By Kevin V. Hunt

It’s not just Sister Hunt and me.  It is a thing with all of the Nauvoo Missionaries – no matter what kind of missionary he/she may be.  We all find ourselves REJOICING IN NAUVOO MIRACLES.  And it is definitely a very real thing for us here in Nauvoo.  We all experience them every day.  It is amazing and wonderful.  We know that these miracles are guided and orchestrated by a higher power – one greater than any of us.  And the results come off better than any of us could possibly have imagined– even if we thought hard about them.

In my first blog, written after we got here to Nauvoo, I commented on the amazing church meetings of our missionary “ward”.  We have nearly 300 missionaries serving here together in various roles and support functions.  It is so great to attend each Sunday – and to feel of the strength and power of each person in the vast audience.  Each one contributes their own skills and talents – for our “covenant community” and it is wonderful how everything comes together.

In a recent Sacrament meeting, our Mission President (Mission Leader), President Daniel S. Mehr was conducting.  He noted a recent interview that he had held with a “YSM” (Young Sister Missionary).  They talked about Nauvoo Miracles.  I guess she had at first, been skeptical of the concept, but has come to be a believer.  He then invited each of us, as we partook of the Sacrament that day, to ponder the Nauvoo Miracles that we have each experienced, and to thank our Savior for those miracles.  I did that, and it was a great experience.  It was special to reflect – and to acknowledge the true source of those many miracles – the influence of The Spirit and the work of Christ (or the Godhead) in our behalf. 

Almost no day passes but what we do feel of Their love and Their guidance in creating these miracles, or making them come to pass for us.  Many of those miracles involve PEOPLE and our connections with them.  And the connections are just so fun.  We are always amazed and grateful in our moments of surprise and wonder.

In that same sacrament meeting, a NPM (Nauvoo Performing Missionary), Elder Josh Call, inspired me as he said, “The Lord is very willing to bless the lives of those who are willing to bless the lives of others.”  Maybe that is why we have been so great blessed in our connections with so many people here.  Or maybe better, that can be an ongoing goal for us.

ALREADY RECOUNTED MANY MIRACLES IN BLOGS

In my many previous blogs, I think that I have already recorded many Nauvoo Miracles.  We have felt the Nauvoo Miracles before we arrived – in our preparation and travels to get here. And we have certainly experienced them since our arrival.  I acknowledge the Lord in all of these miracles.  I try to be grateful each day – and to recognize that these special blessings – or miracles come to us froma God who loves us..

I had an interesting conversation with a friend a month or so ago.  He said that he likes my blogs because they are positive (and I didn’t say it – but probably because I write about the miracles).  He has traveled the world, but  he says that he is too “literal” and often cannot enjoy the beauty and wonder of the moment because he gets side-tracked to start over-analyzing things – thinking to himself, “I don’t think this is the right place” or “I don’t think it could happened like that.”   Funny that he admitted that he has this problem and recognizes the effects of such a behavior. This look at the world keeps him from seeing the miracles around him.

THE MIRACLE OF JUST BEING IN NAUVOO

Just being here in Nauvoo is a miracle.  When we were preparing our mission application paperwork, we ultimately removed all preferences and said that we would go wherever needed and for as long as needed.  We had not even thought about being sent to Nauvoo.  But it was exciting when we received our mission calls to serve in Nauvoo as site guides.  As already noted, Sister Hunt’s parents had served here for two and a half years (and I have written about them).  And I had served in Nauvoo for the last six months of my mission (another Nauvoo miracle) a hundred years (or half of that) ago. 

And how cool is that – to get to come back to serve in my original mission – and with my own companion? Who gets that opportunity? I feel so blessed!

This has proved to be a special miracle and one which I have often been able to talk about while here (though not in the script).  As people hear the story, they too, think it a miracle to be back here.

LEARNING FROM THE BEST – MY DAD – THE ULTIMATE PEOPLE CONNECTOR

In our work in the tours, we get to meet a plethora of people.  They come from all over the country (and even the world).  (And as a sidenote …  I log each night the number of people we hosted on our own personal tours that day.  And thus far – in just 3 months, we have personally taken through 5,917 people!  Unbelievable!)   As we greet people, we tell them we are from Maricopa, Arizona … and then we are quick to add “And, that is the TOWN of Maricopa and NOT the Maricopa County and their election woes that you have heard about”.  (And it is funny how many people have heard of those woes … and Sheriff Arpaio and his pink underwear … we see it in their reactions).  We then ask them where they are from – as a way to develop a common bond or connection with them.

This is a trait that I actually learned from a lifetime of being with my dad, Russel F. Hunt.  He was the absolute ultimate best at making such connections with people.  It was almost a joke in our family.  We teased him saying that he could take off in a car going anywhere, and within minutes, he would find someone with whom he had common ground or connections – and could even find a place to stay anytime – using those same skills.  He was truly the master connector.  I have been grateful for his training as I have been here in Nauvoo.

NAUVOO RESTORATION – A WITNESS OF THEN AND NOW

One Nauvoo Miracle about me returning to my former mission is that I have been able

to see history in action.  In my Blog #9   I shared a link https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bRVa8rnQdY9YmBRA8AVDuAS5NeXgwsGA/edit#slide=id.p10 (that I have also printed in a book).  In these presentations, I shared a multitude of photos taken 100 years ago (50) when I was here in 1974.  And now back on the mission all of those years later, I share in the presentation/book, what various homes looked like then and today – comparing the two eras.  This is a rare Nauvoo Miracle that few other folks could create.

THREE HUNT COUSINS

At the MTC, we were surprised to learn that there were three Hunt couples reporting there at the same time.  We all reported on April 1^st – no joke!  We had not known each other previously, but a check on “Relatives” proved that we are all 3^rd cousins – all from different sons of a common 3^rd great grandfather.  It has been so fun to associate at the MTC and since. 

It has been fun to share our “cousins” story with many visitors.  We hear all of the time from visitors, “Oh, so, you’re one of the other Hunts”.  Evidently, they have seen our cousins as they have been teamsters with the folks on their rides. Some have already heard our story from the cousins, and some get to hear it from us.

DUNN FAMILY VISITORS

As you already know, Sister Hunt and I live in the historic home first owned by Simeon A. Dunn.  He built the first 2-story home in Nauvoo and even the Prophet Joseph enjoyed the view with him from the 2^nd story.  Anyway, the home is original on the outside, but we have modern guts inside.  (Glad we have indoor plumbing and electricity.)

Anyway, we’re finding that being a Dunn family descendant is quite the thing.  I guess years ago, per some of our visitors, the Church invited Dunn family members to contribute to the restoration of their ancestral home – and many did.

Now all of these years later, the Dunn family members have spread the word – the tradition of the Nauvoo home.  And when any Dunnite gets here, they all want to check out the family home.

We can always spot a Dunn descendant.  They drive up to the front of the house and they sit there in awe in their vehicles.  Some will snap a quick shot out of the front car window.   They are a dead giveaway.  On such occasions, we always hurry outside and invite the folks in to see the house.  The folks are always in awe of a rather small and plain-looking living room and kitchen.  In this room, we do point out the boarded-up area where the fireplace would have existed.

We take them up the stairs to the rather normal – L-shaped bedroom (complete with a “dressing area” – where we have a rack with our many Nauvoo costumes).  The three old dressers – with mirrors – are kind of unique but are likely not “of the period”.  The bathroom is just like any other.  But, with all of these “unique features”, the folks are just in awe and act so excited and grateful to see their Dunn home.

We then take our guests down into the cellar.  Here it gets a bit more interesting.  The whole basement has been plastered so it does not look at all 1845’ish.  We do show them the original limestone fireplace foundation and they all think that this is so cool.  Then our final “Wow” is the stairs that exit up from the basement to the world above (and I think I’ve shared a photo of this in a previous blog).  The steps are the original limestone – as are the rocks that line the sides.  Folks always get a kick out of getting a photo of themselves coming up out of the cellar (with the photo being taken from up top, and looking down).

And then, our final act is to invite them to sign the Dunn family book.  This becomes a ceremonial treat as they sign their name – just as many Dunns have been doing – since 1982.  I always get a laugh at their entries – as they each try to explain how “great” they are (meaning how many generations down they are from the legendary Simeon A. Dunn).  Then most folks want a “real” photo out front with the sign (without fear that they will be discovered out on our lawn).

In the short time that we have been in the Dunn home, we have had seven or so different families who have met the above qualifications and with whom we have shared the home.  Being the Nauvoo Miracle for these folks is always fun as we experience how overjoyed they are with the experience and the home.

COMPLETION OF BOOKS ABOUT MY GRANDPARENTS

My grandparents, Ray V. and Augusta Wilcox Hunt were married on June 25, 1924. A few months ago I realized that we would be celebrating (June 25, 2024) their 100th wedding anniversary. I realized then that I wanted to create a commemorative book on their lives and the great family legacy which they built.

Before my mission, I was able to create much of the book (which turned into two large volumes). I tried to finish the books before the mission but it just didn’t happen. There was too much to do.

Along with everything else, I was able to complete the writing and editing of the two books. I was able to publish them for all of my family to enjoy. This was a Nauvoo Miracle for me.

I was pleased recently, when my Aunt Mary Ann wrote me and had me order 6 copies of each of the books.

MY TALLAHASSEE MISSION HOME

A couple of years I created a rather extensive autobiography (of 21 volumes so far).   In those books, I tried to recreate my whole life with all of the details that I could put together.  I found photos of much of my lifetime.  I was sad then that I could not locate any photos of the mission home of my young mission.  I served in Tallahassee, Florida.  I knew the mission home well.  I was an office elder missionary so we were at the mission home with President Spencer H. Osborn frequently.  I helped mow his yard.  I played with the President at his favorite game of ping-pong in his garage.  We often attended special gatherings there to welcome new missionaries and to hear departing missionaries share their final mission testimonies.  I looked through all of my “stuff” and files and could not find the desired photo.  It has been lamentable, ever since.

Then just a couple of weeks ago, Sister Hunt and I were serving in the Scovil Bakery for the day.  A family – parents and married daughter came for a tour.  As ever, we asked them where they were from.  I was elated when they said that they were from Tallahassee.  We talked of the new temple that is set for dedication in December of this year.  We talked of the several wards in “Tally” – well beyond just the one or two wards when I was there.  We talked of my mission president Osborn and the mom of the family said that she had been a teenager in the Tallahassee stake when President Libbert was the stake president, and her own father was a counselor to him.

I then told the folks, the Long family, that I had one mission regret – that I did not get a photo of our Mission Home.  I was not prepared for their response.  They said, “Well, we bought the home after the Church decided to sell it (after the mission was closed).  And we LIVE IN IT,” they said!  Wow!  I was in shock.  Talk about a Nauvoo Miracle!

The mom did not have a photo, but her daughter did.  She quickly pulled up the desired photo on her phone.  She sent it to me on my phone immediately.  I was so happy!  What an amazing miracle!

NEWMAN BRICK YARD MEMORIES AND MORE AT THE SCOVIL BAKERY

Just moments before the meeting with the Tallahassee folks, Sister Hunt got her own surprise miracle.  She has been collecting information – anything and everything – about the brickyard that her father created when a missionary here in Nauvoo.  She wanted to know what his place looked like – and which is no longer there.

A Newman couple came in and somehow the subject of the brickyard came up in the conversation.   They told us that they had both – individually before their marriage – been to the brickyard.  Each of them had specific memories of the Belcher brickyard that they shared with us.  The lady thought that she might have some photos.  She promised to go home to seek photos.  Another Nauvoo miracle.

And that same day, we had a visit from some Hunt family members.  had fun tgalking with them. 

He said where he was from, and I said, “So, who is your grandfather?”  Again, I got that funny stare …  He said that his grandfather is Edward Hunt.  I said, “Is that Edward Loren Hunt?”  He said, “Yes”.  Then I said, “Okay, then who is your father.”  When he said, “Jay”, I then knew his genealogy.  His father and my grandfather were “distant cousins”.  My grandfather’s dad was the oldest of 15 children and Edward was the youngest of the 15.

Then to the surprise of this Bryce Hunt, I told him that I used to go deer hunting for many years with his father – and his older brother and sister – at the annual traditional HUNTing expedition at the old Hunt hunting grounds (where six generations of our family hunted).  This guy was the youngest of the family so I never knew him at the Hunt camp.  So, this Bryce and I are first cousins – twice removed.  Another Nauvoo Miracle.

NOT WAITING ON THESE NAUVOO WOMEN

Sister Hunt and I work with about 75 different YSM’s (Young Sister Missionaries) here in Nauvoo. They live in various places – usually with 6-8 sisters (a district) in one house. I am sure that they have plenty of sleeping area but with that number of women, no number of bathrooms – and current bushes (for all of those curling irons) could ever be enough.

We talked of the miracle of these Sisters all getting work on time. We start at each site at 9:00 AM and are supposed to arrive at the site by 8:45. Most of these sisters have a car for the district. So, one companionship asre the drivers and they have to drop off two other sets – at some other places. And somehow, they are always on time. Wow!

Having a wife and six daughters, I have come to know and sympathize with the trauma of the guy who sings, the country song, “Waiting on a Woman”. I can attest to that. I have much experience in that area. I can only imagine what a true miracle this really is for these Sisters here in Nauvoo.

MUCH NEEDED COMPUTER HELP

With all of my writing and typing, I literally and completely wore out a computer. Many of the keys would not even work. This was traumatic – since the old computer was not all that old. But, I guess thousands of documents took its toll.

I ordered a new computer and this was exciting. Then came a new problem, however. I know how to use and abuse a computer – with a hundred files open simultaneously … but Iam not and have never been a “tech guy”.

Here in Nauvoo, there is a team of computer “tech guys” who have expressed willingness to help any of the mjissionaries with their computer needs. Wow! I was so happy with Elder Mills offered to assist me. He has spent a few hours trying to get the new system set up and all of my 130,000 files (over 20 years) and 30,000 photos backed up – on a large storage drive – as well where they need to be on the new computer.

Talk about a Nauvoo Miracle. This is a special miracle in my behalf and I am so grateful for his expertise and assistance. Thanks, Elder Mills!

A MESA CONNECTION TO THE LOCAL OWNER OF ANNIE’S CUSTARD SHOP

It was a summer evening, and we needed a treat.  We usually go for ice cream bricks at the Red Front, but on this occasion, we decided to try Annie’s Custard – located across the street from Red.  We got to talking to the proprietor of the place and learned that she is from Mesa, Arizona. Further conversation proved that she is a granddaughter of Oakley Ray – the patriarch of the great family – of a dozen children and 88 or so grandchildren.  We talked of how all of the family men wore a bolo tie to Oakley’s funeral.  (I think he was age 101!)    We talked of Delwyn Ray – (whom Sister Hunt and I have both known for many years).  He and his wife are her aunt and uncle.  So fun!

Like so many shop owners here in Nauvoo, she felt “driven” of the Spirit to open up a shop here. That is the story told by many of these folks here.

UNPLANNED BRICKYARD VISIT

Some Nauvoo Miracles happened on June 6^th as we were serving at the Orson Hyde Home.  I have already written much of that day in previous blogs (the Field family descendants and Mary – “The Last Leaf”.)    I quote from the journal entry for that date:  “Lou lost her white hair piece somewhere in our travels today.  She wanted to go to try to find it.  We headed out.  We got detoured, however, as we passed the old Belcher Brickyard and saw several cars there. 

We decided to stop to see what was happening there.  We found Elder Bundy – the site coordinator – there giving a demonstration to one of the mission districts.  We almost left – since they are not our district, but Sister Bundy came running out and invited us in.  We loved hearing some details of how they create the Belcher brick in the current brick making center.  This was all great material.

We were glad that we “happened” to go by the brick yard at just the right time.  This proved to be a “blessing.”

MORE MIRACLES THAT BEGAN AT THE RED BRICK STORE

Our first visitors on a day at Joseph’s Red Brick Store were the Watsons from Thomasville, Georgia.  This is near Tifton – one of my mission areas.  We loved the Suth’an accent of the folks (a couple and their adult son.)  We talked about Tifton, Georgis where I served.  I asked them if they know Blaine Pearce.  He was a teen when  I was there – and I think (per my journals of the day) that he and I were pretty good friends.  I know that he and his family went with me on a picnic and spent most of the day together on the day that I was transferred from Tifton to Birmingham (50 years ago last week – where did that time go?)

The Watsons did, in fact, know Blaine Pearce, recently released as stake president – and a currently a member of the planning committee for the new Tallahassee Temple.  And they had his contact information – which they shared with me.

I wrote text and e-mail messages to this Blaine.  He soon responded – expressing that he was glad I had written to him.  After a few days, Blaine and I (and his mother – whom I also knew) were able to connect over a video conference call.  We talked for over an hour.  It was such fun to connect with Blaine and to talk of our lives (and other ward members) over the past 50 years.  Another Nauvoo Miracle!

Then as our Jackie and family were here, we arranged for us to stage an “after hours” tour just for them and us at the Red Brick Store.  They showed up at the appointed hour as we were closing the place.  We ushered in Jackie and family.  I was closing the door and a youngish couple came running to join us.  I could not shut the door on them.  I welcomed them in and told them about our private tour we were going to have with our children.  They acted as if that did not matter.  They really wanted the tour – so I told them we would “adopt them into our family”.  They thought this could be great. 

They joined us for our best tour as we gave many extra details we do not give to everyone who comes.  This Miller couple really ate it all up.  They were excited about everything.

After the tour – as Sister Hunt and the family cleaned up the store’s “upper room”, I went outside as promised to share with and point out to them- the many historic properties which recently came to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Community of Christ.  They were in awe.

As we talked, somehow the Hancock family came up in conversation.  He was the one who mentioned them as his ancestors.  I then shook his hand and said, “Hey, we are cousins”.  This really caught him by surprise.  We then talked of our common family connection.  I was able to share with him a lot of information about Thomas Hancock – who died along the way to the Salt Lake Valley.  I talked of the Hancock connection to Yelrome (the Morley Settlement).  He was very happy about all of this information.  It was so fun to have this connection with these special folks.

The Millers also joined us for our next family tour at the Lyon Drug Store (since we were on the subject of “stores” in Nauvoo). 

We had three people who came from the country of India.  They were not on our tour, but we talked extensively outside before their tour.  The guy is the pioneer but has been a member for over 20 years.  He went on a mission.  The couple spoke very good English.  They are looking forward to the construction of a newly announced temple that will be near them.  After their tour, she stood by the sign for the place and her husband did a video taping of her essentially talking back the tour that she had just experienced.  A very cool experience for me to watch.  Great folks!

We took through a very large group of about 37 people. I began their tour outside – because a Spanish tour was going on inside. In the Red Brick Store tour, we talk about Joseph Smith’s prophesy called, “The Standard of Truth”. As I present this, I alwayslook for one or more former missionaries who might have recited the Standard – on their missions – and then I invite them to stand up and recite the Standard “with GUSTO”. On this tour, I very surprised when about 20 people on the tour knew the Standard and they all recited it together. They were absolutely magnificent.

We ended the day with a small group of only 6 people.  One couple on the tour were named Robison. They were on their way home from a mission in Richmond, Virginia.  They descend from Lewis Robison from the Nauvoo era.  I had done a lot of research on this guy – as he is an ancestor of Brother Tyler Wright of our Pacana Park Ward.  I shared this information with him – including photos of the existing beautiful structure. They were fascinated with all of this information. 

GRATEFUL FOR UNPLANNED CONNECTION MIRACLES

My Aunt Mary Ann wrote me a note. She asked us to look for a young Sister Rivas. She said that this sister is from the country of Spain, but was a recent friend to Mary Ann’s family. I told her that with the number of Young Sister Missionaries, I did not know when we might find her.

The day after her note to me, we thought that we were to work at the John Taylor Print Shop. We reported there for duty and got ourselves all set up for the day. Then two young sister missionaries came in and were surprised to find us there. W learned from them that our assignment for the day was to change at the last minute to be elsewhere.

We were surprised that one of the sisters was this Sister Rivas that we were supposed to locate. Had we not been there by mistake, it would have been a while before we would meet her. Interesting. we took a photo and I shipped it off to aunt Mary Ann.

FROM ONE WRITER TO ANOTHER

On a personal note:  As a writer, I do my best to write and to share good (or better) material for audiences to read and to enjoy.  This has long been my goal and ambition.  I love writing and hope that I am having a positive impact through my writing.

A couple of weeks ago, we were serving at the John Taylor Home and Print Shop.  John Taylor was the editor of the local “Nauvoo Neighbor” newspaper and the “Times and Seasons” church magazine. I have been in awe of his writing prowess. I have idolized the writing efforts and expertise of John Taylor.  John knew the Prophet, Joseph Smith, intimately and personally.  I enjoyed reading to visitors about Joseph’s confidence in John’s writing.

He said, “I believe you can do more good in the editorial department than preaching.  You can write for thousands to read; while you can preach to but a few at a time.”

I do not think that my writing is my full mission, but love that it can be a major part of my mission ministry.  I liked the acknowledgement of the writing function by Joseph Smith.

THE PALMERS OF MESA, ARIZONA

Thirty years ago, we lived in the Mesa 20^th Ward in west Mesa around Westwood High school.  We knew David and Kathy Palmer and their large family well.  We then had eight (of nine children) and they had 10.  We had much in common.  Over the years, we have seen the Palmers at various sports and other activities – even after we moved from Mesa (a different house) and then to Maricopa – where we now live.

The Palmers are currently serving as Nauvoo Temple missionaries – where he is a sealer.  We had heard before our Nauvoo arrival (from their son-in-law – our dermatologist) that we were all to be in Nauvoo together.  We were anxious to connect with them again.  It took a couple of weeks before we first connected with them, but now we see them everywhere – and it is so fun.  Their daughter (who is the age of one of ours) was here with her family and they came to the missionary Country Fair (that I talked of in my last blog).    I had forgotten who her husband is, but when I saw him, we both knew we had shared Scouting experiences together in that old ward.

Sister Palmer had not known or had forgotten, that we have a family connection that goes back almost a hundred years.  Our families both lived in the little town of Fairview, Utah.  My mother, as a child, was friends to her two older sisters, Carolyn Biggs and Anita Farnsworth (now both in their 90’s) .  And in fact, her father, Max Cox, was the 4^th grade school teacher to my mother.  And then somehow her family and my mother all ended up in Mesa, Arizona.

SACRAMENT ADMINISTRATION

Helping to administer the Sacrament is always a great opportunity for any Priesthood man.  Sacrament administration is typically a function (at least nowadays) is generally a role completed by young Aaronic Priesthood brethren.

Two weeks in a row, I was able to assist in passing the sacrament.  The first was in our Missionary “Ward”.  The second was in the newly formed “Nauvoo Visitors’ Branch” (which holds meetings at the Nauvoo Stake Center.  And in both situations, I was invited to pass the sacrament to the presiding authority and others on the stand.  This was a great honor.  I thought of the words of Joseph Smith who once said, “It was my privilege to administer the emblems of the Lord’s sascrifice.”

And speaking of the Nauvoo Visitors’ Branch …  This branch was started as a service to the many folks who find themselves in Nauvoo over a Sunday.  And it is an effort to keep the Nauvoo Ward meetings and ward somewhat normalized.  And so, a branch just for visitors was formed.  It meets at 8 AM – before the other two wards in the chapel. It is interesting that the branch only has three official members – and they are the Branch presidency.   Branch leaders never know how many people to expect for their meetings.  One week they had 200 people in attendance.  And another Sunday, they had 450 people.

In preparing the sacrament for the visitors, we (senior missionaries) prepare 16 sacrament trays.  Half of those are set up on a table in the cultural hall (with one central blessing on the bread and water). 

SPECIAL INSIGHTS OF THE HOLY GHOST

Yesterday when we were at the Temple City Tour, – in the home of William Weeks, the Temple, architect, I was reading the Temple vision quote by Joseph Smith.  He said that he had “seen in vision the splendid appearance of building illuminated”.  As Lou and I talked to a couple of missionaries, I was impressed of the Spirit to realize Joseph never saw the Temple completed.  And in those days, the people had only lighting by candle power.  And that power would not have been sufficient to have illuminated the outside of the building.  The Temple would not have been lit up and illuminated until after 2002 when the Temple was restored in our day.  I realized that this was a great miracle – for him – and for us as we now ponder that thought. Wow! This was amazing and wonderful.

THE LORD ORCHESTRATES MANY PEOPLE FOR US TO CONNECT WITH – OFTEN DAILY

Sister Hunt (and all of our children who learn of the situations) are amazed at the many people whom the Lord puts in our paths for us to connect with through our tours.  These are such fun connections.  And it is interesting to see the circumstances under which the connections are orchestrated.  Many come after some kind of “random” incident that involves changes in schedules or planned circumstances.

A FamilySearch Connection at the Orson Hyde Home

We had a group come to us – as parents of Elder Call, a Nauvoo Performing Missionary – at the Orson Hyde home. I learned that Brother Call works for FamilySearch. Before I came on this mission, I served a two-and-a-half year service mission writing and editing blogs and doing fact-checking for FamilySearch. (I was one of the two first ever missionaries (that we know of) that were called as fact checking missionaries.

When I learned that Brother Call works for FamilySearch, I asked him if he knows Paul Nauta. Paul is one of the greatest of men and it was my privilege to participate in weekly spiritual devotionals with Paul. Brother Call, did know Paul and is a good friend to him. Together we called Paul and showed Brother Call and me there thinking of him.

Tiffany – Friend and former roommate of our Marinda

Marinda told ahead of time that Tiffany, her former Snow College Roommate and friend was coming to Nauvoo and wanted to see us.  We did not know how or when we would connect.  The moment came as we were giving a tour at the Joseph Smith Homestead.  Tiffany and her husband, Dave, “happened” to find us as we made an exit with our group from the Joseph Smith Homestead.  She and her children joined our group.  Then at the end of the tour, her husband joined us.  We got photos and reminisced about old times – when they came to visit us in Arizona – even before they were married.

Jane Manning Actor

Again, at the Homestead/Mansion House tour, we had special guests.  A lady “of color” was a part of our group as we told the story of Jane Manning – the free black woman who came against all odds to Nauvoo – some 800 miles from Connecticut where she was baptized – to be with the Saints in Nauvoo.  Our guest had been an actress who had many times portrayed Jane in drama productions.  She was able to give us great insight into Jane and her special story.

Joseph’s Own Desk

In the Mansion House parlor, we happily point out the beautiful desk that once personally belonged to the Prophet Joseph Smith.  He had this desk at his home in Kirtland and it somehow survived through many moves and trauma between Ohio, Missouri, and Nauvoo.  That is a miracle in itself.

This amazing desk (where Joseph likely received and recorded scripture) has been on display for years in the Mansion House.  A few years ago, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints borrowed the desk from the Community of Christ organization.  Our craftsmen carefully took the desk apart and part by part, they created an exact duplication of the desk.  The duplicated copy was placed in the newly restored Joseph and Emma Smith home in Kirtland.

And then on March 5^th of this year, the original desk (in the Mansion House) transferred ownership from the Community of Christ to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  So now, our Church has both the original and the duplicated desk.

And I just learned that Levi Ward Hancock my great uncle (actually several greats) – was the builder of the original desk.  (Levi was a brother to Clarissa Hancock Alger, my ancestor).  How cool is that?

We were talking about the desk in a tour last week and a family on the tour had just been to Kirtland.  They saw the duplicated desk and heard the same story that we have been telling – including the part that Levi Ward Hancock played in it.

Heath – A great missionary friend of our Rusty

Rusty wrote us saying that Heath and family were coming to Nauvoo and that they wanted to see us.  Heath and Rusty were missionary companions in Brazil.  And after Heath and family moved to Arizona, we have had many wonderful gatherings at our home – and that of Rusty – where Heath and family have been present.  Heath has been almost like an additional son to me and his kids as if they were my grandchildren.

Heath and family did make it to town and managed to find us as we served at the Lyon Drug store.  It was so great seeing them.

Windsor P. Lyon Home in 1975

Lyon Drug Store – After Restoration – 2024

And speaking of the Lyon Drug Store, I had just been reading in my journal of times on my original youth mission.  I was elated there to read that my first night spent in Nauvoo – after my transfer here – was actually in the Lyon Drug Store – before its restoration to its current glory.

Enterprise Visitor was Home Teacher to Uncle Dale

We seem to get a lot of visitors from the Southern Utah city of Enterprise, Utah – where my grandparents raised their 13 children – out on the farm homestead on the Beryl desert (17 miles north of Enterprise).  Enterprise is a rather small community and usually folks there are all related rather closely.  And so, with each introduction wherein an Enterprise resident comes forth, I immediately want to do “Relatives Around Me” to learn our connection.  And they always come through!  We always have a close degree of cousin relationship.

I met one such cousin at the Pendleton School House – outside – before the tour.  I asked this “cousin” if he knew my dad’s sister, Evaline, and husband Marvin Bracken.  I was pleased to learn that Marvin was his 3^rd grade school teacher.  (And this connection came at the Pendleton School House!)

At a sacrament meeting, I ended up sitting by a brother Schill – who is from Enterprise and who is in the local stake presidency.  He knew Marv and Evaline – who still live near the old Hunt family farm – and who now attend church in the nearby village of New Castle.

A Young Sister Missionary, Sister Chambers and I learned that we are 2^nd cousins once removed.

Another brother – whom I also met at the Mansion House, was a home teacher to my Uncle Dale – may dad’s younger brother.  He replied that he had been the home teacher to Uncle Dale for quite some time.  We shared memories of Dale (now deceased).  

Photo of Stoddard Tin Shop on my Mission

In the Stoddard Tin Shop, there has been displayed a really bad photo of the place 50 years ago – before restoration on the building.  The photo is included in our tour.  I looked in my slides of 1974 and I found a much better photo of the ruins of the former tin shop.

THE BLACK FAMILY FROM MORGAN, UTAH – AND TERRY ALLEN

At the Blacksmith Shop, I met the Black family from the town of Morgan, Utah.  I served Morgan County and Stake when I was a newlywed professional with the Boy Scouts of America (in the Ogden Lake Bonneville Council).  He told me about the death of Milan Mecham a Scouting friend from those former times.  I had reconnected with Milan not too long before his death

I asked Brother Black if he knew Terry Allen – the former Morgan High school principal. And of course, he did.  I could not resist telling the story of my early association with Terry. And I invite interested parties to check out an article which I wrote about Terry – and included in one of my Scouting books.  Here is the link:

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:va6c2:c84bb7f4-7b7b-478a-b857-3c0e276b67d0A

FAMILY LIVING CENTER MIRACLE CONNECTIONS

I did not know the brother Hansen who came to participate in the many activities at the Family Living Center.    I found him milling around watching a bigger group.  We talked and I learned that he is from the Arizona city of Lake Havasu City (the modern home of the London Bridge).

I said, I have a cousin who lives in lake Havasu.  I mentioned that I did not know if my cousin attends church.  I have not seen or talked to Sue Ann in years.  He looked her up in his ward directory (he is on the high council).  He quickly located her and learned that she is there – and even in his ward.  He made a note and promised to visit her.

On another occasion at the Family Living Center, we were surprised when Jan and Jenna (mother and daughter) came in.  Jan’s deceased husband was my son’s Scoutmaster – and long a family friend.  Jenna walked in and saw me in the entry waiting to greet new guests. She was only a little girl when I last saw her, but she immediately recognized me.  She ran and gave me a big hug.  Later in the day, she returned with her mother, Jan.

And on still another Family Life Occasion, Sister Hunt was meeting and greeting visitors.  A large family came in – with their 13 children.  Bonnie and Spencer were very surprised to see Sister Hunt.  They all recognized each other immediately.  Sister Hunt brought the family to me as I was teaching rope making.  I helped her family make rope as we renewed memories and caught up on the here and now.

A lady came to the Center – and was watching my rope making demonstration.  The lady kept looking at me.  Finally, she came up and asked if we are the parents of Jenae in O’Fallon, Illinois. She recognized us from when we have made a few visits to that town with our children – and attended church there.  We all had good conversation.

Two different families came and recognized us from Maricopa.  Both knew our daughter, Marinda and had been in current or former wards with her and Mike.  We met these folks – in two unrelated groups the same day.

At the Family Living Center, there is a display of the former Belcher brickyard.  The former learning center at the Brickyard kind of died an ignominious death during COVID – but the tour still talks of the brick yard and the process of making bricks.  Sister Hunt has had several opportunities to share memories of her father and how he created the first tourist brick yard – and the famous Nauvoo brick – that is still given out to all who want it – at the Family Living Center and at the Visitors’ Center.  The people always are amazed at Elder Belcher’s story – and kept alive by his missionary daughter today.  They say, “That is so cool that you get to continue his legacy.”  It is a pretty special Nauvoo Miracle.

ALLRED FRIENDS FROM IDAHO FALLS

I talked with Elder Wilson, a fellow Senior Missionary who is from Shelley, Idaho.  I asked if he knows my son-in-law – who is now in Idaho Falls.  This Elder Wilson was the high school teacher of our son-in-law and knows his grandfather, Merlyn Jolley, a long-time Shelley resident – and with whom we have shared many great family events.

At the home of Williams Weeks – the architect of the Nauvoo Temple, some folks came looking for us.  We had a name mix-up but finally figured out the connection.  It was the sister (and husband, Bro. Atkin) of our Lana’s father-in-Law, Delwin Allred – also from Idaho Falls.  I guess they had heard that we were here, and family told them to be sure to find us.  They did … and we had a good visit together.  Always so fun!

We have met at least two other visitor families who know our son-in-law.  A popular guy in those parts!

“CITY OF JOSEPH” FRIENDS AND PAST PARTICIPANTS

We have met many new friends who were also cast members in the former “City of Joseph” pageant.  This show was last performed in 2003 – and the “Nauvoo Pageant” and “British Pageants” are now performed.

We met Elder and Sister Sanders – new site missionaries.  We shared a couple of years in the former pageant casts.  They remembered our Hunt family opening scene in the 1996 and 1997 pageants.

We took our daughter, Jackie, to the stage of the drama and dance program staged nightly by the “Sunset on the Mississippi” Nauvoo Performing Missionaries.  On this particular evening, the show for the night got cancelled because of rain (a couple of hours earlier).  We by-passed the notification sign to take Jackie up to see the remains of the former stage (now kind of hidden under the new stage). As we were showing her the stage, a family came up and heard us talking.  She noticed our missionary name tags.  She asked if Kaylea might be our daughter.   She said that she is a sister to Blaine – a young man whom our Kaylea was totally twitterpated with when they were both teens.  (We still don’t know how she connected Kaylea with us.)

Red Brick Store Connection

The guest at the Red Brick Store did not know us. He saw only my Hunt nametag.  And of course, there are thousands of Hunts in the world.  After the tour, he said, “This is a long shot, but do you know a Porter Hunt?”  I said, “Yes, I have a nephew Porter.  We talked more and learned that my nephew is a former classmate and friend to this guy.  Wow!

Mesa 10^th Ward Friends

Our family was a member of the Mesa, Arizona 10^th Ward for many years.  We have found two or three couples who were from the old ward – but long after my time.  We learned that these couples know my niece, Shar, as well as my long-time friend, Scott, their former Bishop.

PEOPLE FROM TEMPE WHO KNOW JACKIE

We were at the Heber C. Kimball home and were chatting after the tour with a family. They had said that they are from Prescott, Arizona.  Anyone from Arizona gets our attention but we don’t know many folks in Prescott – located north of us about 3 hours.  Then the lady said something like, “Well, it is not nearly as hot here as where I grew up!”  I asked her where that was and she said, “Tempe, Arizona”.  I then brought up my son-in-law, Michael – since his family is a “died in the wool” long-time Tempe family with very deep roots in Tempe   They were surprised to learn that our Michael is the Bishop of his ward and that he was formerly a counselor to her parents – now serving a mission of their own.

TEXAS FRIENDS OF KAYLEA

The Kyle, Texas stake recently brought their stake youth to Nauvoo.  And the group included our grandkids, Brodey and Lucy.  We ended up finding many adults whom we had met on previous trips to Texas for ordinations, mission farewells, etc.  We quickly took selfies and sent them on to Kaylea – who is the Texas resident photographer and who loves such photo connections.

LADY DOING TEMPLE SEALINGS WITH US FROM PACANA PARK WARD

We were in the Temple doing a sealing session.  We needed one more Sister to help with the process.  A lady was brought in to join us in our sealing session.  She kept looking at us.  We talked after the session and learned that we are in the same Pacana Park ward back home in Maricopa.  We were both kind of new to the ward so we didn’t know each other – but it was unique that we are in the same ward.

Under another circumstance, a lady heard that we were from Maricopa.  She said, “I have a cousin from there.”  She said the cousin’s name and we were both surprised that the lady is the wife of a brother in our current Bishopric.  She quickly sent off a selfie of us together to her cousin.

A CHANCE MEETING WITH PROGENY OF MY DAD’S LONG-TIME FRIEND

We were assigned on a Sunday afternoon to serve at the 70’s Hall.  This is the starting place for a 3-site tour.  The tours begin at the 70’s Hall and then moves to the Blacksmith Shop and then finally to the Brigham Young home.  Normally, a couple of missionary couples would rotate to all three buildings in our turns. 

On this Sunday, however, they had an extra couple there.  This was a rare occasion.  We decided that two couples would remain at the 70’s Hall and one would go to the Brigham Young home.  Sister Hunt and I said that we would walk the two or three blocks to the Brigham home.  (I have expressed my love of Brigham on other occasions.)

We got there to Brigham’s home and were sitting casually in the little missionary waiting room.  We had our sign changed to “open” but the sign saying that the tour starts at the 70’s Hall still was permanently in place and visible to visitors.

We saw a car driving by slowly – trying to figure out if they might get a tour.  I went out and flagged them down. They came in and we had a wonderful visit and tour.

At the beginning of the tour, I used one of my dad’s tactics.  If he found someone with a surname of someone he knew, he would always say, “Who is your father?”  This has become a long-time family joke – and yes, I definitely take after him in starting conversations with these words.  (But now, at my age, I often have to start with “Who is your Grandfather?” or even a few times with a young-un, “Who is your great grandfather?”  (Wow … could this be possible?)

Anyway, this guy named Godard came in.  I don’t think that there are many Godard people in the world.  I first asked him where he was from.  And then when he said, “Gilbert, Arizona”, I pressed further.  I asked his name.  When he said, “Craig Godard”, my heart took a leap.  I then asked the “golden question” of “So, who is your father?”

He looked at me as if I was from Mars.  I could see his reaction written all over his face, “What does that have to do with the price of eggs?”  People always have a weird reaction when I ask them this – as if “Why would you ask me that dumb question?”  I got all of those reactions from him on this occasion.  He did finally say that his father is Jerry Godard.

I could not believe it.  I knew that Jerry and my father had been friends forever.  They had been friends for so many years that I had forgotten even how they were connected.

After he told me his father’s name, I said, “I am so happy that you came in here today.  Our fathers were best friends forever.  He still looked at me as if I was totally off of my rocker. He had doubt written all over his face.  Only then did he believe me and divulged his first name.

He finally gave in and began to talk to me.  I told him of how we were in the same neighborhood years before – when his siblings and I were teenagers.  He was the little kid brother – but I knew his teen brother, Randy and sister, Debbie who were close to my age.  I told him the story of the birth of my sister.  (And we determined that he was born just a few months before my sister was born.)

Anyway, on August 27, 1964, my sister, Laurie (now deceased) was born.  On that occasion, my father was in Salt Lake City for an all-church softball tournament. He was up there with our champion team from our old Mesa 10^th ward.  (And he missed Laurie’s birth!)  And in anticipation of him being gone for the big event, he asked his friends Jerry and Pam Godard to take mother to the hospital if the birth came while he was gone.  And that is what happened!  They did come and they took mother to the hospital.  I told this Craig, “So you were then only a couple of months old, so you probably went with them in arms to the hospital.”  Now Craig was in total awe and amazement.

But it got better!  I then related to him a story of his older brother.  I told him that I have written the “History of Scouting in the Church”.  I told him how I went to the Church History Department and announced to personnel that “I would like to write the history of Scouting in the Church.”  They said, “That is great … No one has ever done that.  We will help you do it.”  And for the next two days, the entire staff of the department was literally at my every command.  They really gave me great service and a whole lot of material.

I went home and wrote the book.  And a couple of years later, a new guy went to the Historical Department and said my exact words.  They said to him, “Well, we cannot help you.  We gave all of our information to a guy in Arizona.”   Somehow this guy tracked me down and called me in Arizona.  He told me his story and we realized that we had been friends as teenagers.  (Our families used to do many things together before the Godard family moved to California.)

Craig  and I got a big laugh at this.  It was a fun story to share with him.

We talked of our fathers to try to figure out where they knew each other.  We talked of military service, mission and more.  Finally, we realized that his father, Jerry and my father had both grown up together on the Beryl Desert – north of Enterprise and that they had been friends literally through all of their lives.  And it was interesting that both lived to age 90 and they died within a week of each other.

I gave the Brigham tour and Craig was so fascinated with everything.  Then at the end of the tour we were to part.  I was surprised when he grabbed me and gave me a big hug as if we had been brothers forever.

JACKIE AND FAMILY HERE SAME WEEK AS TEXAS GRANDS

The first week of Pageant, we found ourselves with parts of families of two our daughters here in Nauvoo at the same time.  Jackie came from Tempe, Arizona with her man and four children.  Also Brodey and Lucy were both here from Texas with their stake youth group.  By “coincidence” (Nauvoo Miracle),all of the  above showed up here in Nauvoo at the same time.  The Texas grands stayed in a local hotel/inn.  Jackie and family hung out here in our Dunn home with us.  (And they were part of the welcoming committee when Dunnites came to visit us and walked through their dormitory quarters in the basement – on the way to the fireplace and cellar exit.)

We were able to get all ten of us together on a few occasions and of course, we sent photos off to the Texas momma.  It was so fun to have so many of us here together.  (More about our time with them later – in a future blog.) 

The unique thing is that both of these trips were organized and planned long before we even received our mission call to Nauvoo.  Another Nauvoo series of miracles!  So amazing!

LADY IN AWE AT JOSEPH SMITH HOMESTEAD AND MANSION HOUSE

We took through a lovely lady on our tour of the Joseph Smith Homestead and Mansion House.  We loved her comment at the end of the tour.  She pointed to both Lou and me and said that Sister Hunt and I, during our tour, looked just like Joseph and Emma and she told us how amazing that experience had been for her.  We were happy that we were a part of a miracle for her (and a humbling miracle for us).

FUN AT THE RISER BOOT SHOP

Two different guests came (today – June 15^th) to the Riser Boot Shop where we were working.  They were both descendants of Benjamin F. Johnson – an ancestor of our son-in-law, Michael.  We talked of our excursion yesterday to Ramus, Illinois.  (More about this in a future blog post.)  (And at the Temple City Tour the next day, a YSM also descended from the same Johnson line.)

Another great miracle:  We were just ready to start our tour.  We had introduced ourselves and the husband looked at Sister Hunt.  He said, “Are you the Sister Belcher who served a mission in Melbourne, Australia?”  It was my wife’s turn to be surprised.  He then introduced himself as “Elder White” who had served with her.  Even his wife got excited and said, Both of the Whites stood and gave Sister Hunt hugs. “We have been to your home in Mesa,” they said.  They recounted details that we had long forgotten.  Sister Hunt remembered Elder White when he had black hair – and now suddenly he finds himself with gray (almost white) hair.   Anyway, the two of them had served simultaneously in the same area on the island of Tasmania.

The wife stood – and Elder White followed suit and gave Sister Hunt a big hunt as if they were long-lost friends.  Then Sister Hunt and Elder White had discussion about their missions in the ZAMM (Zion Australia Melbourne Mission).  Such great fun!  Another special Nauvoo Miracle.

Another family came there and announced that they were from Snowflake, Arizona.  I asked if they knew Allan and Meryl Hunt Adams (who have lived there forever).  They said that they know the Adams well.  I told them that Allan was my first missionary district leader in Florida.  They found this interesting.  And then at the end of the tour, the lady told me that she had texted Meryl and she said, “Yes, Elder Adams remembers you well.”   This made my day!

PHOTOS OF THE PAST FROM JACKIE

When our Jackie was here, she talked of photos that she took when she was in Nauvoo as a student in the BYU Nauvoo semester program in 2002.  She sent them to us on her return home.  She sent photos of her Grandpa Belcher’s brickyard – as well cemetery photos taken at the town of Ramus – where we had ancestors living.  Both photo sets gave new perspectives that we had not known previously.

Well, I could keep going for a long time.  I could think I am done (for this article) and then more miracles come along.  We truly do receive special Nauvoo Miracles often – and generally every day.  We stand in awe of these miracles and rejoice in them.  We recognize that the miracles come from a loving Father who keeps arranging these miracles for us.  He makes life good for all of us.

DAILY REMINDERS OF GOD IN OUR LIVES     

Anyone who knows me knows that I stand in constant amazement of fabulous sunsets.  I see them as daily reminders of God’s love for me and those around us.  Each sunset in Nauvoo is a miracle of wonder and awe.

Wow! There are truly Nauvoo Miracles for us and others here in Nauvoo. It is beautiful to know and feel the Lord’s miracles that he stages for us. We stand in awe. We rejoice in the Nauvoo Miracles – and we are grateful.

In awe of the miracles on our Nauvoo trail …

Elder and Sister Hunt