovering from the measles, Joseph and Emma had adopted, to die from exposure. Four of the first five children of Emma and Joseph died before the age of two. It was here that Joseph and Oliver Cowdrey received the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Joseph would see a part of the vision and Oliver would say, “I see it to”, and then described it for the others in the room. Then Oliver would see the next part of the vision, and Joseph would say, “I see it to”, and describe what he was seeing for the others. Brother John Johnson was another wealthy man who the Lord prepared to help establish the c...

About one mile north of the center of Kirtland, lies the Morley Farm.  Brother Isaac Morley and his wife had developed a very good productive farm. He was a long-time resident of Kirkland and was converted to the church when the missionaries came through in 1830 along with many of his friends from the Campbellite church.  He was a strong believer and never wavered in his testimony. He had built a 14 x 14 log schoolhouse for his children and others up on a small hill above his farm.  When Joseph Smith came to Kirtland the schoolhouse was used for many of the meetings held for the community and the church.  The fourth conference of the church was held in this schoolhouse. Isaac Morley was a great  support to the growing church. Whatever was asked of him, he obeyed the Lord.  When Joseph asked him to sell his farm and give the proceeds to the church, he did so. He was called to be first counselor to Bishop Edward Partridge.  He was ordained a patria...