Nauvoo Arrival Center

 I am glad the arrival center is there.  I had travelled all day from Indiana to Nauvoo, and needed a place to change my shirt and freshen up a little before attending the temple.  This is a sitting area across from the temple.  I was much more prepared for the temple.  There are bathrooms and art work.

Nauvoo Temple

 Nauvoo is very much an historical town.  It is appropriate that the Nauvoo Temple has been rebuilt.  And even though Moroni was put vertical rather than horizontal as in the original temple, it looks very much like the original temple which was burned as the Saints were leaving Nauvoo.  This temple is unique with a large assembly hall on the bottom floor and then the dressing room and endowment rooms are upstairs.

Caleb's Temple Trip, Nauvoo

Sister Jensen posts a couple pictures of the missionaries at the temple trip before the missionaries return home.  Here is Caleb with the group of returning missionaries.  Sister Jensen said, "These pictures are from our August temple trip for those missionaries who departed August 14. They are all wonderful missionaries! We miss them. Thank you parents!!! We love them."  I really know Caleb was loved in Iowa, not only by his mission President and wife, but also by many in the church community in Iowa.  Caleb also formed many loving relationships with companions and other missionaries.  So we as parents want to thank all those who touched Caleb in any way during these two years.

Nauvoo Day One

The word to summarize the first day in Nauvoo was “hot.”  However this didn’t keep us from enjoying ourselves.  We left Des Moines pretty early, and made a quick stop in Iowa City along our way.  We checked out the Handcart Park there.  We were ready for lunch when we arrived in Burlington, and Caleb took us to one of his favorite places, Wendy’s. 

Burlington Bridge

The cool barn

soy

The bridge in Burlington is really cool, and is featured on the Iowa map.  We stopped on our way South to Nauvoo for a barn picture.  Then to Nauvoo, where we started with the Visitor Center, and a movie about Joseph and what happened in Nauvoo.  From there we visited the Joseph Smith Home, the Nauvoo House (never finished but the materials used to make a comfortable home.) and Emma Smith’s home.  This included the Smith family plot with the bodies of Hyrum, Emma and Joseph.

Nauvoo House

as intended

Mansion House

Nauvoo store, upstairs where first relief society held

We also caught the blacksmith shop and the Wheelwright.  Being in the Blacksmith shop on a hot day would be murder.  It was interesting to see how the wheels were made, and how they put on the out tire.  We all came away with a diamond ring.  Then a trip to the Nauvoo gravesite, which was 2 miles outside of town.  I have since figured it would have been in town, as Nauvoo once had 14,000 residents and competed with Chicago for the most populated city in Illinois.

The highlight of our first day was going through the temple.  It was quite the experience.  This temple interior is dominated by the large assembly room on the first floor.  We attended the session with the Burlington Ward and met many friends of Caleb as this was where he was last serving.

Caleb's last letter and pictures, Nauvoo and Carthage

Subject: We had a wonderful week!

Family,

Life is so great! We have seen so many miracles that they are numberless. 

I can't tell you how excited I am for what the future holds. 

Good news! Elder Broadbent and I will be staying together! Which means we will probably be together my last transfer as well! Which also means that besides Elder Standage he will be my second three transfer companion!

It's gonna be awesome. He is going to keep pushin me to finish strong.

So I must admit... Mama sent me a Birthday package and I definitely opened it early. And it was so funny. The stuff that was in there was out of control! 

I played a lil dress up on Sunday night while Elder BBent was collecting key indicators from the zone. And let me tell ya... the pictures were out of control funny. ahaha. I have also recently realized that I am an awful yoyo'er and that fake mustaches are like coolest things ever. aha. Anyways, it was a fun little pre birthday celebration. I was also blowing those little Birthday horn things in Elder Broadbents ears and he was probably so tired of me. aha. Anyways,

Thanks for the package mama! 

Life as a missionary is so good. 

Today during studies I felt prompted to set goals for the last two transfers of my mission. I just feel like I need to push myself harder in order to experience the most growth possible. So I was able to set goals during my studies and I am pretty excited to do all that I can to achieve them. Father in Heaven will most definitely have to help me. But I know that they will benefit me and my spiritual growth. I am excited for the transfers ahead. 

I have a firm testimony that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that because of the Spirit that I feel as I read the Book of Mormon. The power in that book is beyond what words can describe. Of course it is true. If not, where did it come from? the only source could be a loving Father in Heaven. If you question your testimony of the restored gospel, please talk to a missionary. They can help. 

I love each of you. Thanks for all that you do for me. I can't believe I will be twenty tomorrow. That's old enough to like buy my own car or something! aha. I wish time would slow down. 

I am excited to leave it all on the field. The mission field that is.

Love,

Elder Caleb James Wardle

Caleb with Fayette District in Nauvoo

Fayette District and Elder Davis and his mom at Nauvoo Temple

Fayette District with Elder Davis at Nauvoo Temple

The Fayette District and Brother Christensen at Nauvoo Temple  l-r Elder Wardle, Elder Mortenson, Elder Bagshaw, Elder Mattson, Elder Davis, Elder Wood, Elder MacDonald, Brother Christensen in front

Fayette District and Brother Christensen at Carthage Jail

Caleb's Christmas Present to Us

Caleb sent home a dual painting of the Nauvoo Temple, old and new.  It was painted by Rick Noble.  We have had it framed, and I have hung it on the wall.  Hopefully it helps us remember him.