I've had the awesome opportunity to be with my family in Nauvoo this past week. We are the yellow family cast. We rehearsed all day every day this week, and we have managed to put together both the British Pageant and the Nauvoo Pageant in just 6 days. That's five dance numbers and at least 12 songs, as well as blocking for both 120 minute shows. God is a god of miracles, yes?
The depth of my Nauvoo experience has been life-changing, and I know that anything I write will only be the tip of the iceberg as far as lessons I've learned here.
All week I've thought about one specific line of the Nauvoo Pageant. It struck my heart the first night we watched the show put on by the blue cast, and I've been pondering it ever since. The protagonist of the pageant is a Scotsman named Robert Laird, having come on the boat from his native land because of his fiery, devoted wife Becky. She heard the "preachin'" in Scotland, and "had a feeling" that it was a true message; she dragged her husband and their 3 year old, Jamie, on the journey to join the saints in Nauvoo. But Jamie died a tragic death on the ship, and Robert is overcome with grief.
In this scene, Robert is talking with the Prophet Joseph Smith. He recognizes that as he builds the temple in Nauvoo, he's "changing, almost against [his] own will." Through the power of the Spirit, he's healing. He's learning that families can be together forever, he's learning service, he's learning prayer and he's reading the Book of Mormon. And he says that even though he doesn't fully understand, he wants that for himself and his family forever. In a thick brogue, he struggles to explain the feeling. For lack of a better explanation, Robert says, "It tastes good."
It tastes good.
What a simple way to explain the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Even the scriptures repeat this idea: "Men are that they might have joy." "Perfect love casteth out all fear." "They were of one heart and one mind." "Consider the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God." And there are plenty more of these examples!
The entire of the Plan of Salvation and the whole of the missionary effort can be finished in this one sentence: It tastes good. It blows my mind!! Our entire experience as mortals is designed to taste good. To know that there is some grander plan for our souls, to know there is a life after this one, to know that there is a Savior provided and that He lives and that we also will live again! To know that you have someone to turn to who will understand you perfectly, to know that you have an entire community of saints to help and protect you, to know that you will be guided, your mouth will be filled, your days will be numbered, your name will be known to the King of the Earth!
To know "that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy." (D&C 130:2)
Golly, what could be more comforting?! This gospel is like a giant milkshake or a fresh cherry pie or your mother's best cornbread. It tastes so good and you just can't get enough! God has promised us all of this and more! Oh, I wish I was more eloquent so that I could explain more completely the richness and beauty of God's plan for His children!
What a lesson to be learned in the simple, growing testimony of Robert Laird. I could just think about it forever and ever and not get bored. I want everyone to know this goodness, and I guess I've found my new motivation for my Paraguayan endeavor!
