The Pioneers, the Pageant and the Priesthood: Wednesday, the 30th of July, 2014

As I typed the title, I realized that we have been on the road a month, today. The fact that we have lived (and loved it) comes as a mild surprise.

Especially after today.

I was very feverish most of today.

The whole day I was wondering HOW in the WORLD those handcart pioneers lived.

Depiction of handcart pioneers crossing river after early storm in Oct 1856.

I was uncomfortable enough with the never ending movement of the motorhome, and yet it is so much smoother than the jolting of the handcarts or wagons.

It was bad enough lying on a bed slightly short (my feet hang off the edge by a good 14 inches) but I couldn't complain because their sick were packed in wagons tight enough that there was often danger of suffocation.

It was bad enough tossing with fever, and then chills, and yet when I was hot, I could turn on the air conditioning, and when I was cold there were plenty of blankets. The pioneers didn’t have those luxuries; in fact they were lucky to have ONE blanket.

Early storms & lack of adequate provisions...yet they pressed forward in faith!

Though I wasn’t hungry, I had the option of basically as much food as I wanted.

They had down to four ounces of flour PER DAY for an ADULT.

I just don’t know how anyone lived, and I absolutely can’t fathom how anyone who was sick recovered. The Lord’s hand was surely in this. His care and love was watching over these faithful ancestors of ours. Though He tested them, He did not, even for a moment, forsake them. He strengthened them every step of the way.

And so will He for us. He tests us, but He loves us. Indeed, He loves us enough to let us experience the pain necessary to growth. Any parents out there will be able to understand much better than I do the amount of love it must take to let your children learn, feel pain, and grow.

By the way, Expressive is probably the most comforting person to have around when you are sick. 

For hours, as I lay on the couch, hot and feverish, she would softly rub a cool rag on my face, and give me water every time I coughed. Her little soft, caressing, cool, loving hands felt so good and comforting. She is the most amazing little nurse! I love her so much.

Well, that is definitely enough about me and my sob story!

Today we left early, at around eight o’clock am* and drove until about 6:30 or 7:00 pm.

We drove about 500 miles, from Kentucky to Nauvoo, Illinois.

Then we went and saw the British Pageant. We have seen the start of it before, if you will recall, but we got rained out last time before we saw the end. I was still sick, so I will have to depend on the descriptions of others.

“It was awesome!”

-- Emergent 

“It was good. I liked it. I loved the celebrating and the dancing.”
 – Elegant

“Compared to the dress rehearsal, and just in general, I felt the Spirit much stronger tonight. I know the cast members have been praying to have the Spirit there. I felt it and I was grateful for the testimonies they shared through their talent.”
-- Radiant 

After the pageant, I asked Mom’s cousin’s husband** to give me a priesthood blessing. He brought one of the brothers from the cast and they administered to me. I am so thankful that even though my dad is not with me, the blessings of the priesthood are available. How thankful I am for worthy priesthood brethren! I am especially thankful to my Father in Heaven who has allowed worthy members to access His power, if they are but obedient to His word.
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Notes added by Encumbered:

Encumbered notes a couple things by way of further explanation:

*Radiant and I got up at 6 am so that we could get a really early start to our day's drive.  I hopped out to get the laundry I had left in the dryer last night only to find that the laundry facilities were locked; not to open until 8 am! (When the laundry was still open at nearly midnight last night, I didn't think I was in danger of it closing.)  I checked to see if I could climb in a window or something, but no.  So, we were forced to get a later early start ... and a little more much needed sleep.

**As we were planning this grand adventure over the past year, we decided to apply for the Nauvoo Pageant Family Cast.  

We invited my siblings and other Johnson cousins to also apply.  My cousin (Radiant's cousin, too), Stephanie, and her family applied and were accepted into the Gold Cast.  We came back to Nauvoo in order to see them perform and to see the pageant that we had hoped to participate in.