Week 13--September 23 to September 29, 2013

Hello again:

Another fantastic week!!  We are so very excited about the things that we got to do this past week and we are behind this week so this news is from a week and a half ago.  Sorry.  We just keep getting busier and busier.  What a great life!

Elder Oak's at Joseph Smith hearings

Elder Dallen Oaks was here again.  This time it was for a very interesting event.  Some of you might have heard about "the games lawyers play" here in Illinois.  Each year they get together and retry a case from the past.  Last year they retried Mary Todd Lincoln.   Apparently she was put into an institution because of some of her erratic behaviors.  The state of Illinois had a mock  trial to determine if her time in the asylum for insanity was legal based on current Illinois law.  Anyway, they found her not guilty.  So this year was the trial of Joseph Smith.  Elder Oaks is the defense lawyer for the case.  Monday night he presented his case to us here in Nauvoo.  His presentation was called "Behind the Extraditions: Joseph Smith, the Man and the Prophet".  There was a very nice reception in the Women's Garden.  Many mayors and government officials and lawyers from the state of Illinois were here.   The next day was the reenactment of the trial in Springfield,  Ill.  Many of the missionaries here in Nauvoo went to the trial (the ones who had their preparation day on Tuesday).  They said the evidence was overwhelmingly in favor of Joseph Smith.  I'll let you know the verdict when we hear.  They said that the outcome will change what is written in the textbooks here in Illinois.    It was extremely interesting to be part of this event.

Illinois Governor John Wood Mansion in Quincy

We spent our Preparation Day in Quincy.  We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Mississippi River.  It was lovely.  Then we went to the John Wood Governor Mansion and took the tour.  It was fun and we saw some interesting things including a room called "The Lincoln Room"  where the original keys to the Nauvoo temple are displayed. They were given to a man for safe keeping because he had helped the Saints, handed down through his family and then donated to the Museum in Quincy.   In the Nauvoo Temple is a set of duplicated keys and a few of the originals that the church has. 

John Wood with piano shipped to Illinois from Europe

original keys to the Nauvoo Temple

doll collection from all over the world.  (Notice the porcelain dolls on the table)

On our way home that day, we went to Warsaw and saw the town where many of the men from the mob that Killed Joseph and Hyrum lived.  The newspaper office is still in downtown Warsaw.  Sorry about the reflection of me taking the picture and the buildings behind me.  If you could see into this Warsaw Signal window, you would see complete devastation of the inside.  The roof has collapsed, the floor has collapsed and the printing machines are in the rubble.  It's the newspaper that printed all the lies about Joseph and stirred up the mobs and caused the hatred of the Saints in Nauvoo.  All in all the whole little town is sad.  It's dirty, the properties are unkept and the feeling is dreary. 

front window of the Warsaw Signal with reflection of buildings across the street.

Warsaw Signal building (pink front)

On Wednesday, we had the honor of serving at the Carthage Jail.  What a humbling experience to be giving the tour of this sacred place.  For a few hours the site managers were off, and we with another couple who were there for the first time, (the four of us being new)  were there alone to give the tours and give testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith and tell the story.  It was a humbling experience.  We found that we were not alone,  The Holy Ghost was there with us.  We loved being there and hope we get the opportunity to be at Carthage again soon. 

Carthage Jail.  (the upper window above the well is where the Prophet Joseph fell from when he was shot)



Martyrdom Room

Carthage Visitors Center

Flowers at Carthage



Cicada bugs.  They make lots of noise and in some parts of the world people eat them.

On my last three assignments to the Family Living Center I have been working on this piece quilt.  I sewed the pieces together and felt quite proud of myself because I have never made a piece quilt before.  We decided to cut it in two pieces and make two lap quilts to donate to the Assisted Living Home.  The next time I am assigned there I hope to finish one of them. 

Sister Pincock with the quilt she sewed

dinner just before the Women's Conference

On Saturday night, the women met before our Conference broadcast and had a very nice dinner.  This is the cultural hall at our Church building which we share with the two wards here in Nauvoo.  The Women's broadcast was televised in the chapel after the dinner, but it was our casts turn to do Rendezvous and so we had to leave early to do that.  We have a rigorous schedule but it is so fun.  This week we were given new parts in Rendezvous.  We will be the lead couple in a vignette called "Noah's Chorus".  It's very  musical and rhythm challenging.  Elder Pincock  has many  more parts than I do.  But I received another call to play my first song in Rendezvous.  It's for a duet, done by a couple in one of the vignettes.  It's called "Farewell Nauvoo"  and it's a very sad part of the play.  I start on Monday, so please pray for me. 
  

It's been a very busy and rewarding week.  We often think of our family and friends at home and miss you very much.  I want to leave you with a thought that we use in our family when we get together for family dinners and fun.   It's part of our Family Motto from 11 Nephi 1:21    "And be determined in one heart and one mind, united in all things."   May we all be determined to unite in our cause to live the commandments and be worthy to return to live with our Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ.   Hope  you all have a happy and safe week.  We love you.

E/S Pincock

Mom and Dad

Grandma and Grandpa

Aunt, Uncle and Friend