Wes and Ann Vorwaller don costumes they wore while performing on an LDS mission in Nauvoo, Ill., from October 2005 to April 2007. The couple said their mission was like a second honeymoon.

by Abby Palmer

STAFF WRITER

Wes and Ann Vorwaller's mission to Nauvoo for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was like a second honeymoon to them.

The couple was able to spend lots of time together as they served as site and Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. missionaries for the LDS Church in the Illinois, Nauvoo Mission from October 2005 to April 2007.

"It was like a second honeymoon," Wes said.

The Nauvoo Mission is unlike most missions for the LDS Church. Missionaries in this mission cannot proselyte and preach about the LDS faith like most other missions, Ann said.

"Proselytizing is not allowed in the Nauvoo mission," she said. "It was one of the agreements between the [LDS] Church and the city when we were allowed to go into Nauvoo."

Even though the missionaries cannot preach their beliefs, they keep busy with a variety of other responsibilities. There are more than 40 historic restored buildings in Nauvoo, where missionaries conduct demonstrations about the significance of the buildings. In addition, they are involved in keeping up the grounds and putting on shows.

As part of their duties, Wes and Ann were actors and singers in the two productions "Rendezvous" and "Sunset by the Mississippi," even though they didn't have a lot of experience in acting and dancing before they went on their mission. Ann, however, does have a background in music.

During the summer months, the couple performed in each of the productions twice a week.

"Rendezvous" is a musical drama with a lot of comedy, Ann said. The play takes place during the exodus of the Saints from Nauvoo. Wes and Ann played George and Agatha, a couple who were not members of the LDS faith.

Wes, as George, was kind of like the stand-up man, Ann said. He was the one who kept the crowd laughing with his comments.

"Sunset by the Mississippi" is a talent show, Ann said, with lots of singing and dancing. She added she even heard it being compared to Branson, Mo.

They were also involved in a lot of community service while serving their mission, including a pumpkin carving at Halloween, pageants at Christmas, and other events throughout the year.

In addition to being performers, the two had different duties. Wes spent nine of the 18 months in Nauvoo working construction with the Nauvoo Restoration, Inc.

"They needed someone who knew about construction," he said. "I worked in construction for years."

While working with the Nauvoo Restoration, Inc., Wes formed and poured the cement around the Joseph Smith and Brigham Young statue that is next to one of the crossings the Saints passed at the Trail of Hope. He also helped on a new horse facility and worked on sidewalks at Carthage Jail.

"I was involved in a lot of projects," he said. "I helped tear down movie sets and refurbishing on bricks to help preserve the buildings."

Wes also served as a demonstrator at different sites in the mission. He worked at the Johnson Browning home, the bookshop and the gun shop, which had real antique guns.

His favorite, though, was the blacksmith shop. He explained most of the sites were only allotted between 10 and 15 minutes to do their presentation to tourists, but at the blacksmith shop they had 20 minutes.

"We made mini horseshoes to give away," he said. "Then we'd give the horseshoe away to someone who was having a birthday."

They also made prairie diamond rings at the blacksmith shop. Before the couple left to come home, Wes gave Ann a prairie diamond ring.

Ann's responsibilities included work in the nursery, as well as work on the sites.

The church owns about 1,700 acres in Nauvoo, and 500 of those acres are lawns that need to be mowed, Wes said. Part of Ann's job was to plant and water plants.

Ann also worked with the conservation project, getting old artifacts in shape to be displayed, which was very time-consuming.

"I helped with putting Renaissance wax on all the artifacts," she said. "I helped stabilize quilts and in the spring I helped spring clean all the homes. At Christmas, I hung all the pioneer decorations, and I was able to put wreaths up at Carthage."

Right before they left Nauvoo, Ann had started refurbishing the signs that were on the buildings.

"I'd like to go back and see how they ended up turning out," she said.

The Vorwallers would love to return to Nauvoo, and plan to go back and visit as soon as they can.

apalmer@tooeletranscript.com