BLOG # 12
By Kevin V. Hunt
WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO NAUVOO?
True to the faith of our fathers … That is what I see in many of our visitors. In my last blog, I noted that we had been blessed with several busloads of youth coming to experience Nauvoo. And they just keep coming in droves. This week we hosted large groups from Indiana, Texas, and Kansas. Two of our grandchildren families are coming here to Nauvoo in coming weeks. Brianna came her ward Girls’ Camp group from O’Fallon, Illinois.
In July Brodey and Lucy are coming with their stake group from Lincoln, Texas. We are in great anticipation of their visits.
So, what is the draw? Why are all of these youth coming to Nauvoo? What is it that brings the youth (and their leaders) here?
I knew the answer, but at the Family Living Cener, I had occasion to talk with a Brother Travis Jacobsen. He was one of the leaders with the five buses of youth who came from one stake in Lewisville, Texas. I asked him, “Why did you bring all of these youth to Nauvoo?”
He said, “We had just experienced a stake boundary shake-up and we wanted the youth to bond to each other. We split them up so that everyone was mixed up (and not by ward boundaries).
Then he got to the real meat of why come to Nauvoo? He said, “And we wanted these high school youth to experience the lives of their ancestors who lived here. We tried to help the youth learn stories of their own people.” He didn’t say it, but we both knew: “We wanted them to feel the Spirit of Nauvoo and to help them gain testimonies of the great people and events of this place.”
MORE THAN A PRETTY PLACE, AND A PLACE FOR GREAT PHOTOS
Nauvoo is a gorgeous place – with its green everywhere. Nauvoo is a fun place to visit. There are so many great things to experience here. Nauvoo is a historical landmark, and it is fun to re-visit the days of the past. There are millions of opportunities for really cool photo ops. There is more than enough activity going on to keep everyone entertained.
Nauvoo is all of that, but so much more!
KEY MESSAGES IN NAUVOO
In all of our tours of the historic homes and shops in Nauvoo, we focus upon four “key messages”. These are:
“Cornerstone of Zion”
Prophetic Leadership”
“Temple City” and
“Covenant Community”.
The foundation laid by the early Saints here in Nauvoo really did lay the cornerstone of all future growth of the Church. Here our ancestors received and strengthened testimonies. They became the foundation – the cornerstone – of faith and fortitude for many generations – that continues even to today.
Here in Nauvoo, stalwart and now heroic people of faith and testimony lived their lives and based their everything around the prophetic leadership of prophets Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young and future prophets, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow.
The whole focus of everyone in Nauvoo was the construction of the Nauvoo Temple – the grand symbol of their religious convictions, their hopes for the future – both now and in eternity with their families. Our ancestors literally gave their all – their total heart and commitment to the Temple. They looked forward with great joy to the opportunity to receive their Temple Endowments, and to be sealed together as couples and as families.
The Temple was completed just days (literally) before their departure for the West. But, even in the rush of wagon making, and other preparations to leave, their greatest desire was to get to the Temple before they departed. They did not know when they would have another temple and they so much wanted the blessings that they knew awaited them in the Temple. They wanted the strength and power that they knew would come through their Temple covenants. It was these covenants that would carry them forward through the long journey west, their settlement of the western communities (from Canada to Mexico and California to Colorado and beyond), and the foundation of faith and legacy that they wanted to pass on to generations of their families.
And “Covenant Community” … Here the people were united in one cause .. and that was to lives dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ and their love for him and his Restored Gospel. Here in Nauvoo, church members 3worked and served together – all for the good of each other and their covenant brothers and sisters in the Gospel. And the other key messages noted above, all came together to bind our great ancestors together and eternally.
OUR ANCESTORS HOPE FOR US
In Nauvoo, we see fulfilment of the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants wherein the Lord through the angel Moroni (on his first visit to Joseph Smith) said, “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.” (D&C 2:1-2)
Photo of William Coffin Rawson and Eliza Jane Cheney
It is so inspiring to see these many youth groups as they plan for their own times in the Nauvoo Temple. It is evident that these Temple trips are among the greatest of sacred adventures for these young people. It is great that they get to draw close to their own ancestors as they enter the Nauvoo Temple to complete ordinance work for them.
Yes, Nauvoo is the perfect setting for us to be drawn to our ancestors. Truly our hearts are easily turned to them. We are drawn to them, to their lives, their sacrifices as they gave their all for the Kingdom – and the hope of future freedom, joy and eternal family happiness. And they are drawn to us. They want us to know of their love, their hopes and dreams for us. They want us to be “true to the faith” to that cornerstone of Zion that they built for us.
A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of the staff at a stake youth pioneer trek. It was great to be there with some of my own teenage children.
During this one particular activity, I found myself momentarily without a specific assignment. I found a quiet place to observe and contemplate the grand youth scene before my eyes.
In that reflective moment, I thought of my own pioneer ancestors. It was in that grand moment that I experienced a great personal revelation – given to me of the Holy Ghost. My eyes were opened, and I had a vision – just a flash – ever so briefly – of a similar grand moment then being experienced by those who had gone on before us. In this vision, I quickly saw a throng of thousands of people – whom I came to know were the ancestors of the kids on this trek. I saw them looking on in pride at their cherished sons and daughters – down the line of multiple generations past them. I saw their gratitude and pride in their faithful posterity as they watched the pioneer activities that were meant to draw us to them. It lasted for only a split second, but I knew that they were there.
MY CHALLENGES TO YOUTH IN THE WAINWRIGHT SHOP
One of my favorite places to serve (as a Nauvoo guide) is the wainwright shop – part of the Webb Blacksmith Shop. Often here, I get to teach youth and families about the westward trek of their ancestors. I teach them of the small wagon that was their lives and carried everything they had – to carry them through the pioneer trek of 4-5 months and beyond. I try to inspire the young people of the sacrifices of their own people and ancestors.
And in my final words to each group, (and seeing in their faces, that they have felt the spirit, power of testimony, and gratitude for their own ancestors), I offer an invitation to each group. I invite them to go home and to find the stories of some of their Nauvoo ancestors who made the pioneer trek – and walked that 1,400 miles from Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake Valley (and beyond).
I say to them, “Here you are five or six generations down the line from these pioneer folks. I want you to think of them and what they did for you. I want you to think of what that means for you and how have their lives impacted yours? And what are you going to do about it as you remember them and what they did for you?” And then I just smile big at them and tell them how great it was to have them here in this special place as I point them to the open back door.
TRUE TO THE FAITH
The words of one of our great hymns comes to mind:
“True to the faith that our parents have cherished,
True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,
To God’s command, soul, heart and hand,
Faithful and true we will ever stand”. (Hymns – #254, “True to the Faith”.
THESE GUYS REALLY ARE “TRUE TO THE FAITH”?
In my Blog #11, I introduced the amazing young men from Richfield, Utah – who were on my tour of the Browning home and gun shop. I mentioned how impressive the nine of them were – in Nauvoo in their white shirts and ties. I could not say enough good about them.
But wait …! Their story gets even better! After posting the article, I received a response back from one of the guys. (I had given them my card with instructions to let me know if I needed to make any changes, delete the blog information about them, etc.,) This is what the one young man wrote back to me:
“Hey, Elder Hunt … I am one of the young men you posted about in the Browning Building. I just wanted to let you know how special your blog was to us and how in-tune to the Spirit you were. We actually ALL have our mission calls and there are even more of us who weren’t on the tour! There are 12 of us good friends from Richfield and we made this video. Thanks for all you do and sacrifice. Good luck with the rest of your mission!”
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EvvZAlwOJ_WeGrizPXzYSldz1rljGqEX/view
(You may need to copy and paste the link to get it to open)
The video says it all … So, here is a full dozen of the greatest youth of the Church. The video was staged at the Manti Temple – located about an hour from their Richfield homes. I am sure that they didn’t go there just for a cool photo op. It is evident that they had all gone there for their Temple endowments (or maybe were returning from a previous such Temple excursion for more …). Anyway, I can just imagine these 12 great young men going to the Temple together.
These Ammonite Warriors are definitely showing that they are “True to the Faith”. How magnificent! I would have loved to have been in that Manti Temple session with those great men and their families who were there to support and cheer them on. And it would be great to follow them into their missions and to see the great things I know they will all accomplish. They will go forward in the strength and faith of their ancestors who will be rooting for them.
FRIENDSHIP AND BROTHERHOOD
The Temple experience was likely not the first such activity for these young Richfield men. They had probably often been there before – to do proxy baptisms for their ancestors. I asked and learned that they are not all in the same ward – but they have been friends and brothers. And without them telling me, I feel that their brotherhood has been building for an extended time. I knew that they have been brothers long before their special “To the Nations” photo op experience. I knew that they had been there at the Temple together before. These guys are not just casual acquaintances. They are true friends and brothers. They are committed to each other. And they are true in all things – to the faith of their fathers, mothers and ancestors. They have developed a special bond in the past – a brotherhood that has probably been going on and building for a long while. Can you picture these guys together in their Aaronic Priesthood gatherings? And going to Seminary, serving together? Can you see them in countless home evenings with strong and faithful parents? I can see all of that in these marvelous men.
What a tremendous thing for these young men to have each other – supporting and helping one another as they now head off to all parts of the world in their coming missionary service. They truly live the concept of “Covenant Community” in their love and brotherhood.
ANOTHER STORY OF THE COVENANT BOND
Our own son Rusty belonged to a group like these Richfield Ammonites when he was a teen in Mesa, Arizona. He was a part of a major brotherhood (of both young men and young women). There were a dozen or more in his group.
They did everything together. They had frequent gatherings, parties, and activities. They delighted in just doing and being good – and in helping each other do the same (part of that “covenant community” spirit). They rotated around to various houses. It was a great thrill when it was our turn to host them, and we loved having them come. They were just all great kids. I think that all of the boys went on missions, and I would guess that they have remained true and faithful in the ensuing years.
My wife and I talked then of how great it would be if every young man and young woman could have such a brotherhood bond and common source of support and strength.
Contrasted with this is our Larissa, the youngest of the nine children. We felt so sad for her. She literally had zero friends. There was no one to hang out with, no one to do activities with. She was stuck with the old folks (us) and that was not too great for her. Sad!
“HOORAH, HOORAH, HOORAH FOR ISRAEL”
And back to these Richfield guys … it is evident that they have had a tremendous and faithful back-support group that helped to make them great … amazing parents who taught them righteous principles, dedicated Priesthood leaders, advisors, and bishops, and seminary teachers. Their greatness was not achieved over night – but has come over a long period of sustained effort. Great job, all of you!
And then to the credit of these young men … they got it! They took it all in and lived it. They just did it – and did it together! Wow!
ANOTHER POWERHOUSE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN FROM OVER THE MOUNTAIN
It has been fully 20 years ago, but these Richfield greats brought back a memory of another such group of Ammonite warriors who come vividly to my mind. These guys were likely ancestral cousins who lived over the mountain from the Richfield guys – in the village of Enoch, Utah.
The day was August 1, 2004. We were on the way home from the funeral for Grandpa Belcher [“The Nauvoo Brickmaker”] In northern Utah.
The funeral was on Saturday morning, and we all needed to be home on Monday for school and jobs.
I later wrote to the Enoch Ward Bishop and told him our story:
“We stopped at chapels in Scipio, Fillmore, and Beaver but had not found a ward with the right timing – a sacrament meeting just ready to begin. We had just about given up on the idea. The family members – nearly filling the family’s 15-passenger van – with my wife, two of our married daughters and their husbands, our two teenage sons and three teen and pre-teen daughters – were kind of travel weary and bored with the idea of stopping at yet another chapel.
“But somehow I knew that we needed to press forward with the idea. I was in a bit of a panic as 11:00 AM was very close and I didn’t think that we could make it on to Cedar City – and be on time for a meeting. I said, “There has got to be a chapel around here where we can attend.” (And I recounted the story of how 25 years ago – when we were on our honeymoon and randomly stopped for a delightful sacrament meeting in the real old chapel also in the City of Enoch.)
“It was then that we saw your country chapel as we whizzed by on the freeway. Like a magnet, our van made the exit and went back north to your chapel. The very pregnant daughter reluctantly got into a dress and the others tried to fix their hair, straighten ties, etc. so that we would be as presentable as possible under the travel circumstances.
“I went inside and confirmed that a meeting was just starting. (I said, “They are singing the opening song. If we hurry, we can sneak in during the prayer and maybe no one will see us.” One of the teenagers said, “Oh, sure, dad!” We paraded in with our crowd of eleven and were grateful that the front rows were vacant and waiting for us. We were glad too, that not too many people seemed to notice our crowd coming in. (Maybe they thought that we were there for the baby blessing held in that meeting.)
“Anyway, we settled into the meeting and the teenagers were silently grumbling that we had to sit through a boring testimony meeting in a place and crowd where we knew no one. But, dutifully, they sat quietly and decided to endure the meeting.
“The meeting was typical. You had a several children and a couple of oldsters – just as in our ward – get up at the beginning of the meeting. To this point, the meeting was fulfilling the low expectations of the teenagers. Then, in the middle of the meeting, four of your Young Men grabbed the attention of all of us with their spirited testimonies.
++“The first young man was impressive. As a Young Men’s President myself, I thought, “It would be great to have a full quorum of young men like him.”
“I don’t remember the order but one after the other, these four boys (presumably all Priests – but one or two could have been Teachers) got up and bore stirring testimonies. One shared feelings of a recent trip to Nauvoo. It was more than just a “fun trip” for him. It was evident that he had been touched by the Spirit of the place – including a remembrance of and gratitude for his pioneer ancestors.
“Another young man talked about a recent birthday and how it was the greatest. We all braced to hear about his big birthday party with a million friends. But, instead, he talked of the privilege of going to the Temple with his grandparents to do baptisms for the dead.
‘Then a young man testified of the spiritual experience that he had just been a part of at EFY. And again, it was not the fun and games that were remembered. (Our 15 year old daughter had just been to EFY and we wondered if they were there the same week. She had shared special spiritual experiences with us about her EFY experience so it was really special to hear this young man likewise testify of how his life had been changed or touched by the experience.)
”A fourth young man bore fervent testimony of the Seminary program and said how he could not wait to start school again so that he could once again enjoy the blessings of Seminary.
“I marveled anew with each new young man and thought about what great young men they were. I thought “Wow! These guys are fabulous. They must really have a great program in this ward.”
“I was greatly touched by the young men, their lessons and their testimonies. I recorded in my journal later about the young men and their effect upon me. But, as the meeting ended, my family took a much needed break in your facilities, and after I talked to Shawn Hunt (father of the blessed baby) and found a family connection (to the dismay of waiting family members) – we again piled into our van – having done our Sunday duty for that travel day. We should have, but we didn’t then, talk about the experience in your ward. It was time to hit the road.
“Seven weeks went by, and I had about forgotten the Enoch experience. Then tonight, the same 11 family members were gathered for a special family home evening. The lesson, by the oldest missionary daughter and her new husband, was wonderful. She had just developed the lesson for a recent Relief Society lesson, and he had made a log and stick fort (surrounding a family home) to go with the lesson. Together they reworked the lesson to fit our own family of teenagers. They focused upon the people of Ammon and the spiritual strength of the 2,000 stripling warriors – and the fortifications that helped to make them successful.
“We talked of what great young men they were and the lessons of their parents. Jackie then got tears in her eyes as she then said, “I saw those same kind of guys when we visited that little town in Utah and went to sacrament meeting there after Grandpa’s funeral.” She then recounted the lessons taught by each of the four young men. I was then amazed as many other family members then expressed how great “they” were. We talked about the testimonies of the four Young Men. Their four subjects were all remembered, and we talked of the young men themselves, their subjects and their testimonies.
“I could not believe it. I have thought that the children were not hearing or remembering anything from your “usual” meetings – let alone from an unknown ward in a little Utah town. And yet, each one of the children recalled memories of that special meeting that we sneaked into and shared with you.
“The evening and our discussion were too great to keep to myself. I felt the need to share that experience with you all and jotted down the inspiration as it came – so that I could act upon it after the home evening. And now, at the hour of 11:00 PM (Arizona Time), I am acting upon that prompting. And across the miles, I am grateful for you and that Sunday in your ward.
“Thanks to you Young Men for being the Stripling Warriors of Enoch. Thanks to you, Bishop (and Young Men leaders), for being their leader – just as Helaman was. Thanks to you parents – both Moms and Dads – for raising such sons. The meeting was evidence that you are all covenant making and keeping people. We felt beyond that one meeting into your lives and hearts – even though we did not know any of you. But, even so, through the power of the Holy Ghost and the brotherhood of the Gospel, we related to you and the lessons that we learned that summer day as we passed through your ward. It is exciting to know that the Church is true wherever we go and that the Spirit can be felt wherever we are. Thanks, again.”
Brother Kevin V. Hunt and family
Now twenty years later, I have often thought of those four great Ammonite Warriors– wondering what became of them after that eventful day shared with them. Now they are all in their mid-thirties and I would like to know the rest of their life stories since that time.
GENERATIONS OF COMMITMENT IN THE MANTI TEMPLE
As I ponder the experiences of my young Richfield friends in the Manti Temple, I am reminded of generations of my own family commitment there.
Let’s start with my 2nd Great Grandfather, Hans Larsen.
The Manti Temple was under construction and Hans was about 77 years old and was living in Fairview, Utah – a little town located about 30 miles north of Manti. He would often get a Priesthood assignment to go work on the Temple.
He lived long before automobiles and he had no horse. He had a little wooden wheelbarrow and would put a blanket and a few tools and supplies in his cart.
He would walk the 30 miles to the Temple. He would work there for a couple of weeks and would then make the walking trip back home. And in a couple of months, he would get another Temple work assignment and he would do it all again. Sadly, Hans died at age 78 in 1884 – four years before the Temple was completed.
OUR KEITH NAMED FOR HANS LARSEN
I have been greatly blessed to have Hans Larsen as my 2nd great grandfather. He exhibited great faith as he came to America after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his native Denmark. He came as a part of a wagon train west and settled in Sanpete County, Utah.
So great our heritage with Hans, I gave our son, Keith, his name. His middle name is Hansen – meaning in the Danish, literally, “Keith Son of Hans”. This was as Nephi wrote of his sons:
“Behold, my son …I have given unto you the name of our first parents … and this I have done that when you remember your name(s) ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works, and when ye remember their works, ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good. Therefore, my son, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.” (Helaman 5:6-7)
MANTI TEMPLE MARRIAGES AND FAITH
My parents were married in the Manti Temple. My wife and I got married on their 25th anniversary (in the Salt Lake Temple). Then 25 years later, our daughter, Jenae, and Paul, were married on our 25th anniversary. – in the Manti Temple. Paul had nearly died in a very major car accident just a couple of weeks before the planned marriage. He had to have a titanium rod inserted down alongside the whole of his badly fractured femur – and had other serious medical problems. So, on their wedding day, Paul was blessed to even be alive … He found himself walking on double wrist crutches. It took a lot of faith, but they went forward in their faith and their eternal marriage. One of my favorite photos of their wedding day shows Paul at the crest of Temple hill with his arms resting in his crutches and with his legs in the air.
And Paul was one who loved to dance. He was so sad that he was crippled on wedding day. But, with even more faith, he did dance – without the crutches!
WE SHARE A COVENANT MAKING MOMENT WITH A GRANDDAUGHTER
For several years, our daughter, Jenae and her husband and four children have lived in O’Fallon, Illinois (a St. Louis suburb). They are now in the midst of a military move to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
The oldest of these four grandchildren is their beautiful daughter, Katelyn. She has just received her mission call and will soon begin service in the Colorado Denver North Mission. She is working this summer at the BYU Aspen Grove family camp to earn money for her mission. And even though working there 1,400 or so miles away, she wanted to return home to receive her Temple endowments in the nearby St. Louis, Missouri Temple.
Such a wish was not really convenient in light of the move this month to Las Vegas. She had already begun working at the BYU Aspen Grove family camp. And this meant yet another flight home to St. Louis. And why did she want so badly to go to the St. Louis Temple? It was because she had previously made many trips to this temple with her ward youth – as well as with her parents. (Sister Hunt and I have even been there a few times with her for these special baptism experiences). And each time, Katelyn has had a handful of name cards that she has researched for her own family members. She has had powerful spiritual experiences and great joy as she has felt that “St. Louis is her home Temple”. What a great thought!
Nauvoo is only about three and a half hours from St. Louis and O’Fallon, so we received special permission from our mission leaders to travel there to join with the family for the Katelyn Temple experience. It was our great privilege to do so. We traveled there late on a Friday night – after our site guide work of the day. We were able to join with her, her parents and her other grandparents in the Temple the next day.
It was a special thrill for us to be in the Temple with Katelyn. And it was beautiful that it worked out for all of us to be there with her. Katelyn looked beautiful in her white clothes, and she looked radiantly happy and content. It was where she needed to be. And with us around her – and likely also with ancestors of both sides, it was truly a wonderful and special occasion.
PREVIOUS TEMPLE BAPTISMS WITH JENAE AND FAMILY IN NAUVOO
Last summer, before we knew that our mission be in Nauvoo, Sister Hunt and I had the great opportunity to go to Nauvoo with Jenae and the family. We had four glorious days together in Nauvoo. It had been a challenge to find a Nauvoo place that we could afford to stay at. And since it was during the time of the Nauvoo Pageant, possible places were “as scarce as hens’ teeth”. Then I remembered that years before, that I had pulled off the beautiful Mississippi road – and had visited a Scout Camp (Camp Eastman). It was then that my 60 years of Boy Scout experience proved very valuable.
I contacted the local Scout council and was able to make arrangements to rent out their lodge for the use of our family as we were in Nauvoo. The lodge was so beautiful and wonderful. It met all of our needs, and more.
Our first agenda items after getting to Nauvoo was a trip to the beautiful Nauvoo Temple. One daughter was too young to be in the Temple with us, but all of the rest of the children were able to be in the Temple with us and their parents. It was a glorious time, and we all had a wonderful experience. (And again, Katelyn had a fistful of family names who needed our work in their behalf.) We had a beautiful experience together.
UNIQUE TEMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ELDER AND SISTER HUNT IN NAUVOO
We recently received a message from the administrative assistants in our Illinois Historic Sites Mission. We were told that the mission had been given a large number of names of direct ancestors of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Help was solicited to help complete the Temple work for these ancestors. Sister Hunt and I signed up to do work for a couple of people
On a Friday night, we made our visit to the beautiful Nauvoo Temple – located less than a mile from our current mission home. We were first sealed for two couples who had been married about the year 1450. We later went through endowment sessions for others. I personally went through for a brother Thakur Foliot who was born in the year 1130! Amazing! This was a great opportunity and blessing.
After the sessions, I was able to meet an Elder Lee Groberg. He and his wife have been Temple workers and were to leave for home the next morning. I asked him if he knew a Velma Groberg Hunt (my aunt who was married to my dad’s brother). It was his wife who said, “That is Aunt Velma, Lee.” Interesting that we shared the nephew relationship to the same Aunt Velma Hunt.
MEETING AN EXUBERANT YOUNG MAN IN THE LYON DRUG AND VARIETY STORE
Serving in the Lyon Drug Store was great fun for Sister Hunt and me. As we first walked into the place for our first assignment there, we almost heard, “Welcome to Walmart!” (Wait a minute … we were the old folks now … maybe it was our turn to extend the greeting!) This place was truly amazing. It had an inventory of anything and everything. We marveled at the many items and pondered, “How could they have had this technology, and these things way back then?”
We hosted a rather large group at the store. It was a busy time as the “customers” roamed around to check out everything. Such a fun place!
It was hard to manage the whole crowd. I was anxious to sneak a photo of Sister Hunt at the sales counter. I got the desired photo op, and realized that I had a “photo bomber”.
This was a young man of age ten or twelve. I then told the boy that I had found him in my photo at the store counter. I asked him if I could feature him in a coming blog article that I would write – with his photograph. “I said, “I promise not to say your name (a privacy thing). I had to laugh at his response. He said “No, please do!” And so, with his insistence and approval from his mother, I tell of this great young man- named “Carter”. I loved his enthusiasm for life. He, like others I have met in Nauvoo, radiated happiness and strength. (And I wondered who his ancestors were). I don’t know if my Carter friend was old enough to go to the Temple, but having met his mother, I am sure that she would get him there as soon as was age qualified to be there.
Carter’s mother had brought Carter to Nauvoo numerous times before this visit to the Lyon’s Drug Store. She had likely brought Carter to Nauvoo for more than just a routine visit to the local variety store – or for a fun photo-op.. I think he was feeling that Nauvoo Spirit.
A ”TENDER MOMENT” WITH ANOTHER GREAT AMMONITE WARRIOR IN THE MAKING
As tour guides, we meet all kinds of people, and we have wonderful experiences with many of them. We get the opportunity to look into the eyes of hopeful parents who have brought their families – and many of them teenagers – to experience the joy and possible testimony that Nauvoo might bring. They know well, the faith and strength of their ancestors who walked these same streets so long ago. The fire of the covenant burns strongly in the souls of many of these visitors.
On this day, Sister Hunt and I happened to be serving in the home of Apostle Orson Hyde. In our first group there was a young boy, Graden, who said that he was age 10. I liked this amazing boy from our first meeting the day before in another site. It was great to see these folks again. I had previously told this Graden that he looks just like my own very blonde grandson, Caleb. And on this occasion, I pulled up a photo of our Caleb (age 11) and showed it to Graeden. As he saw the photo, he got excited. He said, “He looks exactly like me!” It was a fun moment.
In the Orson Hyde home, we talk about the apostolic calling of Apostles to travel to the nations of the world as ambassadors for Christ. We talked of today’s Apostles who go out and serve and minister in all nations. As we talked of the role of Apostles, we taught Graeden and his family – the parents and his four brothers and a one little sister (also a very cute little blonde lady). We saw that Nauvoo hope and gratitude in the eyes of the parents.
As I introduced the topic of the Apostles, I asked the kids who their favorite Apostle is. The older brothers were kind of vague. Not being able to pin on one particular Apostle, they said, “I like them all.” Not so of Graden. Without hesitation, he quickly said, “I love Elder Neal A. Maxwell.” Wow! This kid certainly took Sister Hunt and me by surprise. Elder Maxwell was truly one of the all-time greatest Apostles, but he had departed the earth fully 20 years ago. How could this 10-year old boy have possibly known about Elder Maxwell. But, he really meant it. We were totally amazed. And we were quick to compliment the parents. It was evident that they have had many Gospel conversations, special home evenings and other great deliberate teaching moments with their children.
Several times through the presentation, this Graden continued to astound us. I was drawn to a similar child who was found in the Temple “both hearing them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46). And like Joseph and Mary, the more we conversed with this Graden, the more we “were astonished at his understanding and answers”. This boy was truly amazing. (And it was fun to see the very quiet but proud parents as they too, sat in wonder of this special young men, their covenant son. We felt truly honored to be in the presence of this magnificent young man. We knew in our hearts that he will grow to be one of the greatest of Church men – a true leader.
As the family left our tour, I joked with the older brothers. “It must be a bit challenging for you guys to always be in the shadow of this amazing brother of yours!” (They smiled and nodded in agreement. I think that they too had realized his greatness.) I said, “He is like Nephi – full of strength and goodness. I hope that you guys will honor and sustain him – and not be like Nephi’s older brothers who did not want to be taught by their younger brother.”
I wished that I could see the future of this special lad – who looks “exactly like my own Caleb”. And who knows … maybe these handsome twins might end up as mission companions in some future year. They would make quite the team.
THE LEGACY OF FAITH IN OUR PIONEER FOREFATHERS
I have noted the desires and hopes of our pioneer ancestors to receive their own Temple endowments and to make other special covenants of Heavenly Father and Jesus. And I love to hear their stories of Temple fortitude and power. I am drawn to the story of faith and Temple power in the life of my 3rd great grandfather, Thomas Sirls Terry.
In his own words, Thomas said, “I had, in my youth, gone to all kinds of meetings but never before did any preaching come with such force to my understanding as did the remarks of the Mormon Preachers … I was convinced, through their preaching, and on the twelfth day of March, 1842, I was baptized under the hands of Joseph Newton. I was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” …
“I thought I would see what the world was made of, but yet I had a greater motive to inspire me than all this, and this was that I had joined the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, and I was determined to gather to where the Saints were gathered.”
Thomas was a latecomer to Nauvoo, but he came in time to receive his Temple endowments in the Nauvoo Temple before heading west. Thomas Sirls Terry was later a captain of a hundred in a westward wagon train company. He records:
“When going to bed I heard a rap at my wagon. ‘Oh Captain, my daughter is dead.’ It was Brother James Stevenson; I dressed myself and went to his wagon. His daughter, Lucy, had passed to the other side. She was dead. I sent for Captain John Dustin who was Captain of the second ten. Brother Dustin was a man of great faith. We administered to her, but she did not revive. She did not come back to life. After some time we administered again, but of no use. She still laid in death’s arms.
“I spoke to Brother Dustin and asked him to stay with the family, that I would go out, but would come back soon. I went to my wagon and got my Temple clothes. I went off in the darkness a quarter of a mile, and dressed myself in my Temple clothes. I knelt down and asked my Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that if it was His will that the spirit of the young sister return to its body.
“After I had returned I found Sister Lucy still dead, the family were all crying. I said to Brother Dustin, we will administer to her again. We placed our hands upon her head and I asked my Heavenly Father that her spirit might return to its body. Before we took our hands off her head her Spirit returned and she came to life. The time altogether was one hour. She came to the Valley and was married.
“We traveled on next day. Two days after Brother Jessie Murphy was taken very sick with a high fever. We blessed him and the next day he was up driving his team. We continued our journey till we got to Buffalo Creek, about one hundred and sixty miles east of Fort Laramie. Here we had a stampede. It was awful! Yes, it was a fearful thing. Forty wagons and three carriages were all jammed together. There were five who were very badly hurt. In this I was alone, while the Brothers looked after the wagons and teams.
“The first I administered to was Brother Pallard and his wife. I found them both dying on the ground. Sister Pallard was lying as if she were dead; she had been knocked down by the teams. I administered to them; they both got up. The next one was Brother Bratt who was from the South. I found him also very badly hurt. He had been knocked over. I blessed him and he got up and was alright. While I was administering to him I heard a sister call out ‘Oh, Captain Terry, come here.’ It was Sister Mousley. I went to her. Brother Martin Lincy was holding Whihelmina in his arms. When I got to her she had passed away, the blood was running a stream. Her face was cut fearfully her sister was lying by her with an injured spine. She could not get up. I administered to them both; Whihelmina come to, her sister got up. By that time the Brethren had the wagons separated and the camp formed.” (From Autobiography of Thomas Sirls Terry – Available as a “Memory” on FamilySearch)
A LEGACY OF FAITH
Wow! What a legacy we have been given by our faithful ancestors. And the questions are, “How can we be like them? How can we show our gratitude for their faith and sacrifice? What of their lives … What do they mean to us – (and us to them)?” I am so grateful for my own Nauvoo experiences that draw me to my people – and to the Prophets and the gospel that they patterned their lives after. I am strengthened by their testimonies, and their commitment to the Restored Gospel that they espoused. I am so grateful that they were “true to the faith”. I am grateful that they lived and built upon the Nauvoo “cornerstone of Zion”, that through their faith, they were a Temple building and Temple going family, and for the covenants that they have passed on to me and to us. They have given us a great heritage which I now am privileged to be a part of.
“The Faith of our fathers …” And their Nauvoo Spirit lives on inside of me and my family members. It is my hope that we can all “REMEMBER” them and their good works, as Nephi taught his sons. “True to the Faith” … a great motto for each of us.
On the Nauvoo Trail … Elder Kevin Hunt
On the Nauvoo Trail 