Images showing all seasons of life in Nauvoo, Illinois

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Missionaries Perform “Youth of Zion” on Main Street

historic nauvoo play photographed by nauvoo photographer tom simpson

Sign board announces time for one of the Vignettes performed during summer season.

If you have never been to Nauvoo during summer season, you may be wondering, just what is “Youth of Zion”? It is a delightful few minute’s retreat into days of old Nauvoo.

The Young Performing Missionaries, called to serve in Nauvoo from early May thru mid-August arrive with smiles on their faces and songs in their hearts…..and boy do they sing!

Harmonizing beautifully they perform a few songs then the storytelling begins, but not just any stories. These stories are about life for the youth of Zion in the 1840’s like the whistling and whittling brigade and saving the manuscript from the mob.

Not just telling the stories either. They are performed in short skits or plays, in full costume with lots of laughter and excitement.

Come see them perform as they tell stories about Zion’s youth in days past….one of the favorite places to be in Historic Nauvoo in the summertime.

young performing missionaries photos by nauvoo photographer tom simpson

The YPM’s sing while walking through Old Nauvoo to perform the “Youth of Zion” at the corner of Main and Kimball Streets.

young performing missionaries in nauvoo singing photos by tom simpson photography

Serenading the crowd that gathered for the performance and skits.

skit during youth of zion vignette photo by tom simpson photography

One of the skits performed as stories are told about the youth of Zion in old Nauvoo during the early 1840’s.

historic nauvoo skit by ypm's photo by tom simpson

Pioneer dress…..and somehow they keep smiling through the heat and the layers.

The YPM’s singing a peppy song, wearing beautiful costumes showing styles and dress of the period.

ypm directors in historic nauvoo summer 2014

Elder and Sister Camp called to serve as directors for the YPM’s will spend 3 ½ months serving, guiding, teaching, and loving these performers.

covered wagon for ypm props photo by tom simpson nauvoo photographer

A modern day covered wagon used to cart stage props.

These Young Performing Missionaries (or YPM’s) as we affectionately call them, have a way of touching your heart and endearing themselves to you. This performance only takes 15 minutes but what you see, hear, and learn will last much, much longer.

———- ★★★★★★★★★★★★ ———-

Watch for more posts about our YPM’s. Here are a few more of their spectacular performances we will cover: Trail of Hope, Hymn Fest, Sunset by the Mississippi, Just Plain Anna-Amanda, Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo, The Promise……and of course the Nauvoo Pageant.

Tags: 2014 young performing missionaries, life in nauvoo, main street, youth of zion, YPM's

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Springtime Beauty in Historic Nauvoo

nauvoo temple photography and artwork by tom simpson

View of the Nauvoo Temple from the flats

If you haven’t experienced a Nauvoo spring, you are missing something special. Weather is totally unpredictable—warm one day, cold the next. Maybe even the threat of snow at times, and yes, the wind is always blowing.

My favorite things about a Nauvoo spring? Trees covered with blossoms. Tiny bright green leaves. Tulips…..thousands of them. Green grass appearing almost overnight. Shops reopening after a long winter. Visitors returning. New missionaries arriving.

Have a few photos for you taken a few days apart. Springtime beauty in Historic Nauvoo…..need I say more?

jonathan browning gun shop photographs by tom simpson nauvoo photographer

Jonathan Browning Gun Shop on Main Street

spring in historic nauvoo photos by tom simpson

Joseph Smith Homestead in Historic Nauvoo

spring wild flowers near old pioneer cemetery

Wild flower near Old Pioneer Cemetery

Tags: browning gun shop, nauvoo lds temple, spring in nauvoo

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Prom Taxi Nauvoo Style

Saturday as we were enjoying a late afternoon walk in the Nauvoo Flats, we noticed a carriage being drawn by our two favorite horses here in Nauvoo. Normally you don’t see the carriages. Instead you might encounter a wagon full of folks from all over the world with two of our beloved Teamster Missionaries at the helm. (Can you say helm with a wagon?)

Anyway, with evening approaching and as the carriage drew closer on the nearly deserted streets we noticed a familiar figure in the carriage. It was our wonderful Bishop Casey Cluff at the reins with the ever faithful Doc and Dan hitched up. He had just provided taxi service, Nauvoo style, for his daughter and friends to a pre-prom dinner at a missionary’s home nearby and was on his way back to the stable. How cool of a dad is that?

Bishop Cluff stopped and let me take a few photos (he knows if the Simpsons are nearby, there will be a camera involved) and then invited us for a ride in the carriage. We may have missed the prom kids but we did get to enjoy their taxi ride. Yippee!!

Coming up on The Old Post Office, John Taylor’s house in the middle and the Print Shop. If you go straight you can see Brigham Young’s house on the left. (Our view during our quick ride around a Nauvoo block.)

The carriage is actually a four-seater. Notice the two chairs strapped to the back? With the chairs tied on the back of the carriage (the way they did it in the olden days), the four-seater became a six-seater…..makeshift forerunner to our modern-day SUV.

Bishop Cluff heads back to the stable with Doc and Dan in perfect step together. Listening to the clip-clop of Doc and Dan’s hooves and the beauty of Historic Nauvoo at that time of evening was a real thrill.

Thanks Bishop! You’re the best.

Tom and Jeanette

Tags: carriage ride, life in nauvoo, main street, spring in nauvoo

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Tuesday, April 8, 2014

The Only Way You Want to See a Prairie Grass Fire…..

A demonstration. That’s the only way to see a prairie grass fire.

During my childhood, I read books like Caddie Woodlawn that mentioned prairie grass fires. (I really didn’t even know what a field of prairie grass looked like, until I moved to Nauvoo.)

In Historic Nauvoo there’s a quarter-acre section of prairie grass that is left untouched throughout the year. Each year in early April, a demonstration is given to show just how quickly prairie grass burns.

Local residents and Nauvoo missionaries gather for the big event to watch the controlled burn.

Actually this event signals the beginning of “season” in Nauvoo. New missionaries have begun arriving for the busy summer, shops closed during winter have re-opened for business, and visitors can be seen touring the City Beautiful.

hot dogs served before prairie fire demonstration in old nauvoo

The demonstration kicks off with a hot dog cookout (just getting warmed up before the BIG fire!)

nauvoo fire department engine at prairie fire demonstration in historic nauvoo

Some of Nauvoo’s finest…..

elder taylor photographing prairie fire demonstration

Bird’s eye view of the prairie grass field, getting photos for the missionary scrapbook

aerial camera flies over prairie fire demonstration area

This little gem, an aerial helicopter camera, flew all over the area getting photographs.

prairie grass before fire demonstration in historic nauvoo photo by tom simpson

Tom stationed himself in one spot and waited. Here’s what he got in less than 3 minutes. BEFORE the fire…. 5:59:43 pm.

nauvoo temple seen through praire fire demonstration flames

Start-up….6:01:27 pm

6:02:35 pm

6:02:55 pm

nauvoo temple praire fire demonstration photos by tom simpson flames

6:02:59 pm

You can hear the crackling of brush being consumed….6:03:02 pm

The heat at this point was intense. Backed Tom up about 10-15 feet….. 6:03:28 pm

nauvoo temple after prairie fire demonstration photos by tom simpson photography

And just as quickly as it started, nothing but smoke. You could tell when the fire stopped because the crackling sound stopped….. 6:03:56 pm

historic nauvoo prairie fire demonstration photo by tom simpson

Hardly any smoke left and bystanders gone…..6:10:36 pm

nauvoo temple by tom simpson photography

All clear….. 6:26:13 pm

Seeing the demonstration really brought Caddie Woodlawn and fears of prairie grass fires and the awesome strength of nature to life. With the burn over, all I can say now is “Welcome Spring!”

Side note…..we were able to meet the recently arrived Nauvoo Mission President, Larry Gibbons (on the far right) and snapped a photo of him with his counselor and wife, President and Sister Chenowythe.

Tags: life in nauvoo, nauvoo photography, prairie fire demonstration, spring in nauvoo

Friday, March 28, 2014

The Female Relief Society of Nauvoo

March 17, 1842…..no photographs taken of the day’s momentous event but if they had, it might have looked like this one. On this special day, the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo was organized by Joseph Smith in the upper room of the Red Brick Store.

During our first trip to Nauvoo in 2009, I heard about a Women’s Retreat held each March to commemorate the beginning of the Relief Society. It was something I really wanted to attend, even if it meant a bus trip from Florida (but who leaves FL in March to go north??). It took me until this year, but not to just attend…..I got to be part of the re-enactment cast.

Each year during the Retreat, the organizing of the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo is re-enacted. When the email went out asking for participants, I jumped on it! A couple of practices, lots of memorizing (and falling asleep saying “I am Lucy Mack Smith…….”), and two performances in period clothing made for a very memorable week.

Here are a few shots Tom took between shows and afterward.

It was fun to see all the dresses, and different collar, day cap, and bonnet styles. I mused a bit while listening to the sisters’ chit-chat as we waited between performances. Our time together was much the same as our pioneer sisters meetings may have been……dress styles, discussions of home life, and details of service needed and rendered.

After each show, the cast lined up outside the Red Brick Store to greet audience members. By the way, “Joseph and Emma” standing at the head of the line…..were fabulous! They treated the audience with a beautiful song before each show.

There were several little miracles that happened….like me remembering my lines and the all-day-rain forecast changing to rain stopping before the day’s events began and holding off until evening. I am sure that was an answer to someone’s prayer.

female relief society of nauvoo organization re-enactment

Tom took this shot just outside Mother Smith’s home here in Historic Nauvoo.

“I am Lucy Mack Smith, mother of the Prophet Joseph”…..the first line in my part of the re-enactment. It was such an honor to portray such a sweet sister and one whom I have come to love dearly for her faith and fortitude during such difficulties and trials.

But even more than playing Mother Smith, the realization of just how far and wide the Relief Society’s reach has been felt was awe-inspiring…..from 28 sisters in a little room in Nauvoo to more than 6 million sisters worldwide. That’s the real miracle.

Tags: historic nauvoo, joseph smith red brick store, life in nauvoo, relief society re-enactment

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Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Not All Nauvoo Winter Days are Snowy

Yes, it is still winter. Yes, it was cold when this was taken. And yes…..some winter days in Nauvoo are without snow. The photograph proves it.

This shot of Joseph and Emma’s home shows just how stately the Mansion House appears across this field in Old Nauvoo. When one considers the history surrounding the Mansion House it makes it all the more impressive.

It was here that Joseph and Emma finally had a home they could call their own. So many historic scenes and characters passed through the house including Orin Porter Rockwell, Gov. Ford, who was being attended to by Emma the very moment Joseph and Hyrum were being martyred a few miles away in Carthage, and so many others who were instrumental in the early days of the gospel being upon the earth again.

It was here that Joseph addressed the Saints one last time before leaving for Carthage. And after the martyrdom it was here 10,000 Saints passed through the house to view the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum as they lay in state.

When we walk through the flats for exercise and inspiration, we always make sure our route takes us by the Mansion House. There is a feeling there that we have not experienced anywhere else in the world, especially when we are alone in the area.

In this photo the dark, ominous feel of the trees represents the constant persecution and turmoil from the enemies of Joseph and the church, persecution that Joseph and Emma experienced throughout the restoration of the gospel. The warm afternoon sun striking and illuminating the house represents to us the beacon of light through the darkness that was and is Joseph Smith, Jr., Prophet of God.

Tags: historic nauvoo, joseph smith home, mansion house, nauvoo photography, seasons of nauvoo, winter

Friday, February 28, 2014

The Mississippi River Really Does Freeze Solid

Roads cleared a little the day after our sleigh ride so we ventured out of Nauvoo and headed down “The Great River Road” that runs alongside the Mississippi. Everything was still covered in snow, including the Mississippi River…..and it really does freeze solid. Underneath the snow was at least 24” of solid ice.

Tom headed up on the bluff, found a clearing and took a few photos…..and I mean only a few! With the temperature in the low teens and gusty winds blowing, he wasn’t out of the car very long. But a few moments was all he needed to capture the serenity of late afternoon light sending long shadows streaming across the winter wonderland.

Old Man Winter has tamed the mighty Mississippi.