Burns in Nauvoo: Oh, My Heart!

August 15, 2021

As the sun sets on the Mississippi, (YPM friends, did you sing that line?) I am reminded of the beautiful world that a loving Heavenly Father created for me and for you! In all of our busyness and all of the chaos in this world, I hope that we can all take a few minutes to appreciate the beauty around us and enjoy a few minutes of peace and love!

Tuesday night was the final "Sunset on the Mississippi" for many of the YPMs. We were able to attend it and say goodbye to many of them. There were a lot of hugs and tears. They were so sweaty and I didn't care! I'll take all of the sweaty hugs I can get from them! I love these kids and will miss them! Wednesday morning, the YPMs loaded the bus and headed to the airport to return home. A piece of my heart left with them! I have loved getting to know these amazing young adults and will miss seeing them around and being with them. They have brought so much fun, music, laughter and such a great spirit to Nauvoo this summer! I will miss them! Before they left, many of the missionaries met them in the parking lot and gave them a "Hoorah, hoorah, hoorah for Israel'' shout and sang "God Be with You Till We Meet Again". The YPMs also sang us a last song before they loaded the bus. I was again able to hug and say goodbye to some of them.

Along with the YPMs leaving, came a reminder that all to soon, our YSMs will be leaving. Those that will be going out-bound received their calls to their new areas.

Saturday evening, Elder Burns and I were privileged to clean the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds. I know some might think, what? privileged to clean a cemetery? Yes! As I cleaned the statue of the parents, a brother and a small baby, gathering together as they buried a child, I felt such a beautiful spirit. It's hard to describe the feelings that came over me, as I thought of my own pioneer ancestors who buried their own babies, children, parents and spouses and of modern day pioneers who have done the same. I have a few ancestors buried in this cemetery, although I don't know where since most of the headstones have been destroyed with time. I love the peace and beauty of this sacred place. I truly was cleaning sacred grounds.

Earlier Saturday evening, we gathered for a condo dinner, outside on the grass. It was a beautiful evening. We had a variety of salads and Sister Koop made a special gluten-free pasta salad for me. You know, sometimes it's the small things that bring happiness and joy. That special effort on her part will be remembered.

We had rain and more rain this week which meant several days of pot washing! You'd think by now that we'd be done with them, but nope! There are lots and lots of them and Richard keeps finding more but the great part is, we have an amazing group of garden/grounds Sisters and Elder that makes it fun and enjoyable, even if it is tedious! Speaking of garden Sisters, Sister Wood and Sister Coffman helped me cut back the lemon balm at Lyon Drug. I'll tell you what - six hands sure make faster work than just my two! I sure appreciate their help!

👈Our pot washing station in the B Building

The lemon balm - before, during and after!

From Elder Burns: So this week we had one of our FM employees run the backhoe into the back of this trailer and bent the door all up. So when that happens it comes to me. I ended up cutting the bed section out, replacing the bed section with steel after I straightened the door. Welding the pieces in place. Straightening the hinges. And straightening the wall of the trailer so that the doors would swing correctly. Once I got all that accomplished, I was then able to paint it and it is now ready to be used again. It seems like there are a lot of things that happened in Nauvoo that are mistakes but yet they get fixed by me.

This other picture is of the trailer that I am closing in. It is our leaf blower trailer. on the front of the trailer is the leaf blower that comes out of the big shoot on top and will go into the trailer with all the leaves that it sucks up. It is a dump trailer, so that when it is full we can take it to the area outback where we burn the leaves and dump it into the burn pile.

I know this letter is long, but I really want to share this while it is fresh in my mind. We had an amazing training/devotional tonight that was presented by President Rizley. He spoke of the things that happened in Nauvoo and the surrounding areas after the martyrdom and before the saints left in 1846. It was titled "1845 the lost year". In it, he mentioned Ramus, which was settled by the Johnson family and another family that I don't remember the name of. After the meeting, I told President Rizley that my Johnson ancestors were the Johnson's that settled Ramus. He asked me which one and I told him it was Joel Hills Johnson - my 4th great-grandpa. He then told me that Joel had baptized his Merrill family and that without Joel, he wouldn't be here in Nauvoo today. He said that the Merrill family were farmers in Carthage and that Joel had not been called as a missionary but felt the spirit direct him to them, so he went and taught them and they joined. Isn't that cool! Then, to make it better, Sister Brown was there and she told me that her ancestors were also taught and baptized by Joel!!! I will call that a Nauvoo tender mercy! I'm so grateful for my ancestors and the faith and testimony that they had. I have some strong shoulders to stand upon - I know they are close by!

Love you all!

Sister Burns

Elder Doug and Sister Jill Burns

975 Young Street

Nauvoo, IL 62354

burnsinnauvoo.blogspot.com