Patriotic, Cultural, and Country Fair Fun

July 12, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

BLOG #15

By Kevin V. Hunt

At this season in Nauvoo, there are plenty of opportunities for patriotic, cultural and country fair good times. And it is so fun to be a part of all of it!

Where to begin?

The 4^th of July is exciting and fun – no matter where it is celebrated. And that day back in 1776 is certainly worth celebrating. On that day, the United States was born. It took a while to develop, but that is when it really started. A new nation! A nation of freedom and hope. It all began with 13 Colonies of folks wanting religious and other freedoms not then enjoyed under British rule. We can all be grateful for those gallant men and women who made the decision to make the break from their mother country. It truly is a moment that should be celebrated again and again. Independence Day! Hoorah!

THE BEGINNING OF A FOUNDATION FOR THE GOSPEL RESTORATION

July 4^th – our Independence day was a pre-curser to the establishment of the Constitution of the United States that would come later (in 1789) after the ensuing Revolutionary War which cemented the “Spirit of God – the Spirit of Freedom” (Alma 61:15) in the creation of the true land of the free and the home of the brave.

The Doctrine and Covenants speaks frequently of the cause of Freedom. In D&C Section 98 the Lord himself teaches “that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the Land.” (D&C 98:4,5)

A few verses later, the Lord teaches us to live “according to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles”.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE FORMATION OF THE FUTURE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE COMING FORTH OF THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE GOSPEL RESTORATION

Nephi recorded: ”And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance … And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord: and the power of the Lord was with them. And I beheld that their mother gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them. And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle. And I Nephi beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.” (1 Nephi 13:15-19).

I like to remember that it was Moroni (and not Betsey Ross) who created the first American flag: “And it came to pass that he rent his coat: and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it – “In memory of our god, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children – and he fastened it upon the end of a pole…. (And he called it the Title of Liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of /Christians remain to possess the land.” (Alma 46: 12-13). Moroni went throughout the land to establish the “Covenant of Freedom” (Alma 46:15) “And it came to pass also, that he caused the Title of Liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites”. (Alma 46:36).

And so, with that background, it is appropriate that we gather wherever and however we can, in celebration of the “Covenant of Freedom” that God established for us.

A REUNION OF THE ELDERS AND SISTERS OF OUR MTC GROUP

It had been three months (could that be?) since the 13 couples of us had gathered at the Provo MTC in preparation for our missions to Nauvoo. (April 1^st … no joke!) Those were glorious times and we forged friendships that will remain with us forever. And so, naturally, we are drawn again to each other and the bond that continues to pull us together.

The day was July 3^rd – and the beginning of our celebrations of freedoms now evident throughout our Nauvoo.

The location for our gathering was a surprise. I had not known that it existed. (There are all kinds of such hidden places here in Nauvoo – and we seem to move from one to the other.) Remember Elder Jones? Well, he and Sister Jones (and another couple) decided that we should stage a regular reunion of our MTC group. Their announcement said that we would meet at “The Kimball Barn”. I thought, … “hmmm … where is that?” I asked Sister Jones and she said that it was behind the Hiram and Sarah Granger Kimball home.

We arrived at the spot and Wow! I could not believe this place. Being a long-time party planner and caterer, this place really caught my attention. It was magnificent. The barn was majestic and beautiful.

Inside, there were at least a dozen tables – with room for three times that many. I marveled at the grand party scene. The food began to roll in as each couple came with their best picnic pot-luck contributions. We set up a large table to hold the goods.

It was kind of a muggy night and the place seemed to capture the mugginess inside. We decided that it might be a bit cooler outside. And Voila! There were another dozen picnic tables out there. We all circled around the food table and we all took more than we needed (at least I know that I did). And talk about great food! It was amazing.

It was also great fun visiting with our MTC friends. We didn’t talk much about the MTC but there was much to talk about otherwise. Eight of the couples are now “Nauvoo Teamsters” and they provided the rest of us with many fun details of the horses and oxen that they drive around Nauvoo. Elder Jones kind of surprised us with his energy and enthusiasm. He was like the “Energizer Bunny” with his joy of the occasion as he kind of took charge and led the laughs.

WE EXPERIENCED THE TRUE 4^TH ON TEMPLE HILL

No 4^th of July celebration is complete without the traditional overload of fireworks. And this year was no exception – but we actually experienced it on July 3^rd – the eve before the 4^th). Nauvoo has the perfect and natural place for the best seats for viewing the fireworks. This is on Temple Hill – located just to the west and in front of the Temple. We went directly to the spot from our MTC gathering held earlier that night.

We parked in a nearby Temple parking lot and walked to the Temple and then across the street. In my arms, I carried the new camp chairs given to us for Mothers and Father’s Day by our Lana. (And she never does anything simple or basic. No, these chairs were the greatest and best (and thus, a bit of overload in the carry)! Thanks, Lana!

We joined hundreds of other people on the Temple Hill. Everyone had brought their own camp chairs or blankets on which to enjoy the show. There was plenty of room for everyone – and then some. We found a spot that was good for us. We recognized a lot of our Nauvoo visitors and fellow missionaries around us.

(And I note that tonight I had purposely left my two pocket knives – one a Hunt/Stoddard “Old Timer” and the other my trusty BSA carving knife … on my dresser at home. I thought of a July 4^th event 25 or more years ago in Payson, Arizona – when I had my BSA knife in my pants as I sat on the grass and it slipped out onto the grass. We returned later but could not find it. I was so sad! I had carried this knife for some 20 or so years and it meant a great deal to me. After that knife loss, my boys, knowing what it meant to me, bought me another just like it – and I have had it with me almost constantly since. I did not want to lose another knife on this occasion.)

Imagine my joy as I heard the bagpipes piping nearby. This group is so fabulous. I have long belonged to the bagpipe loving society so this was heaven for me. I relished in the music that the group was putting forth. The Nauvoo Brass Band then took a turn and they played many of our traditional patriotic songs. They were great, as always!

I enjoyed watching the crowd around us. Sometimes “people watching” is one of the best aspects of such a gathering. (One of my favorite activities wherever I go.) Anticipation was high with everyone as we all sat in our spots enjoying the wonderful evening. And God did one of his magic tricks for us.

The sunset that evening was spectacular. Wow! This was so amazing. I took photos of each stage of the sunset – over a period of many minutes. I was grateful for this wonder in front of me. A sunset over the Nauvoo Mississippi River, with band accompaniment … it doesn’t get much better than this! I took in and loved every moment of the total scene.

Then came the fireworks! They started off with a bang. We all adjusted our chairs a bit to the southwest and sat back to enjoy the show.

The show was not anything like the one staged annually in Idaho Falls (as we have experienced a couple of times with Lana and family) but for little Nauvoo, it was fairly decent. I know that it was a stretch for the community, and I was grateful for the efforts made for all of us (most of us not even being from the local community). We enjoyed 20 minutes of pop and bang and then the expansion of bright colors. Somehow, all of this made me proud again to be an American (in spite of national challenges going on around us). I was happy to be a part of the grand scene. And how cool to be seeing the show in Nauvoo and right there on the footstool of the Temple! Way too much fun! (Who’da thunk it a year ago …?)

A MISSION-WIDE 4^TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

At least once a month (or maybe every 6 weeks), the mission stages a dinner to welcome new missionaries and to say good-bye to some going home. That is what we experienced on the eve of the 4^th of July. The event was held at the local Nauvoo Stake Center – because this place has room for the 200 or so missionaries (including the “YSM’s” (Young Sister Missionaries) as well as the Senior Missionary couples.

Sister Hunt had years before made us some very patriotic matching vests in the best of red, white and blue. And she had added these to our “wagon” when we came to Nauvoo. Luckily, I rediscovered these in a hidden drawer just a couple of days before the event. We really looked the part – and we caught the attention of many as we made our entry to the hall. It was fun to stand out in our personal celebration of the day.

The party organizers were genius in their preparations. They had set up seven round tables and each one accepted food as it arrived. They knew what they wanted on each table – to make sure that everyone would get the same options – no matter what table they went to. Sister Hunt had made some family baked beans (a recipe made famous by her mother – Grandma Verna Belcher). And I had made a plethora of my own famous banana chocolate chip cookies – for the occasion. We were directed to the table needing our goods.

A missionary Elder welcomed the group, and we had a prayer of gratitude for the food before us.

My journal records the details of the event:

The food – including pulled pork – was all fabulous. I loved Lou’s beans. And there were several desserts – which included the cookies that I made. The cookies seemed to be a hit. They were all gone. We came home with quite a big quantity of beans – so this is good.

After the meal, many missionaries staged several musical numbers. Elder and Sister Williams (him on the piano) led us in singing our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”, and then “America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. (And Lou and I could hardly refrain from singing the camp song, “I wear my Pink Pajamas” to this tune.)

Two young sisters did a great performance of the song, “Sisters”. We all enjoyed their hilarious song.

A string band played several numbers. With them was a musical group known as “The Hart Family”. The band reminded me of the string band of Enterprise, Utah – that always played at the 24^th of July celebrations that we often went to in my youth. I loved the music.

President Daniel Mehr was the final speaker and as ever, he did a great job. He talked of being a General Authority Seventy and eating in the cafeteria in the Church Office Building. He talked of an occasion when then Elder Russell M. Nelson was present. Someone asked him his view of the world trauma of the moment. He replied, “I am not worried about this. This is the Lord’s World and He will take care of it.” He talked of Joseph Smith and how he was a lover and promoter of freedom of religion to all. He surprised me when he referred to the trauma in today’s world. He compared it to the “Kingmen” and “Freemen” in The Book of Mormon. I could understand who is Kingmen and who is the Freemen. The society similarities of then and now are really scary. He said that we should be zealous to defend and protect the family. He said that he is doing his best to prepare his children and grandchildren to be worthy and ready to marry our children and grandchildren (pointing to all of us).

In all, it was a very fun evening.

PREPARING FOR THE COMING PAGEANT

After the above, Lou and I went to the stage where the Nauvoo pageants will be staged. All of the missionaries have a part at the ending of the British Pageant shows – each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next three weeks. The Senior Missionaries are to go forward at the finale of the show – and are to “stand resolute” as the show ends. This should be fun.

EVENING PERFORMANCES OF THE NAUVOO BRASS BAND AND THE PRODUCTION OF “SUNSET ON THE MISSISSIPPI”

Most weekday evenings (not on Sundays), we offer some great entertainment for our Nauvoo guests. The excitement begins with a special concert by the Nauvoo Brass Band. It is so fun to sit there in the beauty of the evening – atop of the stage that we knew so long ago when we were in the “City of Joseph” pageant cast. I love the energy – and the sounds – that the Brass Band puts forth. I can’t get enough of them.

Then comes a drama production of song and dance staged by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries (“NSM”). This production is “Sunset on the Mississippi”.

This is the “modern” version of a program that has been traditional here in Nauvoo for decades. Forty-five years ago my in-laws, Elder and Sister Belcher, were cast (as Senior Missionaries) in the stage production of the “Night on the Prairie” – then held in and around the Cultural Hall. The family cherishes the photo of the folks engaged in the stage fun (though they were not known for dramatic acting before their Nauvoo debut).

Anyway, back to the here and now … The current production is staged by these marvelous young performing missionaries. They are full of energy, and they show it well in their fancy and colorful period costumes. The girls look beautiful in their ruffled dresses and pantaloons. The guys are decked out in colorful shirts and vests – and the traditional Nauvoo caps.

The production is just so fun! It is something that everyone needs to experience when in Nauvoo. And this year, we got to experience it with our granddaughter, Brianna, as she came to Nauvoo with her O’Fallon, Illinois Young Women group.

It just keeps getting better!

EXPERIENCING THE “COUNTRY FAIR” WITH THE NAUVOO PAGEANTS

It’s Pageant Time here in Nauvoo …! It is the time long anticipated by every missionary here in Nauvoo. This is such a grand time – with the Nauvoo spirit and energy everywhere. It is such a great thing to experience. We are all looking forward to it. You can be sure that I will give many more pageant details as we really experience it. I promise to make a full report in a future blog post.

I can speak from experience, however, when I talk about the “Country Fair” that is staged each night between the “Sunset” program and the actual pageant. We got to experience it last summer with Jenae and girls and with the set-up that we have seen on the fields around us, we can be assured that 2024 pageant comers will surely get the same experience this year. And this year, we will get to experience it again as Jackie and her family will be here for several pageant days. They are to arrive soon, and we can’t wait to have them. It will be fun to be a part of the Country Fair activities with them – just as we did last year with Jenae and her girls. It is just so fun. We could not believe that so many great activities could be packed into such a small space and time.

Last year, I wrote of the experience in my personal journal:

“We then went to participate in the “Country Fair”. This was an absolutely fabulous event. There were 20 or 30 different stations – each manned by a cast family (many for the “Gold Cast” who come here for just a week (and then more come in). Some of my favorite events included handcart rides, May Pole dancing, Scottish dances (with bagpipes). I looked on-line for a list of the traditional Nauvoo “Country Fair” events – for future reference. Other events included stickball, stilts, Tug-O-war, Graces and hoops, sack races, log sawing, parlor games, wood branding, rag rugs, round dancing, quilting, stick pull, arm wrestling, a “Cousins” tent (to see who is related to who via Family/search), a puppet show, children’s games, and crafts. It was amazing. They could have handled 1,000 or so people. As it was, there was a small crowd there today – so there was no waiting in long lines.”

MISSIONARIES GOT A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE COMING “COUNTRY FAIR” EVENTS

There is never a dull moment for missionaries serving (like us) in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission (which included Nauvoo and the Carthage Jail). There is some kind of an activity, training, performance, or devotional going on all of the time. And we look for any and all opportunities to party and celebrate.

The Country Fair will be staged every night for three weeks – as noted above – but many of us missionaries will have other support functions to fulfill as the Fair happens. And so, pageant organizers let us participate in our own such event – ahead of the real thing. But, it became the real thing for us. Again, my journal tells the story:

“This evening we had a fun mission event. Elder Davies, who is over the pageant somehow, staged a “Country Fair” – similar to the fair that they have each night of the pageant. He had a band composed of many missionaries. They played music for folks to dance to. It was mostly female dances – since the young sisters cannot dance with guys as missionaries. They had a lot of refreshments. Lou mixed up two bags of chocolate chip cookies to take.

Elder Davies asked if I would help him (or I volunteered before he asked). I agreed to help run the stick pulling event. This has long been a favorite activity for me. (And Joseph Smith loved doing this!) I was not very busy for the first while but then I called some people over to participate. I pitted Elder Brian Reed against a big Tongan sister.

The sister beat him. He was really embarrassed – saying that “I’ve never been beat before.” I got several sister missionaries out there on the tarp – competing against each other.

The highlight of the evening was getting the Mission President, Mehr, out on the tarp. He took on several of the young sisters. This was a surprise to all. I also got a match between Pres. and Sister Mehr. Everyone got a kick out of the competitions with the President.

PIONEER GAMES AND CRAFTS AT THE FAMILY LIVING CENTER AND AT PIONEER PASTTIMES

About once a week, Sister Hunt and I get the chance to serve at the Family Living Center. This is program area that is housed in a giant timber and wood building (just my style). This is a fun place and everyone who comes there likes the many activities. The place has demonstration centers for the following pioneer activities:

Wool carding

Cooking

Candle Making

Weaving

Bread Making

Packing the Wagon to go West

Rope Making

Barrel Making

Pottery Making

Brick Making

When Elder Belcher saved the badly deteriorated Coolidge home, he set up many of these demonstrations in the building. Thus, this is another area of his ongoing legacy. It is amazing all that he started, and which still is in place today.

We joined another Senior couple and two young sisters. I enjoy helping or inspiring kids to “pack” the wagon for the trip west. I have also volunteered to do bread making – since I did not know anything about any of the rest of the areas (but I am learning. I now know barrel making. The young sisters were able to do most of the demonstrations – since they have been to the place before. I also love doing the rope making demonstration – partly because so many people love the activity – and are so fascinated with the mechanics of the rope making machine.

The other day, a rope making visitor said to me, “How long have you been doing this?” (meaning the rope making function). I said, “I have been a Boy Scout for 60 years”. She and others around her all got a chuckle out of this.

Lou is often privileged to do teaching about her father’s brick yard and brick making. She loves doing this and the people all seem very interested in it. She enjoys sharing with the folks the tale of how her father started the brick yard and designed the small brick that is still given out as souvenirs to visitors. It has been a great blessing and opportunity for her to do this teaching – in honor of her parents.

A ”Sister” station that is staged by the missionaries in the Family Living Center is known as the “Pioneer Pastimes Pavilion”. This large tent ramada is located about a block south of the Family Living Center. It is fun to go there (except when it is really hot) and to enjoy the walk down through the beautiful lanes en route.

On the way, we can often see the Performing Missionaries teaching prairie dances to curious on-lookers. It is fun to see the NPM’s get the visitors up and dancing with them.

The missionary job at the Pavilion is to engage the folks – mainly the young children and teens – in the many pioneer game options. We can offer them dress-up costumes where the kids (and adults too) can dress in authentic pioneer costumes. It is so fun to watch the kids get into this action.

We have hoops, stilts, “climbing monkeys”, various marble games, roping the horse or sheep, playing house, and more. This is the place for families to come after a long day of dragging the kids into the various restored homes. They suddenly lose their tiredness, and they have a great time – even engaging their reluctant parents in the activities with them.

FUN SHOWS AT THE CULTURAL HALL

There are about 30 homes or shops that we give tours in here in Nauvoo. A couple of weeks ago, the scheduler asked us what places we had not been to, and which we would like to “learn”. The Cultural Hall was one of the few places that we had not previously been to. So, it was fun to be assigned recently to the place.

We had actually been to the Cultural Hall for a zone meeting a week or so before. On that occasion, we gathered there with about 20 couples from the “Hyrum Zone”. Elder Hurst (a teamster) is our new Zone Leader – after the recent departure of Elder Thomas. It was fun to be in this Cultural Hall. We thought of Grandma Verna being there and doing acting in the “night on the prairie” program. Elder Hurst had created a great PowerPoint presentation about the contributions of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I enjoyed this program a lot.

The Cultural Hall actually almost feels like a mini Salt Lake Tabernacle – with its oak look benches and pillars.

Anyway, we looked forward to our assignment to the Cultural Hall. On our day of the assignment, we arrived and checked the site book to figure out how to turn on the lights on each of the three floors. This can sometimes be a bit tricky. Remember that the Saints did not have electricity when they were here – though they would have loved it. And now, 180 years later, great effort is expended to try to maintain the original look and feel of the pioneer places. This means that the electrical or light switch is often located down at foot level and the plug is generally painted to match exactly the color of the wood around it. And each place has its own quirks – and every place is different.

We did not know when assigned, but much of the job of the missionaries assigned there is to be host to folks who come to experience the many shows staged there each day by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries. That is what we did – and it proved to be great fun. It also meant that we were able to view the many programs ourselves. This was so great. These young performing missionaries have energy deluxe. And they have such enthusiasm during their song and dance routines.

In the Cultural Hall, we were privileged to hear several performances of the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries. They performed two different programs – two times each. Each performance was fabulous! The did programs entitled, “Hymns of Zion” and “Nauvoo Singers”. I thoroughly enjoyed each performance. I love the energy of the young people.

The groups performed: “Nearer My God to Thee”, “In Our Lovely Deseret” (which was fabulous). They sang “Laura’s Nauvoo” (supposedly written by a non-member), “Praise to the Man” (by W.W. Phelps), “The Morning Breaks”, (by Parley P Pratt), and O My Father (by Eliza R. Snow). They sang these words to four or so different tunes.

A youth group from Indiana came en masse – a group of about 20 youth and an adult couple. It was fun to interact with this group. They even got up on stage (in a slow period) and did their own song and dance routine. This was their big moment.

In the mid-afternoon, the Performers came to present their last performance of the day. Literally, no one was there to hear their show. They went on with the show and Lou and I sat alone as the audience and enjoyed our personal concert – with just us there to hear them. They were amazing and wonderful.

P-DAY ACTIVIITES FOR ELDER AND SISTER HUNT

Like any missionary serving anywhere in the world, we also look forward to our own P-day each week. Here we are assigned a specific day of the week for a month. And then we switch to a new day for the next month. Sister Hunt and I have just been assigned to Saturdays for the month of July.

On our P-days, we do our weekly laundry (though we have a washer and dryer in our place – so we can do it any time that we get the urge). We clean our place. I also spend several hours each P-day writing blogs and posting photos to them.

We also try to find some unique activities that are new to us. Often, this might include going to a new home or site that we have not yet experienced. And later in the day, we generally drive the 12-mile trip down the river (on the picturesque and wonderful Mississippi Great River Highway). We go to Keokuk – our newest town of any significance.

In Keokuk, we generally go to the Aldi store. We there get fruit, vegetables and snack items for our lunch. We usually have to go to the Dollar Tree Store for cheap incidentals. We then go to Walmart. It is always nice to restock our wagon there. We get gas at a station by Walmart. We are pleased that the gas on the Iowa side of the river is about 75 Cents a gallon cheaper than that on the Illinois side. And our last stop is generally at the Dairy Queen. Several weeks ago, we discovered their “Pecan Mudslide Sundae”. This celestial delicacy is soft ice cream topped with both hot fudge and caramel toppings – as well as toasted pecans. Wow! Talk about fabulous! We now have the car trained to pull over there each week at the appropriate time.

AN UNPLANNED VISIT AND RIDE AT THE OXEN RIDE

Yesterday (July 6th) was our first Saturday P-day. I got up and made computer reservations for us to go on the “wagon ride”. Then I later realized that I should have signed up for the “carriage ride”. We were headed to the rides before I realized that I had made a mistake. We headed toward Main Street and Hotchkiss streets – where the ride was to be. And that is where I realized my mistake.

We kept going on Main Street, and I noticed the ox ride space up ahead. In all of my years of coming to Nauvoo, I have never seen this ride location – nor have we taken the ox ride. We decided to go for the oxen ride.

We pulled in and got out of the car. We were immediately greeted by our former Acacia Ward neighbor from Mesa, Arizona. She and her group somehow knew that Lou and I are in Nauvoo and they were going to go looking for us. We visited for a few minutes and then took a photo. It was interesting to see how the Lord puts these people and our connections with them together – (like today) since going for the oxen ride was definitely not in our plans – and with it being our P-day, we would not have normally been out in the sites. These little “Nauvoo miracles” happen all of the time – and we are grateful for them.

Elder and Sister Doug Mills were there at the ox ride. They took us on the ride and gave us a great story as we did so. Sister Mills said that “This is the most authentic thing here in Nauvoo!”

The oxen were amazing – and huge. I learned a lot of new facts about oxen and how the pioneers walked beside them all of the way. It was all very interesting.

First, … the question of “what is the difference in a cow (steer) and an ox?” My teamster Cousin Brad explained it for me. He said that “an ox is a cow on a mission – with an occupation”.

Oxen are very big and strong. They weigh about 2,000 pounds. And together, they can pull their combined weight – so 4,000 pounds. We learned that oxen on wagons have to have horns. The horns are needed to hold the wooden yoke up. Without horns, the yoke would slip down onto their faces.

Oxen are always “yoked together” in pairs. (Sounds like a good lesson about us and Jesus and us and fellow laborers in the Kingdom!) And often these pairs remain and work together. And in so doing, one becomes the “right ox” and the other the “left ox”. And I guess they get “befuddled” when they are moved to the other side.

Oxen get to know just five commends:

“Step Up” is the command to move forward.

“Gee” means to go to the right.

“Haw” means to go to the left.

“Whoa” means to stop.

And “Back” means to back-up.

We learned that one does not “drive” oxen – as one would with a bridled horse. They are “led” by walking beside them. So, there was not even a seat on the ox driven wagon. We learned that the oxen loved and listened to the children – so the children were good at leading them.

Hearing this, I thought of the old Primary song favorite, “Pioneer Children”:

“Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked, and walked,

They washed at streams and worked and played

Sundas they camped and read and prayed

Week after week, they sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked and walked”

I guess the pioneer children walked and walked alongside of their family oxen – leading them across the plains – and walking some 1,400 miles.

As we got to the oxen, Elder and Sister Mills introduced us to Dan and Duke. They seemed formidable and scary. But the Mills convinced us that we could “become friends” with the oxen. We posed with them – for the sake of posterity.

After the short ride around the muddy track, I was drawn to the plaques that lined the walkway around the oxen yard. These were informative and interesting

A CARRIAGE RIDE AND A VISIT WITH COUSIN BRAD

We also then went to the “carriage ride” – starting at the station at the northeast corner of the visitors’ center parking lot. We were greeted there by “Cousin” Brad. I like this guy. He and I have a connection. We visited for a while.

I had not heard of the commemoration event, but Elder Brad told me that he had been privileged to be a part of a 180^th Anniversary commemoration of the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum as they were viewed by the Saints in the Mansion House (some 10,000 of them). He said that the original pioneer “Nauvoo Brass Band” had played at the original services for Joseph and did again on this commemorative experience. Brad shared with me his feelings that he posted on his Facebook account. I loved it. Another of those “Nauvoo Miracles” that I introduced above.

He wrote, and I quote (with his permission): “180 years ago today on June 29, 1844 Joseph and Hyrum Smith lay in state in the Mansion House. The Nauvoo brass Band played and my great, great grandfather and his family along with 10,000 grieving latter-day Saints filed through to bid their final farewell to the Prophet Joseph and his faithful brother, Hyrum.

“Today I had the privilege of driving the bandwagon and stopping in front of the Mansion House while the Nauvoo Brass Band played in honor of Joseph and Hyrum – just like they did 180 years ago. It was most powerful. They played “Praise to the Man”. They also played another song called, “Emma’s Lullaby”.

“Here is a quote from my Grandpa Dudley Leavitt’s history: “Later as the bodies lay in state, the Leavitt family all passed to take their last look at Joseph smith and his brother Hyrum. I was so impressed by the calm majesty of their faces that even after I was an old man, I of a surety that here was a prophet of the living God.” No hardship could shake the faith of Dudley.”

We did not have reservations for the carriage ride, but Elder Hurst said that he would try to get us on the carriage. He and Elder White were on the carriage and Elder Hurst was voice. He did a great job of storytelling. They took us north of the station – up through “Joseph Creek” and beyond.

We made one stop at the top of the hill to let the horses rest for a few minutes. Elder Hurst showed us a well built in honor of King Follett (that was his real first name). He died in a well accident when rocks fell down upon him as he was digging a well. The Prophet Joseph preached King’s funeral sermon (later named “The King Follett Discourse”.

On our Carriage Ride, we saw pastured horses en route. Elder Hurst pointed out that even in the pasture, the horses stand in pairs – with their partners on the trail. This was very interesting.

We drove near my old “Red Barn” environs (the barn and the white home) where I lived as a young missionary – and this was fun. We really enjoyed this p-day ride out through the beautiful woods and through the river.

THE MORNING HORSE RITUAL

There are many hidden Nauvoo experiences that don’t appear on the schedule or brochures. You just kind of happen to hear about them – and then you go and get a wonderful experience. And then you think, “Too bad everyone doesn’t know about this.”

That is the way the morning horse feeding ritual is … We just happened to hear about it last year when we were in Nauvoo with Jenae and family.

The big event of each day is the feeding of the horses. We wanted to be there for this. At night, the horses are left in a large field. Then in the morning, they let them out and herd them down to feeding stalls for grain. They know where to go and they kind of run down to the feeding area. Each horse has a name, and workers know the horses by name. Some missionaries stand at the gate, and he calls out the name of each horse as it arrives. Then Elders guide them to their selected places for their grain.

The Elders said that there is an “Alpha Male” (“Matt” – the only gray horse) that rules the roost with an iron fist. And if any other horse tries to get ahead of them, he bites them.

There are some 18 missionary Elders who serve with the horses. Their wives serve with them (as tour guides) and some work in other restored homes. These guys all wore plain colored Western shirts. Many of the men here wear the same style of pants with suspenders. It was great to talk to many of the Elders as we watched the horse operation. I told many of them of my youth missionary experience in Nauvoo 48 years ago.

After the horses ate their grain, they put 12 of the horses on “P-Day” (Pasture Day). They use 14 horses each day. They pull the carriage ride, the wagon ride and the carriage that carries the “Nauvoo Brass Band”. They have utilized the ancient “Red Barn” that I knew as a missionary. They have stations or areas for each horse and at these, they have the individual harnesses for each horse.

One Elder says that most of the horses have hand spans (extended horizontally) of 17 to 18” above the withers. Most normal horses have spans of 14 to 15”. The horses are magnificent and beautiful. The whole operation was amazing and interesting to watch.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Well folks, there you have it. Patriotic … we go all out celebrate whenever and wherever we can. Cultural events: They are all around us. The NPM’s (Nauvoo Performing Missionaries) add energy wherever they go. It is so great to hear them – and the Nauvoo Band perform. And with all of this combined, Nauvoo really is a very fun place to hang out. It is very exciting to be a part of all of these experiences.

REMEMBERING JOSEPH

As another P-day activity, we went to the Visitors’ Center. I had also made reservations for us to see the “Remembering Joseph” production staged by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries. This production was fabulous. I loved it. They quoted many people who had memories of Joseph. Again, I got to hear Elder Smith sing “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”. He is so wonderful singing this song. The whole production was amazing, and I was touched tenderly by the Spirit.

Well, there you have it … patriotic moments, cultural events and country fair fun … all in week!

Elder and Sister Hunt on the “Nauvoo Trail” … and it just keeps getting better!

Uncategorized

In Awe of God’s Beautiful Nauvoo

July 3, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

IN AWE OF GOD’S BEAUTIFUL NAUVOO

BLOG #14

Kevin V. Hunt

Words cannot adequately describe the beauty of God’s wonders around us in Beautiful Nauvoo. Everywhere we look, we see magnificence. I stand in awe and amazement of God’s natural wonders so evident everywhere here in Nauvoo.

But, to put it in perspective for this Arizona Desert Rat boy, let me first say that some time ago, I wrote a blog article about the Arizona flora and fauna so I will here copy a link to that article – just so that the reader can properly contract the two very different, but both very beautiful places:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BpKwaHtnbCpWp8N-Q55DzNjXSt9xq226/edit

So, back to beautiful Nauvoo:

Rather than use a lot of words – as I am prone to do on some blogs, I will let the Nauvoo natural beauties speak for themselves. Enjoy!

How is that for bauty and wonder … we see it all over Nauvoo and it is magnificent indeed.

With all of the above, I can see all of you making plane reservations or making application to serve inj Nauvoo.

I am in awe of everything around me and express my gratitude to God for these beauties. It’s a rough life to experience all of this beauty, but someone has to do it! We are glad it is us!

Happy to be on God’s Nauvoo trail!

History and Heritage

Millions Shall Know Brother Joseph

June 29, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

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 180^th 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 26^th, and the eve of the 180^th 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 180^th 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 28^th 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 180^th 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

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TRUE TO THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS

June 20, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

BLOG # 12

By Kevin V. Hunt

WHAT BRINGS PEOPLE TO NAUVOO?

True to the faith of our fathers … That is what I see in many of our visitors. In my last blog, I noted that we had been blessed with several busloads of youth coming to experience Nauvoo. And they just keep coming in droves. This week we hosted large groups from Indiana, Texas, and Kansas. Two of our grandchildren families are coming here to Nauvoo in coming weeks. Brianna came her ward Girls’ Camp group from O’Fallon, Illinois.

In July Brodey and Lucy are coming with their stake group from Lincoln, Texas. We are in great anticipation of their visits.

So, what is the draw? Why are all of these youth coming to Nauvoo? What is it that brings the youth (and their leaders) here?

I knew the answer, but at the Family Living Cener, I had occasion to talk with a Brother Travis Jacobsen. He was one of the leaders with the five buses of youth who came from one stake in Lewisville, Texas. I asked him, “Why did you bring all of these youth to Nauvoo?”

He said, “We had just experienced a stake boundary shake-up and we wanted the youth to bond to each other. We split them up so that everyone was mixed up (and not by ward boundaries).

Then he got to the real meat of why come to Nauvoo? He said, “And we wanted these high school youth to experience the lives of their ancestors who lived here. We tried to help the youth learn stories of their own people.” He didn’t say it, but we both knew: “We wanted them to feel the Spirit of Nauvoo and to help them gain testimonies of the great people and events of this place.”

MORE THAN A PRETTY PLACE, AND A PLACE FOR GREAT PHOTOS

Nauvoo is a gorgeous place – with its green everywhere. Nauvoo is a fun place to visit. There are so many great things to experience here. Nauvoo is a historical landmark, and it is fun to re-visit the days of the past. There are millions of opportunities for really cool photo ops. There is more than enough activity going on to keep everyone entertained.

Nauvoo is all of that, but so much more!

KEY MESSAGES IN NAUVOO

In all of our tours of the historic homes and shops in Nauvoo, we focus upon four “key messages”. These are:

“Cornerstone of Zion”

Prophetic Leadership”

“Temple City” and

“Covenant Community”.

The foundation laid by the early Saints here in Nauvoo really did lay the cornerstone of all future growth of the Church. Here our ancestors received and strengthened testimonies. They became the foundation – the cornerstone – of faith and fortitude for many generations – that continues even to today.

Here in Nauvoo, stalwart and now heroic people of faith and testimony lived their lives and based their everything around the prophetic leadership of prophets Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young and future prophets, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff and Lorenzo Snow.

The whole focus of everyone in Nauvoo was the construction of the Nauvoo Temple – the grand symbol of their religious convictions, their hopes for the future – both now and in eternity with their families. Our ancestors literally gave their all – their total heart and commitment to the Temple. They looked forward with great joy to the opportunity to receive their Temple Endowments, and to be sealed together as couples and as families.

The Temple was completed just days (literally) before their departure for the West. But, even in the rush of wagon making, and other preparations to leave, their greatest desire was to get to the Temple before they departed. They did not know when they would have another temple and they so much wanted the blessings that they knew awaited them in the Temple. They wanted the strength and power that they knew would come through their Temple covenants. It was these covenants that would carry them forward through the long journey west, their settlement of the western communities (from Canada to Mexico and California to Colorado and beyond), and the foundation of faith and legacy that they wanted to pass on to generations of their families.

And “Covenant Community” … Here the people were united in one cause .. and that was to lives dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ and their love for him and his Restored Gospel. Here in Nauvoo, church members 3worked and served together – all for the good of each other and their covenant brothers and sisters in the Gospel. And the other key messages noted above, all came together to bind our great ancestors together and eternally.

OUR ANCESTORS HOPE FOR US

In Nauvoo, we see fulfilment of the scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants wherein the Lord through the angel Moroni (on his first visit to Joseph Smith) said, “Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers.” (D&C 2:1-2)

Photo of William Coffin Rawson and Eliza Jane Cheney

It is so inspiring to see these many youth groups as they plan for their own times in the Nauvoo Temple. It is evident that these Temple trips are among the greatest of sacred adventures for these young people. It is great that they get to draw close to their own ancestors as they enter the Nauvoo Temple to complete ordinance work for them.

Yes, Nauvoo is the perfect setting for us to be drawn to our ancestors. Truly our hearts are easily turned to them. We are drawn to them, to their lives, their sacrifices as they gave their all for the Kingdom – and the hope of future freedom, joy and eternal family happiness. And they are drawn to us. They want us to know of their love, their hopes and dreams for us. They want us to be “true to the faith” to that cornerstone of Zion that they built for us.

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to be a part of the staff at a stake youth pioneer trek. It was great to be there with some of my own teenage children.

During this one particular activity, I found myself momentarily without a specific assignment. I found a quiet place to observe and contemplate the grand youth scene before my eyes.

In that reflective moment, I thought of my own pioneer ancestors. It was in that grand moment that I experienced a great personal revelation – given to me of the Holy Ghost. My eyes were opened, and I had a vision – just a flash – ever so briefly – of a similar grand moment then being experienced by those who had gone on before us. In this vision, I quickly saw a throng of thousands of people – whom I came to know were the ancestors of the kids on this trek. I saw them looking on in pride at their cherished sons and daughters – down the line of multiple generations past them. I saw their gratitude and pride in their faithful posterity as they watched the pioneer activities that were meant to draw us to them. It lasted for only a split second, but I knew that they were there.

MY CHALLENGES TO YOUTH IN THE WAINWRIGHT SHOP

One of my favorite places to serve (as a Nauvoo guide) is the wainwright shop – part of the Webb Blacksmith Shop. Often here, I get to teach youth and families about the westward trek of their ancestors. I teach them of the small wagon that was their lives and carried everything they had – to carry them through the pioneer trek of 4-5 months and beyond. I try to inspire the young people of the sacrifices of their own people and ancestors.

And in my final words to each group, (and seeing in their faces, that they have felt the spirit, power of testimony, and gratitude for their own ancestors), I offer an invitation to each group. I invite them to go home and to find the stories of some of their Nauvoo ancestors who made the pioneer trek – and walked that 1,400 miles from Nauvoo to the Great Salt Lake Valley (and beyond).

I say to them, “Here you are five or six generations down the line from these pioneer folks. I want you to think of them and what they did for you. I want you to think of what that means for you and how have their lives impacted yours? And what are you going to do about it as you remember them and what they did for you?” And then I just smile big at them and tell them how great it was to have them here in this special place as I point them to the open back door.

TRUE TO THE FAITH

The words of one of our great hymns comes to mind:

“True to the faith that our parents have cherished,

True to the truth for which martyrs have perished,

To God’s command, soul, heart and hand,

Faithful and true we will ever stand”. (Hymns – #254, “True to the Faith”.

THESE GUYS REALLY ARE “TRUE TO THE FAITH”?

In my Blog #11, I introduced the amazing young men from Richfield, Utah – who were on my tour of the Browning home and gun shop. I mentioned how impressive the nine of them were – in Nauvoo in their white shirts and ties. I could not say enough good about them.

But wait …! Their story gets even better! After posting the article, I received a response back from one of the guys. (I had given them my card with instructions to let me know if I needed to make any changes, delete the blog information about them, etc.,) This is what the one young man wrote back to me:

“Hey, Elder Hunt … I am one of the young men you posted about in the Browning Building. I just wanted to let you know how special your blog was to us and how in-tune to the Spirit you were. We actually ALL have our mission calls and there are even more of us who weren’t on the tour! There are 12 of us good friends from Richfield and we made this video. Thanks for all you do and sacrifice. Good luck with the rest of your mission!”

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EvvZAlwOJ_WeGrizPXzYSldz1rljGqEX/view

(You may need to copy and paste the link to get it to open)

The video says it all … So, here is a full dozen of the greatest youth of the Church. The video was staged at the Manti Temple – located about an hour from their Richfield homes. I am sure that they didn’t go there just for a cool photo op. It is evident that they had all gone there for their Temple endowments (or maybe were returning from a previous such Temple excursion for more …). Anyway, I can just imagine these 12 great young men going to the Temple together.

These Ammonite Warriors are definitely showing that they are “True to the Faith”. How magnificent! I would have loved to have been in that Manti Temple session with those great men and their families who were there to support and cheer them on. And it would be great to follow them into their missions and to see the great things I know they will all accomplish. They will go forward in the strength and faith of their ancestors who will be rooting for them.

FRIENDSHIP AND BROTHERHOOD

The Temple experience was likely not the first such activity for these young Richfield men. They had probably often been there before – to do proxy baptisms for their ancestors. I asked and learned that they are not all in the same ward – but they have been friends and brothers. And without them telling me, I feel that their brotherhood has been building for an extended time. I knew that they have been brothers long before their special “To the Nations” photo op experience. I knew that they had been there at the Temple together before. These guys are not just casual acquaintances. They are true friends and brothers. They are committed to each other. And they are true in all things – to the faith of their fathers, mothers and ancestors. They have developed a special bond in the past – a brotherhood that has probably been going on and building for a long while. Can you picture these guys together in their Aaronic Priesthood gatherings? And going to Seminary, serving together? Can you see them in countless home evenings with strong and faithful parents? I can see all of that in these marvelous men.

What a tremendous thing for these young men to have each other – supporting and helping one another as they now head off to all parts of the world in their coming missionary service. They truly live the concept of “Covenant Community” in their love and brotherhood.

ANOTHER STORY OF THE COVENANT BOND

Our own son Rusty belonged to a group like these Richfield Ammonites when he was a teen in Mesa, Arizona. He was a part of a major brotherhood (of both young men and young women). There were a dozen or more in his group.

They did everything together. They had frequent gatherings, parties, and activities. They delighted in just doing and being good – and in helping each other do the same (part of that “covenant community” spirit). They rotated around to various houses. It was a great thrill when it was our turn to host them, and we loved having them come. They were just all great kids. I think that all of the boys went on missions, and I would guess that they have remained true and faithful in the ensuing years.

My wife and I talked then of how great it would be if every young man and young woman could have such a brotherhood bond and common source of support and strength.

Contrasted with this is our Larissa, the youngest of the nine children. We felt so sad for her. She literally had zero friends. There was no one to hang out with, no one to do activities with. She was stuck with the old folks (us) and that was not too great for her. Sad!

“HOORAH, HOORAH, HOORAH FOR ISRAEL”

And back to these Richfield guys … it is evident that they have had a tremendous and faithful back-support group that helped to make them great … amazing parents who taught them righteous principles, dedicated Priesthood leaders, advisors, and bishops, and seminary teachers. Their greatness was not achieved over night – but has come over a long period of sustained effort. Great job, all of you!

And then to the credit of these young men … they got it! They took it all in and lived it. They just did it – and did it together! Wow!

ANOTHER POWERHOUSE GROUP OF YOUNG MEN FROM OVER THE MOUNTAIN

It has been fully 20 years ago, but these Richfield greats brought back a memory of another such group of Ammonite warriors who come vividly to my mind. These guys were likely ancestral cousins who lived over the mountain from the Richfield guys – in the village of Enoch, Utah.

The day was August 1, 2004. We were on the way home from the funeral for Grandpa Belcher [“The Nauvoo Brickmaker”] In northern Utah.

The funeral was on Saturday morning, and we all needed to be home on Monday for school and jobs.

I later wrote to the Enoch Ward Bishop and told him our story:

“We stopped at chapels in Scipio, Fillmore, and Beaver but had not found a ward with the right timing – a sacrament meeting just ready to begin. We had just about given up on the idea. The family members – nearly filling the family’s 15-passenger van – with my wife, two of our married daughters and their husbands, our two teenage sons and three teen and pre-teen daughters – were kind of travel weary and bored with the idea of stopping at yet another chapel.

“But somehow I knew that we needed to press forward with the idea. I was in a bit of a panic as 11:00 AM was very close and I didn’t think that we could make it on to Cedar City – and be on time for a meeting. I said, “There has got to be a chapel around here where we can attend.” (And I recounted the story of how 25 years ago – when we were on our honeymoon and randomly stopped for a delightful sacrament meeting in the real old chapel also in the City of Enoch.)

“It was then that we saw your country chapel as we whizzed by on the freeway. Like a magnet, our van made the exit and went back north to your chapel. The very pregnant daughter reluctantly got into a dress and the others tried to fix their hair, straighten ties, etc. so that we would be as presentable as possible under the travel circumstances.

“I went inside and confirmed that a meeting was just starting. (I said, “They are singing the opening song. If we hurry, we can sneak in during the prayer and maybe no one will see us.” One of the teenagers said, “Oh, sure, dad!” We paraded in with our crowd of eleven and were grateful that the front rows were vacant and waiting for us. We were glad too, that not too many people seemed to notice our crowd coming in. (Maybe they thought that we were there for the baby blessing held in that meeting.)

“Anyway, we settled into the meeting and the teenagers were silently grumbling that we had to sit through a boring testimony meeting in a place and crowd where we knew no one. But, dutifully, they sat quietly and decided to endure the meeting.

“The meeting was typical. You had a several children and a couple of oldsters – just as in our ward – get up at the beginning of the meeting. To this point, the meeting was fulfilling the low expectations of the teenagers. Then, in the middle of the meeting, four of your Young Men grabbed the attention of all of us with their spirited testimonies.

++“The first young man was impressive. As a Young Men’s President myself, I thought, “It would be great to have a full quorum of young men like him.”

“I don’t remember the order but one after the other, these four boys (presumably all Priests – but one or two could have been Teachers) got up and bore stirring testimonies. One shared feelings of a recent trip to Nauvoo. It was more than just a “fun trip” for him. It was evident that he had been touched by the Spirit of the place – including a remembrance of and gratitude for his pioneer ancestors.

“Another young man talked about a recent birthday and how it was the greatest. We all braced to hear about his big birthday party with a million friends. But, instead, he talked of the privilege of going to the Temple with his grandparents to do baptisms for the dead.

‘Then a young man testified of the spiritual experience that he had just been a part of at EFY. And again, it was not the fun and games that were remembered. (Our 15 year old daughter had just been to EFY and we wondered if they were there the same week. She had shared special spiritual experiences with us about her EFY experience so it was really special to hear this young man likewise testify of how his life had been changed or touched by the experience.)

”A fourth young man bore fervent testimony of the Seminary program and said how he could not wait to start school again so that he could once again enjoy the blessings of Seminary.

“I marveled anew with each new young man and thought about what great young men they were. I thought “Wow! These guys are fabulous. They must really have a great program in this ward.”

“I was greatly touched by the young men, their lessons and their testimonies. I recorded in my journal later about the young men and their effect upon me. But, as the meeting ended, my family took a much needed break in your facilities, and after I talked to Shawn Hunt (father of the blessed baby) and found a family connection (to the dismay of waiting family members) – we again piled into our van – having done our Sunday duty for that travel day. We should have, but we didn’t then, talk about the experience in your ward. It was time to hit the road.

“Seven weeks went by, and I had about forgotten the Enoch experience. Then tonight, the same 11 family members were gathered for a special family home evening. The lesson, by the oldest missionary daughter and her new husband, was wonderful. She had just developed the lesson for a recent Relief Society lesson, and he had made a log and stick fort (surrounding a family home) to go with the lesson. Together they reworked the lesson to fit our own family of teenagers. They focused upon the people of Ammon and the spiritual strength of the 2,000 stripling warriors – and the fortifications that helped to make them successful.

“We talked of what great young men they were and the lessons of their parents. Jackie then got tears in her eyes as she then said, “I saw those same kind of guys when we visited that little town in Utah and went to sacrament meeting there after Grandpa’s funeral.” She then recounted the lessons taught by each of the four young men. I was then amazed as many other family members then expressed how great “they” were. We talked about the testimonies of the four Young Men. Their four subjects were all remembered, and we talked of the young men themselves, their subjects and their testimonies.

“I could not believe it. I have thought that the children were not hearing or remembering anything from your “usual” meetings – let alone from an unknown ward in a little Utah town. And yet, each one of the children recalled memories of that special meeting that we sneaked into and shared with you.

“The evening and our discussion were too great to keep to myself. I felt the need to share that experience with you all and jotted down the inspiration as it came – so that I could act upon it after the home evening. And now, at the hour of 11:00 PM (Arizona Time), I am acting upon that prompting. And across the miles, I am grateful for you and that Sunday in your ward.

“Thanks to you Young Men for being the Stripling Warriors of Enoch. Thanks to you, Bishop (and Young Men leaders), for being their leader – just as Helaman was. Thanks to you parents – both Moms and Dads – for raising such sons. The meeting was evidence that you are all covenant making and keeping people. We felt beyond that one meeting into your lives and hearts – even though we did not know any of you. But, even so, through the power of the Holy Ghost and the brotherhood of the Gospel, we related to you and the lessons that we learned that summer day as we passed through your ward. It is exciting to know that the Church is true wherever we go and that the Spirit can be felt wherever we are. Thanks, again.”

Brother Kevin V. Hunt and family

Now twenty years later, I have often thought of those four great Ammonite Warriors– wondering what became of them after that eventful day shared with them. Now they are all in their mid-thirties and I would like to know the rest of their life stories since that time.

GENERATIONS OF COMMITMENT IN THE MANTI TEMPLE

As I ponder the experiences of my young Richfield friends in the Manti Temple, I am reminded of generations of my own family commitment there.

Let’s start with my 2^nd Great Grandfather, Hans Larsen.

The Manti Temple was under construction and Hans was about 77 years old and was living in Fairview, Utah – a little town located about 30 miles north of Manti. He would often get a Priesthood assignment to go work on the Temple.

He lived long before automobiles and he had no horse. He had a little wooden wheelbarrow and would put a blanket and a few tools and supplies in his cart.

He would walk the 30 miles to the Temple. He would work there for a couple of weeks and would then make the walking trip back home. And in a couple of months, he would get another Temple work assignment and he would do it all again. Sadly, Hans died at age 78 in 1884 – four years before the Temple was completed.

OUR KEITH NAMED FOR HANS LARSEN

I have been greatly blessed to have Hans Larsen as my 2^nd great grandfather. He exhibited great faith as he came to America after joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in his native Denmark. He came as a part of a wagon train west and settled in Sanpete County, Utah.

So great our heritage with Hans, I gave our son, Keith, his name. His middle name is Hansen – meaning in the Danish, literally, “Keith Son of Hans”. This was as Nephi wrote of his sons:

“Behold, my son …I have given unto you the name of our first parents … and this I have done that when you remember your name(s) ye may remember them; and when ye remember them ye may remember their works, and when ye remember their works, ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good. Therefore, my son, I would that ye should do that which is good, that it may be said of you, and also written, even as it has been said and written of them.” (Helaman 5:6-7)

MANTI TEMPLE MARRIAGES AND FAITH

My parents were married in the Manti Temple. My wife and I got married on their 25^th anniversary (in the Salt Lake Temple). Then 25 years later, our daughter, Jenae, and Paul, were married on our 25^th anniversary. – in the Manti Temple. Paul had nearly died in a very major car accident just a couple of weeks before the planned marriage. He had to have a titanium rod inserted down alongside the whole of his badly fractured femur – and had other serious medical problems. So, on their wedding day, Paul was blessed to even be alive … He found himself walking on double wrist crutches. It took a lot of faith, but they went forward in their faith and their eternal marriage. One of my favorite photos of their wedding day shows Paul at the crest of Temple hill with his arms resting in his crutches and with his legs in the air.

And Paul was one who loved to dance. He was so sad that he was crippled on wedding day. But, with even more faith, he did dance – without the crutches!

WE SHARE A COVENANT MAKING MOMENT WITH A GRANDDAUGHTER

For several years, our daughter, Jenae and her husband and four children have lived in O’Fallon, Illinois (a St. Louis suburb). They are now in the midst of a military move to Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.

The oldest of these four grandchildren is their beautiful daughter, Katelyn. She has just received her mission call and will soon begin service in the Colorado Denver North Mission. She is working this summer at the BYU Aspen Grove family camp to earn money for her mission. And even though working there 1,400 or so miles away, she wanted to return home to receive her Temple endowments in the nearby St. Louis, Missouri Temple.

Such a wish was not really convenient in light of the move this month to Las Vegas. She had already begun working at the BYU Aspen Grove family camp. And this meant yet another flight home to St. Louis. And why did she want so badly to go to the St. Louis Temple? It was because she had previously made many trips to this temple with her ward youth – as well as with her parents. (Sister Hunt and I have even been there a few times with her for these special baptism experiences). And each time, Katelyn has had a handful of name cards that she has researched for her own family members. She has had powerful spiritual experiences and great joy as she has felt that “St. Louis is her home Temple”. What a great thought!

Nauvoo is only about three and a half hours from St. Louis and O’Fallon, so we received special permission from our mission leaders to travel there to join with the family for the Katelyn Temple experience. It was our great privilege to do so. We traveled there late on a Friday night – after our site guide work of the day. We were able to join with her, her parents and her other grandparents in the Temple the next day.

It was a special thrill for us to be in the Temple with Katelyn. And it was beautiful that it worked out for all of us to be there with her. Katelyn looked beautiful in her white clothes, and she looked radiantly happy and content. It was where she needed to be. And with us around her – and likely also with ancestors of both sides, it was truly a wonderful and special occasion.

PREVIOUS TEMPLE BAPTISMS WITH JENAE AND FAMILY IN NAUVOO

Last summer, before we knew that our mission be in Nauvoo, Sister Hunt and I had the great opportunity to go to Nauvoo with Jenae and the family. We had four glorious days together in Nauvoo. It had been a challenge to find a Nauvoo place that we could afford to stay at. And since it was during the time of the Nauvoo Pageant, possible places were “as scarce as hens’ teeth”. Then I remembered that years before, that I had pulled off the beautiful Mississippi road – and had visited a Scout Camp (Camp Eastman). It was then that my 60 years of Boy Scout experience proved very valuable.

I contacted the local Scout council and was able to make arrangements to rent out their lodge for the use of our family as we were in Nauvoo. The lodge was so beautiful and wonderful. It met all of our needs, and more.

Our first agenda items after getting to Nauvoo was a trip to the beautiful Nauvoo Temple. One daughter was too young to be in the Temple with us, but all of the rest of the children were able to be in the Temple with us and their parents. It was a glorious time, and we all had a wonderful experience. (And again, Katelyn had a fistful of family names who needed our work in their behalf.) We had a beautiful experience together.

UNIQUE TEMPLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ELDER AND SISTER HUNT IN NAUVOO

We recently received a message from the administrative assistants in our Illinois Historic Sites Mission. We were told that the mission had been given a large number of names of direct ancestors of the Prophet Joseph Smith. Help was solicited to help complete the Temple work for these ancestors. Sister Hunt and I signed up to do work for a couple of people

On a Friday night, we made our visit to the beautiful Nauvoo Temple – located less than a mile from our current mission home. We were first sealed for two couples who had been married about the year 1450. We later went through endowment sessions for others. I personally went through for a brother Thakur Foliot who was born in the year 1130! Amazing! This was a great opportunity and blessing.

After the sessions, I was able to meet an Elder Lee Groberg. He and his wife have been Temple workers and were to leave for home the next morning. I asked him if he knew a Velma Groberg Hunt (my aunt who was married to my dad’s brother). It was his wife who said, “That is Aunt Velma, Lee.” Interesting that we shared the nephew relationship to the same Aunt Velma Hunt.

MEETING AN EXUBERANT YOUNG MAN IN THE LYON DRUG AND VARIETY STORE

Serving in the Lyon Drug Store was great fun for Sister Hunt and me. As we first walked into the place for our first assignment there, we almost heard, “Welcome to Walmart!” (Wait a minute … we were the old folks now … maybe it was our turn to extend the greeting!) This place was truly amazing. It had an inventory of anything and everything. We marveled at the many items and pondered, “How could they have had this technology, and these things way back then?”

We hosted a rather large group at the store. It was a busy time as the “customers” roamed around to check out everything. Such a fun place!

It was hard to manage the whole crowd. I was anxious to sneak a photo of Sister Hunt at the sales counter. I got the desired photo op, and realized that I had a “photo bomber”.

This was a young man of age ten or twelve. I then told the boy that I had found him in my photo at the store counter. I asked him if I could feature him in a coming blog article that I would write – with his photograph. “I said, “I promise not to say your name (a privacy thing). I had to laugh at his response. He said “No, please do!” And so, with his insistence and approval from his mother, I tell of this great young man- named “Carter”. I loved his enthusiasm for life. He, like others I have met in Nauvoo, radiated happiness and strength. (And I wondered who his ancestors were). I don’t know if my Carter friend was old enough to go to the Temple, but having met his mother, I am sure that she would get him there as soon as was age qualified to be there.

Carter’s mother had brought Carter to Nauvoo numerous times before this visit to the Lyon’s Drug Store. She had likely brought Carter to Nauvoo for more than just a routine visit to the local variety store – or for a fun photo-op.. I think he was feeling that Nauvoo Spirit.

A ”TENDER MOMENT” WITH ANOTHER GREAT AMMONITE WARRIOR IN THE MAKING

As tour guides, we meet all kinds of people, and we have wonderful experiences with many of them. We get the opportunity to look into the eyes of hopeful parents who have brought their families – and many of them teenagers – to experience the joy and possible testimony that Nauvoo might bring. They know well, the faith and strength of their ancestors who walked these same streets so long ago. The fire of the covenant burns strongly in the souls of many of these visitors.

On this day, Sister Hunt and I happened to be serving in the home of Apostle Orson Hyde. In our first group there was a young boy, Graden, who said that he was age 10. I liked this amazing boy from our first meeting the day before in another site. It was great to see these folks again. I had previously told this Graden that he looks just like my own very blonde grandson, Caleb. And on this occasion, I pulled up a photo of our Caleb (age 11) and showed it to Graeden. As he saw the photo, he got excited. He said, “He looks exactly like me!” It was a fun moment.

In the Orson Hyde home, we talk about the apostolic calling of Apostles to travel to the nations of the world as ambassadors for Christ. We talked of today’s Apostles who go out and serve and minister in all nations. As we talked of the role of Apostles, we taught Graeden and his family – the parents and his four brothers and a one little sister (also a very cute little blonde lady). We saw that Nauvoo hope and gratitude in the eyes of the parents.

As I introduced the topic of the Apostles, I asked the kids who their favorite Apostle is. The older brothers were kind of vague. Not being able to pin on one particular Apostle, they said, “I like them all.” Not so of Graden. Without hesitation, he quickly said, “I love Elder Neal A. Maxwell.” Wow! This kid certainly took Sister Hunt and me by surprise. Elder Maxwell was truly one of the all-time greatest Apostles, but he had departed the earth fully 20 years ago. How could this 10-year old boy have possibly known about Elder Maxwell. But, he really meant it. We were totally amazed. And we were quick to compliment the parents. It was evident that they have had many Gospel conversations, special home evenings and other great deliberate teaching moments with their children.

Several times through the presentation, this Graden continued to astound us. I was drawn to a similar child who was found in the Temple “both hearing them and asking them questions” (Luke 2:46). And like Joseph and Mary, the more we conversed with this Graden, the more we “were astonished at his understanding and answers”. This boy was truly amazing. (And it was fun to see the very quiet but proud parents as they too, sat in wonder of this special young men, their covenant son. We felt truly honored to be in the presence of this magnificent young man. We knew in our hearts that he will grow to be one of the greatest of Church men – a true leader.

As the family left our tour, I joked with the older brothers. “It must be a bit challenging for you guys to always be in the shadow of this amazing brother of yours!” (They smiled and nodded in agreement. I think that they too had realized his greatness.) I said, “He is like Nephi – full of strength and goodness. I hope that you guys will honor and sustain him – and not be like Nephi’s older brothers who did not want to be taught by their younger brother.”

I wished that I could see the future of this special lad – who looks “exactly like my own Caleb”. And who knows … maybe these handsome twins might end up as mission companions in some future year. They would make quite the team.

THE LEGACY OF FAITH IN OUR PIONEER FOREFATHERS

I have noted the desires and hopes of our pioneer ancestors to receive their own Temple endowments and to make other special covenants of Heavenly Father and Jesus. And I love to hear their stories of Temple fortitude and power. I am drawn to the story of faith and Temple power in the life of my 3^rd great grandfather, Thomas Sirls Terry.

In his own words, Thomas said, “I had, in my youth, gone to all kinds of meetings but never before did any preaching come with such force to my understanding as did the remarks of the Mormon Preachers … I was convinced, through their preaching, and on the twelfth day of March, 1842, I was baptized under the hands of Joseph Newton. I was confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.” …

“I thought I would see what the world was made of, but yet I had a greater motive to inspire me than all this, and this was that I had joined the Church of the Latter-Day Saints, and I was determined to gather to where the Saints were gathered.”

Thomas was a latecomer to Nauvoo, but he came in time to receive his Temple endowments in the Nauvoo Temple before heading west. Thomas Sirls Terry was later a captain of a hundred in a westward wagon train company. He records:

“When going to bed I heard a rap at my wagon. ‘Oh Captain, my daughter is dead.’ It was Brother James Stevenson; I dressed myself and went to his wagon. His daughter, Lucy, had passed to the other side. She was dead. I sent for Captain John Dustin who was Captain of the second ten. Brother Dustin was a man of great faith. We administered to her, but she did not revive. She did not come back to life. After some time we administered again, but of no use. She still laid in death’s arms.

“I spoke to Brother Dustin and asked him to stay with the family, that I would go out, but would come back soon. I went to my wagon and got my Temple clothes. I went off in the darkness a quarter of a mile, and dressed myself in my Temple clothes. I knelt down and asked my Heavenly Father in the name of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that if it was His will that the spirit of the young sister return to its body.

“After I had returned I found Sister Lucy still dead, the family were all crying. I said to Brother Dustin, we will administer to her again. We placed our hands upon her head and I asked my Heavenly Father that her spirit might return to its body. Before we took our hands off her head her Spirit returned and she came to life. The time altogether was one hour. She came to the Valley and was married.

“We traveled on next day. Two days after Brother Jessie Murphy was taken very sick with a high fever. We blessed him and the next day he was up driving his team. We continued our journey till we got to Buffalo Creek, about one hundred and sixty miles east of Fort Laramie. Here we had a stampede. It was awful! Yes, it was a fearful thing. Forty wagons and three carriages were all jammed together. There were five who were very badly hurt. In this I was alone, while the Brothers looked after the wagons and teams.

“The first I administered to was Brother Pallard and his wife. I found them both dying on the ground. Sister Pallard was lying as if she were dead; she had been knocked down by the teams. I administered to them; they both got up. The next one was Brother Bratt who was from the South. I found him also very badly hurt. He had been knocked over. I blessed him and he got up and was alright. While I was administering to him I heard a sister call out ‘Oh, Captain Terry, come here.’ It was Sister Mousley. I went to her. Brother Martin Lincy was holding Whihelmina in his arms. When I got to her she had passed away, the blood was running a stream. Her face was cut fearfully her sister was lying by her with an injured spine. She could not get up. I administered to them both; Whihelmina come to, her sister got up. By that time the Brethren had the wagons separated and the camp formed.” (From Autobiography of Thomas Sirls Terry – Available as a “Memory” on FamilySearch)

A LEGACY OF FAITH

Wow! What a legacy we have been given by our faithful ancestors. And the questions are, “How can we be like them? How can we show our gratitude for their faith and sacrifice? What of their lives … What do they mean to us – (and us to them)?” I am so grateful for my own Nauvoo experiences that draw me to my people – and to the Prophets and the gospel that they patterned their lives after. I am strengthened by their testimonies, and their commitment to the Restored Gospel that they espoused. I am so grateful that they were “true to the faith”. I am grateful that they lived and built upon the Nauvoo “cornerstone of Zion”, that through their faith, they were a Temple building and Temple going family, and for the covenants that they have passed on to me and to us. They have given us a great heritage which I now am privileged to be a part of.

“The Faith of our fathers …” And their Nauvoo Spirit lives on inside of me and my family members. It is my hope that we can all “REMEMBER” them and their good works, as Nephi taught his sons. “True to the Faith” … a great motto for each of us.

On the Nauvoo Trail … Elder Kevin Hunt

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SO MUCH GOOD IN ONE DAY

June 7, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

BLOG #11

By Kevin V. Hunt

Okay, confession time. In writing my blog articles, I don’t always write on the day that these great events happen. (But, I have a lot of practice with those 3×5” cards. I’ve got that system down! And my infamous cards have been so much a part of me, that a few years ago at a Mountain Man Rendezvous in Arizona – I was being inducted as a “true mountain man,” at a solemn campfire program, I was given the Mountain Man name of “3×5”.)

With the events of today, I didn’t have enough cards to cover the day. And the day was just too good. I just couldn’t wait. I had to write tonight – even though it was late. So much good in one day! Wow! Miracles, feeling the Spirit, connections, and a whole lot more. All in a day’s work …Where to begin?

SISTER HUNT VISITS HER FAVORITE PLACES

Sister Hunt has got the car trained. It just knows that she wants to go to this one special building – which actually houses two places in one.

One is the sewing room. She loves this place and the ladies therein. She looks for excuses to go there. One of the ladies wanted some scrap strips from the dresses they made for her. They didn’t divulge the plan, but I guess time will tell.

And Lou is literally in “7^th Heaven” with the missionary “D.I.” (Deseret Industries Thrift Store). And the fact that the stuff is all free, makes it so much more of a thrill for her. She is always checking out the place to see what new stuff has been donated. And today, she was not disappointed. (We had better be careful or we’ll have to get a U-Haul for future.)

But, I must admit, however, that I did also this time find an item for me. I found a new black cap to add to my costume collection.

GATHERING FOR “HOMES OF THE APOSTLES”

Today we were assigned to a triple home tour. The tour is “Tours of the Apostles”. It includes tours to the Orson Hyde, Heber C. Kimball, and Wilford Woodruff homes. (And a cool thing is that all three of these places are all original buildings that have been here in Nauvoo for 180 years. The Kimball and Woodruff homes are Nauvoo brick, and the Hyde home is one of just sxi surviving wood frame homes.) The tour begins at the Hyde home and then we are to walk with the group two short blocks to the Kimball home, give that tour – and then walk to the Woodruff home. (Sister Hunt was there without me yesterday – as I was playing blacksmith) and she said that she and her companion of the day walked 5 miles by the pedometer. And she was super tired by the end of the day.)

The common denominator for these places is the fact that all of the men were among the earliest members of the Quorum of 12 Apostles – special witnesses of Christ in all the world. Heber C. Kimball and Orson Hyde were actually original members of the quorum.

We began with a gathering with two YSM’s (Young Sister Missionaries) at the Hyde home. We had prayer together and put together a plan for the day. There was actually a Sister team to be at the Woodruff home all day. One was a character actor who portrayed Phebe Woodruff in the first person. So, that meant that we could have a couple at each of the other two homes.

Sister Hunt and I headed to the Kimball home and the YSM’s remained at Orson Hyde. And we decided to make a switch at mid-day since the sisters needed to be off to another short event at the Visitors’ Center. And then we were off …

Each of the restored homes where we serve has a hidden little hideout room where we can study and relax as we await the next tour. We headed to this room. And the nice thing about these rooms is that they are each equipped with a modern current bush (unlike the rest of the “period” restored home). Sometimes I get a few rare minutes to work on some of my own projects. (The project of today is preparation of a PowerPoint slide show about Nauvoo Brickmaking and the role of Elder E. H. Belcher in keeping alive that art. – including his creation of the modern brickyard and the original and now famous “Nauvoo Brick”.) I got three or four slides completed today before the rush.

At one brief break in the action, Sister Hunt and I had opportunity to do a quick FaceTime video call with our granddaughter, Rosie, on the occasion of her 3^rd birthday. Rosie and I have always had a special connection and I admit that she is one of my favorite grandchildren. (I love all 42 but Rosie is just so special.) Leaving Rosie for a year and a half at her young age, was a mission sacrifice that has ripped at my heart. Sister Hunt and I sang “Happy Birthday” to Rosie – as only we can do with our monotone duet. After our rendition, Rosie (so sweet) said, “Thank you”. It was fun to touch base with this family and to hear of their adventures and enjoyment of their new home.

HELPING OTHERS CONNECT WITH THEIR ANCESTORS

SNOW/ASHBY HOME IN NAUVOO (ASHBY ON LEFT SIDE)

Early this morning, I helped some folks find their ancestral home. An Ashby family member came through on a tour and said that their ancestor was Nathaniel Ashby. We talked of the Erastus Snow/Nathaniel Ashby Duplex and how one of the guys was the missionary and the other was his convert. (This is an original remaining structure from the Pioneer era.) These folks had done a drive by and knew of the home – and which side was Ashby.

When I learned what side his ancestor lived on, I said, “Well, you just might be in luck.” (I knew that a missionary couple has lived in the place – and knew that the Lowes – a missionary couple who had lived there – had to go home for medical reasons. I knew that their daughter and grandson were there today – packing up and leaving the home with he Lowe things. I told them of this couple and how their family was there today. I said, “I can’t make any promises, but if you just happened over there, the people might let you tour the home.”

I later talked to the Lowe daughter, and she said that the folks did indeed, come over and got to see the inside of the home. They took videos everywhere and thought this all so great. I was happy how this connection worked out.

THE KIMBALL HOME WAS THE START OF MODERN NAUVOO RESTORATION

DR. J. LEROY KIMBALL – THE NAUVOO RESTORATION VISIONARY

The year 1954 was great – and not just because that was when I hit the earth scene. In that year, Dr. J. LeRoy Kimball was a physician in Salt Lake City. He wanted a retreat from his medical practice. He had had his eye on the Heber C. Kimball home from earlier days of his medical school in Chicago. Anyway, in that year, he purchased the home of Heber – who was his great grandfather.

For six years, Dr. Kimball worked on his new place. By 1960, he had the place restored beautifully. He decided to stage an open house and dedication event before making the place his residence. He asked his uncle Spencer W. Kimball to come to dedicate the house. Dr. Kimball was quite surprised when 1,500 people came to the event. He never got to move into the home.

Then it dawned on Dr. Kimball – that Nauvoo was much bigger than just his family retreat. He realized that with that much interest, he should restore some of Nauvoo for people to visit and to learn of their own ancestors. At his own expense, he began to purchase other old pioneer homes and property in Nauvoo. He purchased the Wilford Woodruff Home and it opened to the public in 1966. He soon formed an organization called Nauvoo Restoration, Inc. (NRI). Soon this became the restoration entity for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the NRI agent, he purchased nearly 1,000 acres “on the flats” (below the hill) in Old Nauvoo. He began a rigorous plan to restore many of the old homes of Old Nauvoo – saving many original buildings and also recreating some buildings that had disappeared over time – and restoring them to their former glory.

Dr. Kimball was indeed the visionary who brought the old town back to life. And we are indebted to him for all that we can experience today.

I SERVED MY “YOUNG MISSION” UNDER DR. KIMBALL

I am sure that by now, you are well aware that I served the last six months of my mission here in Nauvoo (back in 1975 – a hundred years ago). I was then a “site guide” just as I am today. On my tours today, I mentioned the Nauvoo experience of my youth. In the tour of the Kimball home, (at his photo), we talk about Dr. Kimball – so it was natural to deviate a bit – to tell folks that I was here at that time – and that Dr. Kimball was my mission president. And the folks were all amazed and said, “That is so cool!” (And pretty cool that the Lord put all of this together when I received my second call to serve here! I acknowledge Him in this great opportunity.)

I had forgotten this fact, but as I gave a tour this morning, I had a flash of inspiration. It is taught that the Holy Ghost can “bring all things to our remembrance” and that is what He did for me today. I saw a flash back to the former time … I saw in my memory that I was actually given a tour of the Kimball home by J. LeRoy Kimball himself on my first day in Nauvoo. In the flash, I could see him standing there in front of us – wearing his usual hat and holding onto his cane. (And incidentally that cane is still in the home as one of the “artifacts”.) I saw in my mind, him proudly giving us missionaries the tour of he home he had worked so hard to restore.After the tour ended, I went to my digitized copy of my journal of that special day – May 10^th, 1975. It said simply:My journal entries of that day were not as beefy as they are today – good but not full of details (especially in retrospect).

I also wrote home to my folks each week. I checked that weekly letter, and it did not mention the Kimball home tour with Dr. Kimball. So, I was grateful today for that flashback from the Spirit.

THE APOSTLES WERE ALL SOME OF THE GREATEST MISSIONARIES EVER

Each of these three Apostles were great missionaries. They went multiple times to serve in Great Britain.

Heber C Kimball was called as the first foreign missionary, and the leader of the rest of the Apostles serving in England. This was in 1837. Heber was called again to serve in 1839 – with Elder Woodruff (who had been recently ordained to the Apostleship).

The missionaries served well, and the Spirit accompanied them. Within just six years, some 4,600 British converts immigrated to Nauvoo. It was estimated that the immigrants made up 25% of the Nauvoo Population.

MISSIONARY SERVICE AND SACRIFICE FOR CHRIST

Heber C. Kimball and his long-time friend, Brigham Young (both original Apostles) were to depart and serve together in 1839 (just sixteen months after Heber returned from the first mission). Both were deathly sick with malaria. It was all that the two men could do to head off – since both of their families were also deathly sick.

Heber said of his mission, “It was with difficulty we got into the wagon and started down the hill about ten rods. It appeared to me as though my very inmost parts would melt within me, leaving my family in such a condition, as it were almost in the arms of death. It seemed to me as though I could not endure it.”

Heber also said, “I took my life in my hands and went forth: I could say I had left all for Christ and for the Gospel”

A SURPRISE BECAME A SACRED AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL

One of our tour groups of the day included a full dozen young people – and their Bennion “Ma and Pa” – all a part of a Church History tour. They were from Huntington, Utah. And they came in two full busses and a couple of vans.

I had shared the above information with the group. And after sharing the line of Heber’s feelings about the mission, I looked around and said to the group, “Could you guys make that sacrifice for Christ?” I asked the group if any of them might be “RM’s (returned missionaries) but was told that these were all youth – so I called them “Preemies”). The leader pointed to Boston Huntington (and it was obvious by his name that his family had been around Huntington for a while). She said, “Boston here will receive his mission call soon.” I focused for a moment upon Boston and asked about his coming mission call. He said that he had no idea when the call might come. He didn’t act as if it was eminent.

I then proceeded to tell the youth about the departure of Heber and Brigham (retelling a story that has become legendary in the Church). As they were in the wagon, and were so sick that they could hardly go forward, I told the group of how Heber said to Brigham, “This is pretty tough, aint it?” and on that occasion, the men rose up and swinging their hats, three times over their heads, says Heber, we cried, “hurrah, hurrah, hurrah for Israel”.

I did the same thing for these young people. I swung my hat and said, “Hurrah, Hurrah, Hurrah for Israel”. The Spirit was strong.

And at that moment, we all got a surprise. Boston’s phone beeped. He looked down and saw that he had been given notice from the Church Missionary Deparment that his mission call was available for his viewing. Wow! How amazing and wonderful! We all basked in the greatness of the moment. There was some pressure for Boston to open the call, but Sister Hunt and I spoke from experience (having sent off 7 of our own missionary children) and said, “You have to wait to share the moment with your parents – or they would never forgive you.” (He later reported that he had texted his mom and they agreed that he will open the call on Friday after his return home.)

As the group headed for the Woodruff home, I congratulated Boston. His head was still spinning with what had just happened. He said, “I can’t believe it. This was so cool to get that notice in the Heber’s home.”

A FELLOW BROTHER WITH A SUTH’N MISSION EXPERIENCE

As I talked to the youth in the Kimball home, I noted that I had served my youth mission in Alabam, Flawda, and Jawja before being sent to Nauvoo on special assignment my last six months.

After the tour, a brother who had been on the tour came to me and said that he too, had served down Sawth – in South Carolina. We talked of how we both had to learn a new language for our missions.

My mind was drawn to my own patriarchal blessing received in my youth. In a paragraph about missionary service, it said I “would go to a foreign people and would learn their customs and ways.” On that occasion, my mother said, “Well, those folks are about as foreign as you can get.” I reminded her of that statement 25 years later when she received her own call to serve in Alabama. What goes around, comes around, I guess.

As the brother departed, I said, “Ya’ll come back now, Heah?” We both laughed … So true! That is what everyone said “down Sawth” – even as they kicked you off of their porches.

Then just a few minutes later when I had a few moments to catch my breath, I checked in on the family “WhatsApp” program to see what was happening with my large extended family. At that moment, our daughter, Kaylea, and family were traveling through Florida (returning from an extended vacation in the many “bigger than life” attractions in and around Orlando. (A rough life, but I guess someone had to do it!)

Kaylea posted a photo of a billboard they saw as they passed through my former Suth’n stompin’ grounds.

Seeing the photo made my day! With the photo, Kaylea wrote to her siblings: “Just drove by this sign. I could hear Dad saying it in that voice he’d use when he’d say it. Ha, Ha!”

SPECIAL YOUTH AT THE HYDE HOME

By our prior arrangement, Sister Hunt and I went back to the Hyde home so that the YSM’s could go do their assignment. And then we switched. We would remain in the Hyde home, and they would manage the Kimball home the rest of the afternoon.

We got a group who wanted to go to the Kimball home and after our part in the Hyde home, we walked them over to the Kimball home.

As we returned to the Hyde home, we found another “Ma and Pa” group (wearing a different T-shirt color) out front waiting for us to return. They were lined up in front of the Hyde home against the fence. That was such a beautiful picture – just waiting for the photo to be taken. I asked he group if I could take their photo and after the initial shock, they said that I could. They also said that I could blog about the photo. (and I later gave Brother Jensen, their leader, one of our mission cards and said that if any of the youth had a problem with me sharing their photo, to tell me and I would remove it.)

We brought the youth inside and told them about how Elder Hyde had – at the direction of Joseph Smith – gone to Jerusalem and had dedicated Israel for the gathering of Israel – and specifically, the return of the Jewish people to that chosen area. We told them that it was Orson Hyde who formally dedicated the Nauvoo Temple (May 1, 1846) – two months after the main body of the Saints had departed the town.

After the tour, I was talking to the “Pa” – a Brother Jensen. I said, “It seems as if you guys, and your group have had quite an experience here.” He shook his head around – as if dizzy – and said, “Yes … it has been like drinking from a fire hose.”

As I walked with the group, I asked the kids, “What has been the best thing you have done here in Nauvoo. A couple of kids immediately said, “Doing baptisms at the Temple”. (The Temple is always closed on Mondays, but the Temple leaders opened it up yesterday just for these youth!) That made my heart thump a bit.

It was appropriate for these Huntington youth to perform baptisms in the Nauvoo Temple since it was here in Nauvoo that the Prophet Joseph first revealed the doctrine and opportunity for worthy members to perform proxy baptisms for their deceased ancestors in the Temple.

Here in Nauvoo, Joseph received revelation relative to Baptism for the Dead. “On August 15, 1840, … Joseph Smith preached a sermon at the funeral for Seymour Brunson. Noticing a woman in attendance who had lost her son before he could be baptized, Joseph revealed that the Saints could now act for their friends who had departed this life” by being baptized in their behalf.” (“Baptism for the Dead” Gospel Study”) Later, in January 1841, Joseph received a revelation that baptisms for the dead were intended to be performed in temples. “For this ordinance belongeth to my house, and cannot be acceptable to me …” (D&C 124:30)

BIRTHDAY RECONNECT WITH A NAUVOO MISSIONARY COMPANION

ELDERS SHALTES AND HUNT 1975

When in Nauvoo, way back then, I was companions with Elder Craig Shaltes of Sacramento, California. We lived in the same “Red Barn” home. We did a lot together on the mission. We cooked together, we traveled together, we took a lot of photos together. We have been bac k to Nauvoo two times together since our mission . We have shared some really great times together through the years.

June 4^th is Craig’s birthday, so I was able to connect with him on the phone for a short time. We were able to reminisce about especial times and memories shared. He has been reading my mission blogs and he has been able to relate to much of what I have written.

ANOTHER MIRACLE STAGED BY THE LORD

It was getting late in the afternoon. I was inside the Hyde home and looked out of the window toward the restored log cabin home of William Field. This place is “kitty corner” from the Hyde home. The place has kind of a unique wooden door knob. I saw a family outside looking at this cabin – hoping that they might get to go inside. (The place is supposed to be unlocked during tour times – for “self-guided tours”.) Seeing them about to depart, I went out and called to them (like a voice from heaven) and said that they could go in – and gave them instructions on how to work the unique door knob. They tried it again without success and I told them that I would come over to assist them.

I got the site key and headed over there. I was not prepared for the experience awaiting me.

There is the tradition (and it is detailed on the plaque on the outside of the cabin) of Mary Field Garner, daughter of William and Mary Harding) and who was the last remaining person alive who had known the Prophet Joseph Smith. And coincidentally, Sister Hunt had just taken a photo of this plaque a few minutes before, and we had read it and talked about it together.

We learned that Mary was known as “the last leaf” (so named by the church Historian office) – because of her being the final living connection to the Prophet Joseph. We had also heard of this Mary – because she is quoted on one of the plaques posted along the “Trail of Hope” on Parley Street.

In talking with the family (dad, mom and six children) I learned that the wife/mother was an actual descendant of Mary Field. And how cool was that?

Having a key to the kingdom, I was able to let the family into the cabin for a look around. They looked on in great awe and wonder. They had been to the home before but had not ever been able to see inside. We talked of the great miracle of how I had been directed over to them and what a special moment this was for them – and for me. We all rejoiced in the miracle for the family.

I then listened – again in great awe, as this mother taught her own children the family heritage of their ancestor and as her husband did a video of her presentation to the children. She proceeded to tell them how Mary Harding Field (the mother of young Mary) had been a widow – having recently lost her husband and two daughters to a dread disease.

THE MARY FIELD GARNER STORY AND TESTIMONY

Mary Field Garner was born in Herefordshire, England in 1836. Her family joined the church after hearing Elder Wilford Woodruff preach. They were baptized in 1840 and soon moved to the United States and Nauvoo. This mother taught her children that Mary had met Joseph Smith. She noted that Mary had long red, curly hair (just as one of her sons had the red hair).

Young Mary, age 8, attended the funeral of Joseph Smith after he was martyred.

We talked about Mary being present in the “West Grove” for many key events. I gave the family instructions on how to go to the grove. Sister Healy, the mother in our current scene, told her children how Mary (then age 8) was present in the grove when Brigham was transfigured to appear and speak as Joseph Smith. She taught her children that the mother Mary Harding was holding a baby in her lap. He was playing with a cup there in the grove. He dropped the cup and Mother Field stooped pick it up and when she arose up, she looked at the speaker and he had taken on the mantle of Joseph Smith. She saw and heard Brigham as Joseph. So there was no doubt in the minds of the Saints as to who would be their next president.” (Source: mchangroverheritage.wordpress.com)

Mary Field Garner (the last leaf daughter) herself wrote of her life and times in Nauvoo: “Here we lived in peace and happiness under the leadership and guidance of he Prophet Joseph Smith. Here he stood at the head of this dispensation, … We were very glad to attend church and listen to the Prophet Joseph and other leading brethren teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ to us. We marveled at the Joseph’s superior intelligence of he Gospel and he simple way he could explain it unto the Saints, so that the most unlearned member could know and understand the truth.”

As the “last leaf on the tree,” she was the last person in the Church to give her testimony of the truth, who was personally acquainted with the Prophet Joseph Smith. “Toward the end of her life she bore this testimony: “It is said I am the only living witness to have actually seen and known the Prophet Joseph Smith, and I want to bear my testimony to the world and especially to every Latter-day Saint to the truthfulness of the Gospel as revealed through the Prophet Joseph, that Jesus Christ is the Savior of mankind, that Joseph Smith was a true and living prophet of God, that he was divinely called of God to establish his true Gospel on this earth in the last dispensation. (Source: mchangroverheritage.wordpress.com)

A MOTHER TEACHES HER CHILDREN OF THEIR ANCESTRAL HERITAGE

Sister Healy taught her children that Mother Mary had five children to provide for and was pregnant with another son who would be born four months later. We talked of how Mother Mary (Harding) was one of the “poorest of the poor” and had not been able to afford to leave with the main group of departing saints. In September 1846, a mob of about 1,000 marched through town, forcing them to leave. The family went across the river to Montrose, Iowa. They witnessed the “miracle of the quail” and with the quail, had enough food to eat.

The mob actually allowed the poor family to return to Nauvoo. They were still here when mobsters set fire to he Temple. She saw the beloved Temple on fire. This was in 1848. (The fire weakened the temple – with the guts burned out. Then in 1850, a tornado went through and took down most of the back end of the Temple. And with no support, the front tower ultimately tumbled and folks came from miles around and took away some of the Temple stones and used them in other projects – still evident today.)

Sister Healy taught her children about Mother Mary “having bread ready to bake when they were forced to leave, so she hung it on the wagon and baked it after they crossed the river.” (Same source as above.)

Wow! What a story … and how tender to watch Sister Healy share this special story with her children. We all felt a special joy in this moment that we had shared together.

THE FAMILY SEEKS NAUVOO ANCESTORS

Brother Healy told me how he and his family had been focusing in Nauvoo about learning of their own ancestors who were here. I asked him who else they were related to in Nauvoo. He then said, “Simeon A. Dunn”. I chuckled as he said this. I asked, “Were you able to see his home here?” He said, “We drove by his house and got some photos.”

I said, “Well, this gets better … and you are not going to believe this. My wife and I live in the Simeon Dunn home, and we can let you in to see it.” Brother Healy was totally dumbfounded. We were all kind of in shock. The family was delighted. I told them that my service at the Orson Hyde home would end at 5:00 PM and shortly thereafter, they could come to our home (located on the same street as the Field Cabin – but south a couple of blocks).

DUNN PROGENY VISIT THEIR DUNN ANCESTOR’S HOME

Shortly after Sister Hunt and I got home, the Healy family came to our door. We welcomed them into our home – as caretakers of their ancestor’s home.

The Dunn home is an original home from the pioneer era. The exterior of the building was restored a few years ago and it looks wonderful outside. The inside, however, is not original – but is a modern apartment made over to house Nauvoo missionary couples. We showed them our modern living room, small kitchen, and the upstairs bedroom.

I then took the family downstairs into the cellar. I showed them evidence of the original limestone fireplace. I then said, “Okay, are you ready for this?” I opened the latch of the exit up to the grassy world above. I invited the son (about age 8) to push up on the exterior doors. Following my directions, he was able to push the doors upward and out to rest on the wood uprights. The family was delighted. The kids were excited as they made their exit up the limestone stairs (shown in a previous blog with our bikes). Of course, Dad was quick to take some more photos of the activity.

THE DUNN FAMILY LOG OF DESCENDANTS

I then brought the family inside and showed them a special treasure. This is a log book in which Dunn family descendants have signed their names – since 1982 – as they have visited their ancestral home. There are pages and pages of individual lines of progeny – some showing their contact information – and some showing a long string of “greats” as they tried to explain their ancestral link.

I sat the book on the table and turned to the last entry in the book – made just a couple weeks earlier when we were visited by yet another family connection. I got out my pen and invited even the smallest of children to log their own names. I had to laugh at one young child as she said, “Our mom can’t sign the book because this was not her ancestor.” Her husband, however, wanted his wife listed with him and the six (of their 10) children.

Mom Healy continued to share with me their family stories. She said that Grandma Mary Field Garner had lived to age 107 and died in 1943. She said that there was a treasured family photo of her own grandfather shown in a photo with his great grandmother Mary Field Garner – that was taken in 1940. Later Sister Healy forwarded the classic photo to me to include here in this blog article.

Wow! We were all in awe as we thought in amazement and gratitude of the events of the past couple of hours. We knew that the Lord had orchestrated some special miracles in our behalf.

This photo made me think of a similar photo that I have with my mother and her own pioneer grandmother, Else Marie Pedersen Larsen. Mom was about six years old, and her grandmother was ninety-ish. I enjoy telling folks that my grandmother – truly with only one “great” – was a pioneer from Denmark at age 8. (My grandpa Larsen was age 53 when my mother was born – so that is how we get to the pioneer era so quickly. Else was born in 1846 and Grandpa Henry Larsen was born in 1879. I cherish that special photo of Mom and Elsie – my own special pioneer link.

Alura Larsen with grandmother, Elsie Larsen, Anna Larsen, Boyd (brother to Alura)

THE DAY KEEPS GOING WITH EVEN MORE SPECIAL EVENTS

Each week on Tuesday nights, our mission leaders stage a training for the 200 plus missionaries serving here. And so, after hosting our special company, Sister Hunt and I headed off to the meeting.

It was announced that 19 new Young Sister Missionaries (YSM’s) would arrive this Thursday. This is in addition to the 50 already here. We are kind of short-handed on site missionaries, so these ladies will be a great boost in helping to cover all of our bases.

First on the program was a great “dog and pony show” staged by Elder Davies and his team. They had a lot of energy as they invited all of us to participate in various way in the upcoming Nauvoo and British pageants. They taught us how to “stand resolutely” as a part of the cast of one of the pageants. Wow! This all sounds so fun and exciting. (July 9 to August 3^rd … I can’t wait!)

We then heard testimony of a Brother Gary Boatright – via a “larger than life” video of him talking right to us from the Salt Lake City Historian’s office. His assigned topic of the evening was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He testified boldly. He said, “Joseph was “A man” … but he was also a “man called of God”. He said, “Yes, I am a follower of Joseph Smtih and the foundation he built. Joseph fulfilled the mandate of Christ as his Prophet.” He noted that after the Liberty Jail experience, Joseph KNEW without a doubt that he was indeed the Lord’s prophet. He said that Joseph was the man God called to reveal the mind of the lord to the Saints of the latter days.”

Brother Gary reminded us as missionaries, that we have also been called by a Prophet to be in Nauvoo at this special time because the Lord wants each of us to be here.”

“HOORAH, HOORAH, HOORAH, FOR ISRAEL”

When I was a young missionary, we had a few traditions that we followed as missionaries finished their service in Nauvoo and were to head home. One was a tie cutting ceremony.

I remember my own tie cutting ceremony. I tricked Brother Holliday who was conducting the solemn ceremony. I wrapped my tie twice around my neck. I wore a V-necked sweater, and the tied tie tip was just barely covered by the V-neck. And when Brother Holliday pulled it out for the cutting, the whole crowd burst into laughter as he felt pretty silly. I loved the moment. The other missionaries departing at the same time also got their ties snipped but their snipping was not as good as mine.

And then we all held hands (figuratively) and together and emotionally sang, “Old Nauvoo” – to the tune of Edelweiss. This reminded me of being at Scout camp at a final campfire program wherein we held hands and sang “Kumbaya” together. This was always a tear-jerking experience – and our “Old Nauvoo” singing was more of same.

Until tonight (June 4^th) I was unaware of the current send-off tradition. After the training – as noted above, we all gathered out in the lobby of the visitors’ center. There were four departing couples. The mission president Mehr and his wife each ceremoniously hugged each of the departing missionaries.

One of the departees was my 3^rd Cousin, Sister Thomas. We have enjoyed the whole “cousin” relationship. And her husband, Kim, has been our zone leader for our Heber Zone.

Then all of the missionaries formed a great horseshoe and with great gusto we raised and swung our hands in a circle (we were not in costume so none of us had our hats on) and we shouted the words, “Hoorah, Hoorah, Hoorah for Israel!”. Wow! What a moment. This was pretty powerful.

And then three of the four couples (the Lowes had flown home for an event – so they never go their last Hoorah.) All of the rest of us other missionaries also kind of lined up. Then all of the missionaries filed by them all and gave a multitude of hugs. I wondered how the folks survived all of that squeezing. We sang, “God be With You ‘Til we Meet Again.” Wow! Talk about heart-rending. It was a special and emotional time for the departees but also for the rest of us.

AND THEN “ALONG CAME JONES” …

This event is not spiritually drenched, but it was humorous as we heard it in first person by Elder Jones himself – after the above situation. Sister Hunt and I have felt a special connection with Elder and Sister Jones ever since we were together at the MTC. And it seems that Elder Jones always has an interesting tale to tell. Last week it was his kidney stones.

Today, his adventures continued. Knowing that he was to be assigned to labor at the dirty Blacksmith Shop, he and his wife had gone shopping at a thrift store (not our own mission DI shop). He “invested” in some cheap pants that he could get dirty at the forge. All went well until he made a visit to the lav and the “new” pants literally “blew a gasket” and burst the whole zipper out. He was caught “up a creek without a paddle” – as he was there for the day, and he had no car to go home for a change. (His wife had dropped him off at the beginning of the day.) Luckily, he was able to don a blacksmith’s apron that covered his now open condition. And under that cover – hiding his “open book”, he spent the rest of the day under the apron and feeling kind of vulnerable and foolish. Too bad his wife was not around. She has made enough aprons to outfit a whole army. Anyway, it made for a funny story which two or three of us couples enjoyed. Moral: “I guess you get what you pay for!”

THE EXCITEMENT CONTINUED AT HOME

Although it was late when we got home for the evening – our son, Rusty asked if we were still up. With all of my projects, it is a good thing that senior couples have more flexibility in their bedtimes than our young counterparts. (I could never get everything done, otherwise.) I assured Rusty that we were still up and would for a while. We staged a video call with the family for almost an hour. The kids were both anxious to share with us all of the awards and certificates that they were given in end-of-school recognition events. It was a bit sad that we missed those times – being on our mission. In the course of their lives, we have missed only a few such recognition ceremonies. Another of those mission sacrifices. Thank heaven for modern technology that still allows us to be with them. s to feel close – even though we are far apart.

POWERHOUSE YOUNG MEN VISIT NAUVOO

The day of June 4^th – of which I have been writing, seemed to merge into the next day as the writing continued. I will thus include an incident that happened the next day as if It were in a single day. It is too good to wait, and I don’t want to lose it in the 3×5” cards.

Anyway, on this day, Sister Hunt and I found ourselves at the Jonathan Browning home and gunsmith shop. We were so busy that day. We took through about 400 people – with the help of one YSM couple. We were all on a fast-track mode rotating with rapid speed through the home – only to get back to the beginning in time to rush into the next tour. I hardly saw Sister Hunt all day – as we each took separate tours (usually we are together).

Our visitors of the day included a convoy of six full buses of youth from Texas around Dallas Ft. Worth, another Texas group of about 200 kids, a group from Sevier County, Utah, one from Las Vegas, and another from around Richfield, Utah. Wow! Talk about an invasion of great young people. They were all truly amazing.

I came out from the gate from my previous tour and straight ahead of me was a glorious sight. I stood with awe and amazement. It was a photo just waiting to be taken – nine great young men – all with trimmed hair, white shirts and ties. And that’s was another WOW. I asked these young men if I could take their photo and use it in a blog. They thought that was okay. They were a part of the Richfield group, and they were awaiting a guide for a Browning tour (and that was to be me!)

These guys were a powerhouse of goodness, strength and power. In seeing them, I was reminded of the scripture in Alma 53 (verses 19 to 21):

“And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity, but behold, this was not all – they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before Him.”

These magnificent young men were all of that and more. It just radiated in their faces and in their whole demeanor.

I could see these guys all entering the MTC together. Wow! What a source of current and future strength.

WOW … WHAT A DAY!

Can you believe that all of this happened in just one day? It was truly a wonderful day, and we very much felt the Spirit of God with us and knew He was directing our paths. It is amazing what the Lord can do – creating such miracles as we let Him act in our lives and as He stages these people and experiences on behalf of us and those around us.

I retired for the night way too late, but truly grateful to the Lord for this special and wonderful day. (All in a missionary day’s work!) Instead of writing this article, I should have been journal writing – but at least this writing can mostly substitute as a journal entry.

From the busy but happy Nauvoo trail,

Elder Kevin

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Special Times at Joseph’s Red Brick Store … and More!

June 2, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

BLOG #10

Since Sister Hunt and I have come to Nauvoo, we have had some special times at Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Store, as well as at his Homestead and Mansion House – and other places.

March 5, 2024 proved to be a historic day that most of us had not anticipated. It was a glorious day. In a surprise announcement The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ together posted the news. On that date, all of the Joseph Smith properties in Nauvoo transferred from the latter to the former.

The Community of Christ Church (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ) is to be commended for their years of dedicated care of the Joseph Smith properties and we can be grateful for their service and management. Without their foresight and able management, these places would not be available to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the way that they are today.

The transaction included transfer of the Joseph Smith Homestead and Mansion House, the Nauvoo House, Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Store, the Sidney Rigdon Home, as well as Nauvoo’s “First Hotel”, the Jonathan Wright, William Marks and Aaron Johnson homes. Tours under the new leadership began on March 25 – just three weeks later. Since that time, many people have come in droves to see the new sites.

It was exciting for Sister Hunt and I to see the timing of our mission call. We (or I) had been frustrated with some delays in the call process. But after we received our call to serve in Historic Nauvoo, it all made sense. We arrived in Nauvoo just three weeks after the property transfer. And how exciting is that? And additionally, I was called to be the “site coordinator” for these properties. It was all very wonderful.

Since our arrival, we have had a several opportunities to serve as guides at the Homestead and Mansion House (one tour) and Joseph’s Red Brick Store. Our guests have been so excited to see these new places.

For those who do not know, Joseph fund a ready-made log home when he came to Nauvoo in 1839. What is called the “Homestead” cabin was built about 1823 by a James White – who was a Mississippi River fur trader. Joseph bought this home in 1839. He made two additional additions to the Homestead – first in 1840 and again in 1842. He and Emma moved to the Mansion House in 1843. The Homestead was the headquarters of the Church until 1842 when Joseph opened his Red Brick Store.

The Red Brick Store was a special and sacred place. Joseph said of his upstairs office, Here “I kept my sacred writings, translated ancient records, and received revelations.”

In the Store, Joseph recorded Section 132 of the Doctrine and Covenants. He translated and published the ancient Book of Abraham (in the local “Times and Seasons” newspaper), organized the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo, gave the first Temple endowments, and transferred Priesthood keys on to the 12 Apostles. So, the store was a very significant and sacred place in church history. (And it still is!) Pretty amazing and breath-taking in its scope.

THE JOHN WENTWORTH LETTER

John Wentworth was a Chicago newspaper publisher. He wrote to Joseph Smith asking what “The Mormons” believed. From his Red Brick Store, Joseph wrote back to Mr. Wentworth with 13 statements of our beliefs. We, of course, know them today as the “13 Articles of Faith”.

In our tour, we talk about the “Articles” and if there are children in the group, we invite them to share their favorite Article. They usually do better than the adults. It has been fun to watch the children recite them. On one occasion, three siblings stood together and sang a couple of the Article of Faith songs. So great!

We also talk about the “Standard of Truth”. This was also a part of the Wentworth letter. We also invite people young and old to recite this great standard and prophesy of missionary work going forth to the world. Many men and women have previously served missions and often recited the Standard at zone and other conferences. Often the folks can remember this from their missionary days. Even if they don’t recite it aloud, we can often see them mouthing the words along with us. (And The Standard is not just pretty words … it is Joseph’s prophesy about how missionary work will fill the whole earth. And as we look at what has happened since Joseph’s time – and everywhere in the world today, we see the exciting fulfilment of that special prophesy.)

One moment with The Standard was particularly memorable. I asked if anyone knew it and two teen brothers (about ages 13 and 16) stood flanking me and together they (and I) recited with great gusto:

”The Standard of Truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. Persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”

Those boys were truly amazing! And talk about proud parents … (and it was the parents who had taught them the Standard so they were really proud that their efforts may have taken root a bit with the boys).

Whenever we have teens come in, and as we talk of “The Standard”, I try to get them to imagine themselves on their missions and standing as a mission or zone and reciting that together “with gusto”. I hope I have enlarged their visions a bit.

A TOUR DELAY PROVIDES AN UNPLANNED AFTERNOON CONCERT

The Red Brick Store has two parts – the downstairs and the “upper room”. Typically, there are two sets of missionaries serving at the Store together. One pair of missionaries can be downstairs with one group – while the other pair can be upstairs with another.

On this one occasion, there was a lady on the tour ahead of us. She was unable to climb the stairs, so the other pair of missionaries kept her downstairs to share with her the upstairs tour. This left Sister Hunt and I outside and waiting with a group for the folks ahead of us to finish up. A group of about 15 people gathered with us out there on the Red Brick steps and surrounds. So as to not get even further behind with the tours, I opted to gather the group and begin the first floor tour outside.

I had just gotten started when the sound of music rent the air. We looked up and coming toward us was the “Nauvoo Brass Band” doing their band thing in their very own carriage. And seeing us gathered outside, they had the teamster pull to a stop. They gave us our very own private concert right then and there. Talk about fabulous! And the energy of those folks … they were literally dancing and bobbing as they played their instruments. Amazing doesn’t adequately describe the scene. Maybe it should be “spectacular”.

It is so great having the band on the streets of Nauvoo. They give such an exciting and upbeat burst of energy with every stop that they make. And they give a couple of concerts each day – in the “park” (grassy area) in front of the Print Shop – and elsewhere. Such a fun missionary assignment!

A UNIQUE MEETING WITH 12 UNUSUAL BROTHERS

We never know who we will have on our tours. This one group really caught us by surprise. We looked outside and saw them coming. They came in three cars, and they piled out and moved en masse toward us. I wondered what had hit us! Here was a throng of very handsome “brothers” – all with dark hair and looking amazing and wonderful. They were so impressive. As I greeted them, we did the “where are you from thing” to get to know the folks.

They announced that they were a religious seminary group and that they were from Toronto, Canada. They said that they were touring all over to learn about other churches. I said, “That is great! What other churches have you already been to?” I had to laugh at their answer. They said, “We went to Palmyra and then to Kirtland!”

As noted, the guys said that they were from Toronto, Canada. I knew however, that they were not native to Toronto. The Spirit told me that they were from the country of Pakistan. I asked them if they were Pakistani and they admitted that they are. I told them that I love Pakistani people.

I felt such a connection to these guys. They looked so fabulous as they sat with us in the Red Brick Store. My heart and soul went out to these guys. I thought they must be royal princes of the best of Abraham. Not sure if they come from Abraham but when I mentioned him, they acted as if they claim him as their father.

These guys were sincerely interested in everything. One sage seemed a bit skeptical of things, but the other guys seemed to be loving everything that they heard. They were soaking it in.

It is hard to describe the feelings that I felt in the presence of these guys. They seemed like such great men.

After the tour, I was shaking hands with a couple of the guys – and one in particular. Sister Hunt put out her hand to shake and the man politely said that he could not shake hands – (a cultural thing for him). But, he crossed his arms over his chest – over his heart toward her and said, “Thank you so much!”

I took the group over to the cemetery that contains the graves of Joseph, Hyrum and Emma Smith and others. One guy noticed my bolo tie and wanted to know what this was. He really liked my explanation – that it has no significance to anything but that I like t collect them – and that they are kind of my “signature thing”.

The men were in awe and reverence. I then took them over to where the Joseph Smith homestead tour begins. There were sister missionaries there to greet them. I asked the men if it was okay for the ladies to take them on the tour and they said that it was.

I was kind of overcome with the Spirit after the special time I had just shared with all of these men of power and strength. Wow! I noted a special connection with one brother. He seemed really into the message and had listened and watched me intently as I presented new truths to him. I could tell that he was really feeling the Spirit in a good way. As I said farewell to this group, I shook hands with this one guy and as I did so, I said, “It was so great to have you here, brother.” He looked at me, and in a very natural way, we pulled each other into a great hug. Then, to my surprise, the long line of men behind him also wanted a hug from me.

One guy wanted to take a moment to teach me how to say “Hello” or “good day” in his native language – possibly Urdu? He had me say the words and then he had me practice them. Sad to say, my grasp of the “gift of tongues” was not that strong at that moment – but it was a fun bonding time.

And then they were off … I was still kind of choked up when I returned to the Red Brick Store and greeted my next group.

GREETED BY HOMEMADE CINNAMON ROLLS, WE BECAME FAST FRIENDS

There is nothing like home made cinnamon rolls to help “make new friends and influence people” (as my friend “Sam” Carnegie would say. My wife honed in on that art many years ago – and she has been working her charm with them ever since (just like my own mother and grandmother before her).

It was late on a Sunday afternoon, and we were at the Joseph and Emma Homestead and Mansion House. Sister Hunt and other missionaries assigned there that afternoon were outside of the Bidamon Stable just visiting and basking in the beauty and wonder of the world around us – and feeling the influence of Joseph and Emma with us. This was as we had a few and rare moments between tours. (Actually, part of the team were giving tours.)

We were approached by a young family bearing gifts. Our mouths began to water – even before they got to us. Cinnamon rolls just seem to have a special aura around them. No one knew who these folks were, but they quickly caught our attention as we eyed the plates in their hands. I went over to greet them, and we became fast friends. They said that these cinnamon rolls had not sold in their restaurant and by their tradition, they were bringing them to share with missionaries. How grateful we were to be the recipients. Wow! I shared the goods with the other missionaries and we were all agog with the delectables before us.

MEET THE SQUIRE FAMILY OF DOWNTOWN NAUVOO …

We were greeted by Dad, Jordan, and Mom, Morgan Squire and three of their six children. Each one offered us a plate. Wow! You can come to our place any time, folks!

My wife and I enjoyed visiting with the Squire family. They shared with us their story (and with their permission, I share it here with ya’ll). They said that they operate the “Red Front” café or restaurant located in metropolitan downtown Nauvoo. We had already been to their place several times but had never met the visionaries behind the counter.

We were in awe and amazement as they shared with us their story. It was amazing, and inspiring …)

About five years ago, I guess they had been to Nauvoo on a family trip. And they had purchased a possible bed and breakfast location – here – just as an investment. They returned home to Salt Lake City, Utah.

Within a short time, the wife/mother kept having recurring spiritual promptings that they should move to Nauvoo to start a restaurant – and that they should do it NOW. She was stunned. They had no previous plans of doing such a thing. And further, they had never operated a restaurant. But, the thought and impressions kept coming. She could not get them to go away. The feelings pressed down on her and she could not shake them. She went to her husband and told him about her feelings. She thought and hoped he would say, “That is really a dumb idea” and would talk her out of it. Not so! He said, “Well, if the Lord has told you to do this, then we better go for it.” She was then in a state of shock … and it was time to act.

This situation reminded Lou and me of a similar occasion for us. We were living in Santa Barbara, California, where we had lived for two years. I had recently left the employ of the Boy Scouts of America. I had been a professional Scouter – for seven years but a change was a necessity. We were out of a job and had no money. We were just getting started on a trip to Utah. We were speeding along on the freeway east of Ventura, California on Highway #126 – heading east on our way up to Utah to see Lou’s folks and family for a short time.

As we were thus on the freeway – going through the lovely orange orchards, I suddenly turned to my wife and said, “You are going to think that I am crazy, but I just got the feeling that we are supposed to move to this town.” (And we didn’t know anyone there – nor had we ever been there). She surprised me as she said, “No, I don’t think you are crazy … I just got the same feeling!” Wow!

We made our trip to Utah and returned to our home in Santa Barbara and within a few days, moved 50 miles away to the town of Santa Paula, California. That move proved to be a wonderful blessing in our lives in many ways. (Three more children joined the four – and we had some wonderful friends – the Lazenby’s and others.) We were grateful that we heeded the workings of the Spirit with us. We remained in Santa Paula for five years before returning home to Arizona.

Anyway, back to the Squire family … Being united in the cause, they made the decision to move “right now” to Nauvoo. They began to make preparations to move. And they were surprised when a neighbor a few doors down from them came over to talk. The neighbor said, “God told us that we are supposed to buy your house.”

Sister Jordan objected and said, “But you have a house .. why would you want to buy our house?” The neighbor was just as surprised as were the Squire family – but acted on the inspiration. Soon the purchase was made. The Squire family packed up and headed off for Nauvoo in the moving van. They quickly found a Nauvoo home to live in, and within a month or so, they suddenly found themselves living in the little village of Nauvoo, Illinois (now bursting at the seams with about 1,000 people). And within a ridiculously short period of time – like within a month, they were moved in and had their new restaurant/café open for business. And they have been here doing business ever since. They do not know fully why the Lord directed them here, but trusting in Him, they have had success and great experiences here. (And our mission President says that this same feeling can be shared by many of the business owners of Nauvoo. He said that “there is a gathering here … and people are being told to come here– and they don’t know why. They just go for it and do it.”

This spirit reminds me of the scripture that was my family favorite as I was growing up: Proverbs 3:5-6 which states, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Even through several bouts of unemployment and lingering uncertainty, we have gone forward in faith. That has been the modus operandi for our whole lives. And it seems to be working! And we now express our gratitude for the Lord’s bounties unto us. He has always provided us with “sufficient for our needs”.

A PLUG FOR THE LOCAL “RED FRONT” RESTAURANT

Okay, so there are not many options for eating in Nauvoo. We surely do not have a monopoly on eating establishments. But, that is not the only reason why I tout the Red Front restaurant or café here in downtown Nauvoo. They seriously, they have amazing food (and decent prices). We have loved it each time that we have gone there – and with every menu item we have tried.

Our favorite menu item is their ice cream “bricks”. Maybe it is just the Belcher Brick in our blood, but we really love this kind of brick. It comes in a plastic box about 4” square. And the ice cream brick inside – nearly fills up the box. They always have their mainstay of greet mint chocolate chip – to which Sister Hunt is addicted – but often have other exotic flavors – like French Silk, Lemon Raspberry, brownie dough, and more. And the crust on each one is truly amazing. We often feel a pull on the vehicle steering wheel nudging us to go there at nights. Sometimes we will share one brick. Oher times, we will each get our own favorite brick (depending upon flavors available). Occasionally, we will each eat our full brick, and sometimes, we each get our brick, eat part of it there, and then bring home half of it to freeze for another happy time.

When people ask for our food recommendations, we always are quick to sing the praises of The Red Front – owned and operated by Jordan and Morgan Squire. They are only open to 8:00 PM, however (later than most places in town … since most “roll up their sidewalks” earlier) so you’ll have to hurry … but they are sure worth going there. So, “Hats off, Squire family!”

AND A SIDENOTE ABOUT NAUVOO SHOPPING OPPORTUNITIES

Anticipating Mother’s Day and Sister Hunt’s birthday (I think), our son, Rusty, asked what stores we have in Nauvoo. He was, indeed, quite shocked when we told him emphatically, “Dollar General”. That is seriously the Walmart of old Nauvoo. He never ordered from there … I guess the place did not meet his hopes or expectations.

ANOTHER UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER WITH THE SQUIRES

One day, Sister Hunt and I found ourselves serving (literally) in the restored “Scovil Bakery”. We were visited by the Sister missionary who coordinates the “cookies” for the bakery. She said that she would not be there, but said that a lady would be bringing in a large collection of cookies. She gave us instructions for getting them into large freezer boxes (there’s that “large” word again) located down in the limestone cellar of the place. She said that we would be visited by Jordan Squire with a large batch of the famous and now traditional Scovil Bakery molasses cookies. She said, “Large” but we learned a new meaning of the word that morning.

Baker Squire showed up as promised. We learned what “large” means. On that morning, she literally brought in about 4,000 cookies. Yes, that’s right!

For many years, the modern Scovill Bakery used to actually make these famous molasses cookies (in the native “bustle oven” of the place – so named because of the bustle on a woman’s posterior – that sticks out in the back) and would give them out to visitors. They became “legendary” and people came for the tour just so that they could get another of those pioneer delectables.

We learned that the “large” meant being innovative in how to get the five or six “large” crates of cookies downstairs. All stairs in Nauvoo are notoriously treacherous in their steepness, but the Scovil stairs redefine the word and description. One can hardly call them “stairs”. It is more like one of those old-fashioned fire station poles. Jordan just kept bringing the boxes from her car and I would carry them to the launching point for the so-called stairs. Lou would perch herself (literally and precariously) on one or two of the “steps” to receive the packed boxes. Probably not the best alternative, she would slide the boxes down to the cellar below. And then she would transfer the box contents into the two waiting freezer boxes. She would return up the pole (an interesting feat, in itself) with the empty box and I would return it to Jordan. Even with the challenges, we soon got all of the boxes downstairs, unloaded, and passed back up to me for Jordan.

Jordan told us the “Nauvoo” had contracted with her Red Front company to create some 50,000 cookies that were projected to be needed through the summer for the onslaught of visitors whom we hoped would come. The cookies are small … you could not make a meal of them … but they are at least a bite of that old-fashioned molasses goodness. And another engineering challenge is that they are all individually packaged in their own little plastic bag. 50,000! Wow. That really defines “large”. She said that the cookies were “all hands on deck” for her family. Talk about home evening activities … that was certainly one for everyone to be a part of. They probably wished that all six children had six or more hands each for the task at hand. And the poor kids are probably watching cookies being created, baked, and bagged, all through the night –every night. But, “progress is being made”, said Morgan. “The end is in sight! This makes about 41,000 cookies in the freezers below!” Wow!

After she left, I began to check out the system by which the cookies made it to the packed freezers. I decided that we were not being very smart. Even though this building is a restored structure, it still has the characteristic old limestone basement – and a cellar door going up out of it. And Voila! (Remember my blog about our bike riding?) Well, that was the case with this place, also. One needed only to unlatch the door down cellar, and pull the outside doors up and over. We could have easily saved ourself (and especially Sister Hunt) a lot of grief if we had used our noggins a bit more creatively. I later mentioned this option to the “Sister Cookie Coordinator” and she tried to fathom that scenario. I am not sure she was a believer, but she should be! It would sure be easier for those coming 10,000 more cookies!

Well, there you have it! Life in Nauvoo just keeps getting better and better. I think we will stick around a while! (And maybe get some more of those cinnamon rolls and molasses cookies…!)

As ever, from the Nauvoo trail …

Elder Kevin

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Restoration in Old Nauvoo 1975 to 2024

May 29, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

Blog #9

In case you haven’t been to Old Nauvoo in a while, maybe it is time you came! I have personally noticed a lot of Restoration going on – especially the Restoration in Nauvoo from 1975 to 2024.

And first, I apologize for the space between the last blog article and this one. Actually, however, I have not been idle. I have actually been working on this blog for 50 years!

I have had the unique opportunity and blessing to experience historic Nauvoo at various times and in several different circumstances through the years.

My first Nauvoo experience happened in 1975 when I was serving on my “young mission”. I served in Nauvoo for the final 6 months of that mission. I loved the experience. It was truly wonderful and exciting in every way. I served then as a site guide in the eight restored homes.

My wife and I brought the nine children to Nauvoo and were cast members two different summers in the “City of Joseph” musical production. We found other opportunities to come to Nauvoo for many other excursions.

Then in 2024, my wife and I were assigned to Nauvoo for an 18-month “Senior Mission” for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And once again, we are historic site guides – just as I was in 1975. This time, there are over 30 restored homes and shops and we rotate through most of them.

During both missionary assignments, I have taken a multitude of photographs of many of the historic restored homes in Old Nauvoo. Being somewhat of a historian, this has been a great adventure! In this book/slide show, I am able to compare the homes as they existed in 1975 – and as they are now in 2024 – 49 years later. (Where did that time go? I couldn’t possibly be that old!)

When in Nauvoo as a young missionary, I maintained daily journal entries for each day of the mission. I also wrote extensive letters home to the folks each week. In an effort to add a bit of variety to the photos, I have included entries from that 1975 era (from the journals and letters) to show actual activities that I participated in at that time.

This has been a major effort and I hope that you will enjoy the PowerePoint presentation. The show really tells the story of Restoration here in Nauvoo.

Here is the link. (And you might want to copy and paste the link into your browser.) Look at the top of the PowerPoint presentation. ) Once you click on the presentation, look for the word “View” at the top. Then click on “Slide Show”. You will probably also want to click on “View” once more and then “Zoom”. Enlarge the view to 100% (or more if you are my age!). And then you are off and running! Sit back and enjoy the ride.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1bRVa8rnQdY9YmBRA8AVDuAS5NeXgwsGA/edit#slide=id.p1

And you know by now, that I don’t let moss grow under my feet. (But in humid Nauvoo, that might be a trick!)

I have already also published the book or slide show on my lulu.com site where I publish my books. With this link, you can order your own full-color book. (Color costs a bit more … but it is truly worth it!) The book will be a very quality book that you can put on your coffee table (without the coffee) and enjoy for years!

https://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-v-hunt/a-nauvoo-walk-down-history-lane-nauvoo-restoration-1975-to-2024/hardcover/product-w4vvrve.html?q=Nauvoo&page=1&pageSize=4

Well, there you 1 it!975 to 2024 Nauvoo Restoration. And that’s a big wow!

From the Nauvoo trail … Kevin

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Special Times, Places, and People

May 17, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou 2 Comments

By Kevin V. Hunt

Blog #8 May 16, 2024

We seem to have many special times, places, and people as we serve in Nauvoo. And the cool thing is that we really cannot predict the good times. They just seem to creep up on us. We never know when they are going to come … we just bask in the beauty of each moment or experience as it comes to us.

BIKES, MICE, SUNSETS AND EAGLES

Bikes, mice, sunsets, and eagles … That sounds like an interesting combination. If it rhymed, it could be the opening line of a Dr. Seuss book!

Okay, so a bike ride may not sound that exciting. But, in Nauvoo, even a routine bike ride together has its surprises and enjoyments.

Previous blogs showed our bikes on top of our wagon as we came from Arizona to Nauvoo. When we first got here, the weather was a bit chilly (at least for Lou) relative to bike riding. She wanted to hold off until we had a bit more heat coming our way. (Now that the weather is beautiful, we better do it before the humidity hits her!)

One challenge with the bikes was where to store them. We tried just leaving them out behind our back door – and they would have been perfectly fine there – without being locked up. We soon found, however, there was a bit too much rain and moisture to do this. In just a few days, the chains could be orange with rust. Hmmmm … where to put them?

We tried putting them on a corner of our small kitchen floor – on the tile next to the dining table. But, that didn’t leave us much room for navigating around our small place.

Then we thought of our basement. Yes, like many old Nauvoo structures, our place does have a basement or cellar (with most of the original limestone rocks still intact). A basement, I would think, would be a place on a level below the rest of the structure. And when I thought of “Cellar”, I thought of Grandma Hunt’s old cellar on the Beryl Junction farm. This was a stand-alone hole with a door entry. And in the cellar, Grandma would store meat, veggies and fruit that she had bottled – and a plethora of spiders. It looked like something out of a Halloween horror movie inside. But, it sure did its job! I remember trips down the cellar to get needed items for Grandma.

Here at the Simeon Dunn home in Nauvoo, the two concepts kind of come together. The cellar connects to the basement. Upon arrival, we went downstairs to explore – and found this creepy looking exit from the basement – up through the outside cellar doors. (And of course, all of the women immediately see a “security threat” with such an arrangement – either that or an open door and welcome mat to all of the mice creatures that might be out lurking out there and an opportunity to enter our place). With a few minutes of broom action, however, the cellar exit did actually work out quite well for getting the bikes outside and also protecting them from the outside elements when not in use.

We could ride anywhere – and we would see great scenery – with amazing green trees and grass everywhere (a bit different from our Arizona desert back home).

A natural route is to turn west from our place onto the famed Parley Street. And that is what we did. We headed west down through “The Trail of Hope” – where the Saints walked with wagons and freezing children as they left Nauvoo, heading west).

We arrived at the Mississippi River just in time to catch the magnificent sunset for which Nauvoo is known. Wow!

We rounded the corner as the road became Water Street. And then, in amazement, we saw above us in a giant tree, a huge eagle’s nest. And in the next we could see two baby eagles that were both being fed by mom and dad eagle. Dad had caught a fish and was ripping it apart (throwing out the bones) and feeding it to the hungry kids! Another wow!

WANNA BOOT?

Years ago, when we visited Nauvoo, with our family, we were touring some of the homes and shops. We decided to head to the nearby Riser Boot and Shoe Shop. As we approached, we were greeted by Sister Noble (wife of Ken Noble – my 8^th grade choral teacher in Mesa, Arizona. And that class is another story … I was kicked out of class. I couldn’t carry a note – let alone a full tune in the bucket. Where was the Nauvoo tin shop when I needed a bucket? But, I wouldn’t have known where to carry it anyway) . On that long ago day, Sister Noble (the senior site guide that day came outside and hollered in a really deep voice: “WANNA BOOT?”

That made a lasting impression on our children. They were often heard quoting Sister Noble, on that memorable day. We found new meaning to the “Wanna Boot” phrase ourselves as it was now our turn to be the guides at the site. Wanna boot? That was the question George Riser would ask every customer.

George and Christianne Riser were both German immigrants in their youth. They both ended up in Marion, Ohio where George became an apprentice (technically, a shoe maker was known as a “Cordwainer”) and by 1840, he owned his own shoe shop. After they were married, George and Christianna heard of “Those Mormons”. He had a worker, whom he said “was a better worker than a Mormon”. Nonetheless, George was impressed and sold his shop and moved to Nauvoo as a non-member. Hearing the Prophet, Joseph speak once was all it took. They became instant converts and never looked back. And they were faithful to the end.

Paying a “wagon and a team of horses”, he bought land and built himself a successful new shoe shop. After a mission (back to Ohio), he returned home to find that the Saints were heading west. He sold his business “for a wagon and a team of horses” and headed out.

In the shoe shop, Sister Hunt learned a new skill (a possible Etsy business) as she became the Cordwainer of the day. (That is one time that women’s lib paid off – at least for me.)

Riser Boot and Shoe Store Price List

And as she finished, she could say with pride, “WANNA BOOT?”

A SACRED VISIT INSIDE THE MAGNIFICENT NAUVOO TEMPLE

The most imposing building, by far, in Nauvoo, is the restored Temple. It stands in majestic beauty atop of the hill. Words cannot adequately describe its beauty – from every angle – in sunshine and in the sunset.

We wanted to visit inside and found it a bit challenging to get an appointment. The Temple is a very popular place. Everyone (living and the dead) wants to get inside – and it is truly worth it. And the challenge is that at least through April, the last session of the day was at 5:15 PM – and we don’t get off from our home assignments until 5:00 PM. We thus planned our trip there late on our P-day.

The Temple was as beautiful and amazing as we had anticipated. We had actually been there a couple of times before. Our daughter was here with a BYU historical sites semester years ago and Lou and I and a few others were all on the end of vacuum cleaners and saw literally the whole place. (Did I already talk about that? I apologize if I have already done so.)

We marveled at the fabulous full-wall murals in each room as we progressed from the creation room, to the World Room, and then to the Telestial Room. Wow! In one room, the mural begins with scenery from Vermont, where the Prophet Joseph Smith was born, then shows New York, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and then Salt Lake City. The mural is so amazing that the transitions to each new area of Church history just melt into each other. And the spiral staircases are so breathtaking. The craftmanship is deluxe to the max.

And after the tour, we went into the “left hallway” where we saw shadow boxes with the actual original Temple keys, the saber that Joseph used in the Nauvoo Legion, and some original Temple clothes that belonged to Mary Field Smith (widow of Hyrum, the Patriarch), and more.

We also did some “sealings” – and uniting couples as eternal companions – as well as some sealings of children to their eternal parents. It was very exciting to have David Palmer, a Temple missionary serving here, as our “sealer”. We were neighbors with him and his family 30 years ago – when we lived over by “The Westwood House”.

We thought that one of the “extras” who came to assist us looked familiar. After the sealing session, we were talking to Brother Palmer and told him that we now live in metropolitan Maricopa. The lady piped up and said that she also is from Maricopa. Turns out, she is in our current Pacana Park Ward. Are you kidding? Nauvoo is full of surprises. We were both a bit new to that ward and we didn’t even put two and two together.

Photo: Joseph and Hyrum at Sunset – View from the Temple looking west to river

COUSINS AT THE PENDLETON HOME AND SCHOOL

I noted that we never know what is going to happen in Nauvoo – nor whom we might see. We were assigned to teach one day at the Pendleton home and school. I gave the history part and Lou became the school marm of the day. And of course, this was right up her alley.

We were expecting several bus field trip kids to arrive (and they would give Lou plenty of practice in her school room). She taught them until it was time to release “for recess”. They didn’t have standardized spelling in those days. People just kind of spelled as they heard words. And this was a bit of a challenge with immigrants coming from so many parts of the country, Great Britain, and beyond.

Photo: Calvin Pendleton penmanship (telling his history in the church)

Here is an example of some of the words of the day. We felt as if we were again playing “Mad Gab” with our teenagers at home.

In between the bus groups, I went outside to greet a large group (or large for the small building). I found three couples out at the sign in front of the home. We began with our usual greeting of our names and where we are from – and then asked the people where they hail from. And then always follows a session of “Do you know …” I was surprised on this occasion. All three couples said that they were from Enterprise, Utah. Wow! They were half of the town of Enterprise – and all here together right here in Nauvoo. My father – and generations behind him called Enterprise home. The three ladies were all sisters. And coming from Enterprise, we knew that we were all cousins.

They and I all took out our trusty FamilyTree app on FamilySearch. We did the “Relatives Around Me” game (which is so fun!). Not surprising, they fund out that they were related – but also we learned that I am also “3^rd Cousins – Once Removed” with them. How fun! So great to find all of these long-lost cousins. We all hugged and sang, “Kumbayah”. They also claimed Pendleton blood on their “other line” so they were anxious to learn all about their ancestor’s home.

COUSINS AND MORE COUSINS

And then there is the day that we were serving at the newly acquired Homestead and Mansion House of the Prophet Joseph. (And these are very popular places these days … people are thronging here to see these sacred and beautiful places.)

We greeted a large multi-generational group who in the “Where are you from, and who do you know” game, let on that they were Farmington, Utah. I quipped as I often do, that “I am related to half of Farmington, … but they are all in the cemetery.” My 4^th great grandfathers, Joseph Lee Robinson and Ezra Thompson Clark were both early founders of this city. (And Farmington is where Lou and I got our marriage license. I then lived in Ogden and she lived in south Salt Lake (Sandy) so we met in the middle – at Farmington to get the license.

Sensing possible more cousins, I suggested that we check “Relatives Around Me” together. Several folks pulled out their phones – and sure enough, there were the relationships.

As I did this exercise with my new cousins, there were three other separate (small) groups standing around waiting for a tour to begin. These people noticed our excitement and activity going on and they wanted to join the scene. So, people in these other three groups also pulled out their phones. And believe it or not, we had five groups (counting me) who were all related somehow to folks in each of the five groups. (That is where polygamy paid off!)

Another time, we were again at the Joseph Smith Homestead. I had just come out of the house with a group and was heading over to the Mansion House. One of the young sister missionaries came and got my attention. She said that someone wanted to see me. I went around the corner and was surprised to see my wife’s nephew (married to Michelle, daughter of Lou’s sister “She Jerrie” (not to be confused by her husband, “He Jerry”). Richard Hirst was there with two of his daughters and his brother. They were driving home (as Michelle flew) from Virginia for the college graduation of the oldest daughter. They had heard that Lou and I (aka Sister Hunt) were serving in Nauvoo.

I guess they got the royal run-around as they looked for us around Nauvoo Keep in mind, that I have already said that I have two other Hunt cousins who are serving here as Teamsters. Upon arrival, they had gone to a few places – after getting hints about where a Hunt might be. They finally got directed toward the real Elder Hunt (me). If someone wants to get to Nauvoo, they have to be somewhat determined (or focused) to come here. It is not easy to get here. That had been the case with Richard and Family. We don’t know how far out of their way they had come to find us and sadly, they used up all of their few available moments running around Nauvoo trying to find us. We were with a tour group but took a momentary diversion to have one tour member get a photo of us. And then they were off – on their way, heading west toward Utah.

ENTERTAINING ANGELS UNAWARES

Most folks who come on our tours are wearing their casual travel clothes. But, occasionally, we have someone show up in Sunday clothes (on a weekday). They are a dead give-away. We know that they are going to or coming home from the Temple. This couple arrived in their Sunday best (though he was not wearing a suit coat).

Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not have many days where I am not wearing one of my characteristic bolo ties. And even here, in Nauvoo, I have been able to wear a bolo most days. (Though, admittedly, I had to do a bolo sorting exercise to see which ones might be Nauvoo appropriate. Cowboys, for instance, had not yet come into Vogue in 1840, so bolos with cowboy hats are “out”.)

Whittling was a thing in Nauvoo … Ever hear of the “Whistling Whittling Berigade”? (More on that later!)

My bolos have become a part of my Nauvoo period costumes. And this particular day was no exception. I greeted this couple sporting a bolo tie and this became a conversation starter with the couple. The brother recognized my bolo and connected it to the Scouting Philmont Scout Ranch (in New Mexico).

He asked if I had been to Philmont – and sadly, I had to report that I have never attended a training course there. I mentioned that Sister Hunt had been to Philmont when age nine or so – when her father was in a stake presidency. Then this brother admitted that he had attended Philmont when serving as a stake President a few years ago. I started to do the math. This guy still had “the look” even though he had been a stake president a few years ago.

As I later learned at the Print Shop, I just “cut to the chase”. I flat out asked him, “So, are you a General Authority now?” He added humbly that he is presently a General Authority Seventy and that he has responsibility for a dozen stakes surrounding Nauvoo. This means that he had administrative jurisdiction for Nauvoo. Wow! Elder Morgan and his wife were both very impressive. We gave them our regular tour at the newly acquired Joseph Smith Homestead. I am still here, so we must not have done too badly.

MEETING A TRUE FRIEND AND BROTHER – AND A TRUE SON OF HELAMAN

On our final tour one day at the Mansion House, we had some special folks as a part of a very large tour group. Alfredo was there from Utah with his wife and a friend and his wife. They were likely Lamanites – originally from Venezuela. This Alfredo and I hit it off immediately. We were instant friends. This was one of those rare times where I felt as if I had always known him (and he acted likewise). What a great man!

Alfredo and his group had come from Utah – having driven almost continuously to get to Nauvoo. They were in Nauvoo for only a single day, and they were trying to pack in as much as possible in just that one day. He lamented that they had to return home on the morrow and the fact that he had not seen all that he wanted to see. He was really sad that everything would be closing within just a few minutes.

I said to him, “If you could see any one place that you missed, which would it be?” He said he had hoped to see the Brigham Young Home. I happened to have a key to the place (though I have not yet served there this time around). I told him, “I have not taken a tour of Brigham’s home in 49 years, but maybe I can remember it to take you through it.” He did not want to “put me out” but I persuaded him that I would love to take him through it. We arranged to meet there at the Young home at 7:00 PM.

We met him there – as we had promised. With us also was Lou’s brother and wife, Kerry. (More on them later!) We went into the home, and I began giving him the tour. Amazing how everything came back to me. (The Holy Ghost is so amazing under such circumstances!)

I had just begun the tour when someone opened the front door and burst in. The guy said loudly and quite abruptly, “First, I want to know who you are and what your are doing here.” I told him that I am a “site missionary”. (We had been told that site missionaries can take after-hours tours for family and friends – so I thought that there was no problem.) He introduced himself as a night security guard. I was new so we had not met. After he calmed down, he told me that all was well. He later sent me instructions on how to next time inform security of an after-hours arrival and departure – so that I don’t catch them by surprise again.

The abrupt visit kind of caught us all off guard. We caught our breath, and all had a good laugh. It definitely gave us some added excitement.

Recently I re-read some of my journals from the 1975 era when I was in Nauvoo as a “young Elder”. An entry said that I loved giving tours of the Brigham Young home because it was easy to talk about the man, Brigham, and not to focus upon the antiques of the place.

I shared with Alfredo and the rest of the gang about Brigham’s “Council Room” where the Quorum of the 12 Apostles met regularly to map out and plan the western migration of the church to the Salt Lake Valley. (Joseph had previously told Brigham that the Saints would go to the Rocky Mountains and would create settlements all along the mountain range.)

This “Council Room” is one of my favorite rooms because it contains a large painting of Brigham Young (a much older Brigham than when he was in Nauvoo.) Years ago, we took our nine children to Nauvoo and were in the cast of the then “City of Joseph” pageant. We did not have set roles in the show, but I had dressed up and had a beard to look like Brigham on a few other occasions. So, I said that I was Brother Brigham in the pageant. I cut my beard (the “square look” with no mustache) and colored it to look like Brigham. And on that occasion, I had my photo taken with Brigham.

Even to this day, I love to show this photos with my Brigham beard to others (mostly guys who, like me, love beards). It is fun to show them a beard that I have actually grown myself. (It’s a “guy thing” … sharing beard-growing bragging rights!”) Over the years, there have been many other beards that I have grown. Admittedly, however, my beard is no longer the rusty red of when I was about 30.) And it is always fun to show the picture of the two of us. And as I show the photo, I always say, “That’s me on the left!” (This always brings a laugh from the on-looker … and I love it.)

When we were in the Pageant, our family made a visit to the Brigham home and I was wearing my full regalia costume to look like Brigham. As we entered the home, the senior sister missionary was already giving a tour. When giving a tour, the guide should be careful to stay facing the group. This particular sister, however, had her back to the group and had her head up inside of the “bustle oven” (so named because the oven sticks out beyond the house – liker a woman’s bustle.) When she came up for air from the bustle oven, she made a gasp as she saw me. After her initial shock, she gulped and said, “Well, here’s Brother Brigham, now!” That was my moment. I gloated in it.

Back to the current tour … I took all of the folks out to the back yard and showed them all of Brigham’s “out buildings” including his outdoor root cellar (that I talked of above), his well his rain water cistern, his carriage house, and the view that he would have had of the temple as it was under construction. My friends were all amazed in awe.

Brigham’s Root Cellar

Then it was time to bid farewell to my friend and brother, Alfredo. We hugged each other – again feeling that we had forever been brothers. It was a sad parting.

Oh, and one more funny incident with that beard … Earlier that spring (March 1997) I played the role of an apostle in the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant and had the beard for that production. During the pageant, I had to make an emergency trip to Utah for the funeral of my grandmother, Aususta Wilcox Hunt. As I was in the Las Vegas airport, I looked over and found myself walking paralell with famous football player, Steve Young. Without saying Brigham’s name, I said to him, “I am growing this beard to be your great grandfather in the Nauvoo pageant this summer.” He looked over at me and said simply, “Well, if you want to be Brigham, you will have to put on a few pounds.”

Backing up a bit … I said that I had played Brigham on a few other occasions. Two of those occasions date back to when I was about age 8 or 10. On one occasion, I played Brigham in a Cub Scout pack meeting. My sister and all of my brothers were all dressed up as my wives. (I am sure that they loved that. That was in a day when such action wasn’t super weird.)

And on another occasion, back then, I was Brigham in the 24^th of July Pioneer Day parade at the church. My brothers were spared the dresses on that occasion (but most of them still made the picture). In those days, we had a neighbor, “Doc” Douglas who lived in our Park Place cul-de-sac. He had previously been a “Shriner” in Canada and as such, he always needed to put beards on himself. So, he had all of the materials to put a really great beard on me. I loved his beards – and I used his skills and talents a few times.

I mentioned our participation in the “City of Joseph” production. On that occasion, I had an arranged meeting with – and with my family – I was able to meet the Prophet Joseph at his Mansion House. That was a happy meeting – which I shall always remember.

GIVING THE EXTRA MILE

We had another interesting experience stemming from a tour at the Mansion House. (We have had a lot of great experiences there). On our tour, we had many members of a large LDS bus tour group that was seeing various LDS historical sites across the country. On the tour was another new-found “cousin” named Barlow. As I heard his name, I knew before “Relatives” that we could be related – or that it was likely we were because Barlow is a good old Enterprise name.

Anyway, he told us that he had to be back to his bus in just an hour. He and his wife had decided together (using the map brochure of Historic Nauvoo) that they really wanted to see the Sarah Granger Kimball home. He asked if they would have enough time to walk down there by the bus meeting time. I told him that it was located over a mile down the road and that he probably would not make it back in the allotted time. They were kind of disappointed.

I remembered a time when Lou and I experienced a similar situation. It was a bit strange – and the young sister missionaries thought that I was crazy. I might have been, but I gave him my keys to my car parked nearby. Under protest, the guy decided to take me up on my offer. And then they were off to the Kimball home (to learn about the organization of the Relief Society). I was in the middle of another tour as they returned so my wife just quietly took the keys back. They were very grateful.

The incident reminded me of a situation years before. At that time, I worked for America West Airlines. It was July 3^rd or 4^th – a holiday. We decided at the last minute to take a one-day plane trip over to Ontario, California to go to the beach for a picnic. (Quite a feat for Lou and I for our nine children – all riding on “stand-by”. We did make it to the airport – thinking that we could catch a bus down to the beach. But, since it was a holiday, no buses were running.

An employee from the airline (where I also worked as the Corporate Claims Manager) had been talking to us about the possible bus scenario. When we determined that we were out of alternatives, the lady absolutely insisted that we take her car – with instructions “to just be back here at 3:00 PM when I get off work”.

We went out to the parking space that she had mentioned. We were delighted and grateful when we found her brand new bright red Suburban vehicle. Wow! And it even fit all of our family crowd. We did drive the two or three miles to the beach and had a glorious picnic together under the swaying palm trees.

As instructed, we got back to the terminal and the designated meeting spot just as the lady came outside. She grabbed her keys and sped off before we could even thank her – and could not pay her anything. We have always been grateful to her as we have remembered her special service to us that day.

My wife also thought of this past scenario as we talked with our Barlow friends, and she agreed with me that it was the right thing to do. We were happy to assist them.

OUR FIRST FAMILY VISITORS

We have been told that as missionaries, we can host family and friends with us in our missionary housing. They even make available air mattresses, bedding, towels, and whatever else might be needed – as check-out from “Facilities Maintenance” (with advance reservation). So, under this wonderful scenario, we look forward to happy times with any who might come.

We were new missionaries, so some other missionaries were surprised when we got our first family members so soon after our arrival. But we were happy to welcome Lou’s brother, Brad Belcher, and his wife, Kerry. They came through as a part of an extended auto trip that they were taking around the country. They were stopping to see anyone and everyone whom they had ever known. When they got to us, they had put on 5,300 miles as they had traveled through at least 18 states. Wow! That sounds kind of like the train trip that Lou and I took last summer.

We were happy to claim them as family – and glad that we met the requirements of who they were to see along the way.

It was so fun to have Brad and Kerry here with us. They met us as we got off work at the Mansion House on Friday night – and just after we had taken Elder and Sister Morgan on their tour. We talked about this Elder Morgan and decided to look him up on our Google friend. We found him, and were surprised to learn that in his youth, he had actually been a member of the Reorganized Church of Christ and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. An interesting story, indeed.

We went with Brad and Kerry to eat at the local “Red Front” café – where Lou and I love to eat. (I promise to write about this place later in a future blog … so stay tuned!) The food at this place proved as wonderful as ever. Back at our Simeon Dunn home, we had grand reminisces about the “good old days” in the Belcher household. There were certainly a lot of funny stories about “Gramps” Belcher and Verna. We talked about Elder Belcher’s creation of the Nauvoo brickyard and the bricks that are still given out as souvenirs. (More about all of that later). We also talked of Elder Belcher’s dedication in literally “saving” the Coolidge House – that was to be demolished soon. And those are stories for other future blogs.

Brad and Kerry borrowed our bikes and used them throughout the day Saturday as they went to many different restored homes and shops. They enjoyed this mode of transportation.

They were here with us over Sunday, so they were able to attend our missionary “ward” with us. They loved the gathering of all of the missionaries – senior missionaries – along with our army of young Sister Missionaries. (I think it even made them entertain the thought of being missionaries themselves.)

After Sister Hunt and I got home from our assignment of the day, Brad pampered us with scones. He and Sister Hunt had collaborated on the recipe and procedures for the ultimate scones. And they turned out fabulous. We all ate too many of them. We had all been hungry for scones after I told Brad and Kerry that Emma Smith “made fried dough – topped with honey” for her guests at the Mansion House. I knew that she was talking about scones. (Scones have long been our Hunt go-to meal when we were short on resources, had little notice for a meal – or when we were to feed a big crowd.) One of Emma’s dignitaries was highly impressed with the scones and asked Emma what they were called. She said emphatically that they were “candidates”. He questioned her name for the scones. She said that they were so named because “they are puffed up and full of air”. So true!

Well, enough is enough for one night. I could go on with more, but you get the picture. There is never a dull moment for us here in Nauvoo. There are so many opportunities for special times in fun places with great people. It is all such fun!

Again, Elder and Sister Hunt on “The Nauvoo Trail”.

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So Many Great Moments

May 6, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

SO MANY GREAT MOMENTS

By Kevin V. Hunt

Blog #7

So many great moments happen all of the time here in Nauvoo. It is just hard to imagine that we could have so many great experiences … and we are just getting started!

Where to begin …

OUR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB

The preparation was over. We had been trained relative to our housing and general mission procedures. Lou had spent time at the Sewing Center with the ladies who were going to sew clothing for her. We got moved into our new place – the Simeon Dunn home of Old Nauvoo. We had been to Keokuk to restock the wagon. We had perused “site guides” to begin to learn what we should say in each home or shop (at least for the first one or two sites coming up immediately). It appeared that everything was in place and working well.

So, then, it was time for us to go to work. That was great … since that is what we came to Nauvoo to do.

That Wednesday morning – April 17^th came – ready or not. We arose in plenty of time to be prepared for our assignment. Sister Hunt fixed a nice breakfast and a lunch – for the road. We gathered all of our study materials that we would need.

And the best part of all … we got to put ourselves into our new costumes that we’ve been working to collect or develop since receiving our mission calls as historic site guides. It was all very exciting!

With the vehicle loaded with all of the above, it was time for our photo op. (Where were all of the amazing family photographers when we needed them?) We did the best we could and took several fun photos. (And we soon discovered how fun it can be creating and posing in our different outfits – and at the many different places and circumstances that we find ourselves in. Such fun! Family members all commented on how good we looked. (Does that mean that we look better in 1840’s garb than we do now? Do we look better old? Maybe …)

OUR FIRST DAY AS HISTORIC SITE GUIDES

I reported that we anticipated our first day of guiding to be in the Lucy Mack Smith home – and we were very excited about that. But, as we have learned since, we have to be good Boy Scouts – and be prepared for ever-changing situations as circumstances warrant or require.

Such was our first day. We had been anticipating our first day at the Lucy Mack Smith home, but it was good we didn’t get too set on that. At the last minute, we were given a new assignment for the day. We would work at the Jonathan Browning home and gunsmith shop.

We reported there for duty and found that we were sharing the time and space with Elder and Sister Turner. They were great mentors and very helpful. They gave us a quick show-around and we had a few minutes at the beginning of the day to catch our breath(s). And then received our first visitors. The Turners graciously took the first group – and we were able to go along for the ride with them.

Then after that tour, a second group came in – and Elder and Sister Turner started the tour with these folks. They had just got into their presentation – but were too far into it for newcomers to join in without missing a lot of the history. These new folks entered the door.

I saw the look of panic on the face of Sister Turner who needed to remain with their group. What should she do? Then I surprised her. Jonathan Browning … okay … I remembered giving some tours of his place in ancient times when I was here previously as a “young missionary”. But, 49 years ago …? I quickly jumped in and said, “No worries, we’ll take this!” I saw a bigger panic look on Sister Turner’s face – and it mirrored that of my wife. Sister Turner’s face said, “Are you sure?” Yeah, why not. I had prayed earlier for the Spirit in the tour – and I knew that He could “bring all things to our remembrance” (even 49 years hence! And I was not disappointed. The tour seemed to progress well. I was grateful for the help.

Jonathan Browning was a great man. Of course, he later invented many of the world’s best guns (although he never got his own patents on any of them). He was a gunsmith and blacksmith extraordinaire. His son, John Moses Browning, and many generations of posterity following operated Browning Arms in Morgan canyon east of Ogden, Utah. (And John Moses got over 130 patents on the family gun creations!) Visitors to the Nauvoo site can view his blacksmith forge and can learn about many of the gun inventions.

But, even greater than the legacy of gun building, Jonathan Browning can be remembered for his commitment to the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. And he can be remembered for his commitment to each community of which he was a part. He understood the concept of “covenant community” and he worked hard to assist and help others in the community. He was anxious to have all of his posterity be true and faithful to the Gospel truths that he had come to believe as true. He was true to the prophetic leadership of Joseph Smith – and then Brigham Young.

We labored through the day with the Turners, and I had opportunity to take several other tours – with my wife throwing in tidbits that she had gleaned – when she could. It was a great day and we felt to rejoice in it. We made it through our first day – and knew that with that as history, we could likely conquer the world – with the help of The Spirit.

A GLORIOUS DAY AT THE LUCY MACK SMITH HOME

In my previous blog, I mentioned that my wife’s parents, Elder E.H. and Sister Verna Belcher had served their entire mission (extended to two and a half years) in the Lucy Mack Smith home. That is a beautiful and wonderful place … but two and a half years in that tiny place? Wow!

Elder E.H. and Sister Verna Belcher as site guides at the Lucy Mack Smith Home 1979 to 1981

We were excited to go to work and to tread in their footsteps.

So, not our first, but our second day, we were privileged to spend the day with Lucy. Again, we went dressed to the hilt – especially for this special day. We had been anticipating re-living the legacy of Sister Verna Belcher – who had been Lucy for so long. Again, we stopped for another photo op at our back steps, at the Lucy Mack Smith home, and at many times through the day.

We introduced guests to Lucy Mack Smith – as well as to Joseph “Bates” Noble – who originally built the home. The Noble and Smith families had been friends for 25 or more years – dating back even to shared times in Palmyra, New York.

“Mother Smith” (a title she loved and rejoiced in – as a “Mother in Israel”) had previously lived briefly in the Browning Home (a fact we likely would have forgotten had we not been assigned initially to the Browning home). In the Browning home, she dictated her history of Joseph Smith and the Church. And now in her own home, she remained here for only nine months. Having previously lost seven sons, she now spent time with her remaining son, William, as well as her three daughters and their families who lived nearby. She was now over the age of 70 and had a bad case of arthritis. And with all of the trauma of the above, she opted not to go west with the body of the saints – though she would have wanted to do so.

Lucy and Emma remained close – as they had always been. Lucy spent her final years living with Emma and died on the Smith Farm – east of Nauvoo in 1856 at the age of 81 (having been born in 1775).

On our first day in the Lucy Mack Smith home, we hosted a very special group (actually a large group split into two large vans). These were 10 church mission presidents (now called “Mission Leaders”) with their wives. They gathered here to Nauvoo for a few days of training together staged by Area Seventy leadership.

They braved some heavy rain to obtain the experiences that they came to Nauvoo to have. As they arrived for our first tours, Sister Hunt wanted to begin the tour – just as her mother had done before her. But, as she tried to begin, she suddenly burst into tears and was so overcome that she could not even talk – as she thought of her mother there before her – and who was probably there with her on this occasion. She could not talk. (But, tears and such circumstances always seem to invite the Spirit in a special way – and that is what happened on this occasion). Everyone was touched by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost.

I came to her rescue. I said, “I think I know why Sister Hunt is crying. Her own parents served a mission here at the Lucy Mack Smith home 45 plus years ago and she is remembering them on this special day.” I continued with the tours as Sister Hunt struggled for her composure. I took them through the tiny home and told our special guests about Lucy Mack Smith. I then took them all out (still in the heavy rain) to show them the back yard amenities and the cool Boston carriage.

With all of the above, it was indeed a great day with Lucy and Verna. We basked in the spirit of it all.

We also took time to sneak a peek at Elder Belcher’s brickyard located just across the street. Elder Belcher created the modern Nauvoo brick yard there and that was a great thing to remember and celebrate. (And I promise more about him and his brickmaking experiences there – in a future blog.)

We served another two additional days at the Lucy Mack Smith home that first week – with more repeats of the above scenarios. It was, indeed, a special few days.

LOU GETS FITTED FOR CUSTOM DRESSES IN THE NAUVOO SEWING ROOM

Sister Hunt came prepared to make a total of six dresses to wear in Nauvoo. She brought the fabric for these outfits (one for each work day of the week) and their matching aprons. But, as noted in the previous blog article, she was able to “borrow” (for as long as she wishes) two dresses from the large supply available as “loaners” to missionaries.

She also learned that the wonderful Sisters in the sewing center could make one – and possibly a second (time permitting) for her. She took the Sisters (mainly wives whose husbands are as serving as horse and carriage “teamsters”) and they immediately began to create the dresses. And talk about amazing and wonderful! These ladies were all of that. And as the Sisters created the dresses, they frequently texted her – at each new step – to come down for fittings, measurings, and more. Of course, she rushed right down there when summoned – wanting to “make hay while the sun shines” and as they were available and willing to work on her dresses. She didn’t want them to get sidetracked to other projects if she did not get there right away.

Sister Mortensen designing Sister Hunt’s blue dress

It was exciting for Sister Hunt as the two dresses – one a turquoise blue and the other pink – progressed to completion. She received many favorable comments by all other ladies who saw the dresses. They were really stunning and beautiful!

And we are very grateful to the amazing team of Sisters who worked together to create these marvelous wonders. Sister Hunt will be happy every time that she puts these dresses on to go serve in the various historic homes.

Sister Lou Hunt in new pink dress made by Sister Hurst

A BUSY WEEK FILLED WITH A VARIETY OF WONDERFUL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

The next week proved to be exciting and wonderful – and packed with new meetings, activities, and gatherings. And also, opportunities to meet (and to try to remember) many great people The week was packed with glorious adventures.

The week began with a Sunday devotional for all of the missionaries. We had the privilege to hear a Sister Emily Upp, of the Church History department, speak. She gave a very enlightening and enjoyable talk about Nauvoo history specifically – and church history in general.

GETTING TO KNOW OUR BRIGHAM DISTRICT COUPLES

On Tuesday, Elder Davies, district leader of our “Brigham District” invited the eight couples to a district activity. (We have a district training or activity one Tuesday a month. These alternate with bi-monthly all mission Tuesday training sessions – and a monthly zone training or activity).

Since many of our district couples were greenhorns like us, a wiener roast seemed to be the ideal setting for a first such gathering. So, we all gathered to the home of Elder and Sister Carter. As promised, Elder and Sister Davies hosted the event for us. Of course, we all experienced the age-old trauma of where the fire smoke goes – is it with the wind – or to the most beautiful (or the ugliest?). We all moved around as we felt that we needed to – but it didn’t help! The evening had threatened rain, but proved to be fantastic. And the backdrop of the gorgeous green countryside added immensely to the overall charm of the special evening.

After we had had our fill of the roasted wieners, chips, salads, and more, Elder Davies invited each of us to share special experiences (many sacred) that we had experienced thus far – or previously in Nauvoo service. This proved to be a wonderful experience together – and helped to bind us together in the Nauvoo brotherhood. And no such gathering would be complete without the infamous photo op.

Brigham District – Elders and Sisters Davies, Parker, Carter, Simkins, Turner, Hunt

And then Sister Carter surprised us with the invitation to enter her home where she served us apple pie and other delectables. Yum!

We were planning to attend the monthly mission activity on Wednesday evening, but we got crossed up on the location for the gathering. We went first to the Visitors’ Center and tried to enter through the west doors – but found them locked. We then went to the Family Living Center and found that we were the only people there. We later learned from our D.L. that it was, indeed, held at the Visitors’ Center – but everyone had parked and entered through the east side. An unanticipated night at home – but we can anticipate the next such event next month.

THE GLORIOUS ANTICIPATION OF P-DAYS

We put in some long days – typically from 9 Am to 5:00 PM every day – often too busy to really sit down for lunch – though that is the goal and hope.

We have learned that our P-days (“preparation days”) will actually fluctuate monthly. For April, the big day was Wednesday – but for the month of May, it will be on Thursdays.

Our first big day … but we really didn’t have much planned. We did, of course, need to make our run to Keokuk for more food and supplies (though we now have a cupboard that is several steps up from that of Old Mother Hubbard). We do have a decent supply now, so we just need to maintain it – and to purchase other perishables. We did make the town run and kind of hung out around home most of the day. Sister Hunt made a couple of trips to the sewing room – and was elated with the ongoing progress. Writing for my blog took up quite a bit of my time – and Sister Hunt basked in the thought of just having a “free day” to do as she pleased. We were both happy.

Thursday evening passed without a scheduled activity.

ALL MISSION DINNER EVENT

The Nauvoo missionary team has a traditional monthly dinner gathering to welcome new missionaries (that included us this time) and who had arrived in the previous month – and to recognize those who were going home soon. (Another excuse to eat! We seem to be good at this here. Someone said that Nauvoo is a “35 pound mission …” We hope not but the food sounds good.

This event this month was billed ahead of time as a “Hawaiian Haystack” potluck meal. It doesn’t get much better than that! We were all in for it.

As previously noted, Sister Hunt came prepared (that Boy Scout spirit strong within) to make her now famous “Momma Lou’s Cinnamon Rolls” (and yes, that is the proper term for them). She brought her Bosch mixer and all of the needed pans and other implements. So, she signed up on the poster board committing to bring “a dessert”.

Creating cinnamon rolls, however, is a bit of a challenge on our schedule. We do not get off “work” until 5:00 PM when our houses close – and the event was to begin at 6:00 PM. This is further complicated by the fact that it takes 2 hours to go through the whole process to create those wonderful and amazing cinnamon rolls for which she has become famous. I lamented that she couldn’t easily bring the rolls piping hot from the oven – as this seems to have a major tantalizing effect on all who might have opportunity to experience them.

So, reluctantly, her plan was to create the rolls the morning before going to our site assignment of the day. This meant that Lou had to arise at 5:00 AM to prepare her rolls. She decided to deviate a bit from the usual. Having once made coconut rolls – that were so fabulous … she decided that these would be her cuisine of the day. And with her apron on (given to us by grandkids), she went to work. The aromas from the kitchen were wonderful as I arose at my usual time. (If I held her hand while she worked, she would have been challenged to finish her tasks. (Knead your bread … your bread needs you!).

Back at home at the end of the day, Lou heated her buns a bit in the microwave – and then covered them with her usual tasty frosting (this time with a coconut twist). We hurried off to the event – to be held at the Nauvoo stake center (because there is more room there). We got there just after the prayer and after the many food lines were already in process. Many people soon noticed our two pans of the rolls and rushed to get theirs. This made Sister Hunt happy – and everyone who had one became a happy camper also.

The meal was excellent and came off well. We were introduced individually along with the other Gnubies. They were careful to differentiate between us and my two other Hunt cousins (whom we had known in the MTC). Our situation necessitates them using our first names to be different than the others. But, we are also known as the “Site Guide Hunts” while the other two are “Teamster Hunts”.

And by the way, with the use of the FamilySearch “Relatives around Me” App, we have found a multitude of other shirt tail cousins. With Sister Thomas, for instance, with Enterprise, Utah roots as deep as mine, we learned that we are third cousins (even with my other MTC 4^th cousins). And we continue to find other folks with that good ol’ Enterprise and Hunt blood. (More on that later!)

WE RECEIVE A BARAGE OF REINFORCEMENTS

I think I have talked of the 72 or so senior missionary couples who inhabit these environs. But wait! We are not done yet! We just welcomed a great many beautiful young “YSM” (that means “Young Sister Missionaries”. And they literally came in droves.

Sister Missionaries in front of Print Shop

Here in Nauvoo, many new Sisters arrive around the first of May – or a couple of weeks before – just in time for the anticipated very busy summer season. They spend about six months here and then they receive a new mission call for an “outbound experience” as they call it. They are sent to missions all around the United States. They serve in these areas for another six months. Then they are brought back to Nauvoo for their final six months of their missions. In this manner, they serve here for two summers – and miss the exciting winters when there is not much happening – and so as to not freeze their tails off. (They probably don’t need the tails anyway!)

So, we receive the missionaries who return from their outbounds – and at the same time, we get a bunch of new Sisters are who are just beginning their mission cycles. Not a bad system.

And what that means is that we have recently received 50 … yes, you read it right … 50 new sisters in the past month. Wow! Too bad those Ammonite warriors are not around for them. (But maybe they will be waiting upon their return from the battlefield!) Anyway, what a powerhouse of young women prepared!

The sisters serve right along side of the missionary couples as site guides in the many restored homes and shops. We can anticipate at least one – if not two – companionships of these lovely young ladies at each home where we serve.

And Monday night – after the above packed week – we were privileged to hear the returning Sisters all report on their “outbound” experiences. And they had some really great experiences. A fun activity.

And as if that is not enough, at the end of last week, we received 50 “performing missionaries”. These missionaries have energy, enthusiasm, and drama and musical prowess on steroids. They serve as “preemie missionaries” (not yet served) or as returning missionaries – anxious for still more excitement. Among them will be the famous Nauvoo Brass Band that will parade with instruments and energy down the streets and in the show places of Nauvoo. They are gearing up now for their first performances. We can’t wait! Wow! It just keeps getting better.

WE HOST AND MEET OUR MISSION LEADERS

Almost from our arrival, the Mission Leaders – President and Sister Mehr – have been anxious to come to visit us at our home – as they are doing with all new missionaries. (I don’t know how that is possible with so many new missionaries constantly arriving). They had seen us a couple of times and each time they said, “We have to find a time to come to visit with you.” But with our daily assignment schedule (until 5:00 PM each night), it was a challenge to get together. We told them that we could meet at one of our restored homes, but they were serious about coming to our place. And that was a fun prospect!

President Daniel and Sister Rebecca Mehr – Nauvoo Site Leaders

Finally, I suggested that they come late – after the coming Sunday evening devotional. This seemed to resonate with them. So, we joyfully welcomed them about 8:20 PM after the Sunday devotional.

It was delightful to have Elder and Sister Mehr in our home. Upon arrival, they were curious about our little home. We gave them a tour and they seemed to enjoy this. I showed Sister Mehr the log (of 25 years) wherein Dunn family progeny sign in after visiting their ancestor’s home and she was intrigued. She found several semi-famous people she had known. The log is fun … it has names, dates, addresses, and often a long string of “greats” as people try to explain how they are related to the pioneer Simeon.

And then somehow we got onto the crazy subject of how Lou and I met. They really got into our story as we told how we had not seen each other for four months, that we had never talked marriage, had eight dates over a two year period, the proposal – that took about a month to complete, and especially, our first kiss ever that was over the Temple altar, and more. (But that is all a story for another day! Stay tuned! Sometime we will share that – though we have already written much about it … we are just waiting to become famous so that someone will want to publish or make a movie of our story).

We told them of my previous mission (a hundred years ago) to Nauvoo as a young missionary and they were captivated with our account of the Belchers and their 2 ½ year stint in the Lucy Mack Smith home – and they could hardly grasp that. We told them of the Belcher saving of the Coolidge Home as well as Elder Belcher’s creation of the Nauvoo brickyard and the famous Nauvoo brick. They sat here dumb-founded – trying to take all of this in.

Lou divulged that I had a plethora of slides that I took on my first mission here and President Mehr got excited about this. He invited me to create a slide show for a coming presentation for a Tuesday night training. He also wants us to create a similar (or maybe the RD version – “Reader’s Digest Condensed Version” – of Elder Belcher and brick making – to go along with my own presentation. We agreed to work to put something together for him. He kind of wanted it for “next week” but the looks on our faces helped him to face reality and realize that such a project might take more than just a week to create. Anyway, since his visit, I have been working feverishly to create such a show. So, stay tuned for this too!

The Mehrs left and we realized to our chagrin that we had missed our chance for a photo op with them in our own home. Again, where was our photographer when we needed her? We will have to think of another time to capture the moment.

Whew! How’s that for a busy week? It was a great one … and we are so grateful and so excited about serving here in Nauvoo. And the promise of even more good times ahead is exhilarating! So great to be alive – and so great to be here in Nauvoo as missionaries. It is a rough job, but someone has to do it!

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Getting into the Mission Scene in Nauvoo

April 27, 2024 InNauvoowithKevandLou Leave a comment

By Kevin V. Hunt

BLOG #6 – April 27, 2024

In my previous blog, I talked of our eventful trip to Nauvoo and the greeting and help received by our fellow missionaries upon arrival. Getting here was a great moment.

WHERE WE WILL SERVE?

Many of the Nauvoo missionaries that we were with in the MTC had already received assignments as to where they would serve upon their arrival. Many also had advance notice from an assigned “trainer”. We had neither. We kept wondering where we might be assigned. The thought gave us something to think about at the MTC and on our long trek east to Nauvoo.

Then as we were on the road on that long Thursday (and were somewhere out in the flats of Nebraska … (and I must say that Nebraska has absolutely fabulous rest stops!) I checked my phone at a rest stop. And there it was … the mysterious e-mail that we had been anticipating. I snuck a peek at it. And I chuckled. Funny! And when we got back on the road, I mentioned to Lou that we had received the big message about where we would be serving. Like me, she was full of anticipation.

I said, “Guess where we are going?” I let her think about it for a few seconds before I made the big reveal. “Lucy Mack Smith home”, I told her. Sister Hunt almost went into shock. It took her a few seconds to comprehend that. Her folks had served here in Nauvoo (circa 1979 to 1981) and they spent their entire mission in the Lucy Mack Smith Home. (More on that later.) They were called initially for a year and a half and they extended an additional year – and they served in this home literally the entire time.

Elder E.H. and Sister Verna Belcher serving at the Lucy Mack Smith Home

My wife was completely speechless. When she came to, she said, “Well, I cerainly wasn’t expecting that!” (We later learned that today’s senior missionaries often get moved around to different homes – so they do not remain in a single home forever like the folks.) But, Lucy Mack Smith … how cool is that to follow in the footsteps of the in-laws. It was pretty exciting. (Current scheduling leaders had no idea of our past connection to the place when they made the assignment!)

My wife finally got her mind settled over the assignment and sent a message out to our posterity. Everyone was elated! Coincidental? Hardly! The folks (now angels) likely had a bit to do with the assignment. We knew that they would be very pleased.

GETTING MOVED IN TO OUR NEW HOME

Elder and Sister Hunt at back side of Dunn Home

Elder and Sister Hunt in front of Dunn Home

I mentioned previously that we got moved into our “new home” but I didn’ give many details. Prior to our mission – like two or three weeks before our arrival – we were notified that we were given the Simeon A. Dunn home as our mission residence. In Nauvoo, there are a multitude of possible homes for senior couples – but you do not make a request for a specific place – nor even list desired characteristics. As them saying goes, “You do not find the place … it finds you!” Well, it found us.

We learned ahead that Simeon Dunn built the first 2-story home in Nauvoo in 1841. Simeon was a farmer and he worked on the Nauvoo Temple construc tion. He was a local policeman. He and his wife had 11 children. Joseph Smith visited the place and was impressed with the second story. Simeon was twice widowed while in this home. He later became a prominent settler of Brigham City, Utah.

After the Dunn family left their Nauvoo, home, it remained standing and needed little exterior changes. Workers ultimately mostly gutted the place and modernized it for us old-timers.

The place is 3 stories. It has a basement – made of the old limsteone rock (like the Temple). Here there is a washing machine, dryer and hot water heater – and a lot of storage space. The main floor has a small living room (with two closets, comfy recliners, and a couch) – as well as a small kitchen and dining area. The kitchen is one that every pioneer woman would have craved. And upstairs, there is a large bedroom – with a queen bed, a “dressing area” and his and hers closets. (We have more storage space here than in our Maricopa home.) It has three very vintage dressers and I took one of them and gave Sister Hunt two of them. There is a single bathroom with a tub/shower (and no outdoor privy needed). The only drawback is that the only bathroom is upstairs … so one has to plan ahead to get there.

OUR NEW “WARD” OF MISSIONARIES and MISSION ORGANIZATION

Sunday morning (bright and early – at 8:00 AM), we made our way to the large Visitors’ Center (which I remember well from when I was here 49 years ago as a young missionary). We joined a throng of senior Elders and Sisters in the “east theater” (one of the twin theaters). What a wonderful crowd. They radiated greatness. I felt like a lion thrown in with a den of Daniels!

There is a local ward and chapel here in Nauvoo, but we meet as missionaries each week for the usual Sunday block meetings – as anywhere else in the world. The only difference is that our “ward” is made up entirely of couples serving as missions (and there are no apostates nor “less-active” members). The theater is large. I counted the seats and there were 240 seats in the place – and we filled about 200 of them – and more missionaries – Young Sister Missionaries (YSM’s) and Performing Missionaries – are yet to come. Wow!

I might add that it ws a bit strange to be in a crowd of people like us … all the men are gray-haired (or the predominate bald with a bit of gray around the ears), and protruding bellies. (Curse the Diastasis Recti hernia) … at least I could bask in gratitude that at my age, I still have hair!

We were inroduced – along with others who had been with us in the MTC) as new Nauvoo missionaries. The sacrament was administered and the talks were powerful. We separated and the men of the Priesthood went to the West Theater and the women remained in the east theater for Relief Society.

After the meeting, we were privileged to mingle with the other senior Elders and Sisters. How could I remember all of he names and keep them all straight? (I never could remember names until I took that SAM Carnegie course!)

In Nauvo, we are guided by mission leaders – President Daniel Mahr and his wife. He is ur mission President. He has two counselors – chosen from among the senior missionaries.

We also have districts and zones – (wih district and zone leaders) as in any other mission. Sister Hunt and I are in the Brigham District and the Heber Zone!

And among the folks who helped us move in, we were greeted then by the Carters – who intrduced themselves as our “ministering couple” (already assigned … amazing!) Wow! Are you serious? I had heard some time ago about ministering brothers and sisters but I thought that bird had long since gone extinct. Another wow!

We were also assigned to have the Workmans as our trainers. He surprised us a few days later with a fabulous Ahmish cherry pastry!

ORIENTATION MEETING

We got another early start on Monday, April 15^th. We were to be at the “FM” (Facilities Maintenance) headquarters (“The Barn”) by 8:00 Am. We joined about 20 other new missionary couples (most of whom we knew from the MTC) for an orientation meeting. They talked of our missionary housing, safety procedures, and more. There was a lot of stuff to take in. Debra, the head of Nauvoo “Collections” and residences talked of our work at the sites, our housing, and other general housekeeping guidelines.

We have a Dr. Smith – who in a previous life, was a medical doctor – and who now has the title of “Elder Smith” talked to us. He doesn’t practice real medicine on us but he is here as a resource and advisor for our senior medical needs.

GETTING OUTFITTED FOR THE JOB

Right after the meeting, Sister Hunt was anxious to go to the “Sewing Room” to talk with missionary sisters (whose main job in Nauvoo is to be costume seamstresses). She had heard that we could check out a couple of outfits (each) so she wanted to check these out. She was pointed to a long rack of possible options. She picked out her couple of outfits – nice pioneer dresses (one yellow/gold and the other pink/blue – both with coordinated aprons.

I went to the men’s rack and within seconds, I selected two shirts and some brown suspenders. I checked these out on the check-out form. ( had also shopped on Amazon before the mission and had found many “tweed” vests and pants and suspenders. Nauvoo Elders do not wear collars on shirts and I found a source that creates – or alters – existing shirts to meet these specs. And Lou had also altered a few shirts for me.)

Sister Hunt’s situation was different, however. She really did not have any dresses to wear. She had broughr fabric with which to make three dresses. We had been told that the Sister Missionary seamstresses could create a new dress – from their fabric – or they could design one individual dress using fabric brought from home. In any case, the design had to be approved by the Nauvoo seamstresses. She needed to borrow a couple of dresses until the center could create a dress for her – or until she could sew her own (with her sewing machine that we brough with us in our wagon.) She needed to find just the right dresses to be borrowed – and to be measured for the dress that the Sisters would design and create for her.

The impressive Nauvoo costume sewing center

I quickly ascertained that we were to be there for the “long-haul”. It seemed as if we were back at our local “Ross” store. (Shopping options in Maricopa are somewhat limited …)

I had joined several other Elders (all in the same situation) on the couches and we shot the breeze as the women were otherwise detained … selecting clothes, looking at options, getting measured, talking to the seamstress sisters, etc. I told the men that having had a wife and six daughters, I have learned how women shop. I said, “Upon entering a store, they go to the first rack of clothes that they see. Usually this is the rack for the smallest sizes – rather than going direct to the section for their body size. They immediately start pulling out outfits by color and styles that they like. Then then take 22 oufits into the fitting room. They try on each of the outfits and determine that there are only one or two outfits that fit their body build (duh!). All of the rest of he outfits go back onto the return rack for the employees to put back in their places. And had they gone right to their size rack, they could have saved themselves a lot of time and effort.”

One Elder laughed at my description of the clothes buying experience. Just at that moment, an Elder and Sister came in to exchange a hat that she had picked out for him earlier. He said that the hat did not fit him. She said, “I wasn’t looking for size … I was just looking for style and color.” The men all laughed. Case in point!

Sister Hunt was able to check out two dresses for her use as a Guide

After what seemed a couple of hours later, the deeds were done. Sister Hunt had her two outfits – one a yellow and other a blue/pink – and two aprons, a lace collar, two hats, and one hair comb! (And it didn’t cost us a dime!) What a blessing!

MISSIONARY MAIL AND THE DESERET INDUSTRIES (D.I.)

In the same building as the sewing and fitting room, there is a mailroom for all of the missionaries. Each of us has our designated mail slot. Our forwarded mail comes here, and this is the place where all Amazon and other physical deliveeries are received. And if we yave such a package, there is a red card placed in ouir box and we look for a box with our name on it nearby.

And Sister Hunt thinks that she has “died and gone to the 7^th heaven” with the another operation in the rustic looking building. This is the missionary “D.I.”. This is a miracle place where missionaries contribute their unneeded goods of all kinds – and where any missionaryi can go in and take any item (for free) that is there.

ister Hunt has hardly ever spent money – in our married lifetime – but she is addicted to thrift stores. (A great blessing to her husband!) So, to have this new arrangement was beyond glorious for her. We now have to make our now traditional stop at this place everyday after our regular work time (5:00 PM) to check for mail and new goods. And it has proven to be a miracle place for her. She thinks about something “and draws it to her” (a very great gift). And then, suddenly, by some miracle, it shows up there for her. One example was a brand new pair of pantaloons she needed to wear under her pioneer skirt. Gratefully, she continues to be blessed!

RESTOCKING THE WAGON

In my previous blog, I noted that unlike pioneers of former centuries, we knew that whatever we forgot – or what would not fit in our wagon – could likely be obtained at a local Walmart store. So, we went forward with faith to the Walmart located in nearby Keokuk – located a dozen or so miles south (along that marvelous Mississippi river road) and across the river in Keokuk.

We first went to a grocery store – that I remember going to with the six of us “Red Barn Elders” as young missionaries – on our P-days – to shop. The Hy-Vee store was still there – though aged a bit over time.

As a young missionary, I was the appointed cook for our Red Barn. I had done some cooking for the Elders of the house – and made believers of them. I was the head cook and as such, I took the lead with the others in planning our food for the coming week. (And each of he other five were designated – for one day a week – as my assistant – and all of the five jointly were he clean-up committee. It was a great arrangement for all of us.

Each week, in anticipation of the trek to town, we would sit together, and we would plan our food. They could each suggest their favorite foods – whatever it was – I could cook it for them. I would find recipes, make a list of needed supplies, and would even tell them what it would likely cost each of us. And surprisingly, we ate like kings for only about $8.00 per week each. (And this was while the other two missionary “homes” dined individually on cold cereal and bologna sandwiches. We did, however, invite the other houses over occasionally for our home-cooked meals. It was fun to Wow them!) And we found a pear tree located near our home and one time gathered enough pears to make into a half dozen pies – which we created together – and put these into our freezer. And then when we got the urge, we could pull one out in the morning to thaw as we headed off to work – and then it would be ready to back upon arrival back at home that night. And sometimes, the Red Barn Elders would send me home a few minutes early – to get a head-start on our dinner meal.

Anyway, after the above exercise, we would head to Keokuk on the weekly grocery adventure. (That was long before the invention of Walmart). We would shop together – and the Elders were always amazed when the bill came to within pennies of what I had predicted it would cost us.

So, it was great to be in the Hy-Vee store once again. We were also pleased to see a local Aldi store. Our son and daughter (in Ohio and Illinois) have long sung the praises of this store. We also bought several items there.

And of course, our main “go-to” was the Walmart store. Although we had already brought “everything but the kitchen sink” with us, here were still many items that we needed. I had been building a new list of “bill of particulars” since our arrival. We went about the store to gather those items – and were not disappointed. We filled up our wagon again in a hurry. And of course, we also now had to buy food for the coming times. And sadly, this purchase was a big one – since we started with cupboards almost mirroring “Old Mother Hubbard” (but Jenae, bless her, had given us a box or two of food stuffs).

A TORNADO WATCH AND A WARNING

The weather here in Nauvoo (and the Midwest, generally) can be rather interesting. As the saying goes, “If you do not like it, stick around a few minutes, and it will change.” We get beautiful sunny days, many rainy days of “drizzle rain”, and even many Illinois tornado threats. Sounds exciting!

From the all-knowing Google knowledge base: Tornado watch or warning? The big differences: “A tornado watch tells you to keep an eye out for a possible tornado. Pay close attention to local sources of weather information. A tornado warning means a tornado’s been recently spotted in your area.”

On Tuesday (our third day here), I guess we missed the memo about the “Watch”. We got the full enchilada with a 4:59 PM notice of a “Tornado Warning”. We got the word from our District Leader, Elder Davies. He said, “Just making sure you saw the tornado warning until 5:45 PM. Are you guys okay?” He insinuated that we had received the warning earlier. Anyway, by his instructions, we high-tailed it down to our basement (our place has three levels) to be safer from the tornado threat. We would hate to end up like Dorothy and Toto!

Lou quickly grabbed some blankets, a couple of pillows, and of course, our phones. I took my computer and set up shop downstairs. Luckily I found an odd “current bush” – located way up at the ceiling. I got comfortable and hunkered down to wait out the storm.

Elder Davies later sent us a weather map and said, “Looks as if it may miss us. It was heading straight towards us and now looks like it may be heading north.” Whew! That was a positive! He followed with another message: “Well, it’s always good to follow the procedure.” We agreed. We will have to be more attentive to the local weather situations. (All we had known in Arizona was “hot and hotter”.)

PREPARED TO TEACH AS MISSIONARY GUIDES

Sister Hunt and I were called specifically (n the original mission call) to be “Site Guide Missionaries”. Other folks have received specific calls to other Nauvoo functions. All extremely interesting.

I noted that Elder and Sister Belcher served their whole mission in one place. Apparently here, we are to be rotated around frequently. This gives us variety – but also means that we need to learn a multitude of site guides (scripts) since there are about 30 different historic places. The site guide book is about 230 pages. Since we have been here, we have served in three different sites.

With each new site assignment we receive, we have to do a crash course (by the Spirit) to learn the script for the place and to be prepared. (Good Boy Scouts). One sister whom we worked with showed us a great little book in which she pastes site scripts and other notes. And she has a collection of these – having served in various places. These books look like journals – the real thing – so an “authentic” source of the period.

The Sister said that she got these on-line – after Googling just “leather journals”. We did so as we got home that night and ordered two of them – one for each of us. Surprisingly, they arrived the next day! Pretty good Pony Express! Now, I access the site guides, copy and paste them and then reformat them to pages 3 ½” x 6” and then print them out. Sister Hunt then cuts these out and pastes them into the books. I highlight my own book with high points for each presentation. We have developed a good system.

Of course, I am an old journal guy (writing every day for 50 years) so I love these books. They are so “legit” or “lit” as our missionary grandson would say. So, it was exciting for me to find these little books. Using these, I can have it open, refer to it easily and read direct quotes. And it really does look “legit”. It makes me happy!

NAUVOO JOURNAL OF YESTERYEAR

A hundred years ago, (1996 and 1997) we came to Nauvoo with all nine children and participated in the then, “City of Joseph” pageant cast. As has been the case throughout the while of 50 years of journaling, I have to take advantage of every free moment to write. And that was the case when we were in the pageant. I often had to be at the stage for hours – an d often had free time before assigned scenes in the practices. I took my journal to write in those rare free moments. I would kind of sit at the edge of the stage – out of the way.

At one point, the show director looked over at me and said to his staff, “Are you seeing what I am seeing?’ He somehow saw a vision (or whatever) of me with the journal and surrounded by my many children. They had us be the opening scene for the show – as if I was reading out of my journal telling the story of Nauvoo to my children – from my journal. So, that is how we opened the show every night.

Kevin and Lou Hunt and Family – Opening scene in “City of Joseph” Pageant 1996

OUR FIRST DAY ON THE JOB – APRIL 17^TH, 2024

We had three days to get ourselves organized and to prepare for service in Nauvoo. Then came the exciting day when we were to begin service in our role as historic guides. That is what we came to Nauvoo to do. We were pretty psyched for the big day.

We awoke early to give ourselves plenty of time. And the big moment was getting into our Nauvoo pioneer costumes for the first time. Sister Hunt selected her pink and blue (borrowed) dress with the matching apron. I picked one of my favorite shirts and a vest. We had thought we would be at the Lucy Mack Smith home for our first day – and had been excited about this opportunity. There was a last-minute change that moved us to the Browning home and gun shop (with Elder and Sister Turner) for our first day.

Elder and Sister Hunt on first day as Historic Site Guides – April 17, 2024

Our first view of the beautiful Nauvoo Temple

We were up and moving … ready to hit the Nauvoo trail running.

Nauvoo, Historic Nauvoo, Senior Mission Couple, Historic Sites, Missionary, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintS