In a recent blog article, I talked of a fateful connection with our Mission Site Leaders – President and Sister Mehr as they were doing their morning biking.
On that day, President Mehr surprised us a bit. He has kind of hinted in the past about him trying to find a way for me to go with him and the young sister missionaries on what he calls a “Church History immersion trip”. This is a trip that he takes with the Young Sister Missionaries and they go around and check out historic sites of the church.
I will repeat myself a bit here (from that previous blog but I will again state the material below because it helps to introduce the publication of various church history site STUDY AND TRAVEL GUIDES:
On that day, President Mehr said, “Is your schedule free next week – like Tuesday and Wednesday? I would like you and your wife to go with us on our “Immersion Trip”. I said “That would be great. I think we can clear the schedule. (Har, Har!)” I asked him what he would want us to do for the trip. He kind of waved his hand around and said, “Everything … document the whole trip!” Wow! That would be so fabulous! I think that he really likes my records of history here in Nauvoo.”
Little did I know the future impact of that one little random visit with the bikers. I did not then know that I would spend literally every free moment of the next four months on an Immersion project.
President Mehr connected with the mission scheduler and told him to put Sister Hunt and me as scheduled to participate in the Immersion Trips. President Mehr got permission from the Church History Department to take the 36 young sisters – who all go home this fall – on some Church History Immersion trips. The group of young sister missionaries were divided into two groups. So, this meant two sets of trips and us going on all of the trips. The first overnight trip was to Missouri church historic sites. We then made another overnight trip across the Iowa Mormon Trail and to Winter Quarters. We repeated these two trips a couple of weeks later with the other half of the Sisters. Then later, we went on a day trip with them to see “local” sites around Nauvoo – like Ramus and Quincy, Illinois, the “Sugar Creek Camp” and Montrose in Iowa.
Our months of May and June were packed with all of these wonderful trips. On these trips, I served in my role as Mission Historian. I took copious notes all along the way. I recorded history, trip activities, and testimonies and feelings shared by the young sister missionaries. Sister Hunt was the official photographer for all of the trips.
At one point, I took advantage of a moment with just President Mehr and myself. I wanted clarification about his vision for me being on the trips. Knowing of my propensity for writing and creating books, he said, “I WANT A BOOK, OF COURSE!”
Okay, so a book it would be! After the trips ended, I composed a “memory book” just for the young sister missionaries – combining all that I described above. I did very comprehensive research about every Church site we had visited – and many more that were significant but which we did not have time to visit. This turned into a very major project that certainly kept me entertained. I worked on the project for several hours each day for the next four months.
I created one giant composite book that had everything in it. Then I broke this down into several smaller books which I published separately. I termed these books “Study and Travel Guides” for general distribution to missionaries of the three states, as well as to the general public – for anyone anticipating a Church history tour. And in the process, I did also extract a book just for the young sisters. And I prepared a “Synoptic Summary” for the Church History Department.
Here are connective links for the Church History books. A PDF link is included, All of the books are available for purchase on lulu.com with a search on the word “Nauvoo”. (And you may need to copy the link and paste it into your own computer URL)
SAINTS IN MISSOURI, NAUVOO AND WESTWARD
This is the composite book for Senior Missionaries (and anyone in the world). It combines all of the geographic areas into one book. Then there are book links by state.
JUST A FEW BOOKS WRITTEN WHILE A MISSIONARY IN NAUVOO
Elder Mitch Atkinson has been our zone leader in the Hyrum Zone for many months and it has been a real plesure working with him. He has long been fascinated with the many books that I have created while a missionary here in Nauvoo. I told him that I have created some 20 books while I have been here in Nauvoo. Unbelievable! This is hard to believe myself, but it is true.
And a real mind blower … All of the “Saints” series and one on my Brigham District, and the two books for the young sister missionaries were all published on one day. So if you are counting, that is 7 books which I published in a single day (after months of hard work). That is certainly a record for me – and once which I doubt will be matched again – and probably a feat that few other authors could admit to.
In making this announcement, I do not wish to brag or to toot my own horn. I humbly I acknowledge that it was not me. All of these books came by the power of the Holy Ghost and I felt very strongly of His inspiration and revelation through all of these projects. Without His direction, such a massive undertaking would not have been possible. With His help, I was able to achieve way beyond my usual self and capabilities. I am deeply grateful!
When I came on this mission, I had no idea that I would be creating sukch a collection. I did them one at a time and now that I am about done, I am totally amazed, too. Wow!
Also, our mission president asked me to print a copy of ALL OF MY BOOKS for use in the mission. He also asked for a copy of each to be sent to the Church History Department in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I happened to call Elder Atkinson the other morning and caught him in a devotional meeting with the 20 or so Nauvoo teamsters. My books and 142 journal volumes became a subject of their discussion (though I certainly did not plan for this situation)
Following the Teamster conversation, I compiled a list of the books created while here. (And actually the real total is 23 if I count the two books on my grandparents, Ray and Augusta Hunt, that were finished and published here) and a book on the mission of our grandson.
The package of the many books arrived and I spread them out on the floor. I sent a message to the President saying, “It’s Christmas! The books have arrived!” It certainly did seem like Christmas. The package will actually probably blow the mind of the Mission President. He has seen only three or four of the books previously. When I told him there were 15 or more, he reiterated, “I want ALL OF YOUR BOOKS”. So, here goes!
Above: 20 Books created and published in Nauvoo 2024 to 2025 by Kevin Hunt while serving as a Church missionary.
A WHOLE LOT OF BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR READING PERUSAL AND ENJOYMENT!
And here is the list of books that I compiled for the Teamsters. The rest of you might enjoy the list also.
All of the books are published on lulu.com. For the many Nauvoo books, you can find them all by doing a search with the word “Nauvoo”.
My other lulu.com books can be found with a search of my Kevin V Hunt name.
I am willing to send any of you a free PDF version of any book if you e-mail me a message of request. And of course, you may purchase them on lulu. And note that for most of my books I only charge a couple or three dollars above the printing cost. I do not try to make money on my books … I just want people to read them. And that is also why I do not publish them on commercial sites (like Amazon and Lulu Global) … they hike the price up so high beyond the printing cost – that no one can afford to read them.
I have created 60 historical blogs (an average of one about every ten days) while I have been here. I have compiled these into three books (and will create a fourth book after the mission concludes). The blog site address is innauvoowithkevandlou.wordpress.com
Available as pdf and Lulu: Volumes 1, 2, 3
“A Nauvoo Walk Down Memory Lane” – I was here as a “young missionary” 50 years ago (1975). I then took photos of Nauvoo historic homes. Then as I returned to Nauvoo last year, I took photos of all of the same places. The book compares the two and shows the effects of restoration in Nauvoo
“Nauvoo Homes and Shops” – This book details all of the 30 or so homes and shops in which we take tours. Many of these (two a month) have appeared the monthly newsletter – but this book is the full package.
“My Nauvoo Ancestors (Hunt Version)” – This book details my own 32 direct-line ancestors and includes biographical information on each. Names: Pulsipher, Alger, Wilcox, Rawson, Cheney, Terry, Wiggins, Robinson, Clark, and many more.
“My Nauvoo Ancestors (Belcher Version)” – This book details the lives of the 20 direct-line ancestors for my wife’s Belcher lines – including Perkins, Carter, Haws, Gardner, and many others.
“Nauvoo Homes and Brick Making” – This book introduces the history of brick making in Nauvoo – and tells about many of the brick homes in Nauvoo. It also introduces my father-in-law, Elder E.H. Belcher, who built the original (modern) brickyard – which you always talk about on your wagon tour as you round the corner by Lucy Mack Smith. Elder Belcher built the round kiln out in front at the brickyard. And he created the original souvenir Nauvoo brick that has been given to visitors for 45 years. The book details his research, and a history of his brick making in Nauvoo.
“Nauvoo Temple Brick Miracles” – This book talks of the many miracles that came together – and the history thereof – of the new Nauvoo Temple Bricks.
“My Nauvoo Hyrum #3 – Brigham District” – This book details the many great people and times in our district as we have served as district leaders over the past year.
“Nauvoo Family History Inspiration” – In January and February of this year, I created and presented five different family history related presentations for Nauvoo missionaries. This book combines all of the five presentations. The five subjects are kinds of personal history records, writing your personal journal, writing a personal history, compiling a family history, and a detailed look at how to publish books (books on family history – and any Lulu book in general).
“Nauvoo Monuments, Markers, and the Dash” – I made a study of Mormon historical markers and monuments within a 50-mile radius of Nauvoo and wrote history of each site. This is a travel guide for those markers and monuments.
“Nauvoo, City of Joseph” – This book is a tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith. It contains much information about him.
“The Nauvoo Martyrdom and Burials of Joseph Smith” – This book details the events surrounding the death of Joseph Smith and the many (5) different burial places of Joseph and Hyrum.
The following books were not written in Nauvoo but may be of interest:
“Peter the Apostle” – This is a biography of the life and times of the Apostle Peter. This book was written at the request of Elder E. H. Belcher – who absolutely loved the Apostle Peter.
“Christmas Is …” – This is a musical cantata of Christmas hymns and narration.
“Christmas Time Reflections” – For 40 years, and for each year, I have written a new Christmas poem or hymn. This book contains most of those (some were written after the book was published). Many of these hymns have been set to music by my cousin, Linda Hunt Waters. Also, many of these make up the Cantata book noted above.
“Writing the Journal of Your Life” – This talks of my 50 years of journaling – the “how, what, where, when, why, and how” of journaling. This is a great book for anyone interested in doing better at writing journals.
“Scouting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” – This is a very detailed book about the 100 plus year association between the Church and the Boy Scouts of America. This book has evolved and changed over 30 years. The Church History Department made their records available to me and assisted in the original book research.
I have written many other books on the subject of Scouting (written from the perspective of being a 60-year veteran and personal experience (many of which derive from my personal journal.) Several books on Scouting are detailed specifically in many volumes of my own personal history compilation entitled, “My Life’s Collective Works”. Many Scouting books are available on Amazon, Lulu, and other platforms.
I compiled a very detailed collection of unpublished books on how to create and implement a home-centered MTC for your children and grandchildren. This is called, “Missionary in Training”. (Available on request)
I have composed ancestral books on many of my family ancestral lines (for family names listed above).
With a list like this, no one should want for a good book to read! Take one along for any and every trail along your way!
As Site Guides in Nauvoo, we spend much of our time presenting the history of past people, prophets, and ancestors, We share with our guests historic places where our people lived, served, and grew together. It is great fun having all of this history around us. As a self-proclaimed historian, I enjoy anything and everything history.
In addition to experiencing history in all aspects of our lives, we have also had opportunity to write history or to be featured in written or published histories of others. We have found in many publications – not of our making – but cool, nonetheless.
STODDARD TIN SHOP
We have enjoyed working at the Stoddard Tin Shop. The tin shop itself has an interesting history. Over time, the building crumbled almost to non-existence. However, the building did not totally disappear. Before restoration began, there was some semblance of existing walls. In the restoration of the building, some of the crumbled walls were salvageable. As we arrived to serve at the tin shop, there was a very old photo of what used to be. The photo was bad and one had to really use imagination to picture the former building. I saw the photo and noted how bad it was.
I thought, “I can do better than that!” I remembered a photo of the place and which I had taken personally when I was here as “a young missionary” fifty years ago. I knew that I had taken a slide of the place. And gratefully, my grandson, Brodey helped me scan all of my old mission slides at th Mesa, Arizona FamilySearch library. So, I had all of those scanned imaged on y computer. I easily found my photo in my digital collection. And Voila! There it was … and indeed, it was a great deal clearer than that which had been framed in the Tin Shop.
I made an enlargement of the photo and framed it (and signed the back with my name and the year that it was taken). I presented this to mission leadership and soon the new photo was on display in the place of the former bad photo. And now, each time that I return to the Tin Shop, I am able to show the photo to our guests and can say with a bit of humble pride that “I am historic in that I took that photo.”
THREE COUSINS IN NAUVOO
I have introduced this article before, but it fits here with this theme of making history in Nauvoo. On November 17, 2024, My Hunt cousins Jake, Brad and I were featured in the “Church News”. This is what the article said:
3 Nauvoo senior missionaries with the same name arrive the same day, find out they are related
Amos Hunt’s descendants Elder Hunt, Elder Hunt and Elder Hunt are serving with their wives as teamsters and site missionaries in historic Nauvoo
17 Nov 2024, 6:00 a.m. MST
Left to right, Sister Lou Hunt, Elder Kevin Hunt, Sister Sandy Hunt, Elder Jake Hunt, Sister Tammy Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Nov. 14, 2024. Elder John Hale
Visitors to historic Nauvoo, Illinois, are used to seeing missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. But lately they might do a double take when they look at those missionaries’ name badges.
Right now, there are three senior missionary couples in Nauvoo all with the last name Hunt, and they are all related — though they did not know each other before their missions and had never met until this year.
Elder Kevin Hunt and his wife, Sister Lou Hunt, from Maricopa, Arizona; Elder Jake Hunt and his wife, Sister Sandy Hunt, from Centerville, Utah; and Elder Brad Hunt and his wife, Sister Tammy Hunt, from Diamond Valley, Utah, all arrived at the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, on April 1.
The MTC was buzzing about all the Hunts. When the men got together, they opened the FamilySearch app on their phones, selected “Relatives Near Me” and found out they all had the same common ancestor, Amos Hunt.
Elder Jake Hunt and Elder Kevin Hunt are third cousins once removed, and Elder Jake Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt are also third cousins once removed, while Elder Kevin Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt are fourth cousins. Amos Hunt is Elder Jake Hunt’s great-great-grandfather, and the great-great-great-grandfather of the other two.
“It was fun to see that,” Elder Jake Hunt said. “I mean, we had no idea who each other was, and it was fun to meet and find out that we were actually related.”
Elder Jake Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt are both teamsters, meaning they drive the horse-drawn wagons on tours around Nauvoo’s streets. Elder Kevin Hunt is a site missionary, and all the women serve in the different sites and buildings as well.
Sister Sandy Hunt said: “Every once in a while, someone will get on a wagon and say, ‘Oh, you are Elder Hunt. I just saw your wife.’ And they will answer, ‘Which one?’”
Or visitors will go into one of the buildings and say, “We just met your cousin on the wagon.”
Left to right, Elder Kevin Hunt, Sister Lou Hunt, Elder Brad Hunt, Sister Tammy Hunt, Sister Sandy Hunt and Elder Jake Hunt take a picture together in the Provo Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, in April 2024. | Provided by Elder Kevin Hunt
Amos Hunt, their common ancestor
Elder Kevin Hunt shared Amos Hunt’s story with the Church News. He was born on Feb. 28, 1819, in Greenville, Kentucky. His father, John Hunt Jr., was one of the first settlers in the area, moving to the state with a land grant for Revolutionary War service.
He built a home, a church and a cemetery. The church building still exists today, having been purchased by the Hunt Family Foundation around the year 1960. A branch of the Hunt family from Indiana and Kentucky still gathers in the area around once a year.
After Amos Hunt and his wife and many extended family members joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they traveled west in 1852 as part of the Benjamin Gardner Company to be with the Saints in the Intermountain West. One of Amos Hunt’s sons died on the trail of cholera.
After arriving in Utah, Amos Hunt settled in the Ogden area in the northern part of the state, and then his name was read over the pulpit during October general conference of 1861 to settle the southern part of the state. He had 15 children.
Amos Hunt later moved to be with a daughter in Teasdale, Wayne County, Utah, where he died on Sept. 6, 1904.
Elder Brad Hunt said he grew up hearing stories about “old Amos,” because his great-grandfather was also named Amos Hunt and he was the newer Amos. And Elder Jake Hunt said many years ago, his father and uncles traveled to Kentucky to meet with the other Hunts there and came home to talk about what they had learned about Amos.
While no children in the next generation are named Amos in their particular family lines, one of the draft horses that they drive in Nauvoo is named Amos, which Elder Brad Hunt joked was “close enough.”
He said finding out they are related and being called to the same mission has been a beautiful experience.
“One day that we all came together, Elder Jake Hunt and I were working on the wagon, and the other Elder Hunt had a tour,” he said. “When they got on the wagon with us with their tour, we were all fulfilling our callings and responsibilities on the same wagon on the same day in Nauvoo. And I thought, ‘I bet the buttons are popping off our great-great-great-grandfather’s angel vest to see this.’”
Elder Jacob Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt sit in the driver’s seat in a horse-drawn wagon while around them, from left, are Sister Sandy Hunt, Sister Lou Hunt, Elder Kevin Hunt and Sister Tammy Hunt, in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Nov. 14, 2024. | Elder John Hale
Connections to Nauvoo
When they filled out their mission papers, Elder Brad Hunt and Elder Jake Hunt requested to serve in Nauvoo. Elder Kevin Hunt and his wife did not write down a preference, but he was thrilled to get the call — because he served for about six months in Nauvoo as a young missionary 50 years before. He was in what was then the Southern States Mission and sent to Nauvoo with a few others on a special assignment.
Meanwhile his wife, Sister Lou Hunt, had a connection because her parents — Everett and Verna Belcher — served in the Lucy Mack Smith home 1979-1981 and built the brick kiln that still makes souvenir bricks today.
Elder Brad Hunt can trace many ancestors to the Nauvoo time period in Church history. And his wife, Sister Tammy Hunt, joined the Church at age 17, and her musical group put on performances in Nauvoo.
“So she actually was in Nauvoo as a new, new convert, and she had some amazing experiences,” he said. When he returned from his mission, “I talked her into marrying me, and she said I owe her a mission then.”
When they brought their family to Nauvoo, they rode around in a wagon and looked at each other and said, “Here is our mission.”
Elder Jake Hunt visited Nauvoo around 1979 or 1980 when his parents were serving in the Independence Missouri Visitors’ Center.
“Of course, it was quite a bit different than it is now, but it was a very spiritual place. It still is,” he said. “It’s an honor to be here. It is interesting to meet the people that come here and hear their stories and a little bit about them. It’s really been a pleasure.”
The Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Being in Nauvoo
All of the Hunt missionaries say they feel a deeper connection to Church history from serving in Nauvoo.
Elder Brad Hunt said that was one of the things that was so powerful to him when he arrived.
“Lucy Mack Smith — she lost her sons and her husband, and you think those were losses,” he said. “But then when you get the opportunity to tell people about those losses as we travel down the streets that are named after her boys that she lost, it is powerful. You feel the loss, and you begin to know Lucy Mack Smith.”
Elder Kevin Hunt says it is a privilege to tell the stories of the early Saints using their own words and their own testimonies while in their homes.
Elder Jake Hunt said the Spirit can be really strong at the sites. “There are occasions when people start asking questions that we can open up and talk and testify and teach, and that’s pretty special.”
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It has been a surprise to me at how many people – even complete strangers – have come on our site tours and have seen my missionary nametag and then have said, “Oh, I read about you in the Church News!” Wow! We be famous!
PIONEER EXODUS COMMEMORATION EVENT
On February 1st of this year (2025) the mission staged a very fun activity. This was the re-enactment of the 1846 westward trek (in the bitter cold of winter) – down Parley Street and then across the freezing Mississippi River. A grand parade was held. I was privileged to be a part of the Nauvoo Legion – a modern soldier group – that led the parade march (right behind the color guard.
And again, I made the Church News – in a commemorative article about the re-enactment march:
CHURCH HISTORY
Remembering the power of temple covenants for Nauvoo pioneers during reenactment walk to Mississippi River
Youth participate in honorary Nauvoo Legion and as flagbearers during milelong walk
8 Feb 2025, 4:30 p.m. MST
DESERET NEWS | CHURCH NEWS ENGLISH
2/8/25, 9:11 PM Remembering Nauvoo pioneers during walk to Mississippi River – Church News
[To see the full article, copy and paste this link:]
Remembering the power of temple covenants for Nauvoo pioneers during reenactment walk to Mississippi River
Youth participate in honorary Nauvoo Legion and as flagbearers during milelong walk
8 Feb 2025, 4:30 p.m. MST
Young women from surrounding towns carry flags during the Exodus Commemoration event in historic Nauvoo, Illinois, on Feb. 1, 2025. The flags represent nationalities that were present in Nauvoo, Illinois, in the 1840s. Susan Sims
By Susan Sims
Susan Sims is the Church’s communications director for Iowa and western Illinois.
NAUVOO, Illinois — Brisk winds and blue skies greeted more than 300 people gathered in Historic Nauvoo, Illinois, on Saturday, Feb. 1, for the Exodus Commemoration.
After a quick breakfast, they lined up to walk from the Cultural Hall to Parley Street, and then to the edge of the Mississippi River, with an honorary Nauvoo Legion leading the way.
For the first time, most members of this honor guard were young men aged 12-18, and they marched on behalf of original Nauvoo Legion members. Walking behind them were more than 20 young women carrying flags, also walking on behalf of individual pioneers.
Drummers provide the marching cadence for the honorary Nauvoo Legion during the Exodus Commemoration event in historic Nauvoo, Illinois, on Feb. 1, 2025. Most marchers were young men, and many were participating for the first time. | Susan Sims
“We want to provide the rising generation with personal experiences on sacred ground to help strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ,” explained Elder Gary Jestice, a senior missionary from Pleasant Grove, Utah, who led the planning committee with his wife, Sister Lisa Jestice.
Ben Bailey, 14, of Cedar Falls, Iowa, said: “Being in the Nauvoo Legion was way better than just watching. We actually had something to do, and it felt like we were part of history instead of just talking about it.”
Betsy Eckersley, 14, of Quincy, Illinois, agreed: “Carrying the flag and marching down to the Mississippi River made me realize how strong the pioneer Saints were. I’m proud they’re my ancestors, and I hope everyone will know how amazing they were.”
HIDDEN PHOTOS AND NEWS OF ELDER AND SISTER HUNT IN THE MISSION HISTORY
In the year 2024, Sisters Debra Omer and LuAnn Walters were the mission historians. In this role, they created monthly newsletters which ultimately became a part of the annual history of the mission. As the editors, they chose their own photos and news articles. We found ourselves mentioned in several of the monthly editions.
Included here are pages on which we found ourselves during the year. The astute reader (like you) can probably pick out the articles and photos in which we appeared. This can be a “where’s Waldo” exercise for you … but we do appear on each of the pages:
August 2024
NOVEMBER 2024
NOVEMBER 2024 (ABOVE)
September 2024
September 2024
In January 2025, Sister Hunt and I became the co-creators, editors, of the mission newsletter and history. Obviously we have had many photos and stories of ourselves that we could include but we try to kind of restrain ourselves and have tried not to “toot our own horn” too much. Still we have found ourselves in a few of the 2025 edition (and likely more to come).
JANUJARY 2025
FEBRUARY 2025
MARCH 2025
APRIL 2025
MISSION SLIDE SHOW
A mission slide show was created by Elder Michael Turner and was shown by President Mehr at a mission training session in April and shown to all of the missionaries. Elder and Sister Hunt were shown in the 2nd slide.
KEVIN THE BLOGGER
As most of you are very aware, I have spent much time and effort creating many blogs over the course of our mission.
As I reflect over the past year here in Nauvoo, I find myself a bit a amazed. When I came here, I certainly did not have any intention or plan to create the many books and publications that I have created. I did not know that we would be the subject of historical presentations by various other people. As I look back, it appears that we may have left a mark on our own lives, our families, and for many around us. Not to brag or anything, but we are grateful for the many opportunities. We have been greatly blessed.
I have posted the blog articles regularly on our blogsite which is:
InNauvooWithKevandLou.wordpress.com
. This blogging has had a few goals or purposes:
To preserve our own Nauvoo missionary experiences (including many photographs) for future reference and enjoyment.
To create records for the current and future enjoyment of our family members – and to help them to feel the Spirit of our mission, our service functions, the spiritual experiences, and the Nauvoo miracles that we feel constantly. It is hoped that the blogs will be a testimony builder for all of the family members.
This is kind of like #2 above, but is expanded to include many friends and extended family who might also benefit from our experiences.
As a historian, to research, document and record important people, places and experiences of the Nauvoo of the 1840’s and today.
To document and remember the lives of our own ancestors who lived in the original Nauvoo period, their lives, their trails, and their sacrifices so that we can appreciate them and can rejoice in gratitude for all that they have done for me/us.
Help others to feel the Spirit of Nauvoo as a “Sacred and Holy Place”, and to honor the legacy of Jesus Christ here in Nauvoo as He and God worked through Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Wilford Woodruff and others who established this great community.
Acknowledge the hand of the Lord in our lives through the many “Nauvoo Miracles” that he has given to us almost daily. We have felt Jesus Christ with us through this mission.
The many blog articles are still and will continue to be available on the blogsite.
Over the past year, I have published a multitude of blog articles. Some of these have featured many activities that we have been involved in. Many blogs have been based upon historical research on a variety of topics. As new materials have been published, I have introduced them initially through the blog articles.
Obviously, I have published these materials in the past but I am thinking that it might be helpful to all of you for me to show here in this one place – all of the major materials that I have created over the course of the mission (so far). I do not do this to brag – but just to make them available to anyone who has interest. So, this is the one source and reference for all of those materials.
I have included here links to the various materials in both .pdf formats as well as the book purchasing links on lulu.com. The published works will continue to be available in the future for anyone who has interest in purchasing them. (These are printed “on-demand” meaning that the books are not published until an order is actually placed. And this makes it easy for self-publishing.)
BOOKS PUBLISHED BY KEVIN HUNT WHILE A MISSIONARY IN NAUVOO
I have created a plethora of books – even before Nauvoo – on the lulu.com website. You may find all of my books by going to lulu.com and then doing a search on my name Kevin V Hunt but here is the link to all of my books. The links after this will be for specific books. (Go to the bottom of the page and use the arrow to scroll through the various pages and books.)
For each of these links, copy the link, and then paste it into your own browser … and Voila!
A NAUVOO WALK DOWN HISTORY LANE
I served the last six months my “young mission” in 1975 in Nauvoo. When I was here at that time, I went all around the Nauvoo “flats” (below Temple hill) and took photos of all of the properties and remaining homes that existed at that time. Then as I returned to Nauvoo in 2024 for my “senior mission”, I again went around and took photos of those same places. This book compares the places 1975 to 2024 and shows the results of restoration or other changes over time.
My grandparents, Ray V. and Augusta Hunt were married June 25, 1924. In celebration of their 100th Anniversary, I created two volumes of family heritage books for them. Most of the work on these books was completed before the mission, I did finish the material, the editing, and the publication of these books after I arrived in the mission.
NAUVOO HOMES, BRICK MAKING AND THE NAUVOOLEGACY OF ELDER E. H. BELCHER
This book introduces some history of brick making generally and in old Nauvoo. The book shows various brick homes and gives information about each. The book also introduces Elder E.H. Belcher, the Nauvoo Brickmaker who began making bricks in Nauvoo in 1980. Elder Belcher also created the Nauvoo brick that has been given out to Nauvoo guests for the past 45 years.
Upon arrival in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission in 2024, Sister Lou Dene Belcher Hunt was invited with her family to create a new brick design to modernize the Nauvoo brick. Ultimately, a new design was selected and new molds were created. This book introduces the new brick and details the many miracles that happened to make the new brick a reality.
This booklet introduces the many restored or reconstructed homes and shops for which tours are given in Nauvoo. Each shop or home is described with its history, information about the people who were a part of the shop or home. A great introduction to historic Nauvoo as it appears today.
ILLINOIS HISTORIC SITES (NAUVOO) ANNUAL MISSION HISTORY 2024
This is a detailed history of the Illinois Historic Sites Mission. Monthly histories were created by Sisters Debra Omer and LuAnn Walters but put together into the annual book by Kevin Hunt.
This book contains the full blog articles that were published on the InNauvooWithKevandLou.wordpress.com. This contains pre-mission plans and miracles and the full blogs through blog #17. This book is full of beautiful photos from the mission experiences and historical research.
This book contains the full blog articles that were published on the InNauvooWithKevandLou.wordpress.com. Blog #18 through blog #27. This book is full of beautiful photos from the mission experiences and historical research.
PERSONAL JOURNAL VOLUME #141 FOR CALENDAR YEAR 2024
Although the above two books are very detailed in their coverage of mission experiences, they contain the “heads” – the bullet favorites. While preparing and reporting the blogs, I continued to maintain my daily journal entries. These journal entries contain much additional information and experiences that are not included in the blog articles. This book covers the full 2024 calendar year – including three months before the mission and then half of the 18-month mission.
During the winter months of 2025, I volunteered to teach a series of five different classes on the subject of heirlooms, journals, personal and family histories and how to publish them. For each class, I created a PowerPoint presentation. Each of these presentations were later posted on my blog site.
Then, after the classes, I compiled the five class presentations with many other of my previous materials created on the subject. I then published all of this material into a single volume book.
I became interested in the many historical markers and monuments in and around Nauvoo. Sister Hunt and I spent some P-days traveling around the area. We took photographs of the many plaques that we found. I also added much historical research data to the marker and monument material. This book details many of the markers and monuments found within a 50-mile radius of Nauvoo, Illinois.
I have long been interested in my Nauvoo ancestors and being in the community gave me increased desire to learn of the ancestors. I determined that I have 32 direct-line ancestors who lived in Nauvoo for all or a part of the 7-year existence of the community. I did research and found much great information about these ancestors – including birth and family information, when and where they joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their association with the Prophet Joseph Smith, and their emigration and pioneer trek west.
I then researched the ancestors for my wife’s lines and found that she had 20 direct-line ancestors.
I created books for my Nauvoo ancestors and then another book for Lou’s lines.
Our grandson, Bryson Hunt Stoddard recently returned from a mission to Argentina. Before he left, I volunteered to compile a book to include all of his letters home. I created this compilation and then his mother and I together added a plethora of photos specific to the missionas well as other special times in his life.
I did extensive research about the Prophet Joseph Smith, his martyrdom, and burials. I posted this article by the name of “The Tomb of Joseph”. After doing this research I added many other reference materials that I have prepared in the past about the Prophet Joseph. I published this as a big beautiful book. I have not yet advertised the book on my blog site but the book is now available here as a PDF file and also on the lulu bookstore.
It has been a great blessing to have been a part of the history of Nauvoo – both in the research of it, as well as in the living and making of it. I rejoice in the gift of writing and editing – and recognize that it is a special gift of the Spirit unto me.
As winter missionaries in Nauvoo, we have a fair amount of free time. Of course, everyone still has 24 hours a day and Nauvoo is no exception. In our concierge winter system – where we are in the tour “queue” and we await our turn to give tours and minister to our guests. With time on our hands, we have the opportunity to have parties, activities, events that we don’t get to have when we are in a busy season.
In these activities, missionaries get to share their own unique and special talents and abilities. It is great to see the composite of great talent that each person shares.
Those who know me, know that I have been into genealogy and family history since I was age 12. I have a bit of experience in family history. I looked for an opportunity to share those talents by teaching a series of classes relative to creating family history, heirloom records, journals, personal and family histories.
My first class was an introduction to various “records” one can create as family heirlooms. Everyone has a story to share – and the presentation explores many options you can create for yourself, your current family, as well as for your future posterity. It doesn’t matter what you do. Commit to doing something and begin to create and share. I enjoyed putting together a presentation in preparation for my class. And now, I am happy to share it with you.
Above, I included a link to see the PowerPoint presentation on-line. Check it out. Also, I have included all of the presentation slides here for your perusal.
Well there you have it! A lot of ideas for heirloom records! There are a lot more thhings than you can probably ever do, but hopefully, you got some ideas to help you create a living heritage for your posterity.
Be creative and have fun! Do it, and your famiy will love you. They will remember you for the way you brought your family together.through the heirloom records that you created for them.
The family heritage trail … bringing children and their fathers (and mothers) together. What a great opportunity!
Nauvoo, Historic Nauvoo, Senior Mission Couple, Historic Sites, Missionary, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintS
Left to right, Sister Lou Hunt, Elder Kevin Hunt, Sister Sandy Hunt, Elder Jake Hunt, Sister Tammy Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Nov. 14, 2024. Elder John Hale
Elder Jacob Hunt and Elder Brad Hunt sit in the driver’s seat in a horse-drawn wagon while around them, from left, are Sister Sandy Hunt, Sister Lou Hunt, Elder Kevin Hunt and Sister Tammy Hunt, in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Nov. 14, 2024. | Elder John Hale
The Red Brick Store in Nauvoo, Illinois, on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
On the Nauvoo Trail 