As we prepared to leave for our mission, our son-in-law, James DeVore, passed away on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024. Later that day we were set apart as full-time missionaries and left the next morning on our drive to Palmyra, New York. We listened and pondered about the Holy Week while traveling 2,800 miles over the next week. Our travels included stops at Mount Rushmore and visiting temples in Casper Wyoming, Winter Quarters, Nauvoo, Kirtland and eventually Palmyra, New York. We celebrated the life of our son-in-law on the Saturday before Easter in a meaningful funeral and burial service. We reviewed with his family the blessings of the resurrection and then worshipped with them in their Church Service on Easter Sunday. We then continued onto Palmyra, visited the Sacred Grove and got settled in our temporary accommodations. The next day we met with the temple presidency and 3 other new missionary couples in the Palmyra New York Temple. With an orientation and assignments and a very personal setting apart we are ready to begin our missionary service.
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| We celebrated the life of James P. DeVore on March 30, 2024 and began our mission in the Palmyra New York Temple on April 1, 2024. |
We mentioned in our last blog that the health of our son-in-law, James DeVore, was quickly failing. All his siblings were able to travel to be with him one last time. On Thursday night, March 21, he was able to confer the Melchizedek Priesthood upon his oldest son, James Preston, from his hospital bed and then he knew that his mortal mission was complete. With his wife, parents, and siblings at his side, he asked to remove all life supporting medication and procedures. He passed away quietly in his sleep two days later, on Palm Sunday, leaving a wife and six sons behind.
That very day, Debbie and I were set apart as full-time missionaries by members of our stake presidency. With our son and new daughter-in-law returned from their honeymoon, we turned over our condominium to their watchful care for the next six months. On Monday morning we commenced driving to our mission field with a stop in Lehighton, Pennsylvania to celebrate the life of our son-in-law on Saturday, finally arriving in Palmyra, New York on Easter Sunday. In total we traveled over 2,800 miles and visited Mount Rushmore and 4 Latter-day Temples along the path of the restoration.
We will try to summarize each of these steps below in words and photos:
Mount Rushmore:
Our first day we traveled 628 miles to arrive at Custer, South Dakota as it was getting dark. Along the way, we stopped to see the Casper Wyoming Temple which will be dedicated later this year. In our previous mission we had interviewed leadership of several stakes in this new temple district.
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| Debbie in front of the Casper Wyoming Temple |
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| A little closer up with both of us |
The next morning we drove by the Crazy Horse memorial sculpture that is in the process of being created. Crazy Horse was a great Native American who had united his people in the battle with General Custer and his army. Custer was defeated in this, his "last stand".
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| In front of the Crazy Horse sculpture at 16 degrees |
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| Closer view of the face of Crazy Horse. This is a work in progress that will take many years. |
We continued on to one of the marvels of our land, Mount Rushmore. I had seen this over 50 years ago with my family. Debbie had never seen it before. The weather that morning started at 8 degrees. By the time we arrived it had warmed up to 19 degrees. Although cold, the skies were clear and the sculptures appeared majestic and inspiring. We love the tribute to great men who had a vision for our country and did all in their power to bring it to pass, with the guidance of our God.
After spending time outside, we went into the Visitors Center and learned more about the development of this monument. This project began in 1927. The following is from Wikipedia:
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a massive sculpture carved into Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills region of South Dakota. Completed in 1941 under the direction of Gutzon Borglum and his son Lincoln, the sculpture's roughly 60-ft.-high granite faces depict U.S. presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
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| Representation of the birth of the United States - George Washington; the growth of the United States - Thomas Jefferson; the development of the United States - Theodore Roosevelt; the preservation of the United States- Abraham Lincoln. |
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At the entrance of the Avenue of Flags, featuring the flags of each state of the Union, arranged in alphabetical order.
 | | Our heads are bigger than theirs |
 | | A wider view of the mountain and the visitors center below |
 | From one of the displays in the visitors center, showing how the facial features on the mountain were created from head sculptures 10% of their size, keeping everything in proportion. Most of the sculpturing was done by blasts of dynamite, strategically placed on the mountain.
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Winter Quarters: After leaving Mount Rushmore, we continued our drive of 578 miles to Omaha, Nebraska. We actually traveled the whole day, missing entirely the large state of Nebraska. However, at the end of the day we turned back into Nebraska to stay the night and be ready to see Winter Quarters the next morning. During the driving time each day, we had conversations with Melanie about funeral plans and challenges for her and her family. Certainly we feel that Melanie and James were with us during our travels.
The next morning we made a quick visit to the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple, which is adjacent to the old cemetery where the early saints who died in Winter Quarters were buried. The visitors center was not open yet when we visited, but this was enough since we were going to Nauvoo that same day.
 | | Another cold morning. You can see the cemetery in the background, just adjacent to the Temple. |
 | | In front of the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple |
Nauvoo: We drove for about 5 more hours and arrived in time to enter into the Nauvoo Temple and participate in an endowment session. We first went to the Nauvoo Temple when I worked with the temple construction department and did a quality control visit prior to the dedication. We returned a few years ago when COVID was coming to an end. However, at that time attendance was limited to members of the temple district. So, finally we were able to enter inside the dedicated temple.
After the endowment session we asked if we could see the baptistry and other parts of the temple, which was allowed. We were also directed to a hall that is full of actual artifacts from the original days of the first Nauvoo Temple. This included actual photos of Joseph, Emma and others and actual temple aprons that were used in 1846. This was a special treat.
As I was able to go through the veil in this temple session and enter into the celestial room, I was touched strongly by the spirit, reminding me of the incredible blessings that are promised to all who faithfully keep their covenants, including detailed blessings related to the resurrection and eternal life. I felt these impressions specifically as they related to our son-in-law who had just passed on but had made and kept covenants with his Father in Heaven and with his wife, our daughter. I know that those promised blessings are sure and they will be in effect for Melanie and James. This was a very special moment for me.
 | | The majestic Nauvoo Temple at dusk |
 | In front of the Nauvoo Temple. See the beautiful cloud formations.
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 | | Another view of the Nauvoo Temple from the Northeast corner |
After our temple session, we were able to spend a little time remembering our previous visit to Nauvoo and the powerful faith of Joseph and Hyrum as they left this beautiful city and temple to go to their martyrdom. We were also able to drive by the new acquisitions of the Church in this location (Mansion House, Red Brick Store, Smith Family properties).
 | Debbie in front of the statue of Joseph and Hyrum leaving Nauvoo. This is always an emotional display for both of us.
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| A fitting view of this special statue with the ominous clouds in the background |
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| The Red Brick Store, one of the new acquisitions |
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| The Mansion House, also with the new plaques from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
As we left Nauvoo that late afternoon, we drove two more hours through winding rural roads until we finally arrived in Galesburg, Illinois for the night.
Kirtland:
The next day we drove another 547 miles with no stops except lunch, arriving near Kirtland, Ohio that evening. The next morning we visited Kirtland and were able to participate in a tour of the Kirtland Temple. This was recently acquired by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and tours of this sacred edifice had only begun earlier this week. We were pleased to arrive just in time to join the first tour of the day. We had been in this temple before, but never had seen it presented in such a beautiful way, full of stories and testimonies from days gone by. I want to add a story that we heard in our luncheon wtih our new Temple President.
He told us that some years ago, our Church had received permission to hold a leadership meeting in this temple when it was owned by the Community of Christ Church. This was made possible because Elder M. Russell Ballard was participating and he was a direct descendent of Joseph Smith Sr. The leader of the Community of Christ Church was irritated that we were using "their temple" for our meeting. He stated that while he was muttering his frustration under his breath, he heard an audible voice saying that it was not "their temple", but it was "My Temple". His heart softened and he shared this experience with Elder Ballard. Since that time, the relationship between the two Churches has improved which culminated in the recent sale of the Kirtland Temple to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
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| In front to the historic Kirtland Temple |
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| While sitting in this room on the third floor of the temple, our tour guides told us about visitations of the Father and the Son in this location. They also described how anointings had been performed in this room and how Joseph Smith had received the vision in this room that is recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 137. What a wonderful spirit accompanied this discussion as testimonies were shared of these solemn moments. |
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| We are standing in front of the pulpits of the Melchizedek Priesthood on the main floor of the Kirtland Temple. In the location of this pulpit, the Savior Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey on Easter morning 1836. This is also where Moses, Elias, and Elijah appeared and restored priesthood keys for the gathering, the covenant of Abraham, and the sealing power to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdrey. These are among the most sacred of all occurrences in the restoration. How blessed we are to be able to remember and review these miraculous moments in the location where they occurred. How grateful we are to have been able to take part in this tour during our travels. |
While in Kirtland we also visited the house where Joseph and Emma Smith lived in their last four years in Kirtland. The stories were wonderful and new information was learned. We learned that Joseph's parents had lived with them in this house for about a year before their house was built. We also learned that Mary Duty Smith, Joseph Smith's grandmother came to Kirtland to visit her son and grandson when she was 93 years old. She wanted to be baptized but passed away before that was possible. She was buried in the cemetery nearby, in between the Smith home and the Kirtland Temple.
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| View of the Kirland Temple and the cemetery from the Joseph and Emma Smith residence. |
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| Gravestone of Mary Duty Smith and other members of the Smith Family in that cemetery |
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Site of the Joseph and Emma Smith Home
 | | On the north of the Joseph and Emma Smith Home |
 | | Map and description of key locations in Kirtland |
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After visiting Kirtland we drove another nearly 400 miles to arrive in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, home of James and Melanie DeVore and family. We spent the next two nights here to celebrate James' life in a funeral and support his family in some small way. It is the beginning of a new life for them and hopefully more support from us and family members.
James DeVore Funeral:
Let me preface this to say that the Lehighton Branch meets in a small meetinghouse. They have wanted to expand it for years and hopefully that is almost ready to happen. However, for now, there is no way for a casket to fit into the chapel. So this was an unorthodox funeral setup, with the casket and the viewing in the hall, an overflow to the small chapel in a nearby room, and a family prayer to be offered in a separate small relief society room. This was also the first funeral for the branch president and it appeared certainly to be one of the first funerals for the funeral director. We used our Zoom account to make it available to others and then the branch president picked up the Zoom meeting in the overflow room.
In the end, it all worked out beautifully. The speakers were James' four siblings. The family prayer and dedication of the grave was offered by James' father. It was beautiful to hold this service on the day before Easter and the Easter theme of Jesus Christ and the resurrection was wonderfully intertwined in the talks. After the burial, the Relief Society did a wonderful luncheon for family members.
After the funeral, our son Sam, who came for the funeral, spent important time playing games with his nephews. We had some meaningful time discussing future plans with Melanie. Then we enjoyed time reminiscing with each of the grandsons and the rest of us about their father over some delicious ice cream. I had felt all week the importance to have this time with them. I was able to share some of my feelings of the week with them.
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| Funeral Program cover |
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| Funeral Program |
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| Flower arrangement on the coffin from his Loving Family |
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| A nice display of photos and his Czech shirt. The scrapbook is from his childhood, photos from his marriage and early married years, and a photo book that was taken and prepared of his family in the prior month. |
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| Most of the 13 Pall bearers doing their job |
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| Flowers with the coffin at the cemetery |
We started our day today by attending Church with our daughter Melanie and her boys, their Easter program. As we were waiting for the meeting to begin, I was impressed as I saw a good branch president spending time talking to our grandson, Edward.
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| A good branch president talking to his deacon's quorum president |
A few minutes later, I was asked by Edward, the deacons quorum president, to pass the sacrament with him. What an honor and a joy for me to serve with my grandson. The meeting and speakers were excellent, but this was my highlight of that Easter program.
After the meeting we drove to Palmyra for the next four hours. It was a sunny day, contrary to weather forecasts. We wanted to see the Sacred Gove at the time of year that the First Vision occurred. No leaves on the trees but still very peaceful and inspiring. This was one of my desires as we planned this trip back, to spend time in the Sacred Grove on Easter. It was worth the effort to be on this sacred ground.
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| In the Sacred Grove on Easter |
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| Photo of the sun above the Sacred Grove on Easter Sunday |
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| It looks a bit different than in the summer with leaves on the trees. This is what it would have looked like 200 years ago when Joseph offered his first vocal prayer |
 | Another view of the Sacred Grove in Early Spring
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| View towards the Palmyra New York temple, as seen from the entrance of the Sacred Grove |
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| A zoomed in view of the temple from the Sacred Grove. It is much more visible before the leaves appear on the trees. |
After 2,830 miles we finally arrived at our temporary home on Church Street in Palmyra. We will be staying in an AirBnB until another couple goes home from our eventual apartment where we will living. The AirBnB is in one of the four churches in Palmyra on four corners of the same intersection. This church has been purchased and now the pastor's house has been turned into two apartments, one of which will be our future home. Four AirBnB apartments have been developed in the back portion of the Church. This is our current home. We will talk more about that in our next blog. We were surprised to see a large sign in the front of the Church welcoming the "Rueckerts" to Palmyra.
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| Church on the northeast corner of the 4 Church intersection. See the sign in front. |
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| A close up of the sign and Elder and Sister Rueckert on Easter Sunday |
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| The side view of the Church with Sister Rueckert close to the door to our AirBnB apartment. |
On Monday, August 1, we met in the Palmyra New York Temple with the temple presidency and matrons and the other three couples that have just arrived to begin their service on the same day. After a few hours of introduction and tour of the temple, we were each set apart as ordinance workers in the Palmyra Temple. We were set apart by President Neil Pitts, the president of the temple.
The blessings pronounced upon us were profound and very personal. We were each promised specific blessings extended to Melanie and her sons through our service. We were blessed with the ability to be involved in a personal way with temple patrons and other ordinance workers, being instruments of the Lord in their lives. I was blessed with health and strength to fulfill our service. When Debbie was blessed, there was a tender mercy which told us how much the Lord is aware of our individual circumstances. I defer to Debbie's thoughts from her journal:
"I experienced the hand of the Lord in my life today as I received my setting apart blessing which gave me authority to serve as a temple ordinance worker in the Palmyra Temple. I testify that the Lord knows me personally because I was blessed that my internal organs would work properly throughout my service in the temple. President Pitts knew nothing about my heart failure, my diseased kidney nor my neurorgenic bladder."
After the blessing I asked him if he was aware of Debbie's health condition. His answer was "No I wasn't, but Heavenly Father was".
We then had a wonderful lunch at the home of the temple president. Then we had time to get settled into our apartment.
On Tuesday, we started our first temple shift which also included some orientation and preparation and we actually performed ordinances. This photo was taken tonight, April 2, after our shift in front of "our temple".
In nine days we have stood in many sacred locations. We feel that James' spirit has been with us in many of these moments:
- We stood in front of the Casper Wyoming Temple that will be dedicated later this year. James and Melanie lived in Wyoming soon after their marriage and have strong love for this state.
- We stood in front of the Winter Quarter Temple, alongside the cemetery of those who died so many years ago, many leaving their own families at young ages.
- We enjoyed an endowment session in the Nauvoo Temple, where the blessings promised to James and all of us were specifically witnessed to me.
- We toured the Kirtland Temple where the sealing power was restored in this dispensation, the power that has sealed James to his family for eternity.
- We served as ordinance workers in the Palmyra Temple and as we were set apart we were blessed with specific blessings for Melanie and her sons.
- In addition we were inspired by the majesty of Mount Rushmore, a representation of the divine destiny of our country, which James loved immensely.
- We honored James in his funeral service the day before we celebrated Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We know with certainty that James will be resurrected and reunited with his family.
- We stood in the Sacred Grove on Easter Sunday where the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ began a little over 200 years ago.
We have been so blessed to have these recent sacred experiences and to have James DeVore as a son-in-law. This has all strengthened us as we begin our mission. We know that additional promised blessings will be fulfilled as we strive to serve our all wise and loving Father in Heaven.
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