27,600 volunteers marshaled for open house
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NAUVOO, Ill. — On paper the mathematical formula appears elementary: 300 volunteers plus 300 volunteers (two shifts daily) times 46 days of the Nauvoo Illinois Temple open house equals 27,600 total volunteers needed. The implementation of the formula, however, creates a challenge for even a college math professor. Details of the organizational effort require much more than basic arithmetic.
Requests for open house volunteers extended to the five stakes in the Nauvoo Illinois Temple district, then broadened to an additional 27 surrounding stakes. "Our task was to recruit and get the volunteers here and ready to work," reported Elder Lynn Jarvis, who serves with his wife, Sister Pauline Jarvis, and Jacqi McCandless of Nauvoo Illinois Stake, as volunteer directors for the temple event. Elder and Sister Jarvis are full-time missionaries.
Initially the volunteer logistics seemed overwhelming, explained Sister McCandless, but gradually the plans fell into place and volunteer slots were filled.
"Everyone wanted to be involved with the Nauvoo Temple," Sister Jarvis added, "but the details of the volunteer assignments placed limitations on some people."
Consider, for example, that only about 30 people in each group of 300 actually serve inside the temple. The remainder function as ushers on the grounds or in the Joseph Smith Academy staging area, or serve as parking attendants, emergency, security and camera check personnel, hosts in the reception area and special needs assistants. Young people offer help in placing coverings on guests' shoes.
"All these positions must be filled to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests," Elder Jarvis said. "That means filled — regardless of the weather. Most assignments require the volunteers to be on their feet the entire shift."
Though the volunteer assignments require dedication and physical stamina, volunteers flock to the temple. Many volunteers travel as far as six hours one way to reach Nauvoo, but are grateful for the opportunity to serve. "The volunteers are a tremendously dedicated group of people who come day after day no matter what the conditions," Nauvoo stake president and temple committee vice chairman Durell Nelson said.
Angelo and Marcela Arruela, Logan Square Ward, Willamette Illinois Stake, only understood help was needed. The recently baptized Spanish-speaking couple thought they were traveling to Nauvoo to assist at a historic place or museum. "We had no idea about the meaning of the temple service," Angelo explained, "but to see inside at everything so perfectly done, I felt like I was standing in front of the Lord." The Arruelas brought two of their teenage children to help with foot coverings, but left a third youngster at home. "Now we understand about temples and plan to bring our whole family back here in a year to be in that special sealing room," Sister Arruela said hopefully.
Weeks of faithful prayer resulted in a temple service opportunity for Yvonne Mills of the Chicago 1st Ward, Willamette Illinois Stake. "I know I need to go down there," Sister Mills offered, "I think the Lord led my way here." Sister Mills left an ill husband behind in the care of friends, then joined ward members for the temple journey. "I had nothing I could contribute to the expenses, but working really hard was my way of giving back to the Lord." Sister Mills spent her two volunteer days ushering both inside and outside the temple, then pushed wheelchairs for the special needs guests. "It was such a peaceful feeling," she added. "All my problems went away as I served."
The weather remains the greatest concern for Larry Nicholl, open house parking supervisor from Nauvoo 1st Ward. "We get storms all around us. We have to protect our people as well as our parking fields. If it gets too wet in the field, we move to a hard-surfaced lot. Somehow it always works out, so we feel certain the Lord is watching over us as we serve." Brother Nicholl finds many opportunities to communicate with the open house guests as they park their vehicles. "With the thousands of photos they have taken of the temple, we often find the guests return to their cars and ask for one more photo with their parking team. Sometimes we can answer questions or even recommend picnic sites to complete their temple journey."
Volunteering at the temple means a three-hour journey for Ali Johannesen of the Springfield 1st Ward, Springfield Illinois Stake. The recent University of Illinois law school graduate serves in the volunteer reserve pool. "Because I live in one of the closer stakes, they call me when they have several days in a row with vacancies in the volunteer staff. I'm flexible right now, so I come whenever they need help." Ali usually works on the security team, but occasionally serves on the special needs crew. "It's really nice to work one on one with a guest," the volunteer said. "One lady I helped today lost her husband about seven years ago. She shared some tender feelings about the temple message on eternal families."
Teenagers share in the temple service assignments. Mike Talbot, Belleville Ward, O'Fallon Illinois Stake, rode four hours to reach Nauvoo. "It's the first time I've had a chance to help," the young man said as he separated pairs of plastic shoe coverings. "Being here where Joseph Smith lived makes many things about the gospel more real to me."
Despite great distances, long hours of service, physical challenges and unpredictable weather conditions, the volunteer rosters fill each day of the open house. Thousands of volunteers chalk up thousands of hours and create a dedicated force helping thousands of guests explore the Nauvoo Illinois Temple.
With such diligent volunteer effort, all the mathematical equations find ready solutions.
