Across the Plains - from West to East

Our travel by automobile across the country from "west" to "east"

covered most of five days with several long 10 hour days.

We can now witness how vast the midlands really are.

It was interesting to view the gradual change from mountainous

Utah to flat prairie land of Wyoming and Nebraska,

then gradually to have low rolling hills appear,

with forestation increasing as we got into Illinois, Iowa, 

Ohio, and parts of Pennsylvania and New York,

as we approached Vermont and New Hampshire.

(This is a painting by Seviers of the settlement

of Winter Quarters where the Latter-Day Saints

staged following their exodus from Nauvoo

before heading to the tops of the mountains.)

 We planned a day stop in Council Bluffs,

attended a (Saturday) temple session,

visited the Visitor Center and enjoyed our day.

Interesting connection for me: years ago - possibly 15 -

I was commissioned to complete a couple of small 

wall quilts to be placed in two Midwest temples

as interior artwork.

One was the Winter Quarters Temple.

If this was a "happily ever after" story,

I would report that we saw that quilt inside.

We did not - it has been removed. 

But it still felt wonderful to be there.

I realize how important artwork that depicts Jesus Christ

is for temple interior selection (my artwork was

 "Roots &  Branches"- a tree of life).

 Inside the visitors center, we talked with

the young sister missionaries, which is always

energizing. This mock up of the Nauvoo temple

reminds us of what the early Saints left behind when they
were forced from their beautiful city.

I have been reading the end of "Saints" history,

and it is heart-breaking to remember what they

sacrificed to receive the endowment of power from God

prior to facing west and the challenges that would

come to them with that relocation.

One final note of interest:

when we attend temple sessions in our home area,

we may NEVER again be asked to serve 

as "witness" couple - one look at Vince's white hair

and the brethren in charge of that invitation will assume we may

be too feeble to perform the standing and kneeling

that is required. But there in Winter Quarters,

because of the small size of the company,

we had that opportunity once again. 
An unexpected blessing.