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My Nauvoo Picture gallery is now online and is located here. You can view the many pictures I took while in Nauvoo and even comment on them. I’ll continue to use this gallery for other events I attend that are associated with KZION.

We got up early Saturday morning and drove to St. Louis leaving behind our friend, Nauvoo, Il. Shelly and I both had a great time in Nauvoo. We loved hanging out with Rich and Tyra Bischoff. Stephanie and her family were fantastic and we enjoyed the time spent with them. After our long flight back to Salt Lake City we stayed overnight in Sandy, UT. This morning we made the drive to St. George and are finally home.



It looks like KZION did Ok without me. I need to get some shows scheduled and some new music added to the playlist. As soon as I figure out how to transfer all my Nauvoo pictures from my laptop to my PC I’ll get some more pictures uploaded.

Friday was the anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith. We saved the Carthage Jail trip for Friday so we could visit on the anniversary. Carthage is just 20-25 miles from Nauvoo. I knew this was going to be a spiritual experience so we prepared beforehand to ensure we were in tune with the Spirit. When we arrived we were greeted with statutes of Joseph and Hyrum with Carthage Jail just beyond the statutes.







On the walk to the visitors center there were a series of plaques with quotes from Joseph and Hyrum. My favorite quote was, “Patience is heavenly, obedience is noble, forgiveness is merciful, and exaltation is godly; and he that holds out faithful to the end shall in no wise lose his reward. A good man will endure all things to honor Christ, and even dispose of the whole world, and all in it, to save his soul.”



The jail is mostly original. Most of the buildings we visited in Nauvoo were reconstructions but the Carthage Jail has the original flooring, handrails, doors and some of the windows. The structure was original too. We went inside the visitors center and waited for the next tour to begin.

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Audiences for the Wednesday and Thursday night performances of Stephanie Smith and Rich Bischoff were much better. Wednesday night we had about 60 people in the auduence and Thursday night there were about 50. You sure can tell the difference in a performer when there are a few people in the audience and a lot of people in the audience. There was a lot of energy both nights.







Wednesday, we visited some more of the historical sites and tours here in Nauvoo. We visitied a replica of the Webb Blacksmith Shop where there were demonstrations of blacksmithing skills using the actual equipment of the 1840’s. It was extremely hot and humid on Wednesday and we gained an appreciation for what a blacksmith of the 1840’s had to endure working in the summertime. We left with a souvenior called a prairie diamond. Most of the saints were too poor to purchase rings to give to their loved ones so they took a nail used in horseshoeing and curled it into the shape of a ring.







We also visited the Browning Gun Shop. I wasn’t aware that the Browning Arms Company was started by an LDS family. We saw a demonstration of how guns were built and viewed an awesome display of guns from the past and present. Think about how a barrel was created in the 1840’s. The technology to drill a hole down the middle of a steel rod had not been discovered yet.



We visited an inspiring pioneer memorial. The monument lists and honors individuals who, according to journal and diary entries, died during the migration west. We also visited the Seventies Hall. This is an authentically restored historic structure that served as a small chapel for worship services, instruction, and lectures. The first Nauvoo library was located on the upper floor.

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Much of the historical sites in Nauvoo are owned by The Community of Christ church. Tuesday we took some of the tours they offer and visited some of their historical sites. I was a little skeptical at first but one of the senior missionaries told us to make sure we take their tours and that most of the information they give is true.



We visited the Mansion House. This was Joseph and Emma’s home in 1842. There were a few furniture items in the house that actually belonged to the Smith family. Too many people were coming to visit the Prophet so they had to add on a hotel wing in 1843. This is where the Prophet departed from as he left for Carthage. Much of the house was restored but there is still some in tact.



The Nauvoo House was being built during the time the Prophet was alive. It was meant to accommodate guests to Nauvoo but was never completed during the Prophet Joseph Smith’s lifetime. There were many artifacts from the 1840’s on display.



We also saw Joseph and Emma’s first log cabin in Nauvoo. Built in 1839, they lived there until the Mansion House was completed. Pictures were not allowed in the structures but were allowed outside. I’ll post some of the pictures a little later. We also visited the graveyard that holds the bodies of Joseph Smith, Emma Smith, Hyrum Smith, Lucy Mack, Joseph Smith Sr., and other family members. It seems odd that The Community of Christ church has possession of the bodies if in fact the bodies are actually there.



The Community of Christ church members were very friendly and knowledgeable. I think they are good people and it’s wonderful that they have preserved all of these artifacts. However, I noticed a big difference in the Spirit while visiting our church historical sites and visiting the C of C historical sites. It may be a prejudice I have but I felt a difference.



The attendance to the concert Tuesday night was just as disappointing as Monday night. In spite of Rich and Stephanie’s efforts performing at different locations during the day, few people showed up. Stephanie’s mom Laury, is such a marvelous marketer and is working with the theatre manager to help spread the word about these nightly performances. I still think that as the week progresses the attendance will improve.



I have some pictures of Rich and Stephanie performing. In spite of the disappointing attendance I’m having a blast watching the performances. The pictures that I post here on the blog are all thumbnails. By clicking on the thumbnail you can view a larger version of the picture. I don’t have my professional image editing software with me so the quality of these pictures are not the best. When I get home I will replace them with better quality versions.



This fist picture is of Shelly (my wife), Tyra (Rich’s wife), me, Rich, and Stephanie.







These four pictures are of Stephanie and Rich.



      

People in the midwest take great pride in their country. I feel embarrassed at how unpatriotic I appear to be compared to the people out here. It’s a rare home that doesn’t have some type of flag or red, white and blue ribbon displayed. There are a few homes in Nauvoo that are covered with red, white and blue lights. I almost thought they still had their Christmas lights on until I realized they were all patriotic colors.



We saw three super large tents full of fireworks on our drive into Nauvoo. I have a feeling there is going to be some serious fireworks shows on Independence Day.



A local radio station was scheduled to interview Rich Bischoff this morning by phone but Rich’s cell phone has the same service issues I’m having so Rich and Tyra came to our room and Rich had his interview. The Walmart draw hit Rich and his wife on their day two also. So we drove into Keokuk with the Bischoff’s to the Walmart and then grabbed some lunch.



It is such a different lifestyle here. I have yet to see one person talking on a cell phone. I rarely have seen one strapped to someones’s side. In St. George, everyone has a cell phone and you can’t go into any store or mall without seeing at least one person talking away. People aren’t in a hurry all of the time. The highways are all one lane here and we’re usually driving around looking at the sites. I didn’t have one person pass me on any of the drives we’ve taken. Try driving slowly around Salt Lake City or St. George. You’ll get run off the road.



  



Stephanie and Rich had their first sound check and rehearsal in the afternoon. Monday evenings show went well. There were just a few people who showed up but we’re confident that as the week progresses the audience will grow. Rich and Stephanie are going downtown to perform on the street and see if they can generate some interest in their concerts.

Meridian Magazine has a nice listing of the 2003 Pearl Award winners so there is no sense in me duplicating what they have done.



Click here – 2003 Pearl Award Winners.

We had a great day Sunday. Started the day by going to The Nauvoo Visitors’ Center. It’s interesting that all of the church historical locations are open on Sunday. The Visitors’ Center is owned and operated by the church and staffed with Senior missionaries.







We saw an original Nauvoo Temple Sunstone on loan from the State of Illinois. We also were able to see some brick and nails from the original temple. There was a nice 20 minute movie that gave a brief history of the Saints in Nauvoo.



Next stop was the Nauvoo Groves. This was where Joseph Smith held many of his meetings with the Saints in Nauvoo. It’s a beautiful, peaceful grove of trees with benches scattered throughout to allow visitors to meditate and feel the spirit of Joseph Smith and the early saints. The grove has about a dozen different stands throughout that have inspiring journal accounts from the 1840’s. The spirit was very strong. In the center of the grove there is a mock podium with seating for about 50 people. As I was studying the podium and seating I could see in my minds eye, Joseph Smith standing at the podium with a large crowd huddled around together listening intently to a Prophet of God.



  



Our next stop was the Temple. The grounds were closed but we walked around and pondered the beauty and significance of this temple. I couldn’t help thinking about the tremendous sacrifice the early saints that built the original temple made. What great faith they must of had and what sorrow they must of felt as they were forced to leave their homes and the temple they worked so hard to have.



Rich Bischoff and Stephanie Smith arrived later in the afternoon. It was great to finally meet them in person. In case you haven’t heard, Stephanie won a Pearl Award for Best New Recording Artist at Friday nights Pearl Awards. Sunday was also Stephanie’s birthday so we were invited to celebrate her birthday with a little cake and ice cream.



Unfortunately the room we are in does not get reliable cell phone service so my getting on the Internet is very hit and miss. It’s now 11:30 AM CT and we are getting ready to take off and find a Walmart. It’s only been two days in Nauvoo and we are already needing to find a bigger city.

The 2003 Pearl Awards were awesome. We arrived a little late so time leading up to the actual show was rushed. We got a late start out of St. George and by the time we drove into Salt Lake City, checked into our hotel room, and ran to the mall for some last minute jewelry purchases for my wife, it was time to get dressed and get going. We arrived a few minutes before the show started and had a chance to chat with a few friends.



Unfortunately KZION did not win the Best Radio Show award. The award went to Joan Peterson of KOSY FM in Salt Lake City. That really took the pressure off of me and allowed me to enjoy the rest of the show. There were some great performances by Kenneth Cope, Eclipse, Hilary Weeks, Ray Smith, Michael Hicks, and Jericho Road. The big winners were Cherie Call, Michael Dowdle, Tyler Castleton, and Kenneth Cope. I’ll post a more detailed list of winners as soon as I get some sleep.



The awards show went so much smoother than last year. A big congratulations goes out to the FCMA for putting on a great event. We got out of there at about 11:00 PM and got back to the room at midnight. Our flight to Nauvoo was scheduled to depart at 8:45 am this morning so we only got a few hours sleep.



We arrived in St. Louis at about 4:00 PM this afternoon. Picked up the rental car and took off for Nauvoo. I learned quite a few things during the drive to Nauvoo.

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I’ve been testing out my Internet connection using a laptop and a Sanyo 4900 Sprint PCS cell phone with a data cable connected to the laptop. It’s amazing with Sprint’s high speed Internet connection I have been streaming KZION for over an hour with just a couple quick buffers.



Check out the close-up of my monitor. Streaming KZION for over an hour with nothing more than a cell phone and a laptop. Technology is amazing.



I’m ready to head to SLC and Nauvoo with KZION coming along.

Randy commented in an earlier entry where I stated that, “Testimony by Alex Boye is now on my top 5 all-time LDS CD’s list.” He said, “John – what was your top 5 list before?” That wasn’t very smart on my part to mention that I even have a top 5 list because now I’ve been called on the carpet. I’ve never published a favorite list before because I love all of the music on KZION. Just like I love all of my kids the same. Well, I guess it’s a little different.



The problem with making a top 5 list is that sometimes I’m in the mood for inspirational music, other times sacred, and other times rock. LDS music plays all of the time in my home and in my cars. KZION is on most of the time at home and I have a FM transmitter that transmits KZION to all of my stereos throughout the house. When we are in the car we rarely turn on the radio. Almost always an LDS CD goes into the CD player. When I receive a CD I like to make several copies and put a copy in each vehicle. LDS music has been a big part of my life for the past four years.



So first let me give you my favorites by category but not in any particular order. Finally I’ll list my top 5 all-time LDS CD’s.



In the contemporary category I have many favorites. I didn’t grow up with LDS music and never really started to listen to it until about four years ago. To hear music that is contemporary and value driven is still quite new to me. One of the first CD’s I received after starting KZION was Wondering by Aaron Edson. We listened to Wondering as a family over and over again until all of us knew most of the lyrics by heart. The few kids I still have at home are all teenagers and to see them get so excited over an LDS CD was so cool to me. I still take Wondering with me on every trip I take where I have some drive time.



Andrew Reese Howells Next Door To Eden also quickly became a family favorite. My two youngest teenage boys both wanted a copy. I was blown away the first time I heard Andrew’s version of How Great Thou Art. Nice pop sounding CD with something for everyone. Order in the Chaos by Julia Davis Allen is cutting edge LDS. This is a great CD to give to non-members because the message is positive and value driven but not overly religious and it has a great pop sound which all ages will enjoy. On top of that Julia is a great person.



Tipping Pictures by David Edwards is in a class all its own. Dave is a master storyteller. I would of loved to of had a dad that could tell stories like Dave when I was young. His sound is fresh and is so different from any other LDS music. Tipping Pictures can be listened to over and over again and you’ll never get tired of it. No top LDS music list is complete without a Cherie Call CD listed at least once. Cherie has four CD’s plus a Christmas sampler I believe. Taken was her first CD and my favorite. She sings songs that everyone can relate to and once you hear a song of hers it stays with you and you find yourself singing it over and over. My friend Jeff Goldman and I have a constant battle back and forth about whether Taken or Heart Made of Wind is Cherie’s best album. I keep telling Jeff if he would just go back and give Taken another listen he would change his mind.



So, my top 5 LDS Contemporary CD’s are:



Wondering by Aaron Edson

Next Door To Eden by Andrew Reese Howells

Order in the Chaos by Julia Davis Allen

Tipping Pictures by David Edwards

Taken by Cherie Call



Please don’t ask me to place those in order from my favorite to my least favorite because I can’t. They’re all my favorites.



In the pop/rock category I really like Mission Stories by Rich Bischoff. Although not a real rock album, Rich has a rockers voice and as far as I’m concerned everything he does is first class. Farm Boy has long been a favorite of KZION listeners. Anyone who takes the time to listen to the lyrics of Farm Boy will be a Rich Bischoff fan. Mission Stories also has some real fun songs like I’ll Let You Drive and Green Apples. I never get tired of listening to Mission Stories.



Probably not familiar to a lot of KZION listeners is Brenda Burch. Her self titled album rocks with a serious country flair. I’m not a big country fan but Brenda has some of the most amazing vocals I have ever heard. She really lets loose on this CD and you can hear attitude in her music. Epiphonic by Cary Judd is also on my top 5 list of LDS rock CD’s. Cary knows how to rock and is not afraid to show it. Epiphonic was released under Moz Eizley which was Cary’s former band. A must have LDS rock CD.



The Rumor by Before Braille is a true rock CD. I’ve only had this CD for a few months but it goes with me anytime I have driving time and it’s my favorite to play while working out at the gym. It’s hard driving LDS rock. And of course every LDS rock collection has to have Seven Wonders by Greg Simpson. This is a great CD for non members or teenagers who like good music with a pulse but not overly religious in nature.



My top 5 LDS rock CD’s are:



Mission Stories by Rich Bischoff

Brenda Burch self titled

Epiphonic by Cary Judd

The Rumor by Before Braille

Seven Wonders by Greg Simpson





Finally, in the sacred category I love I heard Him Come by Jeff Goodrich. This CD has been around for awhile but anytime I feel spiritually malnourished I put on my copy of I heard Him Come and I can feel the Spirit and the love Heavenly Father has for me. Oh Lord, My Redeemer just about brings me to tears every time I hear it. I also really like George Dyer’s first CD Wondrous Love. This is about as close as I come to listening to opera. But George has the voice of an angel and his selection of songs is perfect. I especially love his version of I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked. Wow, I never get tired of George Dyer.



Hear My Praise by Kenneth Cope is a favorite around my house. All of the songs are Christ-centered and always invites the Spirit into my home when we listen to it. I saw Kenneth perform many of the songs on this CD live at the St. George Tabernacle last year and left on such a spiritual high. Kenneth has a wonderful testimony of the Saviour and you can see that in this album. The next CD on my top 5 list of sacred CD’s is another Kenneth Cope album but this one is an instrumental called Joseph Smith The Seer. I am not a big fan of instrumentals but this one is so full of imagery for me that I can actually visualize what Kenneth is sharing with his audience about the prophet Joseph Smith. The orchestral score is beautiful and touching.



My final selection for the top 5 sacred CD’s is Sometimes He Lets It Rain by Katherine Nelson. I love Katherine’s voice and one of my all time favorite songs is the title track to this album. Katherine has been on so many other performers CD’s that I was glad to see her release her own album.



My top 5 sacred LDS CD’s are:



I Heard Him Come by Jeff Goodrich

Wondrous Love by George Dyer

Hear My Praise by Kenneth Cope

Joseph Smith The Seer by Kenneth Cope

Sometimes He Lets It Rain by Katherine Nelson



There it is…my top 5 lists. Now to narrow it down to my top 5 LDS CD’s of all-time:



Wondering by Aaron Edson

I heard Him Come by Jeff Goodrich

Order in the Chaos by Julia Davis Allen

Mission Stories by Rich Bischoff

Taken by Cherie Call



But remember I have added Alex Boye’s Testimony to my top 5 list. Actually, after further consideration, I now have a top 6 list.

For the past week I have been suffering through a really lousy Internet connection. I know that many of my KZION listeners have been frustrated with the constant buffering. At one point last Sunday my connection was so bad I couldn’t figure out how KZION was staying on the air and with no buffering. A miracle? Here is an image of my current situation:







Click on the thumbnail to see a bigger image. See all the red? That’s 100% packet loss. On Sunday, the first 4 hops were completely dead with 100% packet loss, yet I was still able to broadcast. I have no idea how that could happen but it did. There is so much that can go wrong when broadcasting via the Internet. It’s amazing KZION is as reliable as it is.

I received the new Alex Boye CD Testimony today and immediately put it on the CD player and began listening. I don’t usually listen to new CD’s right away because I receive so many. But this one I have been anticipating for quite awhile. One of the greatest benefits of running a radio station is receiving all the new releases.



Alex Boye is known for his hip-hop style he brings to well known church hymns. Jeff Fairbanks and I included Ye Elders by Alex on our Best New LDS Musicians CD. But I had heard that this CD was going to be a completely different sound for Alex. And I have to say that I am being BLOWN away right now as I listen to Testimony. This is a must have for any music collection.



This CD reminds me of Julie de Azevedos newly released CD Window To His Love. A very intimate sounding CD that makes you feel like the performer is sitting in your living room and performing especially for you. I have already backed up and listened to several tracks twice before I have even finished the CD.



I have now listened to track 4, Let His Love Reach You, three times and it’s one of the most comforting songs I have heard in a long time.



There is hope

For every soul that’s lost.

There is a way back home.

No matter where you roam.

Let His love heal you and lead you there.

There’s a place for every heart in pain.

A place where there’s no hurt.

And there’s no shame.

Let His love reach you.

And teach you.

Every hour.



This track was written by Michael McLean, Brian Blossil, and Sam Cardon. Isn’t Brian Blossil married to Marie Osmond? Anyway, half way through this song a female voice begins singing the chorus to I need Thee Every Hour and she truly sounds like an angel. This track also features many of my favorite instruments to listen to, Cello, Oboe, and flute.



Track 6 is I’ll Believe In Him written by Kenneth Cope. Alex really shows off his voice during the final chorus of this song. Track 7 is one of my all-time favorite songs, I heard Him Come written by Jeff Goodrich. I believe that Jeff Goodrich is one of the most talented songwriters in the industry. Ok, this was arranged by Rich Dixon and the two main instruments are a guitar and Harmonica. I know, a harmonica used in I heard Him Come. But I think it works. I’ll need to listen a few more times to be sure.



I love the “Mission Statement” of Testimony. “Uplift broken spirits, Strengthen feeble knees, Inspire inquisitive minds, Create a peaceful ambience”. I think Alex has succeeded in meeting these expectations.



Track 8 is Somewhere Beyond the Moon and features a beautiful duet with Jessie Clark. Wow, who is this Jessie Clark? This is the first I have heard of her. She has a powerful voice.



Track 9 is Our Savior’s Love. Features some Cello and a English Horn. Very nice.



Testimony by Alex Boye is now on my top 5 all-time LDS CD’s list. Thank you Alex for sharing. Listen for Testimony on KZION later this week.

Blogs have been around for quite awhile now but have become quite a phenomena recently. I’ve never started a blog before because I didn’t think I had anything interesting to say. Then I got to thinking…since I’m going to the Pearl Awards, and then onto Nauvoo to help promote the Best New LDS Musicians CD that Jeff Fairbanks and I produced, maybe I would Moblog the trip (MObile BLOG).



So, I’ll keep a Moblog of my trip to the Pearls and Nauvoo and maybe write a little about my activities with KZION radio. We’ll see how it goes. I might really get into this whole blogging scene.