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The Nauvoo Whistling Whittling Brigade

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THE WHISTLING AND WHITTLING BRIGADE

BLOG #23

A while ago, I mentioned in passing about the Nauvoo Whistling and Whittling Brigade.   In the earlier blog, I said that I would write about the Brigade in a future blog.  And a promise is a promise!

THE WHISTLING WHITTLING BRIGADE IN OLD NAUVOO

Back in pioneer Nauvoo, the Whistling and Whittling Brigade was a thing – a special group  – a brotherhood back then.

Today, we talk of the group in two of our presentations.  One is at the “singing tree” where the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries (NPM’s) perform.  There is a giant tree in Nauvoo.  It is at the corner of Main Street at Kimball Street.    Two or three times a day, the NPM’s sing at this tree, and it is so fun to gather there with whoever might then be on Main Street.

One presentation that we have enjoyed there is “Men Sing the Songs of Zion”.  Another popular production is “The Youth of Zion”.  In this little vignette, several of the young performers – both men and ladies – talk about the Nauvoo youth and some of their activities, their spirit, etc.  I love this presentation.  Like all of the other performances, this one is fantastic.

In this presentation, the performing missionaries introduce the Brigade and talk of how the youth of old Nauvoo protected the city with their whittling antics.

The Teamsters also talk about the Brigade as they tell stories out on their Carriage Ride – where folks ride on wagons pulled by horses – and as they go over the woods and through the river north of the Visitors’ Center.  Their Depot – where the trip begins, is at the north end of the Center parking lot.   The Teamsters tell of one David Moore and give him credit for starting the Brigade.  They tell how his boys “whittled and whistled many a rascal right out of town.”

My ears perk up with any hint of some new piece of history for me to latch onto and to study in depth.  And the Whistling Whittling Brigade was one of those.  I am, of course, a whittler from ancient history – so I was particularly intrigued with this Nauvoo Brigade and their woodcarving. Whitling … now there is something I can relate to.

MY INTEREST IN WHITLING AND CARVING STARTED AS A YOUNG BOY SCOUT

I took up an interest in whittling when I was a Boy Scout – age 12.  I had an official Scout knife – and I still have it.  It is black and kind of “bulky” for a knife.  (Not as sleek as later models.)  I took the Woodcarving merit badge at Camp Geronimo.  I earned the badge by carving a letter opener and a neckerchief of the hand of a Scout in the Scout sign.  I still have the pocket knife and the letter opener.  I cannot find the Scout sign, but I know that I must have it – since I never throw away “anything historical”.  (I have quite a collection!)  The two wood-carved pieces are not at all marvelous, but they do bring back special memories.

MY FIRST CARVED WALKING STICK

My woodcarving skills were put on hold for many years.  I didn’t know that I had any skills – or even interest.  Then I got involved with the Boy Scouts in a more professional way.  And it was then that the dormant interest began to stir once again.

As a new professional for the Boy Scouts of America, I found myself on a 24 or so day training back at the old Schiff Scout Reservation in New Jersey.  (This place was magnificent but has since gone the way of the world – sold to help pay for other Scouting opportunities).  I attended what was then called “NEI” – which is the acronym for “National Executive Institute”.  While at the NEI training, I went to the little bookstore that they had at the place.  And I there purchased my first real Scout whittling knife.  Wanting to carve, but not knowing what to carve, I found a stick and began to carve on it. 

I carved “NEI” on it and took advantage of the natural curves and bumps of the stick to create a twisted funny face.  Also on the stick, I carved “NEI 7803”.  (I was in the 3rd NEI Class of 1978 …). I quickly learned that all one needs in order to whittle was to get a knife and a stick – and to go at it.  I found that was true.  It began to work for me.  Again, it was kind of a humble start, but it was enough to get me hooked on the skill or hobby or whatever it was.

In the rush of leaving for home, I somehow left my newly carved stick at the NEI place in New Jersey.  And then I was in a dilemma.  I called back to folks at the Reservation, and they found the stick and the folks were able to send it home with a BYU friend who was in the 7804 NEI class.  It took a few months before I had a rendezvous with Brad to get the stick back.  I was grateful that he took it on the airplane and somehow got it back to me.

Carving that stick got me hooked on the practice and art of woodcarving.  I resolved then that I would create a new walking stick for each Boy Scout camp that I would work at in the future.  And, so, a new tradition was begun.  I created a stick at and for Camp Loll where I worked later that summer.  And then later, at Camp Bartlett, I created a new stick for that camp.  And so, it began – and became a thing for me.  I got into the mode of finding the right wood stick and with just my  trusty Scout carving knife, I began to have success.  I worked hard to create the new sticks through the years.  And I had a great time doing it.

Creating the sticks was sometimes a challenge when the pressures of time and responsibility sometimes were so much that I didn’t have as much time to carve as I desired. 

Over the passage of time, I created about 15 new walking sticks, and I have them in a barrel collection in my Scouting Trails Museum – now jam-packed floor to ceiling at our Maricopa home.  We moved all extraneous stuff of Sister Hunt and me into our two front bedrooms to make room for our daughter and son-in-law who are residing in our place while we are on our mission.  I filled one room (my museum) with my stuff and Lou filled the front bedroom with her stuff.

WALKING STICK COUNSELING

I found that carving the sticks at camps afforded me a unique experience.  I called it my “walking stick counseling”.  I could go sit literally anywhere in camp – even on some remote log on some hidden trail.  I would start carving and within a few minutes, I would have a couple of Scouts there on the log with me.  They were very intrigued with my carving and asked many questions as I showed them what I was doing.

We had great conversations.  And as I sat with the boys on the log with me, I would ask them about camp.  “How do you like the Nature area?  What is your favorite thing to get at the trading post?  Who is your favorite staff member?  Do you see any problems with our camp?”  And in these discussions, I learned about the goings on all around the camp.  Then as needed, I could use what I had learned in future staff meetings or discussions with individual staff members.

By this method, I seemed to know everything that was going on around the camp.  And this blew the minds of my staff.  They wondered how I knew all of this about them, and their areas, and the camp.  It was great!

THE POCKET KNIFE SAGA

I mentioned that first BSA whittling knife.  I carried that knife in my pocket always for about 20 years.  I had used this knife to carve many of my stick in the collection.  Then, one summer,  we took all of the kids up north to the town of Payson, Arizona and attended July 4th festivities there.  We sat in the grass at a large park to watch the fireworks.  Then sadly, the next morning, I realized with horror that I no longer had my pocketknife.  We returned to the park, and we all scoured the area around where we were sitting – but to no avail.  The pocketknife was nowhere to be found.  (I am sure that someone else found it and enjoyed it.)

Soon thereafter, and knowing of my love for the knife, my three sons pooled their resources, and they bought me a new knife – identical to the original BSA carving knife.  That was about 25 years ago, and I have since carried that knife everywhere as I had its predecessor.  And, like it, I have now carved many more sticks with it.  And I still (even on the mission) carry that knife with me everywhere (except church – where I’ve learned that it slips out of my suit pants pocket).  And I also carry my dad’s “Old Timer” knife with me – keeping a part of him with me as I serve.  (And there’s another “Old Timer” story … which I have already long since blogged about.)

MY OBSESSION WITH BOLO TIES

With my whittling interest, I have had a life-long obsession with a love of hand-carved bolo ties.  Though I have never carved one, these have become my personal trademark.  I have so loved them, that there have been few days over the years when I have not worn the carved ornaments around my neck.  Even family photos through the years each sported a different bolo time (for posterity).

My bolo tie interest also had its beginnings in my youth.  When about age 16, I read in the “Scouting” magazine about the famed woodcarver, Bill Burch.   I read of him creating hundreds of the bolos and then giving them out to Scouts at the National Scout Jamboree.  (And that is also when I first learned about Jamborees and developed an intense desire to take our Troop 155 to the upcoming 1973 Jamboree (and that is a story that I’ve already told).

Anyway, from that youth moment, I wanted to somehow acquire a Bill Burch Bolo Tie (or “neckerchief slide”) but didn’t know how to get one.  This aching burned within me for several years.  Then finally when I was about age 30, a Bill Burch bolo came to me.

Lou and I and three children (expecting #4) were then living in Santa Barbara, California (where I was still a professional with the Boy Scouts).  I was also the Ward Mission Leader.  We literally had absolutely no place to house our missionaries.  (Santa Barbara is a wonderful and most beautiful place – but it is also very strange relative to housing for young adults and families.) 

Lou and were already crowded in our 3-bedroom townhouse with our expanding family but we moved all of the children into one bedroom.  We then created bunk beds and furniture in the other bedroom to accommodate young Elders to be with us.

One of the first missionaries who came to live with us was from Spokane, Washington – where I knew the carver, Bill Burch, lived.  I got excited.  I said to him, “Do you know Bill Burch, the Scout carving guy?”  He said, “Yeah, he was my Scoutmaster.”  I said, “Really …!  Wow!  I have forever wanted to have one of his famous bolo ties.”  He said, “I have about seven of them in my dresser at home.  I will have my mom send one of them to me.”

He did so … and that is how I got my first Burch bolo … numbered #6667 on the back.  And that started an even greater obsession with them.   The bolo had the address of Bill Burch on the back – with the number of the bolo.  And with his address, I was able to communicate directly with him to acquire additional of his bolo ties.

Photo: Kevin Hunt (left with walking sticks and friends – at his 50th Anniversary in Scouting Jubilee Celebration

From that point forward, I have collected bolos from many sources and from more than a dozen different carvers of them.  And now, I have a collection of about 35 of them – with the goal of having one to pass on (posthumously) to each to my nine children (including the ladies) as well as one for each of my 26 grandsons.  It has taken a bit of effort and resources to accumulate such a collection.  (And that brings to memory another blog article …)  Read it at:  https://thescoutingtrail.wordpress.com/2017/10/23/bolo-ties-are-part-of-my-scouting-tradition-part-1/

BLOGS, BOYS, KNIVES, STICKS, AND WHITTLING

Some years ago, a long-time Scouting friend, Darryl Alder, got me hooked on the hobby or whatever it is – of writing blog articles.  I’ve written about a 100 blog articles on Scouting subjects and many of them through the years have been on woodcarving, or whittling,

I introduced one of those blogs saying, “There is something about boys, knives, and carving … Like kids and mud puddles, camp, Scouts, sticks, and knives just kind of go together. One thing that all Scouts seem to have in common is their propensity for stick carving.”  (August 16, 2017)

Sadly, with the passage of time and the changing of the guard in Scouting (and me personally), many of the links to those former great articles have gone the way of the world.  But I did save them and published them all in Volume #20 of my personal autobiography (that I called “My Life’s Collective Works”).  You can access the book at this link:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-v-hunt/mlcw-vol-20-kevinthescout-woods-wisdom-from-the-scouting-trail/hardcover/product-wd5pkp.html?q=Woods+Wisdom&page=1&pageSize=4

NOW BACK TO THE NAUVOO WHISTLING WHITTLING BRIGADE

That was kind of a round-about way to introduce the Nauvoo Whistling Whittling Brigade.  I hope that you enjoyed the detour …

So, boys, sticks and carving are not a new phenomenon.  The connection is probably as old as time.  Adam and his sons probably made knives and began carving soon after the Eden experience.  It was likely a part of their survival mode.

When my sons were teens, they were privileged to attend the biennial Varsity Scouting “Mountain Man Rendezvous” held at Camp Geronimo near Payson, Arizona.  In preparation for this grand guy event, the boys worked for months ahead to create capotes (large fur-like capes) mountain man hats, and other gear.  Creating their own knife (from a plain piece of steel to a cool, finished knife) was a part of the program.  And each Scout who made such a knife has, no doubt, treasured it for life since that time.  (*Much to the dismay of their wives who wonder why their men keep such a thing in their homes.)

HISTORICAL BEGINNINGS OF WHITTLING AND WHISTLING IN OLD NAUVOO

Historical records indicate that the old Nauvoo Whistling Whittling Brigade likely did not get its formal start until 1845 – after the death of the Prophet Joseph

.  However, Mosiah Lyman Hancock may have employed the same tactics much earlier – to help protect the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Mosiah was born in 1834 so would have been ten years old when the Prophet was martyred.  He was the son of Levi Ward Hancock (and nephew of my 4th great grandmother, Clarissa Hancock Alger).  In his autobiography, he said,

“I joined the whistling and whittling band.  In those days, there was, now and then, a fop or dude who would go to a man’s shingle pile, and with his hat or cap cocked on one side, would sit and whittle and whistle. There was no law against that, but from what we could learn, some of them were interested in taking the life of the Prophet. We kept a good watch and were directed to keep an eye on the “Black Ducks”. We really tried to do our duty, and we succeeded in bagging some game. I was about to give some instances, but forbear by saying, “In no case did I ever help to engage in whittling any one down to make them cross the great river unless they were known to be lurking around the Prophet’s premises quite late, or to be seeking that which was none of their business. In extreme cases when we knew a man to be a snobber, and who still sought the life of the Prophet, we would use our rail. We generally had four boys to a rail—–the rail would be flat on the bottom and was three cornered; on the top corner it was terribly sharp—–fixed to suit the aggravating circumstances. Four boys generally knew how to manage the rail. We all had our knives and our timbers to whittle and make rails from, and we knew what tunes to whistle. I do not know if the boys from Nauvoo would like for me to betray those old-fashioned secrets; but that was the way we initiated those who seemed to wish with all their hearts to become thoroughly acquainted with the secrets of the Prophet. …”

Source:  (https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org/history/mosiah-lyman-hancock/)

The above account tells of how Mosiah (who lived just a block East of Joseph’s Mansion House – on the corner of Water and Partridge Streets) helped to protect the Prophet Joseph.   Mosiah continued: “The Brethren pushed the work on the Temple; and the Gospel was preached; and every Saint was busy doing all he could to help the work along. Although I was very young, I was on guard many a night, and gladly did I hail with many of the Saints, the completion of the temple.”

Mosiah adds an interesting side note:  “On about January 10, 1846 [when he was 12] , I was privileged to go in the temple and receive my washings and anointings. I was sealed to a lovely young girl named Mary, who was about my age, but it was with the understanding that we were not to live together as man and wife until we were 16 years of age. The reason that some were sealed so young was because we knew that we would have to go West and wait many a long time for another temple.”

As noted, Mosiah seemed to be protecting the Prophet Joseph (who died in 1844).  The real organization of the Brigade happened after the death of Joseph but Mosiah had the skills so he definitely would have fit right into the newly organized Brigade.

PROTECTION FROM THE MOBS

From the day of the First Vision, Joseph the Prophet of the Restoration, had to run for his life.  He was constantly barraged by evil people who wanted his capture or even his demise.  He had to be constantly on-guard and had to ask many other people for their help and protection in his behalf.

The enemies of Joseph and Hyrum thought that the church would evaporate or die with the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum.  The harassment of the church stopped but only for a brief period before it intensified even more.  The evil designs of the adversary opened fire against the Saints.  Foes of the church were also determined to stop the construction of the Temple. 

THE NAUVOO CITY CHARTER

“The Nauvoo City Charter was unique because it established a city council, municipal court, university, and independent militia unit (“The Nauvoo Legion”). The charter was quickly approved by the Illinois general assembly on December 16, 1840, and  passed the final review by the Council of Revision on December 17,  It became effective February 1, 1841.  Before the 1870 Illinois Constitution, municipalities could vote to incorporate themselves or could be incorporated by special acts of the General Assembly.  For a time, this city charter was magnificent.  It served the Saints well and allowed them to create their own “Utopia” by which they governed themselves.

“The charter authorized the creation of a city council, consisting initially of a mayor, four aldermen, and nine council members; and a municipal court with jurisdiction over local cases and the power to issue writs of habeas corpus.   The charter also included provisions for a university and a local militia.  … The Nauvoo Legion, the city’s militia – and a local police force – was organized in 1841 and functioned until its charter was repealed in 1845. The Legion was made up of mostly members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Some opponents of the Legion believed it was a threat to non-Mormons. 

“ ,,, Nauvoo’s charter was unique among Illinois city charters, the combination of powers in the charter and the energetic use of those powers became a source of contention.” 

https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/topic/nauvoo-charter

INCREASING THREAT OF MOB VIOLENCE

Neighboring communities saw Nauvoo and its charter a political and economic threat and mob violence increased.

After the Martyrdom, mob rule was the order of the day.   Violence increased as mobs and wicked people continued to want to exterminate the “Mormons” (members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) – just as they had done in Missouri and elsewhere prior to the Nauvoo era.

Ultimately, the full charter – with all of its powers – including the right of citizens to defend themselves was revoked in 1845, again by order of the Illinois General Assembly.  In January 1845, the legislature repealed the Nauvoo Charter by a vote of 25-14 in the Senate and 75-31 in the House.[2] Nauvoo was dis-incorporated and its assets were placed into a receivership.  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nauvoo_City_Council)

EFFECT OF THE REVOCATION OF THE NAUVOO CHARTER

The revocation of the Nauvoo City Charter dissolved the Nauvoo Legion as well as the local police force.  This action came as mob violence and prejudice continued to increase exponentially.  The city was then totally without protection.  The Saints were left to the mercy of those opposed to them.  Dramatic action was needed for the protection of the city and for the completion of the Temple.  Brigham Young and the Apostles soon realized that guards were needed both day and night.

Thurmon Dean Moody wrote a beautiful treatise (maybe one of the greatest writings) on the subject of the Whittling Whistling Brigade.  I recommend his article can be found at chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1738&context=byusq

Citizens of Nauvoo knew that this was the demise of their beloved Nauvoo.  Appeal attempts were made but to no avail.

Almon Babbit wrote an appeal to the charter revocation:  “Repeal the charter of Nauvoo, prescribe her citizens by your public acts and you will tolerate and encourage the demonstration of mob violence that surrounds the people of Nauvoo.”  He noted that fiends around them were waiting to feast upon the Saints to their destruction.

Wandle Mace said of the evil forces:  “They tried every means they could devise to bring trouble upon Nauvoo.  Frequently a party would land from a steamboat and come into the city, commit their deviltry, and return to the boat and leave again – well knowing we had no law to protect us since the city charter was taken away.”

A PLAN IS DEVISED

Apostle Brigham Young decided that action needed to be taken.    On Sunday, March 16, 1845, Brigham called a meeting for the next evening.  He said, “We want the bishops at the Masonic Hall, and we will organize them according to our notion of things.  We have no police, and the legislature has repealed our charter.  We mean to have the City of Joseph organized so the streets shall be kept clear and the poor cared for.”

Hosea Stout had previously been the Chief of Police under the city charter. 

Photo: Hosea Stout

The committee organized the city into companies of ten with a captain at the head of each company.  The “new police” were to continue to meet mostly as a guard for the Temple.  They were not a city organization, but it was to be an ecclesiastical guard.  The groups were to receive no pay and were to be volunteers.  Not wanting to resort to extra legal extra activities and being aware that their priesthood authority did not apply to any but their own people they felt as if this would be a viable solution.

At the meeting Brigham called, Hosea was present and suggested a plan.    He had met three days before with Stephen Markham, a captain in the former Legion.  Both were anxious to preserve order as much as possible under the circumstances.

The plan was to organize the whole community of saints into quorums of 12 Deacons – each with a Bishop at their head.   David Moore – referred to on the horse “Carriage Ride” said, “The purpose of the organization was two-fold: 1) to take care of the poor 2) to guard the city at night to keep everything straight.”  He further recorded:  I was appointed one of the bishops also (at age 26).  I had a very large district assigned to me.  I was allowed 13 men, and we had to keep watch over the north part of the city one night each week including the steamboat landing.  Our weapons were a large hickory cane and a toothpick – a huge knife.  The object of the knife was to whittle rascals out of town.”

Brigham soon proclaimed this as a new “official Mormon practice” at the meeting on the 17th of March.

IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN

In his autobiography, George W. Bean recorded, “This was my first real public service at the age of fourteen and a half years [and] being large of stature and well equipped, I did my full share of duty for five days and nights after this.  I performed guard duty at nights all winter about the streets of Nauvoo.”

On each corner was a man from twelve to twenty years of age who watched all movements from sunset to dawn and reported any suspicious activity to the bishop who promptly consulted the leaders and the Nauvoo Legion Officials.”

THE AGE OF THE BRIGADE DEACONS

Some reports of the Whistling Whitling Brigade indicate that the “Deacons” were all very young – like teen-age boys.  Such may not have always been the case.  In those days, there was no age parameter for being a Deacon.  A Deacon could be a young boy, or he could be an adult.  Ages for Aaronic Priesthood quorum membership did not happen until 1908 (just in time for the 1910 organization of the Boy Scouts of America).  At that time, young men of age 12 could be ordained as Deacons.

So, the Brigade Deacons could have been ages 12 to 25 or older in old Nauvoo.

THE JOB OF THE WHISTLING WHITTLING BRIGADE

Paul D. Bailey gave a detailed account saying that the community “met the increasing flood of gentile undesirables by organizing the boy population into a whistling and whittling brigade suspicious strangers immediately would be surrounded by groups of boys armed with long bladed jack knives and sticks whichever way the suspect moved the boys followed whistling and whittling as they went.  Not a question would they ask not a question would they answer.  They were too small to strike individually too many to battle collectively when they descended on a hapless stranger they hugged his presence like vermin until in exasperation he was glad to take hasty leave from the abode of the saints.”

Wandle Mace said, “Our families were exposed to the rascals who on finding them unprotected by husbands and fathers would insult and abuse them in consequence of such things.  The old police formed themselves into whittling companies and guarded the city  from the rascals.  When a stranger came into the city they would learn if they were upon legitimate business and if so, they did not interfere with them but if they had no legitimate business, they were then under the surveillance of the Whittlers who would follow wherever they went whittling and whistling. They did not molest them in any way not even talking to them but simply followed them whittling and whistling as they went.”

William B Pace painted a vivid picture as he wrote in his journal of the activities of the Brigade.  He said, that  “every boy generally could whistle and most of them had knives from ten to fourteen inches long in scabbards ”a la bouy” and when any of these fellows became boisterous or showed any signs of meddling the boy who discovered would draw his knife and commence whittling and soon a crowd of his pals gathered.  Then they would surround the obnoxious element – be he large or small –  many or few – and whistled and whittled in his direction and they’d stick by him until he was out of town.  This was rather an amusing process.  Not a word was said but an unearthly whistle – and generally everyone had his own favorite tune – and an incessant whittling with those large knives was enough to strike terror to the hearts of the victims and he got out of town as quick as his legs could carry him.”

BROTHER BRIGHAM AND THE BRIGADE

Brigham Young was often confronted about the Brigade by men who got whistled and whittled.  He denied that he had anything to do with the antics of the Brigade.  But, on 14 April 1845,  during the height of the brigade encounter, Brigham Young mentioned that “Nauvoo’s Whistling and Whittling Brigade and the deacons have become very efficient looking after the welfare of the saints. Every part of the city is watched with the strictest care and whatever time of night the streets are traveled at the corner of every block a deacon is found attending his duty.”

Dirty men who felt the brunt of the Brigade sometimes complained to Brother Brigham and accused him of orchestrating the plan and the antics of the Brigade.  One such person who talked to Brigham was given an interesting retort back.  President Young is reported to have quietly replied in the words of Martin Van Buren when president of the United States to Joseph Smith:  “Gentlemen your cause is just but I can do nothing for you.  The legislature has taken away our city charter we have no laws nor power to protect you.”

Obviously, Brigham Young did support the Bishop and Deacon method of watching and guarding Nauvoo, but it was not as apparent that he was supportive of what appears to be its offshoot the Whistling and Whittling brigade.

Many reflected the opinions expressed by many involved with the organization noting that the Brigade lasted but a few weeks.  But, even so, Scoundrels soon learned  that to go into Nauvoo, men must mind their own business and not meddle with the people, or they would get whistled out.  So, if the whistlers kept out even a few of the bad guys – the scoundrels – they were successful.

While the Whistling Whittling Brigade was successful in the short run, the Bishops and Deacons ultimately could not fully control the mobocrats who came after the Saints.  They were still expelled from Nauvoo – beginning in February of 1846.

SO, WHAT DID THE WHISTLING WHITTLING BRIGADE WHITTLE?

This blog article was based on the assumption that the Whistling Whittling Brigade actually did real “woodcarving” – and that the Bishops and Deacons created a desired object, shape or design with their  sharp-edged cutting tools.  (That is a Google definition.)   I guess I assumed that the work of the Whistling Whittling Brigade was whittling or actually wood carving.  And this is what drew me to the Nauvoo Whistling Whittling Brigade.

Now, however, as I have learned more about them, I have realized that their real purpose was to protect the city and to encourage scoundrels to get out of town fast.  I realized that they really weren’t doing real woodcarving, but they sure put on a good act.  They cut on sticks as if whittling – but probably were just taking big swipes (maybe taking the bark off of their sticks).  I had no idea that they did their whittling with large “Bowie Knives”.  Whittling really is not possible with a very large-bladed knife.  Whittling – with a specific goal or design in mind – is best done with small blades that can be manipulated to create intricate designs.

WHAT DID THE WHISTLING WHITTLING BRIGADE ACCOMPLISH?

I learned that the Brigade really was successful – in that they accomplished their goals – but it was a different goal than I had supposed.  Their mission was that of helping scoundrels out of town.  They were a real source of strength to the Saints.  Their presence helped Saints feel at least some peace and protection – even in the trauma of the time.  Their work had nothing to do with whittling and carving.  Theirs was a higher calling – to protect their community, the Temple and fellow saints.  And they accomplished that mission.

The Brigade members served their Nauvoo Covenant Community.  Each man or boy did his best and did his part to contribute to the community as a whole.  Brigade participants experienced a great brotherhood as they worked and served together.  They became friends, and brothers as they served together for the cause of Zion.

Brigade members worked under the direction of their ecclesiastical or church leaders.  They were a beautiful witness of how the Priesthood can operate when all work together.  Bishops were responsible for and guided their Deacons – men and boys – in the protection of their fellow Saints.  Bishops and Deacons worked together to accomplish their mission – setting an example of how Bishops and Aaronic Priesthood men and boys can work together in our day.

The Brigade was successful in keeping the peace in the short run but, the Brigade could not handle the violent mobs that were to come, and the Saints  were later forced to evacuate Nauvoo the following spring.  The Spirit and camaraderie of the Brigade members, however, would live on within their minds and hearts as they went forward – united in faith – to their next adventures and future priesthood responsibilities.

I am surely not a whistler, but I do love to whittle along the trail whenever I can.

Kevin V. Hunt

History and Heritage

Millions Shall Know Brother Joseph

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BLOG 13

MILLIONS SHALL KNOW BROTHER JOSEPH

180 YEARS SINCE THE MARTYRDOM

It is appropriate to take a few moments to remember the Prophet Joseph Smith.    June 27, (2024) marked the 180th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph and his brother, Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch.  They were brutally murdered on that date in 1844 at the Carthage Jail.   The Carthage Jail is an Illinois Historic Site located in a sleepy little village located about 25 miles from Nauvoo, Illinois.

On this date, Sister Hunt and I had the privilege of going to Carthage from Nauvoo – for a special program held to honor the memory of Joseph and Hyrum.  We gathered with a plethora of Nauvoo missionaries and many other visitors on the grounds of the old Carthage Jail to experience a commemorative program entitled, “Millions Shall Know Brother Joseph”. 

We had been to the jail previously, but the Spirit really touched our hearts on this special occasion.

Upon our arrival, the Nauvoo Brass band was there playing the prelude – and did so through the program.  They were fabulous.  As ever, their music was inspiring and wonderful. 

The program began with the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries singing, “I Saw a Pillar of Light”.

Sister Rebecca Mehr (Mission Leader) talked.  She spoke of the “safety of gathering”.      She talked of our legacy of togetherness.   We were experiencing that on this evening.

Brother Joseph Monsen talked.  He is the historian who helped implement the tours in the Joseph Smith properties that were just acquired by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Community of Christ.  He testified that God is present in our lives.  He talked of W.W. Phelps who left the church and harassed Joseph Smith and then repented and asked Joseph for forgiveness.  Joseph told W.W., “Friends at first are friends again at last: and forgave him for the major trauma and persecution that he caused to Joseph and the church.  He noted that W.W. Phelps later wrote the song, “Praise to the Man” which includes the lyrics, “Millions  Shall Know Bother Joseph Again”.  He noted that this commemoration tonight is a spiritual event and that the death of Joseph and Hyrum was a “spiritual triumph”.  “Their strength is in how they lived”, he added.

He issued three challenges: 1) Let us overcome the world with love, 2) Remember the Wayfaring Man, and 3) Carry the Gospel to the world.  He invited us all “gain our eternal heritage given us by Joseph and Hyrum”.

The Performing Missionaries gave a magnificent rendition of “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”., the song that brought peace and solace to Joseph and Hyrum as their deaths approached.  The Performing Missionaries had some tremendous soloists.   One Elder Smith was absolutely fabulous, and he brought the Spirit of Joseph and Hyrum in a wonderful and penetrating way to me.

President Daniel S. Mehr, the Mission Leader for the Illinois Historic Sites Mission talked. 

I love hearing Presiden Mehr speak.  He talked of how President Russel M. Nelson (our current Prophet) loves each of us.  He said that he (Pres. Mehr) loves everyone – and offered a group hug to all of us.  He said that we should do three things: walk the streets, shake hands, and to love the people.  He said that we (in the group) had all known each other for millennia.  He talked of “Nauvoo Miracles’. And he shared some stories of those miracles, as the missionaries have experienced them.  He said that Joseph and Hyrum “suffered righteously”.  He assured us that God knows that we love Him.

After the talks, the Choir sang another stirring rendition of “Praise to the Man”.  This  song was amazing.  This is definitely a song that can penetrate the soul in memory of God’s Prophet.

In the benediction, the Elder talked of gratitude for this “hallowed and sacred ground”.  We all felt that we were on hallowed and sacred  ground  through the program tonight.  It was wonderful and we were blessed to have been a part of it.

LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER

After bidding good-bye to his wife and children on the morning of June 24, 1844, Joseph and Hyrum headed to Carthage.  Joseph said, “I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer’s morning:  I have a conscience void of offense towards God, and towards all men.  I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me – he was murdered in cold blood”.  

Photo: Joseph and Hyrum on the Way to Carthage @ Kevin and Lou Hunt

As he and Hyrum stopped before the Temple (then only one story high), they looked back on their beloved Nauvoo.  Joseph said, “This is the most beautiful place and the best people under the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them.”.

Joseph and Hyrum headed off to Carthage.  They rode their horses past Joseph’s farm – located two or three miles east of town.  Memories were stirred as Joseph recalled special family moments working and relaxing on his farm.  “Joseph stopped and gazed upon his land. As they rode away Joseph looked back over and over again. The men escorting him to Carthage told him to be moving on. Joseph said, “If some of you had got such a farm and knew you would not see it any more, you would want to take a good look at it for the last time.” (History of the Church 6: 558 – Quoted by Scot Facer Proctor, in the “Meridian” LDS magazine. June 27, 2014)

A SIGN IN NAUVOO MARKS THE REMINDER OF THE CARTHAGE TRAIL

We had driven past this spot countless times before – since it is on Nauvoo’s Main Street and near the Visitors’ Center, but until just a few days ago, we had not seen the sign.  I stopped (in the middle of the quiet road) to check it out.  I was amazed to find that it was a sign erected by an Eagle Scout to commemorate the “Martyrdom Trail” (road) that took Joseph and Hyrum to their martyrdom.  How cool is that – that an Eagle Scout erected this plaque as a reminder to us all.

The ”Martyrdom Trail” is a back-roads dirt road that winds the 23 miles from Nauvoo to Carthage.  There are other ways to get there, but the vintage road is more authentic and thus, more of a reminder of the road that Joseph and Hyrum actually took.  The trail takes a ziz-zag path down country roads, over bridges, and through overgrown fields.  It is not a trek for the faint of heart – taking about 8 hours for experienced hikers.

THE HUNT FAMILY EXPERIENCED THE MARTYRDOM TRAIL

I have previously noted that Sister Hunt and I went to Nauvoo and for two summers participated in the “City of Joseph” pageant with our nine children.  In those days, pageant leaders staged a plethora of enjoyable activities for cast members for those rare moments when they were not on stage practicing or performing.  They had hat-making and other classes for the ladies and girls.  Tween boys could work on Scout merit badges.

Many of the cast members wanted to take the optional hike on the Martyrdom Trail.  My three sons and even some of the girls opted to make the journey.

On August 4, 1997, I recorded in my journal:

                “Today a bunch of cast members walked or biked the “Martyrdom Trail” which Joseph and Hyrum rode on horseback from Nauvoo to Carthage.  … It was a special experience for us to make the trek today and to think of Joseph and Hyrum as we went.  A group of about 80 of us met at the Visitors’ Center at 7:30 AM.  K.C., and Rusty borrowed bikes to ride.  They rode the whole 23 miles.  They did a great job.  There were about 30 bikers.  The hiking group included Jenae, Kaylea, Keith, and I (and most of the Shaltes family and others).  The hikers followed the bikers south on Main Street.  We then went east on Parley Street until we reached other country roads.  We hiked the 3 or so miles up to the Pioneer Cemetery.  Here a brother recounted interesting historical facts of the Trail, Joseph, and Hyrum.

“There were several drivers recruited also.  Jackie was among these.  I volunteered for her services.  She enjoyed this.  Just past the cemetery (near the Joseph Smith farm) we hikers got into vehicles and rode for a few miles.  As we stopped, we saw K.C. and Rusty at a farmhouse getting drinks out back.  We got out and hiked another couple of miles beside tall corn fields and soybean crops.  There were many large trees along the road.  The weather was perfect for the walk.  Some of the roads were a bit muddy from last night’s storm.  We got back in the vehicles and rode another few miles.

“We stopped about a mile from Carthage and rested in the shade of a large tree (near the jail).  We hiked the last mile into the jail.  We all (hikers, bikers, and drivers) all met at the jail. Some folks went on a tour.  We didn’t – since we were just there yesterday.  We ate watermelon and drank punch out on the lawn.  It was, in all, a great experience.  We also earned a very classy Scout patch in the process. 

Jenae and Kaylea did not finish the full walk.  They walked back to the campground from the Nauvoo Cemetery (but they probably walked almost as far as the rest of us)”.

THE MARTYRDOM TRAIL TODAY

It was June 26th, and the eve of the 180th anniversary of the deaths of our beloved Joseph and Hyrum (and two days after they would have taken their trip of doom).  I decided that I wanted to again experience the “Martyrdom Trail” – all of these years later – and as a current Nauvoo missionary.  My wife is loyal to me, so she supported me in the cause (fearing that alone, I might be eaten by bears or otherwise get lost out in the wilderness!)  I was happy to have her company.

We got home from our assigned site of the day.  We changed out of our pioneer costumes and grabbed a quick bite of food.  And then we were on our way – out on the trail.

So, we had seen this trail plaque on Main Street near the Visitors’ Center.  And I received a map of the Trail at the Visitors’ Center – via Elder Tolman who was on duty there.

We headed upward and east on Parley Street and drove past the old pioneer cemetery.  We soon turned south on a street called “900 East”.  We followed a “zig-zag” on many roads with many turns and this went through many country roads, turns and corners.  This was not the exact route that Joseph and Hyrum took – since some of their trail is now under corn or soybean fields.  But, the roads that we took, are as close as possible to the original – and we were able to get a sense of what Joseph and Hyrum may have experienced.

The Eagle Scout had done a great job in placing markers along the full trail. 

It took us few markers to get in the groove and to know what they looked like but once we got onto them, they were extremely helpful. 

There was a marker at every turn.  And some of the markers confirmed that we were going the right way – even through some very interesting fields.  In these areas, it was easy to imagine the real trail that Joseph and Hyrum would have traveled on their horses.  Some of these stretches of “road” (pasture paths) were interesting indeed.  My wife, of course, was in a panic as we traversed some of these country paths (and that is what some were).  She feared that we would get lost, stuck in mud, or whatever else it is that women imagine.  But, in spite of the terrain, and her reaction to it, I was happy to have her along for moral support (just as Joseph and Hyrum found support in each other – and appreciated others who travelled with them).

We took photos of nearly every one of the 23 markers along the way.  We saw a lot of corn, maize, soybeans, and other fields that folks now farm.

We had a little more excitement near the beginning of our trek than we had originally planned. 

We were way out in the middle of nowhere – about a half mile east of 900 East – on 2200 North when I looked off at the side of the road.  We were in horror as we saw that a guy, Stan, had driven off of the road down into a ditch.  He was pulling a 14’ utility flat trailer on the small car – and the trailer started jack-knifing down a hill on the gravel covered road.   This pushed his whole vehicle down into a ditch at the side of the road.

We stopped to help the guy.  He was in a bad way.  When we found this guy, Stan, he was really muddled and confused – and angry about his predicament.  We decided later that he was probably in shock over his situation.  His phone had died as he was trying to call a towing company – so he was in a bad predicament – especially being stranded out in the middle of nowhere and with little hope of any vehicle coming along to help him.

I got on the phone and looked for a towing service who could come to assist the guy. I first called Morgan Squires of the Red Front Café – to see if she knew of a local towing company and she did not.  I then turned to Google and looked for a local towing company – starting with a search for Carthage.  I found a “5-Star” rated company called Newberry, Inc. and  located in Keokuk.  I talked to a guy named T.J..  I think that he was the company boss.  He reminded us of Brad Belcher (my wife’s brother who owns a towing company in Heber City, Utah.).  This T.J. says that normally he has a worker who does most of the calls – but I guess he was super tired from a full night of calls – so this left the boss to come himself to our rescue.  The tow guy said that it would be about 45 minutes before he could get to our remote location.  He had a hard time figuring out where we were, but I gave him pretty good Boy Scout directions.  He came right at his promised time.  The guy was super impressive and efficient.

As he was driving to us, Lou and I brought this Stan into our car and got him calmed down.  Lou gave him some cold water.  We talked to him and assured him that things would be okay.  He kept saying that his wife “would kill him” for doing what he did.  He was from Chicago.  We used our phone to contact his wife.  She at first did not want to answer her phone – since it was an unknown number – but Lou texted the woman and got her attention – so that she responded back.

The driver, T.J., arrived and assessed the situation.  He knew just what to do.  He positioned his truck at the right angle so as to pull the  other vehicle up to the left and out of the hole or ditch where it was held.  He hooked up his cables and controlled these through a plethora of different knobs that moved the cables in various directions.  It was fascinating to watch (and video) how the vehicle slowly moved up and out of the ditch.  And gratefully, here was little damage to his car – in spite of what it had been through.

Lou remained in contact with the wife of Stan via text messages and kept her informed of the progress.  She sent several photos that showed the predicament of Stan.  The lady was grateful for all of our help.

We all – Lou, Stan, and I all marveled about the fact that we came upon this Stan.  He was really in a bad way – stuck in a ditch – with his car and trailer deeply imbedded in the underbrush, with  him having no phone for outside contact (including contacting a towing company), and it being near dark, and the fact that there literally was no one else on the road, and no farm houses or other people for miles around.  It truly was a miracle that the Lord staged in his behalf.

T.J. took only about 15 minutes to get Stan’s “ox out of the mire” and we soon were on our way.  And by a miracle, Stan’s vehicle was still drivable and he continued on his way toward Chicago.

Sister Hunt and I continued down the country paths with the hope that they would eventually get us to Carthage.  With our delay of over an hour, we were in a race against the sun. 

Darkness was approaching fast.  I was afraid that we would not get to Carthage before we ran out of light – and that would have added much excitement on those country roads with no lights, inability to see street signs, small marker signs, etc.  We were blessed to get to our Carthage destination just as the light totally disappeared.  We were greatly blessed and helped on our way.

We were glad that we were instruments in His hands to serve and help as we did.  I knew that Joseph would have so helped in similar circumstances.  But, knowing Joseph, he probably would have given the guy his horse.

As we got almost to Carthage, we drove through a cemetery (on both side of a road) and I thought this to be the most beautiful cemetery that I have ever seen.  It had rolling hills, green grass and trees everywhere, and a small lake.  It was amazing.

As I drove down the Martyrdom Trail, I thought very much of Joseph and Hyrum and tried to imagine the thoughts of their heavy hearts as they headed to Carthage and their coming doom – fully knowing of the coming consequences.  I was glad that we could make this special trek on the eve of the 180th anniversary of their martyrdom.  It was really a wonderful, spiritual  experience that I was grateful for.

We turned on the final road that took us right up to the gates of the Carthage jail complex. 

We drove into the parking lot.  It was dark and right at 9 PM.  (And  I noted that my  research had shown that it was near midnight when Joseph and Hyrum arrived in Carthage on their horses.)  That would have been quite the horse ride for a single day.  And as we took the driven route, I can only imagine that pain and reflection and apprehension that Joseph and Hyrum must have experienced on horseback – with each additional mile along that lonely road.  My heart went out to them as I thought of their pain and sorrow in anticipation of their coming fate.  But, in reflection, I am very grateful to them for the legacy of faith that they passed on to us – even today – many generations down the line.  I was drawn to them in greater love and admiration.

Sister Hunt was very relieved that we had made the trek safely and without incident (to us) at our destination.  She was glad that we were done with the country roads. 

The Martyrdom Trail (1996)

THE FACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM

John Taylor and Willard Richards were with Joseph and Hyrum on their day of martyrdom.  John Taylor had a beautiful singing voice and sang, “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief” and even repeated it at the request of the brethren.

John Taylor later announced to the world the sad news of the Martyrdom.  This is now recorded in D&C 135, verses 1-2:

“To seal the testimony of this book and The Book of Mormon, we announce the martyrdom of Joseph Smith the Prophet and Hyrum Smith, the Patriarch.  They were shot in Carthage jail on the 27th of June 1844, at about five o’clock p.m., by an armed mob – painted black – of from 150 to 200 persons.  Hyrum was shot first and fell calmly, exclaiming:  “I am a dead man! 

Photo of Hyrum’s Blood on Floor (1975) even 130 years after the martyrdom

Joseph leaped from the window, and was shot dead in the attempt, exclaiming, “O Lord my God!”  They were both shot after they were dead, in a brutal manner, and both received four balls.

Door to room where the martyrdom room where Joseph and Hyrum died

“John Taylor and Willard Richards, two of the Twelve, were the only persons in the room at the time:  the former was wounded in a savage manner with four balls, but has since recovered; the latter, through the providence of God, escaped, without even a hole in his robe.”

“Hyrum lay dead on this floor. John had rolled under the bed after being hit with four balls, one of which struck him in the chest at the heart but was miraculously stopped by his pocket watch. The watch stopped at 16 minutes, 26 seconds after 5 o’clock. Joseph tried to escape through the window on the left. He was hit four times, once in the collar bone, once in the breast, and twice in the back. He leaped or fell from the window crying aloud, “Oh Lord, my God.!”  (By Scot Facer Proctor: https://latterdaysaintmag.com/article-1-14541/)

 LUCY MACK SMITH, MOTHER OF JOSEPH AND HYRUM RECOUINTS THE SADNESS AND TRAUMA OF THE SCENE:

“After the corpses were washed and dressed in their burial clothes, we were allowed to see them. I had for a long time braced every nerve, roused every energy of my soul and called upon God to strengthen me, but when I entered the room and saw my murdered sons extended both at once before my eyes and heard the sobs and groans of my family…it was too much: I sank back, crying to the Lord in the agony of my soul, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken this family!’ A voice replied, I have taken them to myself, that they might have rest’…I then thought upon the promise which I had received in Missouri, that in five years Joseph should have power over all his enemies. The time had elapsed, and the promise was fulfilled.”  (Lucy Mack Smith, mother of Joseph and Hyrum, June 29, 1844, Nauvoo Illinois – and this was quoted by Joseph Monsen at the commemoration event.)

PROPHETS WHO KNEW THE PROPHET JOSEPH TESTIFY OF HIM

The Prophet Joseph is best described by those who knew him best.  These would be some of his chief Apostles (and who later also became prophets themselves).

BRIGHAM YOUNG WAS NAUVOO PRESIDENT OF THE QUORUM OF 12, 2ND PROPHET AND PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH:

On numerous occasions Brigham Young testified: 

“I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom he gave keys and power to build up the Kingdom of God on earth and sustain it” (DBY, 456).

Brigham also said, “I can truly say, that I invariably found him to be all that any people could require a true prophet to be, and that a better man could not be, though he had his weaknesses; and what man has ever lived upon this earth who had none?” (Brigham Young to David P. Smith, 1 June 1853, BYP).

JOHN TAYLOR – 3RD PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH – TESTIFIED OF JOSEPH:

Following his martyrdom, John Taylor said of Joseph:  “Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it.  In the short space of twenty years, he has brought forth the Book of Mormon, which he translated by the gift and power of God, and has been the means of publishing it on two continents; has sent the fulness of the everlasting gospel, which it contained, to the four quarters of the earth; has brought forth the revelations and commandments which compose this book of Doctrine and Covenants, and many other wise documents and instructions for the benefit of the children of men; gathered many thousands of the Latter-day Saints, founded a great city, and left a fame and name that cannot be slain.  He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord’s anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum.  In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!” (D&C 135:3)

On the 10th Anniversary of the death of Joseph Smith, John Taylor testified again of Joseph:  “I was [blessed] to be associated with Brother Joseph … I have been with him under all kinds of circumstances – when the thick clouds of darkness gathered around, … when the forces of [the] earth rallied against him, and in times of prosperity …  I have also been with him in private council, so that I have had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with his feelings, ideas, views, with his morality, with his truthfulness, with his integrity.  And I know that he was a good man; that he was an honest man … that he was a prophet of the Lord, that he lived in that capacity and maintained this integrity.”

WILFORD WOODRUFF, 4TH PRESIDENT OF THE CHURCH

“I bear my testimony that in the early spring of 1844, in Nauvoo, the Prophet Joseph Smith called the Twelve Apostles together and he delivered unto them the ordinances of the church and kingdom of God; and all the keys and powers that God had bestowed upon him, he sealed upon our heads, and he told us that we must round up our shoulders and bear off this kingdom, or we would be damned. I am the only man now living in the flesh who heard that testimony from his mouth, and I know that it was true by the power of God manifest to him. At that meeting he stood on his feet for about three hours and taught us the things of the kingdom. His face was as clear as amber, and he was covered with a power that I had never seen in any man in the flesh before.

I bear testimony that Joseph Smith was the author of the endowments as received by the Latter-day Saints. I received my own endowments under his hands and direction, and I know they are true principles. I not only received my own endowments under his hands, but I bear my testimony that Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, Willard Richards, George A. Smith, John Taylor and other brethren received their endowments under the hands and direction of the Prophet Joseph; and also my wife Phoebe, Bathsheba Smith, Leonora Taylor, Mary Smith and others whose names I cannot recall now.

The Prophet Joseph laid down his life for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Christ, and he will be crowned as a martyr in the presence of God and the Lamb.  In all his testimonies to us the power of God was visibly manifest with the Prophet Joseph.

This is my testimony, spoken by myself into a talking machine on this the 19th day of March 1897, in the 91st year of my age.   Wilford Woodruff.

LORENZO SNOW – FIFTH PRESIDEN OF THE CHURCH:

“A word or two about Joseph Smith. Perhaps there are very few men now living who were so well acquainted with Joseph Smith the Prophet as I was. I was with him oftentimes. I visited him in his family, sat at his table, associated with him under various circumstances, and had private interviews with him for counsel. I know that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God; I know that he was an honorable man, a moral man, and that he had the respect of those who were acquainted with him. The Lord has shown me most clearly and completely that he was a Prophet of God, and that he held the Holy Priesthood and the authority to baptize people for the remission of their sins and to lay hands upon them for the reception of the Holy Ghost, that they might receive a knowledge themselves in relation to these things” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1900, 61).

JOSEPH F SMITH – LAST MODERN-DAY PROPHET TO HAVE KNOWN JOSEPH SMITH TESTIFIED:

JOSEPH F. SMITH TESTIFIES OF JOSEPH SMITH (His Uncle)

“As a child I knew the Prophet Joseph Smith. As a child I have listened to him preach the gospel that God had committed to his charge. . . . I have retained the witness of the Spirit that I was imbued with, as a child, and that I received from my sainted mother, the firm belief that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God; that he was inspired as no other man in his generation, or for centuries before, had been inspired; that he had been chosen of God to lay the foundations of God’s Kingdom as well as of God’s Church; that by the power of God he was enabled to bring forth the record of the ancient inhabitants of this [the American] continent, to revive and to reveal to the world the doctrine of Jesus Christ. . . . As a child I was impressed, deeply, with the thought, and firmly with the belief, in my soul that the revelations that had been given to and through Joseph the Prophet, as contained in this book, the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, were the word of God, as were the words of the ancient disciples when they bore record of the Father and of the Son” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 493).

JOSEPH F. SMITH PURCHASED THE CARTHAGE JAIL FOR THE CHURCH

Joseph F. Smith was the son of Hyrum Smith and nephew of the Prophet Joseph.  It was under his leadership that the Church purchased the Carthage Jail on November 3, 1903, for $4,000.  This was the first historic site purchased by the Church.

PRESIDENT JOSEPH F. SMITH VISITS THE CARTHAGE JAIL

There were many times in the life of Joseph F. when his had the chance to stop at Carthage Jail, but every time he chose to avoid it, knowing his emotions were too fragile to handle what was there.

In 1906, President Smith visited the jail on his way home from a European tour.   A man named Charles W. Nibley convinced Joseph F. that it was time to face Carthage. Both men knew this would be a very challenging experience for Joseph F. and were tentative about how the experience would go.

When the group with Joseph F. arrived at Carthage, they all proceeded to walk up the steps to the jail and as they turned right into the room where all the bullets came, seeing the bullet holes, emotions were high. Then, the person leading the group pointed out the floor, and the group was told “that stain is the blood of Hyrum Smith.”

Joseph F. overcome with sadness, walked over and sat down on the blood stain. Joseph F. put hands over his face, and convulsively wept until they could see the water coming through his fingers.

Then, Joseph F. said “Charlie, take me out of here.”

They got in the buggy and rode the twenty miles back to Nauvoo. Not one word was spoken.  https://fheontheroad.com/joseph-f-smith-visiting-carthage-jail/

Preston Nibley later recalled that President Smith said, “I despise this place.  It harrows up my feelings to come here.”   (Source:  Cannon: Carthage Jail in Mormon Memory, “Long Shall His Blood . . . Stain Illinois”: Carthage Jail in by Brian Q. Cannon)

ANCESTRAL CONNECTIONS AND TESTIMONIES OF JOSEPH SMITH

We are blessed to have the testimonies of prophets and leaders who knew and heard the  Prophet Joseph Smith.  I am also blessed to have many of my own ancestors who personally knew the Prophet Joseph.  There were many of them who lived in Nauvoo, many who knew him, and many who also heard him speak and then shared their testimonies of him with their posterity.  I will share some of those stories here.

NATHAN CALHOUN CHENEY TELLS OF THE NAUVOO WHICH JOSEPH SMITH INSPIRED  (From a letter written to friends October 17, 1841, from Nauvoo:

.”There are more inhabitants in the City of Nauvoo than there ever has been together before since the people called Mormons began to gather here. The people are very busy in building them houses to live in, the newcomers are building very good houses, mostly brick and frame houses, also the House of the Lord is being built. The House of the Lord is one hundred and twenty feet by eighty-eight feet on the ground, the House of the Lord is built by the tithing of the people, our tithing is one tenth. The City is divided into ten wards, so we work every tenth laboring day on the Temple, there is probably from fifty to seventy people to work every day on the House. We are building a large Hotel, [and] the Hotel is called the Nauvoo House. The Nauvoo House is in an ell and from each ell it is one hundred and twenty feet long by forty feet wide. The Nauvoo House is built by the Church, it is built by selling shares in the House. There are about the same number of hands to work on the Nauvoo House that there is on the Temple. The basement story to each house is nearly built, the walls of the temple are built of stone, the walls of the Nauvoo House are built with brick. There has a Company of men gone up into the north country after pine lumber. Our people are not so much engaged in cultivating the earth in Nauvoo as they are in building up a city,”

NATHAN CALHOUN CHENEY (3rd Great Grandfather)  LETTER TO FATHER-IN-LAW ABOUT THE MARTYRDOM OF JOSEPH SMITH – WRITTEN JUNE 28, 1844

 Mr. Charles Beebe

Sandusky, Cattaraugus County

New York

Nauvoo City, Illinois

June 28th 1844

“Kind Parents, Brothers, and Sisters in Freedom [New York]:  As the day is gloomy and I do not feel like laboring, I think I will sit down and converse with you with the pen.  We are all well as to bodily disease, in all probability, before you get this.

“You will hear that our enemies are trying to take our lives.  I will inform you that in the fore part of April, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints cut off several people from their church for seeking to kill the Prophet and the Smith Family, together with forgery and making bogus money and gambling.

“… The Prophet knew all they wanted was to get him.  He felt delicate about going [to Carthage], but after some reflection went, and Hyrum too.  Upon his starting to go he came back three times to bid his family goodbye, but the last time he came back he bid his wife and children farewell.  That was last Sunday.

“The Prophet and his guards were within two miles of Carthage.  There he met a company going to Nauvoo.  He found that the Governor had demanded the government arms that the Nauvoo Legion had.  Brother Joseph came back with them and assisted in getting the arms.

“On Monday he went back again.  The Marshal and his men were bound over to court, then they came home.  Then this gang of murderers got a writ against Joseph and Hyrum for treason.  They were taken and put in jail.

“The Governor sent on Wednesday sixty men – he said to guard the mob from the Mormons.  These men never went on guard while they were here, but the Mormons were on guard all the time.  The Governor and 160 men came to Nauvoo Thursday at 5 o’clock P. M.  The Governor made a short and insulting speech to the Mormons, then immediately left with his troops.  However, he said he had left a guard at Carthage so that the prisoners would not be hurt.  He said that the prisoners would be here Saturday to have their trial.

“I can’t write further at present; my eyes drop on the paper so.

“Again, I commence to give you an account of the bloody murder:  While the Governor was in Nauvoo, the mob came upon the jail and fired through the door and shot Hyrum through the head.  Brother Joseph ran upstairs.  The mob rushed after him.  Joseph attempted to jump out of the window.  The mob fired him through, and he fell to the ground.  The mob ran him through with their bayonets a number of times, and then fired him through a number of times after they had stuck their bayonets through him.  This murder you will have to put your own construction on.

“The corpses have just been brought into Nauvoo.  The Governor passed through Carthage last night at twelve o’clock and sent a letter to Nauvoo.  He said he would do all he could to bring the murderers to justice.  He thinks it is the mob of Missouri that did the murder.  There were from 100 to 200 men that rushed upon the jail.  There was not a prisoner taken by the Governor’s militia mob.  I will inform you that the Governor’s militia had bound themselves to destroy the Mormons and had assembled for that purpose before the Governor came out.  And after he did come out, they were the Governor’s troops.”

EBENEZER WIGGINS HAD BUTTERMILK WITH THE PROPHET

Ebenezer and his wife, Eleanor, were old settlers of Illinois (there before the Mormons).  … He arrived in Illinois before 1832.  They settled in Hancock county.  Land records indicate that they later owned a very prime piece of property in downtown Nauvoo.  They owned a lot on the northeast corner of Main and Parley Street. 

Ebenezer was baptized in 1841. His son, William James, one of two twins born in 1835, was baptized 1843. The rest of the family would have joined during this period. They were well born, prosperous people in Illinois, and well known for their kindness to those in need. Debts of the poor were often cancelled, and charity unselfishly given. The Prophet Joseph Smith often called at their home to visit and enjoy a glass of buttermilk with them.  Their daughter, Ellener remembered many times sitting upon Joseph’s knee and listening to him talk.

EZRA T CLARK OFTEN HEARD THE PROPHET JOSEPH SPEAK AND GAVE HIM HIS LAST DOLLAR!

When the saints left Missouri to head north, the Clarks located in Iowa.  The river and the distance from Nauvoo, however, proved no obstacle to a growing respect that Ezra had for Joseph Smith.

In Iowa, Ezra found companionship in the company of Edward Stevenson and Nathan Porter.  Sometimes Ezra would go with Edward and Nathan across the Mississippi River to Nauvoo where they would go to the grove to hear the Prophet Joseph.  

”Although it cost some trouble to go over the Mississippi River to Nauvoo, Nathan Porter, E. T. Clark, I, and others made it a point to go and hear the Prophet speak, for he always had something good and cheering for all who loved to hear words of inspiration and deep instruction.  I used to be highly repaid for my trips over the river and could feel encouraging to go on with my work which was still hard,” Stevenson wrote of the time.

On still another occasion, Ezra rowed across the river to be at the ceremony laying the cornerstone of the Nauvoo Temple.  It was during this occasion that Ezra gave the prophet his last dollar and Joseph would put his hand on the then teen-age boy and told him that his family would be blessed with means and that they would be among the nobility of the earth.

Ezra’s wife, Mary Stevenson Clark, records the impact of the prophet’s death on June 27, 1844.  Ezra and Mary, though unmarried at the time, were among the mournful throng that went to meet the entourage bringing the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum.  Mary said that such a vast procession of weeping Saints would never be forgotten.  

It was the Prophet Joseph’s passing that signaled another major change in the church and the Clark family.

With the church in a state of transition from the loss of its leader, Sidney Rigdon and several others stepped forward to claim the right of leadership.  A meeting was called in which Rigdon was given a forum, along with Brigham Young, to talk about the mantle of leadership.

.  

One of those people who had a similar experience was Ezra Thompson Clark.  It was at this meeting that Ezra had an experience that would shape the rest of his life and separate him from the rest of his family.  His testimony was recorded just months before he died, to be passed down to his posterity.

“Before I left Nauvoo, I heard the Prophet Joseph say he would give the Saints a key whereby they would never be led away or deceived, and that was: the Lord would never suffer the majority of this people to be led away or deceived by imposters, nor would he allow the records of this Church to fall into the hands of the enemy.  I heard Joseph say this, and I also heard him say that he would roll the burden of the Apostleship upon the quorum of the Twelve.  I heard Joseph preach many times; heard him, in the last sermon he ever delivered, bear testimony to the truth of the work that God had called him to; also, that the Lord had never suffered him to be slain by his enemies, because his work had not been done, until a short time ago. He had now laid the foundation of this work and rolled the burden of the priesthood upon the Twelve; and, having given them their washings and anointings, they would now bear off this work triumphantly, and it would roll on faster than ever before; and, if the Lord was willing to accept of him, he was willing to go.

“This he spoke to the people.  I was one who heard his voice and know that he spoke like an angel from heaven. I never heard him speak with more power than then, and I heard him many times.  I was satisfied.  I knew him to be a prophet of God.  I had heard him prophesy many times, and had seen his prophecies fulfilled, and had also shaken hands with him, and he had blessed me, and I had felt the influence and power of the Lord upon him and upon me, and I have never forgotten that blessing from that day to this, and I never shall.  Two days later the Prophet was martyred, and two or three weeks later, when the saints held a conference, and Brigham Young arose as leader of the Church, I want to bear record that he spoke as Joseph used to speak; to all appearances, the same voice, the same gestures, the same stature. I bear this record to all the world, to my children and to my children’s children, and also bear record that this work is God’s work and that it will roll on as it has done from that day to this.

Clark’s reference of speaking as Joseph used to speak, the same voice, would suggest that Ezra too heard the hissing sound that accompanied every S that Joseph used to utter; only this time the sound was coming from Brigham young.

To one as well acquainted with Joseph as Ezra T. Clark, there would be no mistaking his voice and sound and gestures from that of Brigham Young.

But Ezra and Mary and their family remained steadfast to the church.  Ezra’s love for the Prophet Joseph was manifest in several ways.  He named a son Joseph Smith Clark, after the late prophet and then just months before he passed away, Ezra had his testimony recorded for his immediate family and for those that would follow.

Ezra was there to hear the Prophet Joseph speak through Brigham Young.  It is a testimony that has whistled through time.


ELIZABETH STEVENS STEVENSON FILLED WITH PEACE AFTER HEARING JOSEPH SMITH PREACH:

After a brief illness, joseph [her husband] passed away at the age of 45.  Now Elizabeth faced the responsibility of both mother and father to their family of seven.  Fortunately, they were well provided for.  Now, more than ever before, Elizabeth sensed the need for light and wisdom to guide her.  

About this time, two Mormon missionaries, Jared Carter and Joseph Wood, came to this neighborhood to bring the gospel message of the Restored Church.  The Prophet Joseph and his new Church were creating quite a stir, much curiosity and much opposition.  

In a little school house near the Stevenson home Mormonism was first preached in Michigan.  Elizabeth was deeply impressed.  She investigated and studied.  Shortly after, the Prophet Joseph himself, came to Pontiac.  Elizabeth listened intently as he explained the principles of Mormonism.  Her soul was filed with the spirit of peace.  This was the truth and the light for which she was searching.  In 1833 Elizabeth was baptized in a little lake on her own property which she permitted the Elders to use.  How she wished her Joseph could have shared this experience with her.

The Prophet made frequent visits to this community.  He was often a guest in Elizabeth’s home.  He became her true friend, as well as her beloved prophet.  “How proud we felt, partaking of our hospitality, and explaining the gospel plan to me and my children.”

… Ever on the move, the Saints were never allowed to remain in one place long at a time.  Enemies of Mormonism were determined to destroy them.  Eventually, they reached Nauvoo.  Most of the Saints were destitute.  Everyone tried to earn a little.  Elizabeth’s two daughters worked in the homes of Gentiles.  The Saints had no money to pay for help.  Elizabeth was an excellent seamstress, and often sewed for Emma Smith, so again she was associated with the Prophet.”

Elizabeth’s daughter, Mary, wrote in her autobiography, “When we lived in Nauvoo, we often attended conference, also the Fourth of July celebrations.  It was always an inspiring sight to see the Prophet Joseph in the parade.  His beautiful black horse seemed to keep step with the music of the band.  We also witnessed tragedy as we passed through the terrible experience of the assassination of the Prophet and his brother, Hyrum, 27 June 1844.  My mother walked the dooryard in lamentation for her dear friend and leader. “

MARY STEVENSON CLARK (Daughter of Mary Stevens Stevenson) A LASTING TESTIMONY OF JOSEPH THE PROPHET:

“We lived in Missouri until the Saints were driven from there to Quincy, Illinois, and from there to Nauvoo.   We moved over the Mississippi River to a town called Montrose in Iowa.   We lived in a room adjoining Brigham Young’s.   From there we moved to a settlement called Clarksville near a town called Charlestown.   My brother Edward built a cabin, and we went to work as best we could.   My sister and I worked for the gentiles for the Saints were too poor to hire us.   My Mother was called upon to take care of the children of Sister Morris Phelps while she and her brother, John W. Clark, went to get her husband and others out of jail in Missouri, and she accomplished it for she was directed by the Spirit of the Lord.   Mother took care and was a comfort to her children until they returned to their home.


“My sister Elisabeth and I were baptized when I was 12 years old, in Far West, Missouri by David Patten.   I have always been taught to keep the Sabbath Day holy and have a testimony of the Gospel from childhood.   That testimony I have heard from the Prophet Joseph Smith and others.   It has always stayed with me, and I can truly say that I rejoice in the Gospel of Life and Salvation.   It will continually be a joy in this life, also in the world to come if we will be obedient to keep the commandments of the Lord.


My Mother was very handy with a needle and used to help the Prophet’s wife and others of the Authorities, and so she was well acquainted and received much instruction and intelligence.

“When we lived seven miles west of Nauvoo, my husband’s Father (Timothy Baldwin Clark, father of Ezra T. Clark) had a good supply of animals, and we went often to attend Conferences and Fourth of July celebrations in Nauvoo and reviewed the Nauvoo Legion in their marching.   It was a beautiful sight to see the Prophet Joseph on his prancing black horse that seemed to keep time with the music of the band.   We would sometimes attend meetings in the Grove. 

“We witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the Temple and later attended the Conference held therein and received our Endowments there on New Year’s Day 1846.”

ANNA MARIA ROBINSON VISITED JOSEPH AND EMMA AT THE MANSION HOUSE:

A short sketch of the Life of Anna Maria Robinson who was a daughter of Joseph Lee and Maria Wood Robinson and was born 8 June 1838 in Boonville, New York. She was eight years old when they left Winter Quarters, Nebraska for Utah. They were one year crossing the plains by ox team. She visited many hours at the Mansion House, the home of Prophet Joseph Smith and his wife Emma. She sat on the Prophet’s lap many times. 

She remembered how her father [Joseph Lee Robinson] wept, walked the floor, wrung his hands, and in anguish, cried aloud, “What will become of the Saints now that their leaders have been taken from them.” After the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and Patriarch Hyrum Smith

JOSEPH LEE ROBINSON TESTIFIES OF THE POWER AND MAJESTY OF JOSEPH SMITH:

The family moved to Nauvoo in the fall of 1841. Joseph recorded the following about meeting the Prophet Joseph Smith: “We have long since believed and known that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God, but now our eyes do see him, and our ears hear his voice. There is a power and majesty that attends his words that we never before beheld in any other man.”

ZERAH PULSIPHER MOVES TO NAUVOO AT DIRECTION OF THE PROPHET JOSEPH:

“After we had lived in this place near two years, Joseph requested the first Presidents of Seventies to come to Nauvoo; I being one of that number I immediately repaired to Nauvoo and located in its vicinity, made a farm, lived comfortably and assisted in building the Temple. But Missouri mobs were continually seeking the life of Brother Joseph. I think there had been some forty raisings against him without success.

“These mobbers finally came to the conclusion that the law could not reach him, but powder and ball could. Therefore, they organized a mob of about 200 men, put him in Carthage Jail with D. Richards, Hyrum Smith and John Taylor. The mobs came and broke the jail, shot

“Joseph and Hyrum and wounded John Taylor. (This being done it gave us a hard shock and caused much mourning) by shooting four balls into him. The fourth saved his life, striking his watch which was in his vest pocket. After Joseph had fell dead one of the ruffians made a move to take off his head but a singular light shown around him (Joseph) that struck the man with fear. They therefore flew in every direction and disappeared. Our brethren went and brought them home and buried the dead and restored the wounded.

“At this time the mob expected we should rise and give them battle; we thought best not to do it. We just kept still and continued our work on the Temple, finished it and got our end. But at that time most of the 12 were absent on missions. Sidney Rigden, who aspired for the Presidency came and called the church together and presented his claim for the Presidency. But the 12 soon came home and appeared on the stand at the day appointed for choosing. Sidney made his plea. Brigham Young began to speak and at that time I sat with my back towards the stand as did others.

“And when Brigham spoke he spoke with the voice of Joseph, and we turned around to see Brigham speaking in Joseph’s voice and behold Joseph’s mantle had fallen on him. The people understood it in the same way. Brigham stood at the head of the twelve therefore the Church turned to him.

MY OWN TESTIMONY AND WITNESS:

From Kevin V. Hunt

I’ve had a special privilege to become personally acquainted with the life and mission of the Prophet Joseph.  For the last six months of my youth mission, I had the unique opportunity of serving in Nauvoo – The City of Joseph.  I there felt the power of his spirit, his life and mission, as I walked the streets and lived each day in the beautiful town that he built and loved.  I developed a great love for Joseph Smith as I saw firsthand the fruits of his labors and as I taught and testified of him to the many people who came to the visitor’s center and restored homes.  From that experience I can testify that he was indeed a Prophet. I know that he was.  And that testimony has grown even stronger as I now have returned to Nauvoo as a Senior site guide missionary with my wife – and as I now teach visitors as I did 49 years before.  It is a glorious experience.

Having read, studied, pondered and prayed about Joseph Smith, his “First Vision” and subsequent visits from angelic messengers, I (Kevin Hunt) have felt the witness of the Holy Ghost relative to Joseph and the coming forth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our day.  I know that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, did in reality come to earth and that they spoke as live and resurrected beings to Joseph Smith – giving him much guidance and instruction for our day.  I have come to know that Joseph was indeed called of God and that the Church was restored once again to the earth through him.  I know that Joseph became and was a prophet of God.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is indeed the Lord’s only true church here upon the earth.  I know that The Book of Mormon is true and contains the fulness of the Lord’s Everlasting Gospel.  I am and will forever be grateful for this knowledge and for the truths restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith and because of his visit from God and Christ.  

And so, on this, the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the death of Joseph and Hyrum, I rejoice, as did Brigham Young, “that ever I knew the Prophet Joseph Smith.” 

It is my hope that indeed, “Millions Shall Know Brother Joseph Again.”

Happy to be on Joseph’s Nauvoo trail …

Kevin Hunt

Gratitude, History and Heritage, Inspiration, Mission Service

Getting Ready to Head out on the Mission

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By Kevin V. Hunt

Elder Kevin and Sister Lou Hunt preparing for Missionary Service April 1, 2024

Getting ready to head out on the mission …  I announced earlier about the upcoming mission that my wife and I are doing for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The plan is to be gone for 18 months.  We have been asked to serve in Nauvoo, Illinois – which is a historic church site in Illinois.

As we prepared to go on the mission, there was much to do.  My wife and I both had “To Do Lists” that were a mile long – at least.  It was kind of over-whelming.  There was so much to do.  My wife wanted to organize and clean up the entire house.  She cleaned and sorted everything in the house and garage. Everything had to be perfect.  She wore herself out in this process.

I had many family history and other computer projects that kept me entertained.  I worked hard to get these tasks completed and ultimately got through many – but not all of them.  I worked on these projects right up to within a few hours before we were to head out of town.

We were invited to give a talk in church.  (See my previous blog, entitled, “Praise to the Man” Check it out!

As we anticipated the church talk, our children decided to come from all over to participate with us.  We had a steady stream of family for a couple of weeks as we were trying to make our trip preparations.  One daughter, her husband and son, came from Texas and they stayed a week.  A daughter came from Idaho with her two boys, and they were with us for two weeks.  Another daughter came from Idaho.  They made a family trip and came to be with us for two days on their way home.  And we had two children come from towns 50 or so miles away.  And of course, we have three families who live in our own home town.  Two sons-in-law were not able to come – and we missed eleven of the 42 grandchildren.  So, this meant that we had a crowd of 50 of our posterity – and many other family and friends gathered with us.

After the church meeting, we gathered to the home of a local son, and we had a great farewell dinner and activities together.  And of course, we posed for more family photos than any person should ever have to endure.  We got shots of every possible group gathering.  It was great!  (We have many able photographers in the family … so they are great!)

We had a few challenges in the week before our departure. Our microwave oven gave up the ghost. Our son had an accident in his vehicle. He needed a vehicle while he worked with insurance, etc . We offered to loan him our second vehicle. Then three days later, his wife wrecked our car.

On Thursday before our Saturday departure, the alternator of our vehicle decided to quit.  Three sons-in-law worked together to get the alternator changed.  They finished at midnight about eighteen hours before we were to head out.  They made a great team as they consulted together and tried to loosen all of the bolts, the belt, etc.  They called themselves, “Three brothers-in-law, a wrench, and You-Tube”.  We were so grateful for their combined efforts.

The night before we were to leave town, a daughter put out an “all hands on deck” call to get her siblings to come to help.  Again, there was much to do.  Many responded to the call to help us.  Son-in-law, Mike helped check out the vehicle to make sure it was road-worthy.  Ladies helped with packing and a plethora of other projects.  (And meanwhile, my wife and I still tried to complete tasks from our never-ending lists).  We said sad good-byes to the local children and grandchildren.  It was a happy-sad day as we all knew that it was good-bye for a year and a half.  There were a lot of tears and of course, everyone (including us) had to get in “just one more hug”.  One daughter sobbed, “How can I survive without you?”

Then came the big day to leave town – Saturday, March 30th.  It was a short night before D-day.  We each only got about four hours of sleep – not enough, for sure.  We had already said our good-byes.  One son-in-law came to our home about 6:30 AM to load our two bicycles onto our car rack.  I finished packing the already-too-loaded vehicle.   (We had packed the vehicle on Thursday and Lou had meticulously packed different suitcases for each phase of our adventure of the next two weeks.)   Somehow, we got everything but the kitchen sink – and then some – into the Honda mini-van.

We had wanted to leave at 6:30 in the morning, but it was 8:00 AM  when we finally headed out of town.  We stopped in Tempe to say goodbye to one more family.  And then we were off.  We headed north on the I-17 freeway from Phoenix – and headed north toward Flagstaff.  We stopped at our usual Sunset Point rest area for “drink and drain”.

As we were just a few miles south of Flagstaff, the lack of sleep caught up with me.  I swerved a bit, and we were saved only because of our pre-departure prayer, and the faith of our family.  It could have been bad!

We had planned to drive clear north to Salt Lake City – to spend two nights with my wife’s sister.  We didn’t make it.  We decided that we had to stop for a night – in order to get a full night’s sleep.  We had driven north on Highway 89A – as is our usual custom on trips to Utah.  We spent a wonderful night in the beautiful Jacob Lake Inn.  (Such a great place to stay …  Everyone ought to stop there at least once.)  Their home-made cookies, alone, are worth the drive, but the drive through the Alpine setting – with a big forest of beautiful pine trees, made the drive most enjoyable.

Then the next morning, we awoke to four or more inches of snow on top of our car and everywhere else.  This was a bit of a shock to us desert rats.  Somehow we got the snow off of the window – or at least enough to peer out.  And getting up and out of the snow was another adventure.  We wondered if we would be going anywhere that day.  Again, the prayers of faith got us out of the ruts and on our way.

By this time, it was Easter Sunday, and it was not the Easter day that we had anticipated. – to celebrate the Atonement and Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  We did rejoice in Him in our interesting circumstance.    Our clothes were all packed tightly in the vehicle – such that it was not easy to get to them.   We had not planned for church along the way but our desires to attend church en route were foiled.  We opted to use our phones to tune in to a video broadcast of a daughter’s Texas local ward (congregation).

We arrived at the home of my wife’s sister and husband, and they had a wonderful meal waiting for us.  They are always great hosts, and we love them.  We noted with them that they have hosted us five previous times as we have prepared to send off our missionary children.  (Two other children also served missions – but they reported directly to foreign MTC facilities.  A daughter attended an MTC in England and a son reported directly to the Brazil MTC.  It was interesting to now be the parents entering the MTC.

And then, it was April 1st – the day for us to report to the MTC (Mission Training Center) where many out-going missionaries are trained for the work they will do on their various missions.  (Stay tuned for our blog about the MTC – to come soon!)  We had been anticipating this day for almost two months since we had received our mission calls (assignments) to serve.

We had a leisurely morning – cold cereal and all.  I did some last-minute repacking of the vehicle.  Always such a fun task.  And I even found a few minutes to post the “Praise to the Man” blog post.  We dressed in our missionary attire.  I was in my black suit and a brand new shirt, socks, shoes, and everything.  Sister Hunt wore a beautiful dress that matched my suit (though this was not planned).  I think that we looked great – if I do say so ourselves.

We left in plenty of time to get from Salt Lake to Provo, Utah.  We had to chuckle a bit.  We were given rather specific  instructions that said we were to report between 10:30 and 10:40 AM.  Wow!  They have this reporting system down to a science.  Very impressive!

We had about fifteen minutes to kill before our scheduled arrival time.  We decided to do a video conference with our many children – located all over the globe.  Many of the family members were able to join in with us.  My wife manned the phone call as I drove the car into the MTC.  We got through the security booth and parked in a parking lot designated for “senior missionaries” like us.  Senior missionaries are those (with gray hair and expanded stomachs” who have achieved an advanced age – but who still have some energy to commit to missionary service.  We revise the old Primary song, and sing, “We’re glad they’ve called us on a mission … now that we have grown a foot of two.”  (Not to brag about the direction of that growth.)  Well, anyway, we got one of the last available parking spots.  And it even accommodated our mission bikes that were strapped onto the back of our vehicle.  We must have looked a sight with the fully packed car, the bikes, the Jacob Lake dirt, snow, and salt, and more.   Admittedly, we thought that we had everything that we thought that we needed for the next 18 months.

My wife continued the video call with the family – and they “went” with us right up to the front door.  I finally had to tell her and the family that it was time to “be hanging up now”.

We had many service missionary folks there to usher us in to start the mission.

And the adventure begins …!  Moving onto the Nauvoo Scouting trail … !  Can’t wait!

Gratitude, History and Heritage, Inspiration

Praise to the Man!

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By Kevin V. Hunt

(Photo copyright by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

Kevin’s Mission “Talk in Church”

PRESENTED MARCH 24, 2024 – Pacana Park Ward

We sing a popular hymn #27, as written by William W. Phelps.   With gusto, we sing, “Praise to the Man”.

                Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah

                Jesus anointed that Prophet and Seer

Blessed to open the last dispensation,

                Kings shall extol him,

                And nations revere …

                And the final line of the 4th verse says, “Millions shall know “ Brother Joseph again …”

As we know, Elder M. Russell Ballard, long the “Acting President of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles”, died just after General Conference.  His final address – just a month before his death – was a powerful testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith – his great grand uncle. 

He said, “I have seemed to have the Prophet Joseph in my mind the last few months.  I’ve sat and contemplated his glorious responsibility in becoming the prophet of this, the last dispensation of the fulness of times.”

“I think how grateful we are as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that Joseph Smith, a boy who desired to know what he needed to do  have his sins forgiven, found the courage to go into a grove of trees near his home in Palmyra, New York, and there kneel in prayer.

“On that occasion, as Joseph got on his knees in what we call the sacred Grove, the heavens opened.  Two personages, brighter than the noonday sun, appeared before him.  One spoke to him and said, “Joseph, this is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!”  Thus began the Restoration of the fulness of the everlasting Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Still quoting Elder Ballard:  “I’ve been thinking about all the marvelous thins that we know and all of the things that we have … and how abundantly blessed we are to know all that we know because we have Joseph Smith, the prophet.

“We have an understanding of the purpose of life, of who we are.  We know who God is, we know who the Savior is.  … We can know that Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have revealed themselves in this latter-day and that Joseph has been raised up to restore the fulness of the everlasting gospel of Jesus Christ.”

“[Because of Joseph] we have the Book of Mormon … another witness, another testament that Jesus is the Christ.

Then Elder Ballard said, “So my testimony this morning is that I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world.  I also know that our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus appeared and spoke to Joseph and prepared him to become the prophet.”  A powerful final testimony by Elder Ballard.

The conference talk of Elder Rasband grabbed my wife and me.  He talked of the great need for more senior couple missionaries.  Lou and I had talked of a mission before but we didn’t want to get the Covid shots so did not want to go when we first retired.

But with Elder Rasband’s talk, we felt it was now our time to go.

From that talk, we began immediately to make preparations to serve.  We began our missionary recommendation form and process.  It was truly a miracle that we were able to complete all of the medical appointments, the shots, the photos, the application, and much more – all within just a week.  That was in October, and it seemed to take forever to get the application moved on to the next step. I was frustrated and did not have the humility that my wife has just talked about.  For the record, Lou has pretty much conquered that trait, but I still need some work on it.  That’s why she  was assigned the topic today – so that she could do some preaching to me. But, looking back now, we see the knowledge of God in the timing of us going to Nauvoo when we are.

When couples go on a mission, they can specify some “preferences” of where they want to go.  But that doesn’t mean that this is where you will serve.  In the paperwork, the couple signs a statement that they will serve anywhere the Lord needs them.  We initially listed several preferences, but ultimately pulled all of the preferences and submitted our will to that of the Lord – to serve anywhere as needed.

I still have to laugh at my mother and step-father as they planned to serve a mission.  My step father had some Salt Lake connections and he thought that they had all of the t’s crossed and all of the I’s dotted  for them to go to Nauvoo.  When they received their call, the step-dad called their Bishop.  He said, “Now Bishop, how did you spell Nauvoo on that application?”  The Bishop said, “N A U V O O …”  Elder Nash said, “Well, let me tell you how THEY spell it … T O O W O O M B A”.  The Bishop said, “Where in the world is that?”  They were called to teach institute out in the Australian bush in Toowoomba, Australia.

My wife wanted to go to Australia since she had served there – a hundred years ago – in her youth.

So, our folks wanted to go to Nauvoo, and they got called to Toowoomba, Australia.  Sister Hunt and I wanted to go to Australia, and we got called to Nauvoo.

When I went on my youth mission, I was sure that I would go to a foreign mission.  My patriarchal blessing said I would go to a foreign people and learn their customs and ways”.  I was surprised with the call to  Alabama, Flawda, and Jawja.  My mother said then, “Those people are about as foreign  as you can get … I reminded Mom of her statement when she and Richard were called on their 2nd mission to Alabama –  They served in Tuskeegee.  She there met David Oryang, then the Branch President of the small Tuskegee branch and his wife Christine.  A couple of months ago, I went on an Elder’s Quorum visit to visit Brother Randy Tuke in our Pacana Park Ward.  We got to talking about missions and it was interesting that Elder Tuke also served in Tuskegee, Alabama.  He knew the Oryangs and even produced photos of them when he attended their elaborate African wedding.  He ministered to them and set an example for them.

My folks were there in Tuskegee just a couple of years after Elder Tuke was there.  They continued to fellowship the Oryangs.  They taught them the Temple prep lessons and got them to the Atlanta Temple where they were endowed and sealed.  I worked for a time for America West Airlines, and we flew to Alabama – all 11 of us – and visited Mother and Richard on their mission.  We attended their Tuskegee branch with them.  We met President Oryang, the branch president, and I can still recall seeing this great Ugandan Brother as he stood tall and testified boldly of the Prophet, Joseph Smith.

Mother continued to stay connected to David and Christine over the next 25 years.  They came to visit her in Mesa, and she visited them in their home in Washington, DC   I connected with them, and they participated by video on the program at her 90th birthday celebration held just before her recent death.  Because of their continuing connection, I had their contact information in my phone.  As Randy Tuke and I talked about the Oryangs, he said that he had lost contact with them.   He was surprised and pleased when I told him that David is now the stake president in Washington, D.C..  We took a selfie photo, and I shipped it off immediately to Pres. Oryang.  He was very pleased to see the photo.  I got Randy and David connected.  President Oryang and his wife have just been called as Mission Leaders in Nigeria.

We never know the full results of our missions …  It may be years before we learn results of seeds that we plant … and we may never know our impact.  As a youth, I was a teen guide at the Mesa Temple for a couple of years.  Lou and I and our baby, Jackie, served as guides at the Ogden Temple and Tabernacle soon after our marriage.  Our mission at those places was to help people feel at home and to feel Spirit and the Lord’s guidance in their lives through our testimonies.    Such will be our mission in Nauvoo.

I served in Cullman, Alabama – a strange town for the South  – since it was all German Catholics.  I was there five months – and I felt that it was a total waste.  I tracted out the whole town 3 ½ times.  I didn’t baptize anyone … I had been home for FIVE YEARS when got a letter from a Sister Buchanan, from Cullman.  She thanked me for bringing her into the Church.  I could not remember her – nor could my companion of the time.  I went to my missionary journal.  I found a couple of entries about her.  We first met her and taught her the first discussion on her porch.  She loved everything and said, “Ya’ll come back now, ya heah?”  We did return the next week to teach her again.  Her husband met us and kicked us off the porch – with no “Ya’ll come back”.  That was our last contact with her.

Then five years later, she wrote to tell me that she had been baptized – all because of me.  She had my address from my “Article of Faith” card I had given to her.  She wrote again a year later and said that her two teens had been allowed to join the church.  Then still later, she wrote me and said that her husband had mellowed out and had also joined the church.

My Brother Kyle served his mission in NYC – Our first child was a girl.  Unusual … Hunts do not generally have girls first.  I looked in our family history … had to go to the 1600’s to find a girl born first …I  knew that our Hunt family had been in Utah, Kentucky, and North Carolina but I had totally forgotten that our Hunt family first went to Hopewell, New Jersey about 1620 and were there for over a hundred years.  My brother Kyle at that moment was serving his mission in Hopewell, New Jersey … I copied genealogy pedigree charts and sent them to him.  He tracted out all of the local Hunts who were still there and shared the charts with them.  Then after he had been home, seven years, he received a letter from a guy in Pennsylvania.  He said, “You do not know me, but I have been doing Hunt family genealogy work all of my life and have not known what to do with it.” 

“I contacted a  cousin in Hopewell, New Jersey.  She said, “If you want to know about Hunt genealogy, you need to talk to a Mormon elder who was here a COUPLE of years ago.”  She then gave him Kyle’s article of faith card he had given to her.  To make a long story short, I communicated with the guy, got his genealogy package – and ultimately processed 1,000 names for Temple ordinances.

We are a missionary family – All four of our parents went on missions.  Lou and I served – and we sent seven children on missions …  We are now starting missions for the grandkids.  Our first grandson is presently serving in Argentina.  His younger brother just left the MTC to go to Yakima, Washington.   Two granddaughters are processing their missionary applications.   These are exciting missionary times for our family.

Sister Hunt and I are going on a couple mission now for the grandkids.  We could have done a service mission and remained at home, but felt that we needed to uproot and GO somewhere … so that the grandkids – all 43 of them – would see us and later say that Grandpa and Grandma WENT a mission and we want to be the examples for them.  It would make us very happy if all 43 of them would serve a mission.

When we are willing to be missionaries, the Lord puts people in our path to hear of the gospel from us. We have had many wonderful missionary opportunities through the years …

Sister Hunt talked of her folks serving on a mission to Nauvoo.  Just for the record, almost no one baptizes anyone as they serve as missionary guides at church historic sites – as we will be doing.  That is not a goal for historic missionary guides.  When they were at the Lucy Mack Smith home, the folks were frequently visited by a young lady from nearby Keokuk, Iowa – located about 10 miles across the Mississippi river from Nauvoo.  She just kind of gravitated to Gramps/Elder Belcher.  She came to see the folks frequently.  Elder Belcher ended up baptizing this young lady in the Mississippi River.

Years later, as our family was in the Nauvoo, “City of Joseph” pageant, we were in a scene with all of the huge cast.  In this scene, we were all Saints who were “building a city” – building Nauvoo.  All over the stage there were a multitude of city building tasks going on.  The centerpiece of the building scene was a giant water wheel that was about 20 feet or more tall.  During the scene, the water wheel suddenly started to topple.  I joined several men around me and we rushed to help “steady the ark”.  Somehow we managed to keep it upright.

After the scene, a lady whom I did not know came up to me.  She introduced herself as a news reporter from Keokuk.  She said, “I got a picture of you with the water wheel … now I need your name and information for my newspaper article.”  We talked of my former mission to Nauvoo, the train trip of my family and me, and more, but she was not impressed.  Then I said, “My father in law served a mission here years ago and was at the brickyard.” She then lightened up.  She asked his name.   When I said, “Elder EH Belcher,” she nearly ejected from the stage.  She excitedly told us that Elder Belcher had baptized her in the river.  We were all in total amazement at how the Lord had orchestrated all of this.  Wow!

With our 18-month service in Nauvoo, we will be historic guides at a multitude of historic homes and shops of old Nauvoo.  More than 20 of our combined ancestor families lived in Nauvoo.  We will arrive in Nauvoo just as all of the Nauvoo properties of Joseph Smith have transferred to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It will likely be our privilege to guide visitors through those marvelous properties.  Talk about the timing of our mission …!

One of our mission training booklets is called, “On Holy Ground”.  In this booklet President Gordon B. Hinckley was quoted as he dedicated Historic Kirtland.  Those words are applicable also to Nauvoo – to my wife and me, and to each of you.  He said, “May this area become a great gathering place for Thy people from over the earth.  May they come here, walk about with reverence and memories, feel the power of Thy Holy Spirit, and grow in faith and testimony concerning Thy work and Thy kingdom.  May it be a place of spiritual refreshment, where hearts and minds will be  touched by the power of the Holy Ghost to lead them to knowledge of Thee and their Redeemer, Thy Beloved Son.  May it be a place where the stranger will be touched by Thy Spirit and come to know something of the wondrous workings of Thy cause and kingdom.  May men and women from over the earth experience here a sure and solemn witness of the divine calling of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the divinity of Thy work established through him.”

That is an invitation to all of you … come visit Nauvoo while we are there … bring your families … come and stay several days … walk the paths of the Prophets and your ancestors … Come to experience the two Nauvoo pageants.  Come and see Sister Hunt and me in our pioneer costumes, sing with us, “Praise to the Man” and Come and get to know Brother Joseph, again.  I know that Joseph Smith was and is God’s Prophet that God, our Father, and His Son,  Jesus Christ did in reality visit Joseph and called him to be Their prophet to restore the Church of Jesus Christ to the world.  I look forward to testifying of him and of Them to the world as we are in Nauvoo.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Heading to the Provo MTC today! A great day for UP” (Dr. Seuss)

Kevin the Nauvoo Scout …

History and Heritage, Inspiration

The Beginning of a New Adventure in Historic Nauvoo

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By Kevin V. Hunt

Greetings to all of you!  For many years, I have blogged on this site about my 60 years of adventures in the Boy Scouts of America.  I have had grand times through those Scouting adventures with great people and super fun activities.  Now, I am announcing a new blogging focus on this site.  I welcome you and hope that you will join me weekly.

I announce that I will have a new title:  Elder Kevin Hunt … and my wife will be Sister Lou Hunt.  We have accepted the call of a prophet to serve as Historic Site Missionaries in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission – which includes Nauvoo, Illinois.  We will wear pioneer clothes as we welcome visitors to Nauvoo.  We will serve for 18 months.  We report for training at the Missionary Training Center (the “MTC”) in Provo, Utah on April 1st (no joke!)

Most folks likely will not have heard of the obscure village of Nauvoo.  It is located on the Mississippi River where Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri come together.  The town was founded in 1839 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Under the direction of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, members of the church gathered to the new land from all over the United States and Europe.  Together these “Saints” built a beautiful city.  Nauvoo, in fact, is a Hebrew name which means, “City Beautiful”.

The Saints built a city that reached a population of more than 12,000 people and it was, in fact, then larger than Chicago.   Our own family has a rich heritage in Nauvoo.   Combined between our ancestral lines, we have 20 or more families who settled, lived, and grew in faith in Nauvoo.  We look forward to honoring their lives, heritage and sacrifices for us.

The Saints built homes and shops of all kinds.  In its day, Nauvoo had seven brick making establishments.  Isaac Hill was one of the most famous of these brickmakers.  He inscribed his famed “I Hill” on every 100th brick.  (And I have four of his I Hill bricks!)  Many of the original homes of early pioneers were made of brick, and others were of wood and limestone.  Many of the brick homes have survived the nearly 180 years.  A multitude of others have been “restored” through historic re-construction.  While in Nauvoo, we will be privileged to live in the former Simeon A. Dunn brick home.  This was the first 2-story home in Nauvoo and was built in 1841.

Nearly 30 of the pioneer homes and shops have been restored and are open for public tours.  In our role as historic guides, we will give tours of many of the 30 or so homes and shops.  Sister Hunt and I will be in our pioneer costumes as we greet visitors.   Many of the tours are also available virtually on-line at nauvoohistoricsites.org.   It will be a privilege and honor to testify of the Prophet, Joseph Smith, and his role in the Restoration of The Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth.

My wife’s parents, Elder E.H. and Sister Verna Belcher served missions for two and a half years (about 1980) in Nauvoo.  And while there, Elder Belcher built the “modern” brickyard and began making and firing bricks made from mud dug out of the Mississippi River.  His bricks are still made, given to visitors, and have  now become world famous!  His bricks can be found everywhere.  It will be an honor to continue their Nauvoo heritage.  I promise more details on Elder Belcher’s Nauvoo bricks in a future blog.

Nauvoo has long held a special place in our hearts.  Many years ago, I served my youth mission in Alabam, Flawda, and Jawja.  And I was called by the Church to serve the last six months as a guide in Nauvoo.  Those were grand times.

Twice, my wife and I took our nine children and trekked to Nauvoo (one summer by train) to participate in the cast of the “City of Joseph” pageant in Nauvoo.  Our daughter had the privilege to attend a semester at the BYU-Nauvoo campus (before it was torn down to restore the view of the restored Nauvoo Temple.  We were there in Nauvoo just last summer (2023) with another daughter and her family who are living in Illinois.  We were able to stay there for four days.  We were able to experience both the Nauvoo and also the British Pageants (that alternate nights from mid-July to early August each summer).  We loved walking the streets and experiencing the spirit of the early Church leaders and our own ancestors.   (And all of these experiences will make for material for future blogs on this site.)  Returning to Nauvoo will be like “coming home” for me and Sister Hunt.  What a magnificent place, this Nauvoo!

I could go on and on about Nauvoo, but I will not attempt to cover everything in this first introductory blog.  But, stay tuned!  I will make an effort (time permitting) to post a new blog here every week.  So, check in regularly and learn of our latest adventures in “The City of Joseph – City Beautiful.”

And it begins … we will begin our adventure – in our own vehicle – as we drive to the Provo MTC later this week.  We will be in the MTC for about 10 days before heading on to Nauvoo.  Should be a grand adventure.  We are excited for the opportunity to serve.

Now I can say I am the “Nauvoo Missionary Scout” … A new trail to experience!  Come along for the ride!

Kevin Hunt

Adventures in Scouting, Gratitude, History and Heritage, Nostalgia

Announcing the End of a Scouting Trail Era

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Kevin the Scout – Celebrating 60 Years of Scouting Adventures

Well, today (March 17, 2024), I made a major announcement. I published this article on my Scoutingtrails.com website.

Here is the link:

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1743400140141384184/8295642121742167505

I wrote:

MY FAREWELL SCOUTING TRAILS BLOG – By Kevin Hunt

Published on the Scoutingtrails.com website on March 17, 2024

To all of my devoted fans of my Scouting Trails blogsite.  Greetings!

This is to announce that I am ending this Scouting Trails blogsite.  I have had the site for many years and have loved writing and posting what I hope has been informative and enjoyable articles on many subjects of the wonderful Scouting life.  Thanks to all of you who have read my articles and commented on them.  The site has given me great joy and purpose and has been fulfillment of a great dream for me.  It is sad to give it up.

After 60 years of committed service in and to the Boy Scouts of America, I have kind of retired my Scout uniform.  Several situations transpired that led to my current state:   My church made the decision to depart from the program – and this cut many of my ties.  I moved to a new community and lost the previous district and unit ties that I had previously.  For two years, I hauled two grandsons to Mesa – located an hour away from my home – so that they could still participate in a quality troop program.  Then they moved to Texas.  So, with all of these circumstances, I kind of backed out of the program (though I still have the fond memories of my years in the program).  And I still have a room in my home that is full of Boy scouting memorabilia – my Scouting Trails Museum.  (And this  will still be open for ten days or so before it gets filled with furniture.  Come on over!)

It has been a while since I have last posted on this site.  I apologize for that.  Life has changed …

My wife and I are off on a new adventure.  We have accepted an assignemt (A “Call” from a Prophet) to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  We report to the Provo Mission Training Center – the “MTC” on April 1st (no joke!)  We will serve in historic Nauvoo, Illinois as historic site missionaires.  I will don a new uniform – to look like a pioneer of 1839-1846 as I present tours of 30 or so historic homes and shops commemorating pioneers and Saints who lived in that community during those years.  Many of the original structures remain even to this day – mainly those made of the Nauvoo brick.  Others have been totally restored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for the public to experience.  And it will be a great honor and privilege to honor and testify of the Prophet Joseph Smith and the visit of God, our Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ to the Prophet Joseph.  I know that they appeared to him and called him to be the Prophet to restore the Church of Jesus Christ once more to the earth.  I have a testimony of these grand eternal events and look forward to sharing that testimony with those who come to Navuoo.  My wife and I will serve in Nauvoo for 18 months.

It will be so great to “return home” to Nauvoo.  My original “youth” church mission was in Alabam, Flawda, and Jawja.  Then the Church sent me on special assignment to serve my last six months in Nauvoo.  Such a fabulous experience!  My wife and family and I have returned to Nauvoo many times through the years.  Twice we took all nine kids and participated in the cast of the “City of Joseph” pageant.  The first time we went (1996), we travelled together on the train.  (And that will make a great future blog.  I promise to do that.)  We were there even last summer for several days.  What a joy.  And my wife’s parents, Elder E. H. and Sister Verna Belcher served two and a half years on a mission to Nauvoo, and Elder Belcher built the original (modern) brick yard and his Nauvoo bricks are now world famous.   And between my wife and me, we have about 30 of our own pioneer ancestor families who lived and served in Nauvoo – “The City of Joseph”.  So, it will be wonderful to kind of re-live their lives and the legacy that they have given to us. 

This “Scouting Trails” site will remain open for just three more days. (to March 21, 2024)  At that time, I will shut off the blogsite.  You have one last chance to peruse the articles and experience them again.  I made the financial decision to close this site because all possible cost savings are being implemented in order to pay for our coming mission.

But, all is not lost!  You may still read past Scouting (and other) articles on my kevinthescout@wordpress.com blogsite. I will continuie to keep this site active.  Some of my Scoutingtrails.com articles appear on this website – but there are many differences.  I will also use this KevintheScout site as a medium to blog about new experiences as a missionary.  I will attempt regular (weekly is the goal – time permitting) to post about our mission life and times in Nauvoo.

Also, I have published most of my past Scouting blogs on the Lulu.com publishing webiste   These volumes (and a multitude of other historical books are published and available for purchase on the Lulu.com website under a search of “Author Kevin V Hunt”.  Check it out.   Here is the link:   https://www.lulu.com/search?page=2&q=author+kevin+v+hunt&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00

Sixty years is a very long time – a life-time of Scouting advenmtures.  I recently completed the compilation and writing of my own personal autobiography – in 20 volumes (and still growing) under the title of “My Life’s Collective Works” (or shortened in titles to “MLCW”).  Fully 7 volumes of the autobiography detail my various Scouting adventures through those 60 years.  These are volume numbers 14 to 20.  And my own youth Scouting experiences are detailed in Volume #1.  Volume #20 might be of special interest for my Scouting Trails fans.

Volume #20 is entitled: “MLCW – Vol. #20 “KevintheScout” Woods Wisdom from the Scouting Trail”.    This volume contains many or most of my Scouting blogs through the years – and available to you in one volume.  Other Scouting blog articles are also woven through the other MLCW Scouting volumes.

I invite you to check out the Lulu.com website and peruse my many writing attempts.  And some of my Scouting book titles are still also available on Amazon.com (again under an author search in my name.)  Something on these sites might be of interest to you.  (And of course, sales might also help with the total mission effort).

And finally, here is my invitation to come and visit Nauvoo while we are there … bring your families … come and stay several days … walk the paths of the Prophets and pioneer ancestors … Come to experience the two Nauvoo pageants.  Come and see Sister Hunt and me in our pioneer costumes, sing with us, “Praise to the Man” and Come and get to know Brother Joseph, again. 

Best wishes on your continuing Scouting and other trails.    Thanks for walking the Scouting trail with me through these many years.

Kevin the Scout!