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Homecoming Messages from the Nauvoo Experience

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Blog #69

By Kevin V. Hunt

Well we are officially home from our mission. It has been a bit of a shock transitioning. We have spent days trying to get unpacked and settled back into our house – while also having a multitude of our family here with us. An adventure, for sure.

It was interesting that it took eight days after our arrival home to officially get released from the mission. Our stake got a new stake presidency the weekend after our return and they were obviously rather busy. We ultimately met with the new President.

This blog does not come in true chronological order (as I would desire) so there will ultimately be other blog articles that should be inserted here … but anyway …

Here are the homecoming talks that we presented in our Pacana Park Ward sacrament meeting on October 26th. We dressed in our Nauvoo pioneer costumes just for added effect.

This is what Sister Hunt said:

MISSION HOMECOMING TALK PRESENTED BY SISTER LOU HUNT IN THE PACANA PARK WARD ON SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2025

Good afternoon.  I’m happy to be with you today. it’s good to see so many  friends and family here. We were privileged to serve in the Nauvoo Illinois mission. Actually, the mission was called the Illinois Historic Sites Mission and it included Nauvoo and Carthage.

Above: The Nauvoo costumes worn at their mission homecoming sacrament meeting October 26, 2025

The Pioneer outfit that I’m wearing today was our missionary attire, which we wore every day, except if we were serving in the Visitors’ Center and wore Sunday dress or at the Brickyard where we wore work clothes as we created 150 bricks each time that we served there.

We had to learn 28 tours of homes and shops of the Pioneer Saints that lived in Nauvoo during 1839 to 1847. The Lucy Mack Smith home was our second home to give tours in our first week.   She is, of course, the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  My parents served in this exact home 45 years earlier. They served for 2 and ½ years, retelling the Lucy Mack Smith story.

The first tour I gave in this home I was overcome with emotions and could not speak. Finally, my husband, Elder Hunt, stepped in and said, “I think I know why my wife can’t speak, her parents served here 45 years ago.” Elder Hunt ended up giving most of the tour.

Elder E.H. and Sister Verna Belcher serving their mission in the Lucy Mack Smith home in Nauvoo (1979 to 1981)

Above: Sister Verna Belcher as Lucy Mack Smith

Above: Sister Lou Hunt posing as her mother, Verna Belcher, 45 years before.

It was pouring rain that day and we had 2 separate groups each made up of 5 Mission Presidents and their wives. They were in Nauvoo to receive training.  They were wet from the rain and dressed in their nice Sunday clothes. Talk about feeling a little intimidated, I was!  I began sharing  the story of Lucy Mack Smith and was crying as I told her story and read her testimony. 

Lucy dedicated her life to remembering and honoring her sons Joseph and Hyrum. Just a few months after they were killed, she began working on a history of her family to stand as a testimony of Joseph’s prophetic calling. quoting her she said,

“…I shall leave the world to judge concerning what I have written as seemeth them good. But this much I will say, that the testimony which I have given, is true; and will stand for ever. And the same will be my testimony in the day of God Almighty…” {End of quote).

I apologized more than once for being overcome with emotion. One of the Mission Presidents thanked me for the spirit that he felt as I told Lucy’s story.  I thought to myself this is going to be a long day if I cry through every tour.

The restored homes and shops testify of the Saints that lived in them and of their faith in the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Take for example the story of George C. Riser that we shared at the Riser Boot Shop.   Before he joined the church he said, “Up to this time I had many entreaties to join the various religious sects, but I did not understand that they were right.  My mind was not satisfied and I made up my mind to travel the world over to learn what I could & try and fill an aching void in my mind.”

Above: Elder Kevin and Sister Lou (on P-day) with grandsons at the Riser Boot Shop in Nauvoo

George Riser had a shoe shop in Ohio. He hired an apprentice to help in his shop.  Ebenezer Kerr was a Mormon but George said of him, “He was not as good of a Mormon as he was a shoe maker.”  Nevertheless Ebenezer became the means by which George eventually moved to Nauvoo and joined the church.

After hearing about the persecution of the church in Missouri, Riser was integrated enough to investigate further, he sold his business and relocated to Nauvoo where he heard the prophet Joseph Smith preach, convincing him of the truthfulness of the gospel.  He was also influenced by a miraculous healing of his young child, John, by the Prophet, George and his wife Christiana were baptized, cutting a hole in the frozen Mississippi river on December 12, 1842.

Above: George Riser (Nauvoo Pioneer) Photo

Can you imagine the faith of the Riser’s strong conviction in the Lord Jesus Christ to be baptized in the icy Mississippi river. What faith!

Telling and retelling the stories of these faithful Saints has strengthened my own testimony  The Saints were pushed out of their homes in Kirtland, Missouri, and Nauvoo. Such faith to keep pushing forward.   I tried to imagine if I could have kept going forward in the faith of the Gospel with so much persecution.

We had the privilege being a part of a reenactment of the Exodus of the Saints last February in the bitter cold, walking through town and following the Trail of Hope where the Saints left to go west into the unknown future – making their way across the frozen Mississippi river. When we arrived at the river it was frozen just as it was for the Saints in 1846.  I tried to imagine what it must have felt like. 

Above: Elder and Sister Hunt at frozen Mississippi River at Parley Street Crossing – February 1, 2025

The Saints were given a list of needed supplies to take on their trip west.  This was called the “Bill of Particulars”.   The list called for a wagon to be full of supplies – things like 1000 pounds of flour, 200 pounds of sugar, 1 bushel of beans, 20 pounds of soap, seeds to plant gardens, cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc..

The pioneer wagons were pulled by 2 or more oxen weighting 2000 pounds each and the weight of the wagon over-flowing with all needed supplies. Would I have the faith that the ice would hold as we crossed? I tried to imagine getting to the other side and wondering if I could ever get warm again. The Saints had such un-wavering faith to push forward. This experience strengthened my faith. The Saints did hard things and I also know I can do hard things, as I dedicate my life to the Lord and His restored Gospel. My trials seemed nothing compared to the early Saints.

The men were sent on missions to England and other faraway places. Many of the men were gone for 3 years. Leaving their wives and children to manage without them. Brigham Young held meetings in the 70’s Hall and from the pulpit he would call upon multitudes of men to serve missions without much notice.

We had 70 young Sisters serving in Nauvoo. I felt honored to witness the young Sisters getting called to a 6 month outbound mission from the same 70’s Hall. From outside the Hall we could hear the Sisters screaming with excitement to go and serve in whatever state they were called.  This was so great to see their excitement to serve.

Above: Nauvoo 70’s Hall – scene of “Outbound Mission Calls” for Young Sister Missionaries

There are many things to tell about Nauvoo. The “Nauvoo miracles”, as we called them happened daily. The following is one of them.

Our mission President, President  and Sister Mehr, whom we loved dearly – approached us last May 2024 – soon after our arrival in Nauvoo. They told us the church was going to change the design of the souvenir brick. They knew my father, Elder E. H. Belcher had created the first design and they wanted us to have the opportunity to create the next brick design and to carry on the family legacy.  My husband and I went to work taking pictures of the Temple and the statues located across the street from the Temple of Joseph and Hyrum riding horseback.

My daughter Kaylea and her husband JD helped us create 9 designs on the computer for the new brick. Our son Keith is an engineer. He was able to take the Temple design which the church finally picked, and put it into a CAD file that enabled the company in Quincy, to create the mold for the new brick. On March 9th, 2025 – on my Dad’s Birthday – we pulled the first new Temple brick out of the kiln. It was a miracle how it all came together.

Just about 2 weeks before finishing our mission the new Temple brick was made available to Nauvoo guests. We were so excited!  I feel honored that I was able to carry on my Mom and Dad’s legacy. God knows where we need to be!  President Mehr said “It was no accident that you were called to serve in Nauvoo at this time.”

Above: Sister Lou Hunt cleaning Nauvoo Mansion House of Joseph and Emma Smith

One of our mission tasks was to be the coordinators of the newly acquired Joseph Smith properties.  I felt honored to clean the homes of Joseph and Emma Smith each week during the winter months. I felt their spirits as I imagined Emma cooking over her fireplace. I imagined Joseph and Emma saying their last goodbyes as Joseph  headed to Carthage to be killed by mobs. Joseph Smith was a martyr who sealed his testimony with his own blood. He was a Prophet of God that I know to be true.  My testimony has been strengthened as we learned about the Saints and their sacrifices.  I feel honored for being given the privilege to serve in Nauvoo.  

Above: Elder and Sister Hunt at Nauvoo Temple

We loved going to the temple almost weekly. The temple is a beacon on the hill and can be seen from virtually every point in lower Nauvoo. It is the most amazing Temple!   I stood in constant amazement of this magnificent building – especially for that time period – and wondered how they could have created it.

Nauvoo is a special place with a special spirit. Everyone should take the opportunity to visit.  Another Nauvoo miracle for us was having our children come to visit Nauvoo as we were there.

The summer before our mission, we went to Nauvoo for several days with our daughter Jenae – then of St. Louis. 

After many beautiful experiences together, she said, “You guys have to get all of “the siblings” to Nauvoo.”  She suggested that we should somehow arrange trips with each of them and us over the next few years.”  We did not then know that we would be called a few months later to Nauvoo.

Above: Kevin and Lou Hunt in Nauvoo 2023 – Where we set a goal to get all of our children to Nauvoo with us

I feel grateful that my children and grandchildren took the opportunity to experience the spirit of Nauvoo. It was a blessing to be with them.  They now have a better understanding of the Saints and their sacrifices.  We had a family gathering yesterday and the family shared their experiences they felt in Nauvoo.  They each felt the spirit of their ancestors and of the Saints who lived in Nauvoo.  They also felt the power of the Restoration of the Gospel and of Joseph Smith as the Prophet of God.

My own testimony …

“NAUVOO MISSION EXPERIENCES AND MEMORIES”

By Kevin V. Hunt

MISSION HOMECOMING TALK PRESENTED IN THE PACANA PARK WARD SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26TH, 2025

Greetings!  This is a grand experience to be here with you in our home ward.  It is a great blessing to have been able to serve a mission in Nauvoo and now to return home for a season.

Above: The gathered family of Kevin and Lou Hunt (19 posterity not pictured)

It is amazing and wonderful to be joined today by so many of our friends and family who have come to be with us.  Thank you for your support.  I felt each day that we were serving for our children and grandchildren.  We really did serve for them – for you – and I think that they felt special feelings and blessings because of our service.  We also felt of their support each day.  It was amazing to know and feel the power and faith of all of our children and grandchildren whom we knew were praying for us in their own family and personal prayers each day.  There is strength in family and God heard and answered your prayers.   He did bless us and we felt Him in our lives with you each day. Thank you!

As we met with Bishop Scoresby after our mission we talked of this meeting gathering today.  He said, “I don’t care what you talk about … just so that it is Christ-centered.”

Everyone whom we met in Nauvoo talked of the “special spirit” that is there.  It is real.  It is everywhere.  It is so special.  Even people not of our faith could feel it.  Many people commented on the Nauvoo Spirit.  That Nauvoo Spirit really was Jesus Christ and the entire Godhead strongly present and guiding everything that happened.  God the Father and Jesus Christ guided us and all of our guests – putting us together in special circumstances so that we could touch the hearts of those who came.   We rejoiced in the “Nauvoo Miracles” as we called them.  We experienced these miracles continuously and almost every day as we served.   We were able to share the Light of Christ with many people.  We know that Jesus Christ was with us.  We felt His presence as He and They directed the affairs and personalized faith promoting experiences that became the Nauvoo Miracles for us and all who came to be with us.  The Lord definitely brought us together with our guests.

As we were soon to depart the mission, our Mission President, President Daniel S. Mehr (who by the way with his wife was fabulous) had us stand in our Sunday meeting.  He talked of Sister Hunt and me and how the Lord had brought us specifically to Nauvoo at this time.  He noted that it was God who orchestrated everything for us – and for the benefit of others.  He mentioned how I had served for many months in Nauvoo as a part of my original youth mission.  And here I was back again … I mean how many missionaries get to return to serve again in their old mission.  Wow!  And this time with my own companion.  It was a great honor and blessing to serve together with her.  We made a good team – having God, Christ, and the Holy Ghost with us.

President Mehr also mentioned the Nauvoo heritage of Sister Hunt through her father, the Nauvoo Brickmaker.  He said that she was brought to Nauvoo to carry on the Belcher family heritage through the development of the new Nauvoo Temple Brick.  President Mehr said that our God loves to orchestrate such amazing and beautiful circumstances for the blessing of  us and all of His children.

Serving a mission in Nauvoo was the greatest possible missionary experience.  Everyone wants to go on a mission to Nauvoo.  We did not specify or request on our initial application a desire to serve in Nauvoo.    We were willing to serve anywhere and for as long as might be needed.  As I departed for the mission I spoke at this pulpit about my own mother and step-father.  They thought that they had all of the t’s crossed and I’s dotted to go to Nauvoo and they got called instead to teach institute in the bush of Toowoomba, Australia.  So, we serve where we are needed and called.  It soon became evident to us that  God knew us specifically and wanted us in Nauvoo.  He knew that we had talents and abilities that He could use to bless the lives of others.

I had been in Alabama, Flawda and Jawja but was called on special assignment with 20 other young Elders to Nauvoo.  I spent the last six months of my mission there.  Wow!  What a tremendous blessing.  Having previously served in Nauvoo “50 Years ago” (1975) was a blessing to me and our guests every day.  I was able to speak with the Spirit of the past and the current moment – bringing both together for the benefit of our guests.

I felt strongly the power of the Holy Ghost each and every day and knew that He was guiding and inspiring me through His divine guidance and as I received specific revelation on many projects that we were able to create together.  I received this revelation that guided my use of numerous Spiritual Gifts given to me of the Spirit.  I felt His guidance, power and strength as I wrote blog articles and many history books about Nauvoo and shared them with others.  I know that I was guided to write for the benefit of others.  I felt that I was an instrument in His hands through the Gifts that He gave to me.  I wrote way beyond my own capacities and I gratefully acknowledge Him in His direction.   What author – no matter how good they are can alone write 70 historic blogs and 20 full books in an 18-month period?  The Holy Ghost definitely guided my pen and my computer writing and I am thankful that I could become greater than myself through Him.

One of my first Nauvoo experiences with the Holy Ghost is very memorable.

As we were driving from the Utah MTC to Nauvoo, we received an e-mail message that gave us instruction that we were to serve in the Lucy Mack Smith home.  Seriously?  We thought that we would serve our full mission there (just as Lou’s parents did for two and a half years back in 1979-1981).   Elder and Sister Belcher did not get moved to other sites.  We thought this might be the case with us. We later learned that as “Site Missionaries” we would need to know all of the 28 tours of the Nauvoo’s historic homes and shops and that we would be moved around through them.  In every week, we served in six different homes and had to know the messages for each.

Anyway, for our first day and tours, we had prepared to teach about Lucy Mack Smith, the mother of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  We studied and felt that we were prepared to teach for her and her home.

Then came our first day to serve in the site.  We were excited and anxious for the opportunity.  And then at the last minute, we received a surprise call.  We were not to serve that day at the Lucy Mack Smith home, but instead, were to serve at the Jonathan Browning home and gun shop with Elder and Sister Turner.  We had been given no guidance, or shadow training by anyone.  (And I note that the system is now much better.  Each arriving missionary is given shadow guidance and training for several days before giving their own tours).  Such was not the case with us.  We were given nothing except the “Site Guide” and the Spirit. 

We reported for duty with no real advance preparation, practice or knowledge of Jonathan Browning and we had just a few minutes with the Turners.  They were soon off together with our first tour group of the day.  They were about half-way through their tour when another big group of guests came in the front door wanting a tour.  The Turners kind of went into a panic – trying to figure out what to do and how to handle both groups.

I surprised them as I said, “No worries … I’ve got this!”  They got this really shocked look on their faces, showing, “Yeah, how is that possible?” but they let me go for it.

Anyway, it was then that the Spirit took over.  The Browning home was one of the eight tours that I knew and presented as a young missionary.  And in that moment, that entire tour of 50 years ago was brought back to my remembrance by the Spirit.  The words flowed into my mind and I was able to present the whole tour.  (The 1975 and 2024 tours were almost identical per the scripts.)   It was an amazing miracle for me (and the Turners) and for our guests – though they did not know “the rest of the story”.  I acknowledged with gratitude the power of the Holy Ghost on that special occasion. Wow!

Above: Jonathan Browning – Gun Inventor

And speaking of Jonathan Browning …  he was very accomplished as an inventor and gunsmith.  Many guests came for his tour not realizing that this great man was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It was special to share with them what Jonathan himself said:  “The greatest accomplishment of my life was joining the Church and having my posterity active and participating in it.”  I also enjoyed sharing with guests one of Browning’s life themes.  Even on his guns, he put a plate which said, “Holiness to the Lord … our Preservation” (from the Old Testament scripture in the book of Zephaniah).  And it was so much a part of his life that he put it on a gun no less … our preservation!

I often told people that I was doing exactly the same thing in 1975 as I now was doing in 2024 and 2025.  “I was then and now am a site missionary.”  I said that “we then had 8 home tours and now we have 28.”  I quipped that “the only difference was that back then I wore a white shirt and tie and I now wear (or wore) pioneer costumes every day.”  I loved the costume look and being able to more fully portray the lives of those faithful pioneers.

Above: Elders Craig Shaltes and Kevin Hunt in Nauvoo 1975

When a young buck missionary, I went around and took photos of all of the historic homes of Nauvoo.  I made an effort then to learn as much as possible about the homes that were still standing (a hundred and thirty years later). When I returned to Nauvoo in 2024, I did the same thing.  I returned to each of these places and again took photos. 

Above: Home of William Weeks Architect of the Nauvoo Temple – photo taken 1975

Above: Home of William Weeks as shown in 2025 after previous restoration

I was able to publish a book showing and comparing then and now and the effects of Nauvoo Restoration over the years.

One major change from then and now was the Temple.  When I was there previously, the Temple lot was there but was pretty sparse.  It had only a few stones around the outside perimeter of the Temple, the baptism font location and the spiral staircases.  We took people there and tried to help them envision the grand structure that had once stood there.  This took a lot of imagination on their parts.

Above: Nauvoo Temple Lot as seen in 1975

Now as I returned to Nauvoo, the grand and magnificent structure had been rebuilt.  It was rebuilt in 2002 under the direction of then President Gordon B. Hinckley.

In the tour of the home of William Weeks, the architect of the Nauvoo Temple, we told of Weeks and how he and the Prophet Joseph worked together on the Temple design.  Weeks, as an architect had some definite ideas – based on past experience and trends of the day.  Joseph’s vision for the Temple did not always match those of Weeks. 

Joseph felt strongly that the Temple should have round windows.  This did not meet with Weeks architectural views.  Joseph Said, “I wish you to carry out my designs.  I have seen in vision that glorious building illuminated and will have it built according to the pattern shown me.”  How cool!  Joseph taught Brother Weeks that he had a vision for the Temple and that it needed to be built according to the plan that Jesus Christ had shown to him.  (This was just as the Lord himself, a carpenter, had taught the Brother of Jared and Nephi how to build ships.)  And I loved sharing this with our guests.  The Temple was built with the round windows.

Above: Nauvoo Temple with Round Windows (shown at center)

And I loved the part about the illumination.  In Joseph’s time, the lighting of that day was by candles.  Candle power alone could scarcely have lit the inside and certainly could not have illuminated the exterior of the Temple. I think that Joseph saw our day … and well beyond his own day.  He did not even get to see the Temple construction finished – but it was built according to the vision he had seen.  And today it stands in grand illumination each night.

Above: The Nauvoo Temple Illuminated

Also in the Weeks tour we shared the story of how Weeks later in Salt Lake City took a turn away from the Church and lived the rest of his life in California.  His posterity grew up without the influence of the Church.  Around 1948 Weeks’ grandson, Leslie Griffiths, then a non-member, became friends with some missionaries.  One of the Elders was about to return home at the end of his mission.  The Weeks grandson said, “Wait …  I have something for you.”  He went up into his attic and returned with a large roll of paper – about 8” round and 3’ long.  These were the original plans for the Nauvoo Temple.  Following instruction by Leslie, the missionary accepted the challenge, took the papers and with them knocked on the door of the First Presidency in Salt Lake City.  One can only imagine their surprise at the gift presented by the Elder. 

And with Weeks’ original plans, the Church in 2002 was able to duplicate the new temple to be very much like the old.  The footprint and the exterior of the building are almost identical in size and material.  The inside, however, had to be changed dramatically to accommodate the modern systems of plumbing, electrical, elevators, etc.  This was all a great miracle as guided by the Lord Jesus Christ.  Truly a major “Nauvoo Miracle”.

Above: Nauvoo Temple on the Hill above the community

The Nauvoo Temple stands majestically today on a hill overlooking the community below.  It is visible almost everywhere on the lower area of town where our restored homes and shops are located.   The pioneer Saints were able to see the Temple and watch with front-row seats its construction.  And each man was asked to dedicate a tenth of his time for the construction.  Each of Nauvoo’s ten wards were assigned specific days for their members to work and donate to the construction.

I liked the words and teachings of one of our guests.  After leaving our tour this mother said that she planned next to take her children up to “touch the Temple”. What a great concept and guidance of the Spirit.  And that is a lesson for each of us … to touch the temple – but also to let it touch us.

As Sister Hunt said, it was a special blessing for us to be able to go to the Temple often. And it was truly amazing that we could drive to it within five minutes or less from our home. Wow!  This was a great blessing for us to be touched by the covenants made there with Jesus Christ.  My vision of the Temple was expanded within me and my understanding of it grew within my soul.

As with all Nauvoo missionaries, the Lord used and expanded our capabilities to bless the lives of others.  After each tour I wrote on one of my trusty 3×5” cards, the numbers in the tour – and sometimes special experiences and Nauvoo Miracles evident in the tours.  Then at the end of each day, I recorded in a spreadsheet the tour numbers and also recorded the numbers and thoughts in my personal journal.  This took me only a short time each day but at the end of the mission, I had a full record. And the record showed that just in the tours of Sister Hunt and me, we personally took through 19,625 guests.  Imagine that … 19,625 people.  Wow!  So unbelievable and wonderful.  I wish that we could see the end result of those connections.  Maybe someday we will.

With my affinity to family history and history in general, I was able to contribute to the Lord’s Nauvoo kingdom in special ways.  I created and presented 5 presentations on family history, journals, personal and family histories.

I composed books about our own Nauvoo ancestors.  In one book I detailed the lives of my own 32 direct-line ancestors who were in Nauvoo.  Another book detailed the 20 direct ancestors of Sister Hunt.  I often taught people how to use “Find My Relatives” and it was truly amazing how many third and fourth cousins that I connected with.  Perhaps you read in the “Church News” back in November of three of us Hunt cousins who all got to serve together in Nauvoo.

Above: Three Cousins – Elders and Sisters (L to R) Lou and Kevin Hunt, Sandy and Jake Hunt, and Tammy and Brad Hunt

We had unknown strangers to us approach us months later saying, “We remember reading about you in the “Church News”.

I also enlightened hundreds of guests – to their great joy – how to use the fun “Find My Nauvoo Relative” phone app.  I taught them how to find their Nauvoo pioneer relatives and the property that they owned so that they could go check out the property themselves. And I can do the same for any of you who might have the interest (even here away from Nauvoo).

We were appointed as the Mission historians.  Each month we created a comprehensive history of events, training meetings, and activities within the mission.  This newsletter was greatly enjoyed and appreciated by our fellow missionaries.  And at the end of last year and again at the end of this year we did and will create a composite of those monthly histories into a full year history to be made available and published for the missionaries.  And each annual history is submitted to the Church History Department for permanent storage in the records of heaven.  I am glad that our records will be a part of “The Book of the Law of the Lord” as we taught of in Joseph’s Red Brick Store.

In this role as Mission Historians, we were able to go with the Mission President and wife as they took the young sisters on what he called “Church History Immersion Trips”.  We went on multiple of these trips.  Sister Hunt was the photographer and I took copious notes everywhere.  I later was able to publish four books about the Church history sites in Missouri, Nauvoo, Iowa and westward.

I studied the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith and was able to compile books about his life, his ministry, and his many burial sites.  I was able to document historic monuments and markers in and around Nauvoo.  I was able to document the history of brick making in old Nauvoo connecting Elder Belcher brick making and then the miracles of the new Temple Brick development of which we were privileged to play a major role – along with our children, Kaylea and JD, and Keith.

While serving in the Stoddard Tin shop, we showed a very bad photo of the place before restoration.  I said, “I can do better than that!”  I opened up my Nauvoo mission slides from 1975 – and which grandson, Brodey and I had digitized just before our mission.  I found a much better photo of the Stoddard home and printed this and my photo was used by all other missionaries. 

With my experience with history, Nauvoo, and the Saints, I was able to help and serve others in ways that likely no other missionary could have.  We were where the Lord needed us and we were pleased to be the Nauvoo miracle for many others.  This was such a great experience and opportunity.

As I reflect back upon my writing, our mission in general (and today’s talk) , I feel like Mormon, the great historian and compiler of the Book of Mormon as he said in 3 Nephi 5:8: “And there had many things transpired which, in the eyes of some, would be great and marvelous, nevertheless, they cannot all be written in this book: yea, this book (and this talk) cannot contain even a hundredth part of what was done among so many people [us and our mission] in the space of [eighteen months].”  And paraphrasing Mormon in verse 9, “But behold there are records which do contain all the proceedings of Elder and Sister Hunt while serving in Nauvoo as Site Missionaries.”

Being in and serving in Nauvoo was one of the greatest times of our lives.  It was so wonderful to be there and to experience the influence of Jesus Christ, God and the Holy Ghost each day through Their Nauvoo Miracles.  It was such a blessing to have had such a wonderful companion and being and serving there together. 

We felt the love of our Savior and were so grateful for the opportunity to serve in this sacred and holy place.  I felt the presence and feelings of many of the early prophets as well as our own special ancestors who likewise walked the streets, lived, and sacrificed in faith that we might enjoy the freedoms and joy of the Gospel in our lives.

 I like the words of the Prophet John Taylor as he testified of the Prophet Joseph Smith 10 years after the Martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum.  He said, “Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God.  I do not think it … I know it!”  One prophet testifying of another … I also testify of Joseph the Prophet and the work of our God in Nauvoo. I am also grateful to my own ancestors and the Nauvoo legacy of faith that they passed on to me and to our family.

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Jesus was Born for Easter Joy

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Blog #45

By Kevin V. Hunt

A day to rejoice! Today is Good Friday and Sunday will be Easter. It is a joyful time to rejoice in our Lord, Jesus Chrsit – for his glorious life, His total obedience to God the Father, for his atonement, his death and his glorious resurrection. It is a time to be grateful to Him for his special gifts given for us all.

For about 35 years, I have composed a new song for each Christmas season. This song, expresses the joy of both Christmas and Easter and puts forth the message that Jesus was truly born for our Easter joy. He really came to bring us the gift of Easter.

My message today is the HE LIVES! And because HE LIVES, we too can live on eternally in joy with our families and those we love.

JESUS WAS BORN FOR EASTER JOY

Jesus was born on Christmas Day,

   Born Son of God, for Easter joy.

He came the debt for sin to pay,

   Eternal life we might enjoy.

In heaven, Father gave the Plan,

   Jesus would come all men to save.

He would give life to every man,

   Herald angels bore news he gave.

Adam and Eve transgressed God’s law,

   Cast out then from Eden’s garden.

Death came to man by Adam’s fall,

   Christ to come to lift the burden.

Adam and Eve could then give birth,

   With hope of life through Christ they knew.

They taught their children here on earth,

   That to obey, each one should do.

Of Jesus, ancient prophets taught,

   Isaiah, of the Christ foretold.

Virgin mother, and Son of God,

   Good news he shared with them of old.

The Christ would come to free from sin,

   And break death’s bands from Adam’s fall.

As Son of God, Atonement win,

   With resurrection, life for all.

Our Lord was born for Easter morn,

   His royal birth, Messiah, King.

Rejoice for Christmas Day was born,

   The Christ, our Easter hope to bring.

To heaven, our Christ would ascend,

   His glory seen by those below.

And Holy spirit, he would send,

   That in our hearts we all might know.

We know He lives, we sing, rejoice,

   With hands uplifted, we do praise.

In testimony, with one voice,

   The Spirit speaks in glorious rays.

An inner glow, in hearts we feel,

   Through Savior, with new life to give.

Our hearts do burn as we do kneel,

   And we rejoice through Christ we live.

That Christmas Day brought so much joy

   As angels, heaven, men rejoiced.

We knew by Jesus, we’d enjoy,

   Eternal life, no sin, we voiced.

Through Him, eternal life he gives,

   His greatest gift to those who choose.

The Easter message says, “He Lives”,

   His Christmas birth, oh wondrous news.

Kevin V. Hunt – Christmas 2021

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Truths Learned from Joseph Smith’s First Vision

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Blog #32

By Kevin V. Hunt

This is a talk which I presented in Sacrament meeting in our “missionary ward” on Sunday, January 19, 2025 – in Nauvoo, Illinois

Greetings, friends and fellow laborers here in Nauvoo.

Today I will quote many verses from Joseph Smith’s own history as he recorded the events of the Restoration.  This history was written in 1838 and as found in our canonized “Pearl of Great Price.  I knew months ago that at some future time, I would be asked to give a sacrament meeting talk.  And months ago, I determined that Joseph’s First vision as contained in his history would be my topic.  President Workman invited me three weeks ago to speak today and on that day, I finalized my talk. Then last week as Sister Hunt and I did our “Comr Follow Me”, we noted that the reading for toay was to be from Joseph’ history. So, maybe we need the duplication.

Ours is a great blessing to serve as missionaries here in Nauvoo.  As we serve here, we have the opportunity to learn more of and to focus upon the life and mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Sometimes, we even feel guilty as we might think that we focus more upon Joseph Smith than on Christ.  Such is not the case for us as we teach and testify of Joseph, we are actually testifying of Christ, because it was He who called and commissioned Joseph Smith as His chosen prophet.

In 2020, President Russell M. Nelson, our prophet, invited us to read and to study the First Vision in preparation for the upcoming 2020 April General Conference – which celebrated the bi-centennial (200-year anniversary) of the First Vision.  I accepted his challenge then and enjoyed receiving personal revelation relative to the First Vision.  I continue that quest here in Navuoo.

BACKGROUND AND SETTING:

Joseph’s family had lived in Vermont and other places as they tried to eek out a living as poor but determined farmers.  And recently they had moved to the village of Palmyra in Western New York.  This was not a chance move for the Smith family.  The Lord guided and brought them to this location.  He needed them there.  He needed Joseph to be there for future events.  For fourteen hundred years previous to this time, God had directed an ancient American Prophet, named Moroni, to bury sacred metal records in a hill near this Palmyra.  Joseph needed to be there to be prepared to obtain and receive this record.

In 1820, young Joseph Smith went in to a grove of trees near his home to pray.  He was a religious, sober and reflective young man who was very concerned about his standing before God.  Following his prayer, he was visited by God, our Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  The Holy Ghost was also present and testified to Joseph’s heart of the divinity of his Heavenly messengers.  We can learn much truth from this vision and subsequent events surrounding the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

JOSEPH’S FAMILY HELPED PREPARE JOSEPH FOR HEAVENLY ANSWERS:

Joseph was a young man who was brought up in a strong religious home.  Scripture reading and prayer were a part of his every day experience as he grew up in the Smith home.  The Bible was readily available to him in his home.  The scriptures were read frequently as a family and he spent much individual time reading the scriptures.  This Christian upbringing prepared Joseph’s young mind for his questions relative to God’s plan for him, taught him that with faith, he could talk to God and receive answers from Him.

There was much action in the community relative to religion.  God also had a hand in this revival excitement in that it helped instill questions and concerns in the mind of young Joseph.  Joseph attended the meetings of various preachers and denominations.  He had read of the establishment of the Church of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Bible.  He seriously sought for a church that mirrored that of the former day church.  But the more he heard from these various preachers, the more he was confused.   His family members added to the confusion as they joined different churches. Joseph did not want to make a hasty decision.  He wanted to KNOW which church was right and which he should join before he took action.   He sincerely believed that there was a true church to which he should become affiliated.  And Joseph was concerned about his own spiritual situation and wanted to be “right with God” in his conscience, feelings and actions.

JOSEPH PREPARED HIMSELF SPIRITUALLY TO RECEIVE PERSONAL REVELATION:

Joseph teaches us how to study the scriptures:  In verses 11 and 12 of his history, Joseph states:

               “I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads:  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of god, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not: and it shall be given him.  Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.  It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart.  I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God I did …”

Joseph thought of these verses frequently over time and pondered their application to himself.  His was not just a single reading of these verses. Joseph studied them over and over again and thought of them deeply.  “Can God really hear me and answer my prayers,” he wondered?  “If any of you lack wisdom …”  And Joseph certainly felt that he did lack wisdom.  “Let him ask of God … And let him ask in faith …”  Joseph wondered if he had the faith to ask of God and to receive an answer. 

               Verse 13:  At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God.  I at length came to the determination to “ask of God”.

Again, this was not a quick decision.  He thought of these questions again and again.  This pondering, combined with his simple but strong faith in God, ultimately led him to the grove. 

               Verse 13:  So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt.”

Joseph checked out possible places in the grove, maybe going there multiple times to ponder his questions and heart desires.  Finally, he found his desired spot and he thought of this spot a few times and maybe even visited the spot over the next several days as he tried to envision how he would pray and what he would do.

Then, having made his decision, Joseph was at peace.  He was excited as he looked forward to the experience ahead.  And then the morning came.    He got up real early (likely on a Sabbath Day but if a weekday, before the planned work of the day).

               Verse 14:  It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty”

 Joseph went firmly knowing of his plan for prayer and he had the faith to know that he could receive his desired answers.

               Verse 15:  “… I retired to the place where I had previously designed to go … [and] looked around me, and [found] myself alone.”

Joseph purposely went to the quiet place he had previously selected and where he knew he could be alone to commune with his Heavenly Father and to offer his heart out to God.  He went to his chosen spot deep in the woods – a place in nature that was calm and beautiful.  He went to the grove in the early morning – when the world was most beautiful and serene.  No doubt he sat again and pondered the beauty around him and his mission in going there.  He enjoyed the peace and solitude of the morning as well as the beautiful creations around him.  He prepared spiritually for his desired experience.  He likely had no idea of the magnitude of what would follow but somehow in his heart, he believed in faith that he would feel and know the desires of his heart.   He knew that it was time to exercise his mission and reason for going to the woods. 

Verse 14: “It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never made the attempt to pray vocally.”

Joseph had prayed in his mind and heart many times in his life previous to this occasion.  But, this occasion was different in that he felt a need to pray vocally.   He had not done this before.  But, in so doing, he believed that he could more directly speak with God.  He wanted to use his voice and not just inner feelings.  He spoke vocally with the faith that his God could  actually hear his voice.  He opened his mouth and slowly began with the words, he had read so many times in his scriptures:  “Oh, God, the Eternal Father … Hallowed be Thy name … ”  He probably paused there a moment thinking of how to say next what he wanted to say and also waiting for a response back.  He wanted to know and feel that he was being heard.

               Verse 15: “I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God.”

Joseph knelt down and folded his arms and quietly bowed his head.  He waited a few moments as he tried to imagine speaking with God and the questions that permeated his mind.  In faith he began softly … “Oh, God, the Eternal Father …”

               Verse 15: “… Immediately I was seized upon by some power which entirely overcame me, and had such an astonishing influence over me as to bind my tongue so that I could not speak.  Thick darkness gathered around me, and it seemed to me for a time as if I were doomed to sudden destruction.”

Joseph was overcome with an over-powering darkness.  He knew that he was struck by a very negative power.  He could not move.  He was about to give up as this power bore down upon him.  From this experience, he came to know without a doubt that Satan was real and that he was working hard to thwart the work of God.

               Verse 16: “Exerting all my powers to call upon God to deliver me out of the power of this enemy which had seized upon me, and at the very moment when I was ready to sink into despair and abandon myself to destruction – not to an imaginary ruin, but to the power of some actual being from the unseen world, who had such marvelous power as I had never before felt in any being …”

JOSEPH IS DELIVERED FROM THE EVIL INFLUENCE THAT HAD HELD HIM BOUND:

Joseph prayed with great fervor and increased intensity exerting all inner strength that he had, “OH GOD …  Help me … Save me …” (He was trying desperately to hold on … to be rid of the overwhelming power of darkness.  The record does not say this, but Joseph likely needed help to get rid of Satan.  God appeared and likely told Satan to depart).

And then with Satan ousted from the scene, God then was able to speak to Joseph.  Joseph was probably worn out, exhausted from his encounter with Satan.

JOSPEH IS VISITED IN PERSON BY TWO ANGELIC BEINGS:

Verses 16 & 17:  “I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.” …  “I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound.”

Joseph must have looked with great joy and gladness upon the two personages there before him.  He was then overcome and amazed at the brightness around him .  The Holy Ghost came upon him and he was able to see and comprehend the two people who stood before him.  He thought he was seeing angels.  At this point, he did not know who they were.  But, he knew that the darkness and depression was gone.  And he could feel and see the glorious and exquisite brightness before him.  As his eyes adjusted to the light, (and as now prepared of the Holy Ghost to see God), Joseph now relieved, overwhelmed with joy and peace as he basked in the light and glory of the scene before his eyes.

               Verse 17: “When the light rested upon me I saw two personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other – This is my Beloved Son, Hear him!”

GOD CALLS JOSEPH BY NAME AND INTRODUCES HIS SON TO JOSEPH:

We can only imagine how God the Father and Jesus smiled upon Joseph.  They likely told him that they had come in answer to his prayers.  And then God smiled again and quietly said, “Joseph … This is my Beloved Son, here him!”   Joseph knew then that it was God, the Father, who was talking with him.  He gazed and listened with rapt attention and great joy as the significance of the occasion began to sink into his soul.

Jesus added his own self-introduction to himself as he said, “I am the Lord of Glory.  I was crucified for the world …”  (First Vision 1832 Version)  The Lord then asked Joseph, “Joseph, what can we do for you?”  Joseph then said that he had come seeking forgiveness of his sins.  Imagine the joy as the Lord said, “Joseph, my son, thy sins are forgiven thee.  Go thy way.  Walk in my statutes and keep my commandments.” (1832 Version of the First Vision)

Joseph expressed his sincere gratitude for this feeling of grace that he felt from his Savior.  He had a feeling of great joy and peace in his mind and heart.

               Verse 18: “My object in going to inquire of the Lord was to know which of all the sects was right, that I might know which to join.  No sooner, therefore, did I get possession of myself, so as to be able to speak, than I asked the Personages who stood above me in the light, which of all the sects were right. … and which I should join.”

Joseph then also stated the second reason why he had come to the Lord in prayer.  He said, “I am confused about the many churches and I want to know which church I should join.”  J

“At this time it had never entered into my heart that all [churches] were wrong …”  

Joseph was surprised when the Lord told him that none of the churches then on the earth were His true church and that Joseph was to join none of them, The Lord said to Joseph:

Verse 19: “… they [are] all wrong … [for] their creeds [are] an abomination in [my] sight, … those professors [are] all corrupt; [and] they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof”.

Verse 20: “again [Jesus]  forbade me to join with any of them.”

In verse 28,  Joseph states that he was “called of God” for a future work and also told by the Lord that he, Joseph, would later be an instrument in His hands to restore His true church to the earth.  We have no other details at this time, but there must have been much other conversation and instruction given to Joseph from his Heavenly visitors.  For said Joseph,

Verse 20:  “And many other things did he say unto me, which I cannot write at this time.”  (JS History, Verse 20)

As the “interview” concluded, Joseph found himself on his “back looking up into heaven.”  Joseph notes that “when the light had departed, I had no strength”.  (JSH-Verse 20)    He was spiritually and physically exhausted.   He remained in the grove for a time as he pondered on what he had just experienced.  And having recovered somewhat, Joseph returned to his home.  He went quietly – in reverent awe of what we now refer to as “Joseph Smith’s First Vision”.   He said within himself,

And this is quoted from Joseph’s 1832 version of the First Vision:  “I beheld a [glorious] vision … I know that I did.  I saw God, the Father of the Universe and His Son, my savior, Jesus Christ.”  And said Joseph, “My soul was filled with love and for many days I could rejoice with great joy.  The Lord was with me.”

Joseph did not run quickly to tell his mother of his experiences but as he came into the house, Lucy Mack Smith could see that Joseph was exhausted.  She wondered what had happened to him.  Mother Smith asked her son if he was alright or if he was sick.  Joseph told his mother what he had seen, experienced and felt.  He knew that his mother would believe his words.  And she did.  And then he gave her a little jab as he said, “I have learned for myself that Presbyterianism [the church she had joined] is not true”  (JS-History verse 20.)

What a glorious vision Joseph Smith experienced.  And because of his experience, he would never be the same.  And the world would also be forever changed.  Joseph came out of that grove of trees on that spring morning knowing more about God and Christ than any other man then on the earth.  He would go forth to testify of that which he learned and knew.  Persecution began immediately to rear its ugly head in opposition to the vision that Joseph had seen.  And he recalled the New Testament words of the Apostle Paul who had seen a similar vision soon after the death and resurrection of Christ. 

               Verse 20:  “It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom, else why should the powers of darkness combine against me?  Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?”  (JSH-Verse 20)

Joseph lamented as he experienced intense persecution and said, “It was often the cause of great sorrow to myself.” (JS History, v. 23) but Joseph would forever be bold in his testimony to the world, saying,

Verses 25 and 27:  “It was nevertheless a fact that I had beheld a vision.   …  I saw a light, and heard a voice. “I did see a light, and in the midst of that light, I saw two personages, and they did in reality speak to me.  I had seen a vision,  I know that I did,  I know it, and I know that God knows it, and I cannot deny it and none of this persecution can make it otherwise.”  “And,” said Joseph, “I will know to my latest breath that I [did] see a light and heard a voice speaking unto me and all the world could not make me think or believe otherwise. …  I continued to affirm that I had seen a vision.”

Joseph knew that he must “continue as I was until I was further directed.”  (JS-History, Verse 26).  That must have been a very hard time for Joseph, but it was a time to ponder, reflect and to prepare for his future mission.  And says Joseph, “I often felt condemned for my weakness and imperfections” (JSH: Verse 29)  Joseph knew that he had been called of God  (JSH: Verse 28) and that the Church would be restored through him, but Joseph was not given the time table for the events.  When no further direction came to him, he would have been tempted further of the father of lies and who would try to make Joseph doubt the reality of his experience or to give up on his forthcoming mission.  But, in the meantime, Joseph waited patiently knowing that eventually, he would be given further direction.  He continued to read, study, and ponder.  And as time passed, Joseph wondered continually of his status with God.  “Am I still worthy?  What am I to do?”  Joseph wondered what the next step would be and when it might happen.  Finally, the time did come.

               Verse 29: “[On] the twenty-first of September, after I had retired to my bed for the night, I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God for forgiveness of all my sins and follies, and also for a manifestation to me, that I might know of my state and standing before him; for I had full confidence in obtaining a divine manifestation, as I previously had one.”

Like Jesus, Moroni, also a resurrected being, came in the form of a man to Joseph on the night of September 21 and 22, 1823.  In a series of visits, Moroni came in a pillar of light that was brighter than noonday and “his whole person was glorious beyond description, and his countenance truly like lightning.  (JSH: Verse 32)  And Moroni also called Joseph by name (an indication that the angels of heaven know us mortals here on the earth).   Moroni taught Joseph about the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, but he also carefully tutored Joseph in the Lord’s continuing call for Joseph to be His prophet.

Later, John the Baptist and Peter, James and John came and bestowed the Priesthood and the associated keys upon Joseph.  With divine authorization and keys, the Restoration had begun!

Joseph’s “First Vision” and all subsequent events that brought forth this restoration were miraculous and amazing.  And because of these events, the world would forever be changed as the Gospel would roll forth to all the world in preparation for the promised Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

And indeed, we can learn many great and marvelous truths from the First Vision and other events of the Restoration.  And it now becomes the mission of all members of the Church of Jesus Christ – the Latter-day Saints, to be bold in testimony of these truths – knowing that we have the divine revealed knowledge and truths that the world does not know or have.  The people of the world are depending upon and waiting for us to share the glorious message with them.  It is essential to them and for the salvation of all of God’s children now on the earth – and for all future generations. 

So, what are the truths that we learn from the First Vision and other events of the Restoration?

GOD HAS A MASTER PLAN FOR OUR EARTH AND THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST UPON THE EARTH:

God The Father had his eye on the Smith family for some 4,000 years before Joseph was born.  In the Book of Mormon, as Lehi gives a blessing to his son, Joseph, Lehi quotes a prophesy of Joseph the son of Isaac (the same that was sold into Egypt).  In this prophesy, the patriarch Joseph said that he who would restore all things would be called Joseph (after him, the patriarch) and that his name would be named after the name of his father (Joseph Smith, Sr.)  (Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 3:15)

As already noted, The Smith family was BROUGHT to New York to be near the buried plates and future events already planned by The Father in his eternal plan.

God delegates to Christ the administration of this earth but is there to introduce and support him

God and Christ knew the name of Joseph as a son of God

God can indeed appear to man – though some may say that “No man has seen God”.   (He was able to see God because he was first prepared “of the Holy Ghost” to see them

We are commanded to hear Christ – we go to God through Christ and His church

Joseph was called of God to accomplish a specific work or mission

When God wants to implement a new plan, He works with someone young and teachable

Joseph was told that he would be the instrument through which the true church of Jesus Christ would once again be restored to the earth

When God wants to communicate with us or with our church leaders, he does it through Jesus Christ

There is now one true church of Jesus Christ upon the earth

THROUGH THE VISTATION TO JOSEPH, WE LEARN OF THE TRUE NATURE AND ATTRIBUTES OF GOD AND CHRIST:

God is real!

God and Christ have physical bodies

God and Christ spoke to Joseph with their mouths and he heard with his ears and saw with his eyes.  God has ears to hear our prayers, eyes to see our actions, a mouth to speak to us, and a heart to feel compassion and love

Joseph saw a light and heard a voice.   God and Christ appear in pillars of light.  God and Christ have light brighter than the “noon-day sun”

Light dispels darkness.  God and Christ come in great glory “The Glory of the Lord”

God the Father is the literal father of Jesus Christ

God and Christ are separate beings  (an important truth not known to most of the world)

God is a personal being and all men and women are made in his physical image

God and Christ exactly resembled each other

When God the Father comes to earth (on very rare occasions) he comes to introduce His Beloved Son

Joseph Smith testified that God does live and that Jesus Christ also lives

Jesus is a resurrected being (as is The Father).  He rose from the dead and lives today.  (And because of His resurrection, we too may all be resurrected).

The Holy Ghost is separate from God and Christ.

From the First Vision, we do indeed, learn much of God the Father and Jesus Christ.  And in that experience, we also learn much about Satan, the father of lies.  We learn that

WE ALSO LEARN MUCH THE POWER OF SATAN:

Satan is real and powerful.

Satan tries to thwart the work of God’s plan.  He inspires opposition

Satan also knows us by name and knows who we are as sons of God and our specific roles for building the Kingdom of God.  Satan knew Joseph personally and knew of his upcoming mission.

Satan will motivate evil-disposed and designing persons to thwart the rise and progress of the church

Satan knew God’s eternal plan (including God’s plan for Joseph Smith and the Restoration of the Gospel) and wanted to keep it from happening.

THROUGH JOSEPH AND THE FIRST VISION, WE ALSO LARN MUCH ABOUT THE PROCESS OF RECEIVING PERSONAL REVELATION:

Joseph’s “mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness, with deep and poignant feelings” (JSH-Verse 8) which caused him to reflect seriously upon religion, and which church was right and who was wrong

Confusion led Joseph to dig deeper into the scriptures for answers (JSH-Verse 11)

Joseph read with his mind and “felt” the scriptures with his heart.  The scriptures he read “seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart.”  (JSH-Verse 12)

Joseph reflected upon verses of scripture again and again.  He wanted to receive wisdom from God.  (JSH-Verse 12)

When a scripture is not understood, one needs to go to God – the ultimate source of all truth – for additional light and knowledge.

The heavens are yet open in our day – not closed as in the dark ages of the past.  There is revelation and there are visions in our day.

To receive revelation we need to retire to quiet places where we can be alone to pray.

Revelation and answers from God often come in the early morning hours when our mind is clear and alert

Personal scripture study can bring revelation

If we ask of God, we can know that we can receive answers

The Holy Ghost can bring understanding to the scriptures

We can all pray to know of our own standing before God.

We can prepare for prayer by kneeling and humbling ourselves – getting in the right location where we can be alone.

God and Christ promised Joseph further light and knowledge – additional revelation and that can also be our blessing.

We must be true to revelation and inspiration we receive

To receive revelation, we must be specific in our requests and what we seek

Having received revelation from God, we must act and testify to others

THIS IS AN IMPORTANT KEY IN THE PROCESS OF REVELATION

After receiving revelation, we need to acknowledge God and the Holy Ghost as the source of the revelation and inspiration and be grateful for the inspiration and revelation received.

MY OWN TESTIMONY AND WITNESS:

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. 

We sing with gusto, “Praise to the man who communed with Jehovah!”  We could also sing, “Praise to Jehovah who communed with His Prophet.”

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen

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CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS ON HOLY GROUND

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Blog #30

Kevin V. Hunt 

This is an unusual Christmas for Sister Hunt and me.  Typically, we are in our home and are surrounded by family who all gravitate to be with us and celebrate the special time with Grandpa and Grandma.  This year, however, we are celebrating Christmas on a holy ground – away and kind of in our own little world.  We are blessed to be able serve the Lord on a couple mission and we are in the beautiful and sacred grounds and sites of Old Nauvoo, Illinois. This has been a great blessing and opportunity.

Full Mission photo of “Winter Missionaries 2024” in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission

We are many miles from our children and grandchildren this year, but we feel their love, support, and prayers.  They have sacrificed to send us many gifts and we are grateful for those.   More importantly, however, are the gifts of themselves – and the lives that they are living.

As has been my custom for 35 plus years (see the link down at the end of this article), I took some time at this Christmas season to contemplate the Lord Jesus and his birth, his life, his mission and all that He has done for me and us.  I prayed for direction and the inspiration came.  These are my thoughts of the day:

2024:  JESUS, OUR LORD, ON HOLY GROUND

In Heavenly realms, before our birth,

               Our Father chose Jehovah, Son.

Planned holy ground for him on earth,

               For Jesus said, “God’s will be done.”

God’s Son, with Mary here on Earth,

               Born in a stable, oh so lowly.

In a manger, Jesus had birth,

               That quiet place became one holy.

Shepherds in fields did keep their sheep,

               As Father’s Glory shown around.

Long a promise, our God did keep,

               His son, now born on holy ground.

Chorus:

God’s shown His love on holy grounds,

In special times in days gone by,

Gods show themselves, on holy grounds,

They want us to remember why.

Atonement made Gethsemane,

               His precious blood, He freely gave.

On Calvary’s cross, for you for me,

               On holy grounds, His sheep to save.

That Easter morn, He brought new life,

               The tomb became our holy ground.

As Jesus once again did live,

               His sacred love, then knew no bound.’

To Nephites and to other sheep,

               The resurrected Lord did come.

With them on holy ground did weep,

               From God’s own presence he did come.

Chorus Repeats

Palmyra too was sacred ground

               As Father, Son, Joseph did see.

In modern day, their love abound,

               For their new prophet, he would be.

To Kirtland, Christ made holy ground,

                In His Temple, he did appear.

Again, that day his glory round,

In open vision, came to His seer.

A holy ground is Nauvoo, too,

               As Jesus with His Saints does walk.

His Temple on the hill in  view,

               Cov’nants with Him their Zion’s walk.

Chorus Repeats

By Kevin V. Hunt – Christmas 2024 –   While serving a mission in Nauvoo

Serving on this mission has been a sacred and beautiful experience.  We are grateful for this opportunity.

As I prepared this blog article, I felt a desire to share some of my Christmas poems/songs from previous years.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

2023: JOSEPH, GUARDIAN OF OUR LORD

Joseph, Guardian of our Lord,

               Was born in David’s royal line.

The earthly father of our Lord,

               A chosen man, and godly, fine.

To Mary he had pledged his heart,

               Espoused to take her as his bride.

Then he heard news, ripped him apart,

               As he learned Mary was with child.

Then in vision, an angel came,

               ‘Twas Gabriel who had come from God.

Spoke to Joseph, called his name,

               Mary, mother, Son of God!

Joseph believed, and from that day,

               Became the guardian, father too.

 Mary, now in family way,

                As her, protector, helper, too.

Then Joseph got a tax decree,

               To go to Judea from Galilee.

Though big with child, his wife, Mary,

               On donkey’s back, he led the way.

Joseph was told, “No room the inn”,

               Helped Mary lay down on the hay.

He delivered baby, welcomed him,

               The first to hold the precious boy.

Joseph welcomed humble shepherds,

               And proudly led to mother, child.

He saw the star, their message heard,

               With them rejoiced in Holy child.

Joseph took Mary and newborn son,

               For circumcision on eighth day,

To Temple to present God’s Son,

               “His name is Jesus,” he did say.

He marveled as Simeon praised,

                And Anna as a Prophetess,

Both in thanks, their voices raised,

                By Spirit, chosen Son did bless.

Joseph amazed, as wise men shared,

                Their special gifts for Royal Son.

Then angel’s voice again he heard,

                “Go to Egypt, Take thou, my Son.”

In Nazareth, Joseph opened shop,

                And there became a carpenter.

Jesus learned art of woods in shop,

                Joseph, teacher, and his mentor.

Joseph was pleased as he saw his son,

                Grow in wisdom, in God’s grace.

Always he, the obedient one,

                Subject to Joseph in his place.

Then to the Temple Jesus “strayed”,

                And at twelve, he listened, taught.

Joseph and Mary, worried, prayed,

                “On Father’s Business”, Jesus taught.

Joseph, guardian of the Christ,

                Stood looking on, but always there.

He heard the angel’s voice for Christ,

                And helped His mission to prepare.

Joseph, a holy man of God,

                Heard angels, and then heeded voice.

He knew his role for Son of God,

                Chosen step-father, he was choice.

2003:  THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHONE ‘ROUND

The Glory of the Lord shone ‘round,

               As God our Father came to Earth,

And shepherds bowed on holy ground,

               And heard the news of Jesus’ birth.

In radiant glory, Father came,

               To herald news of His Son’s birth,

To shepherds, not to kings, he came,

               Transcendent tidings to the earth.

Chorus:

Glory to God for His Son’s birth,

And peace, Good will to all on earth.

The shepherds saw, with ears they heard,

               As God proclaimed the royal birth.

And by the Spirit, their hearts burned,

               As Father testified on Earth.

The hosts of heaven, with Him came,

               In loud acclaim their voices rang.

“Glory to God!  – they praised his name,

               “Good will and peace to men,” they sang.

Chorus:  Glory to God for His Son’s birth,

And peace, Good will to all on earth.

God’s brightness, glory filled night sky,

               With backdrop of a great new star.

And humble shepherds wondered why,

               In fear they stood with hearts ajar.

“Fear not!” Said God, “For now behold,

               I bring good tidings of great joy.

For born this day, is Christ the Lord,

               And to all people, he’ll bring joy.”

(Chorus) Glory to God for His Son’s birth,

And peace, Good will to all on earth

“In David’s City, he is laid,

               In swaddling clothes on manger hay.

To men a Savior, Christ the Lord!

               Born my Begotten Son today.”

In haste, the shepherds went to see,

               And found the babe as God had said.

By Spirit’s whisper, knew ‘twas He,

               The Son of God in manger laid.

(Chorus) Glory to God for His Son’s birth,

And peace, Good will to all on earth.

By Father’s love, he sent His Son,

               His own Begotten, born that day.

‘Twas sent to die, that death be won,

               And sin be gone in Father’s way.

He came, according to God’s plan,

               That all mankind might get to choose.

Thus Heavenly Father came to man,

               Announcing Jesus – joyful news!

(Chorus) Glory to God for His Son’s birth,

And peace, Good will to all on earth.

–Written by Kevin V. Hunt

   Annual Christmas Hymn 2003

(For scriptural background, see LUKE 2: 9-15, Bible Dictionary: “Glory to God”; Topical Guide: “Angel of the Lord”, “God, Presence of”, “God, Glory of”, Ezek. 1:27-28: 10:4, Acts 26:13; D&C 110:3; and Joseph Smith History 1:16-17)

2007: OUR GOD BELIEVES IN FAMILIES

Our God believes in families,

               That’s why He gives us Christmas times.

Our God gave us, our families,

               For Christmas joys throughout our lives.

That first of Christmas nights began,

               In a stable, with family.

Joseph and Mary were there when,

               God sent His Son to a family.

As a family, we often go

               To parties, dinners, special things,

Its all part of the holiday glow,

               Such fun to families, Christmas brings.

We hustle round, go to and fro,

               So much to do, so much to see.

But it’s with family we do go,

               And gather round the Christmas tree.

We buy our gifts, we do so much

               And in traditions we do boast.

We give, we share, the Christmas rush,

               It’s family time that means the most.

It’s Christmas and with family,

               We celebrate the special days.

We do so many things with glee,

               And sometimes don’t give God the praise.

When home for Christmas we enjoy

               Times together and having fun.

God gave us Christmas for our joy,

               Together, family, every one.

Christmas is special ‘cause we’re home,

               It’s special with our families.

Rejoice at Christmas, love at home,

               For God gave us our families.

(Chorus after each verse)

With family, the bells do chime,

               It’s Christmas Day, give thanks to thee.

We celebrate at Christmas time

               Because it all is family.

               —  Kevin V. Hunt  © 2007

                    CHRISTMAS 2007

2011:  THE GIFTS I CAN GIVE

Gifts I’ll give Jesus this Christmas,

        Are gifts that I give of my heart.

I will give my gifts to Jesus

        With “Grateful Heart”, my list will start.

I’ll give my thanks for all He’s done.

        For family, life and time to live.

I’ll give my life to serve the one,

        As Jesus gave, I too, will give.

I’ll serve as true under-shepherd;

        Giving love to all in my care.

In joy, I’ll share God’s holy word,

        His Gospel truths with all I’ll share.

With others, I will share my faith,

        My testimony that He lives.

I’ll teach that as we live by faith,

        Our God will help us, all He gives.

To Jesus, I will give my gifts,

Of love and service – from my heart.

The wealth of earth, I may not have,

        But what I do have, I will share.

I’ll share with those who may not have,

        That they may feel God’s love, His care.

I’ll help as needed, night and day,

        In little ways, as so I can.

Through smile and deeds, I’ll show the way,

        God shows His love to every man.

I will help others hope and feel,

        That life is good, that God is here.

And He provides with love so real,

        For all, His children, everywhere.

I’ll sing and dance, and live with joy,

        Each day I’m blessed to be on earth.

I’ll share my talents and enjoy,

        The friends He’s given me from birth.

To Jesus, I will give my gifts,

Of love and service – from my heart.

I’ll strive to be at peace each day,

        I’ll trust in Him, and give Him praise.

For all He gives me, come what may,

        And for His goodness all my days.

I’ll rejoice in Heaven’s Glory,

        For Jesus came as God’s own son.

Thank Jesus for His blood He’s given,

        Atonement made for everyone.

Christmas is Jesus, so I’ll give,

        My all in service to my King.

I’ll follow Him, help others live,

        In faith and hope through love I bring.

I will think of Him this Christmas,

        And I will strive to do my part.

Yes, this year, I’ll give to Jesus,

        My might, my soul, I’ll give my heart.

To Jesus, I will give my gifts,

Of love and service – from my heart!

                       — Kevin V. Hunt

                         Christmas 2011

I have often made reference to  my “young mission”.  For Christmas 1974 (exactly 50 years ago), I found myself serving in the secluded town of Cullman, Alabama.  I was serving with Elder Wessman.  On that occasion I was pensive about Christmas – away from home – but able to really ponder the meaning of Christmas and what it was to me.  I penned the following lines of prose:

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS

Christmas Time is a very special time of the year.

Christmas is different things to different people.

Christmas should have great meaning for all of us.

Christmas – What is it to you?

CHRISTMAS is giving to others as God gave his only Begotten Son to redeem us.  (John 3:16)

CHRISTMAS is loving our family and friends as Christ showed his love for all that he met.  (John 13:34)

CHRISTMAS is singing beautiful songs and carols and remembering the angels singing and praising God at Christ’s birth.  (Luke 2:13)

CHRISTMAS is joy and happiness and realizing that “unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given.”  (Isaiah 9:6)

CHRISTMAS is family togetherness and remembering the togetherness of Mary, Joseph and the babe on that first Christmas night.  (Luke 2:16)

CHRISTMAS is keeping secrets and thinking of Mary who “kept all these things in her heart.”  (Luke 2:19)

CHRISTMAS is kindness to others and living the golden rule which Jesus gave to us.  (Matt. 7:12)

CHRISTMAS is a tree with a star on top reminding us of the star long ago which shone above the Bethlehem manger.  (3 Nephi 1:21 and Matt. 2:2)

CHRISTMAS is generosity as Christ generously gave His life that we might live.  (3 Nephi 11:9-14)

CHRISTMAS is a decorated tree with lights reminding us that Christ created the earth and the heavens for us.  (John 1:1-3)

CHRISTMAS is busy people and crowded stores reminding us that “there was no room … in the inn” for the Son of God to be born.  (Luke 2:7)

CHRISTMAS is seeing the smiles of parents of children and remembering the smiles of Mary as “she brought forth her firstborn son.”  (Luke 2:7)

CHRISTMAS is fancy packages and gifts just as the wisemen gave Christ gifts of “Gold, and frankincense and myrhh.”  (Matt. 2:11)

CHRISTMAS is a little girl with a new little doll in a blanket – reminding us of Mary wrapping her child in swaddling clothes lying him in a manager.  (Luke 2:7)

CHRISTMAS is special prayers and praising God just as the angel and heavenly hosts praised God for the birth of Jesus.  (Luke 2:12-14)

CHRISTMAS is sending cards wishing good cheer and great joy to friends and family as Jesus said to Nephi, “Be of good cheer for … on this night come I into the world.” (3 Nephi 1:13) and angels saying, “for unto you is born … Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:10)

CHRISTMAS is traditions as prophets foretold the birth of Jesus for many generations.  (3 Nephi 1:18)

CHRISTMAS is giving gifts as Christ gave each of us the gift of eternal life – “The greatest of all the gifts of God.”  (D&C 14:7)

CHRISTMAS, then is remembering the Savior – even Jesus the Christ.  CHRISTMAS is remembering who Jesus is and all that he has done for us.

CHRISTMAS is remembering Christ’s birth, life and example he set for us. 

CHRISTMAS … What is it to you?

Kevin V. Hunt

Mission Christmas 1974

I have published my 30 years of Christmas messages in a book – now published on lulu.com.  I invite you to read and enjoy the poems of the past years.   Here is the link to the book:

https://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-hunt-and-kevin-v-hunt/christmas-reflections/paperback/product-y9nwvz.html?q=kevin+hunt&page=1&pageSize=4

And here is the “free” link where you can access the PDF file of the many songs/poems: (Copy and paste)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Np3vQJbvmi376NodwJR44xqT0dVA7VW8/view?usp=sharing

I would like to share with you our own Merry Christmas message:

I am grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life and I am grateful for the Lord Jesus Christ at this special Christmas time.

 We wish you all a Merry Christmas!  We love you all and are grateful for you. May you find joy and peace on your Christmas trail.

Elder Kevin and Sister Lou Hunt

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Reflections on a Life Milestone

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By Kevin V. Hunt

Blog #25

I KEVIN VON HUNT, am finding myself reflecting on a major life milestone at this moment. The occasion is my own 70th Birthday.  Seventy?  How is that possible?  Where has that time gone?  And of course, I still feel as if I am about age 35!

This writing comes on October 31, 2024, as I am celebrating my birthday.  In the past, we have had a long-standing family tradition of staging wonderful and creative birthdays for the major milestones – generally the 5-year increments for family members.  Seventy is a big thing and sadly, I will not be able to celebrate with a lot of fanfare with my family this year.  So, I have decided to write a message to the family as I contemplate the historic moment pretty much alone without them (or you)

My wife, Lou, (Sister Hunt) and I are presently serving as site missionaries in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission – which includes mostly Nauvoo, Illinois.  We have been serving for seven months and will be here yet another year.

Writing this, is actually something that I have wanted to do for quite some time – and that is a message to my posterity.  I would very much like to write a personal message to each one of you who are numbered as my posterity – and maybe someday that will happen.  That is a yeoman task, however, since the posterity of Lou and me now numbers 61 (or 63 with her and me).  Wow!  That is so amazing and wonderful.  At the moment, the posterity includes 9 children, their spouses and 43 grandchildren.  Wow!  That is amazing and wonderful.

Lord Baden-Powell was the founder of the worldwide Boy Scout program.  As he was getting older, he got into a reflective mood and wrote to the Scouts of the World:  “If you have ever seen the play Peter Pan you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of goodbye.”

Like Baden-Powell, I do not believe that I am now dying – nor do I plan to do so soon.   Both of my grandfathers lived to age 83 and my parents both lived to age 90.  One of my doctors at the Mayo Clinic is a Native American doctor.    I think of him as one of the true Indian medicine men.  When I shared with him, my family health history, he said (of my parents), “You will outlive both of them. …  You will live to be 100!”  And I believed him.

So, here is my letter written now to my posterity.  (And I don’t promise that it will be my last!)    I hope that all of you will share this with each member of your family.  And it is my hope that each family member will see this letter as a personal letter sent to each of you.  I have each of you in my mind as I write.

A little background:  Believe it or not, I was born on Halloween.  And it gets a bit better …  My parents, (Russel Frank Hunt and Alta Alura Larsen)  met on a blind date on Friday the 13th – and then I was born on Halloween.  My folks were at a ward Halloween party in Ft. Collins, Colorado on that spooky night of Saturday, October 30, 1954.  It was during the social gathering that I announced my pending arrival.  Mom had to leave the party for the hospital to go have me, and I was born the following morning – on Halloween.

While celebrating my birthday was not always convenient through the years for those who wanted to celebrate it with me, I always was happy that my arrival day on earth came on that day.  With or without celebrations, it has been a special day for me.  It has been fun for me to celebrate on a day when much of the world around me was joyful, crazy, and celebrating.

I had a very happy childhood.   After my birth, my parents moved (with me) to Cheyenne, Wyoming for a short time.  It was there that my kid brother, Dean, was born.  He got pneumonia soon after birth and the doctors said that “he will never survive Wyoming winters.”   So, Mom, Dad and I picked Dean up literally at the Hospital in the moving van, and we moved to Arizona.  And that is how my Arizona story began.

We lived mostly in Mesa, Arizona, though we did make a move to Orem, Utah for a year and a half – but then it was back to Mesa.

I lived in the Mesa 10th Ward – which was located just a couple of blocks north of the Mesa, Arizona Temple.  This was a great ward – with many wonderful people.  I loved them all and still have special memories of all whom I knew there.  Of course, my time in pack and troop 155 were some of my greatest times.  (“155, … the BEST ALIVE”)   I absolutely loved everything about Scouting, received my Eagle Scout award, and led the troop though many wonderful adventures – including the National Scout Jamboree of 1973.  The Scout Oath and Law instilled in me the values needed for a successful life.

My mission was wonderful.  I was called to the Alabama-Florida Mission (in the “Suth’n Bible Belt”).  And it was the absolute greatest adventure to be called – as “a young missionary” to serve the last six months of my mission in beautiful and historic Nauvoo, Illinois. And it is so unique that I now find myself again in Nauvoo as a “senior” missionary – doing exactly what I did back in 1975.  Wow!  Who gets such an opportunity to return to their original mission for a second stint of service!  This is truly a miracle.  And I rejoice in it!

I attended Mesa Community College before and after my mission and nearly graduated from there.  I then transferred to Brigham Young University, in Provo, Utah.  I enrolled in the Youth Leadership program – with the goal of becoming a professional with the Boy Scouts of America.  I finished my BYU program in just three very full semesters (and a packed summer of Scouting internships).

One of the greatest blessings of my BYU experience was meeting the lovely Coed, “LuDen” Belcher – arrayed in her gingham dress.  We had the same major and sat by each other in five or so classes each semester.  I loved her zaniness and have enjoyed her joyful spirit ever since.  We had eight dates over a two-year period, and I eventually proposed by mail after not seeing her for many months.   I say that “it took a month to get engaged”, but she did say, “YES!”  Our first kiss (and my first kiss ever) was over the marriage altar in the Salt Lake Temple on September 14, 1978 – just before I turned age 24.  “Betty Jo” has been my champion through all of these years and she loves me in spite of my many warts.  I love and appreciate her.

Lou Dene (now just known as “Lou”) and I set off on an adventure of having and raising a large family.  From the onset, we wanted twelve children – and that became our pursuit over the years. 

We began life in Ogden, Utah, where I worked as a professional with the Boy Scouts of America.  We remained in Ogden for five years before we transferred with the Boy Scouts to Santa Barbara, California, where we lived for two years.  Our next life adventure took us to Santa Paula, California, where we lived for 5 years.  We left there when our Marinda was just 3 days old and moved home (for me) to Arizona.  We spent two years in the metropolis of Coolidge, Arizona. We then moved to Mesa.  We lived three years across the street from my alma mater of Westwood High School.

We then bought the family home at 2317 E. Capri Avenue – in Mesa.  It was there that we raised our then nine children.  (And yes, Lou began from that time forth to say, “9 is Fine”.)  We lived in this home for almost 30 years.  We had wonderful family times and associations with many great people there.

I pursued way too many occupations over my lifetime and with little worldly success in any of those pursuits.  I came to realize that position, title, money, and company prestige really mean nothing.  What matters is who we are inside and how we are able to serve others.

I spent the last ten years of my working life as a school bus driver.  With four of our married children living in Maricopa, Arizona, we chose to move there.  This proved to be one of the greatest blessings of our lives.  We still owed $78,000 on the Capri home and if we pursued the same path, we would have been age 80 and still trying to make a mortgage payment.   We were able to sell the home, pay off the mortgage, and then buy a brand new home in Maricopa for cash.  (We did have to take out a “signature loan” for about $12,000 but paid that off in about 4 years.)  We worked in Maricopa for two more years and then we both retired.

Being retired and having the house paid off gave us opportunity to pursue other life adventures – including a mission together.  And that brings us to the present moment and the 70th milestone which I celebrate today.

Let me say that family is everything to me.  Family has been my life-long pursuit.  We have been tried and tested through all of the years.  We have had to sacrifice in many ways in order to support the growing family.  Jobs have come and gone (mostly gone) over the years.  And with all of the job changes, have come much of sacrifice and trauma.  Faith is really the only thing that has helped us to get through the challenges.  We have put ourselves in the hands of God and have entrusted ourselves to His care.  And as we have done this, we have felt his love, guidance, and direction.  And He has provided for our every need.  We are grateful to Him for his special care.  Each day has become a miracle and we are grateful that the miracles continue to come.

Lou and I were not perfect, but we truly did our best to instill faith and testimony in each of the children.    And we definitely taught each of you to love God, Jesus, the Church, the Prophets, and the good life available through obedience to the Gospel commands and covenants.  It has been a joy to see you now doing the same with your children (and soon to be grandchildren).  We have a great family heritage and tradition.  Let us all work valiantly to maintain all that we have built and loved together.

Now looking back over 46 years of marriage and a lifetime of experiences, we see how the Lord has truly guided our path – in the long-term as well as in the “daily miracles”.  We are very grateful and we rejoice in Him.

When I was just a child, I remember a scripture that had a major impact on our whole family.  I still think of this as our family motto.  This is Proverbs 3:5-6 which reads, “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.”   That served the family well then and continues to do so with each day of our lives.

I mentioned that Lou and I wanted a large family from the beginning.  We did not want to limit our family – but happily invited and welcomed each new member of our family.  We continue to rejoice as new grandchildren and others come to the family.  We have learned that our greatest joy has come through our family associations, connections, activities, and just living life together.

I have mentioned faith … and as an extension to that … we have always paid a full tithe to the Lord – in recognition for all that He has blessed us with.  And with that, we learned early in our marriage the need to also pay a substantial fast offering.  Had we not done these two things, we never could have survived the financial challenges that we faced.  We were truly blessed because of these commitments, and I commend the practices to all of you.

Throughout our lives, we have given our all to the Lord in consecration of our time, talents, and everything which He has blessed us with.  And this has been the greatest blessing and opportunity for us.  We are grateful that we made that decision early in life – to give our all.  That way of life is still the backbone of our personal strength and character.  It has been wonderful to have served through the years.

Faithfulness in the Gospel has also brought the greatest blessings to us and to our family.  We both have ancestors going back six to eight generations in the church – on almost every side.  These ancestors left us a legacy of faith, fortitude, and commitment to their covenants – that has carried down to us.  I have felt of their strength.

Missionary service has been a life-long focus.  I have been involved in some kind of missionary assignment for most of my life.  I love the missionary effort, the focus, and the joy of seeing others come into the Church and fold of Jesus Christ.  I know that you can experience great joy, and happiness, as you too, share the Gospel of Christ with those around you.

I noted above, my love and connection with my ancestors and extended family.  I have always been so proud to be numbered as one of 83 grandchildren of my revered grandparents, Ray Von Hunt and Augusta Wilcox..  I developed a love for genealogy and family history research when I was just 12 years old.  Much of my teen existence was spent in seeking for and documenting the lives of my ancestors.  And forever since then, that has been my greatest ambition and focus.  I feel a very strong connection to the great ancestors who have gone before me/us and who have now passed to the next world.  I look forward to meeting them all in a grand reunion some time.  It has been very self-fulfilling to me as I have researched and documented the lives of these people of commitment, fortitude, and dedication – in the Nauvoo and pioneer experiences – as well as in their daily lives through their mortal experiences.  Ours is a special and sacred heritage through these magnificent people.  It is my hope that all family members might feel that same connection and relationship to them.

I love the mention of the “Spirit of Elijah” as noted in D&C Section 2.  This scripture appears in most of the standard works, but I love the unique wording as found in Section 2.  God’s promise is that “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.”  We made promises to “our fathers” (and mothers) before we came to the earth.  They need us, and we need them.  As President Nelson has repeatedly said, “When we assist with temple and family history work, we are helping to gather Israel on both sides of the veil.”  That is our charge and opportunity … and it is your opportunity and blessing.

The Lord has given me many talents and I have enjoyed and loved each one.  I have learned that all talents and abilities come to us through the Holy Ghost and having realized this, I have been blessed in my writing and in many other ways.  I encourage each of you to learn to hear and feel the voice of the Spirit in your desires for new talents and opportunities.  I love the “parable of the talents” and have felt the power and personal growth of the man with the ten talents.  I rejoice in that which the Lord has given to me.  And I know that you can have the same joy as you develop and share your own talents.

For over fifty years, I have made the dedicated effort to record a journal entry for each and every day of those many years.  The journals now number about 140 volumes.   I have already witnessed great blessings from the journals as I have researched them for my own projects and as I have shared memories of life milestones with each of you.  I leave these many journals to each of you as my personal legacy and gift to you.  I hope that you will find occasion to someday search and enjoy the journal records.  There is much in the volumes that is mundane and routine, but in the daily entries, there is much that is good, great and magnificent.  Reading these journals beyond the lens of the current day, helps us to see the “big picture”  and how the Lord really has guided our lives – and each day of our lives.

Be aware that the journals may reflect some of my “brash” demeanor or opinions (for which I apologize), but I really did write the journals for each of you – collectively and individually.  The journals tell the lives of each of us over the past 50 years.  We lived it together and you can each relive those special times through the journals.  Each of the journals has been digitized and are available to you in many ways.

And in mentioning my own journalling efforts, I likewise encourage each of you to record your comings and goings of your life.  I did not start recording my journal entries until I was age 18.  I really wish that I had started writing the journals when I was about 12.  I commend the dedication and commitment of journal writing to each of you.  It is well worth the effort and sacrifice.  I know that writing your life will bring you great personal and family happiness, as it has to me.

And a couple of years ago, I pulled together all records, cards, brochures, photos, and every possible detail from my lifetime.  I compiled these into my 20+ volumes of my personal autobiography.  Yes, you heard me right … 20 plus volumes of my life and times – wrapped together under the title of “My Life’s Collective Works”.  Few of you have taken time to peruse these books – in your current rush of life, but I sincerely hope that you will each individually, take time to peruse and read these books.  Again, they are my legacy to each of you.  In them, you will find the real me, (and the Lord’s blessings to me) revealed.  The books detail the good life that I and we have enjoyed together.

There is much more that I could write … and I could go on forever.  But, I hope  that what I have written might help you think of me with some joy in having me as your husband, father, grandfather – and hopefully many generations of “grands” yet to come.  I love each of you and have been so blessed to have had you in my life.

I would like to close this letter to each of you with my own personal testimony.  I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer.  I know that God the Father, sent Him to us as His Son.  I know that God created the world for each of us – as families – that we might have eternal joy and happiness together.  I know that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth – with all the necessary Priesthood and Keys through His chosen Prophet, Joseph Smith.  I know that God and His Son did in fact visit the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I know that they sent many angels to restore the priesthoods and keys to the earth in this, the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times, I have a strong love of and testimony of The Book of Mormon.  This Book has been the foundation for my continuing joy and happiness through all of my life.  I have loved the Book and its simple truths each time that I have read it.  I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints truly is the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ upon the earth today.  I know that we have a living prophet to guide and direct us today.  I share these thoughts with you in the name of Jesus Christ.

Kevin V. Hunt

Written and shared October 31, 2024

Gratitude, History and Heritage, Inspiration, Mission Service

Getting Ready to Head out on the Mission

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By Kevin V. Hunt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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