Blog #61
In a recent blog article, I talked of a fateful connection with our Mission Site Leaders – President and Sister Mehr as they were doing their morning biking.
On that day, President Mehr surprised us a bit. He has kind of hinted in the past about him trying to find a way for me to go with him and the young sister missionaries on what he calls a “Church History immersion trip”. This is a trip that he takes with the Young Sister Missionaries and they go around and check out historic sites of the church.
I will repeat myself a bit here (from that previous blog but I will again state the material below because it helps to introduce the publication of various church history site STUDY AND TRAVEL GUIDES:
On that day, President Mehr said, “Is your schedule free next week – like Tuesday and Wednesday? I would like you and your wife to go with us on our “Immersion Trip”. I said “That would be great. I think we can clear the schedule. (Har, Har!)” I asked him what he would want us to do for the trip. He kind of waved his hand around and said, “Everything … document the whole trip!” Wow! That would be so fabulous! I think that he really likes my records of history here in Nauvoo.”
Little did I know the future impact of that one little random visit with the bikers. I did not then know that I would spend literally every free moment of the next four months on an Immersion project.
President Mehr connected with the mission scheduler and told him to put Sister Hunt and me as scheduled to participate in the Immersion Trips. President Mehr got permission from the Church History Department to take the 36 young sisters – who all go home this fall – on some Church History Immersion trips. The group of young sister missionaries were divided into two groups. So, this meant two sets of trips and us going on all of the trips. The first overnight trip was to Missouri church historic sites. We then made another overnight trip across the Iowa Mormon Trail and to Winter Quarters. We repeated these two trips a couple of weeks later with the other half of the Sisters. Then later, we went on a day trip with them to see “local” sites around Nauvoo – like Ramus and Quincy, Illinois, the “Sugar Creek Camp” and Montrose in Iowa.
Our months of May and June were packed with all of these wonderful trips. On these trips, I served in my role as Mission Historian. I took copious notes all along the way. I recorded history, trip activities, and testimonies and feelings shared by the young sister missionaries. Sister Hunt was the official photographer for all of the trips.
At one point, I took advantage of a moment with just President Mehr and myself. I wanted clarification about his vision for me being on the trips. Knowing of my propensity for writing and creating books, he said, “I WANT A BOOK, OF COURSE!”
Okay, so a book it would be! After the trips ended, I composed a “memory book” just for the young sister missionaries – combining all that I described above. I did very comprehensive research about every Church site we had visited – and many more that were significant but which we did not have time to visit. This turned into a very major project that certainly kept me entertained. I worked on the project for several hours each day for the next four months.
I created one giant composite book that had everything in it. Then I broke this down into several smaller books which I published separately. I termed these books “Study and Travel Guides” for general distribution to missionaries of the three states, as well as to the general public – for anyone anticipating a Church history tour. And in the process, I did also extract a book just for the young sisters. And I prepared a “Synoptic Summary” for the Church History Department.
Here are connective links for the Church History books. A PDF link is included, All of the books are available for purchase on lulu.com with a search on the word “Nauvoo”. (And you may need to copy the link and paste it into your own computer URL)
SAINTS IN MISSOURI, NAUVOO AND WESTWARD
This is the composite book for Senior Missionaries (and anyone in the world). It combines all of the geographic areas into one book. Then there are book links by state.
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:74824bb7-322a-4657-b484-f469c3a2ef47
SAINTS IN MISSOURI BEFORE NAUVOO
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:309d21de-9dc0-41e5-80fd-8a9393a5fdfc
SAINTS IN NAUVOO WITH PROPHETS JOSEPH BRIGHAM
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:5c1c762a-5a62-4296-9dbb-893be9318cc9
SAINTS GO WESTWARD FROM NAUVOO
https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:85da3b48-d052-4a09-b208-c1155957207e
JUST A FEW BOOKS WRITTEN WHILE A MISSIONARY IN NAUVOO
Elder Mitch Atkinson has been our zone leader in the Hyrum Zone for many months and it has been a real plesure working with him. He has long been fascinated with the many books that I have created while a missionary here in Nauvoo. I told him that I have created some 20 books while I have been here in Nauvoo. Unbelievable! This is hard to believe myself, but it is true.
And a real mind blower … All of the “Saints” series and one on my Brigham District, and the two books for the young sister missionaries were all published on one day. So if you are counting, that is 7 books which I published in a single day (after months of hard work). That is certainly a record for me – and once which I doubt will be matched again – and probably a feat that few other authors could admit to.
In making this announcement, I do not wish to brag or to toot my own horn. I humbly I acknowledge that it was not me. All of these books came by the power of the Holy Ghost and I felt very strongly of His inspiration and revelation through all of these projects. Without His direction, such a massive undertaking would not have been possible. With His help, I was able to achieve way beyond my usual self and capabilities. I am deeply grateful!
When I came on this mission, I had no idea that I would be creating sukch a collection. I did them one at a time and now that I am about done, I am totally amazed, too. Wow!
Also, our mission president asked me to print a copy of ALL OF MY BOOKS for use in the mission. He also asked for a copy of each to be sent to the Church History Department in Salt Lake City, Utah.
I happened to call Elder Atkinson the other morning and caught him in a devotional meeting with the 20 or so Nauvoo teamsters. My books and 142 journal volumes became a subject of their discussion (though I certainly did not plan for this situation)
Following the Teamster conversation, I compiled a list of the books created while here. (And actually the real total is 23 if I count the two books on my grandparents, Ray and Augusta Hunt, that were finished and published here) and a book on the mission of our grandson.
The package of the many books arrived and I spread them out on the floor. I sent a message to the President saying, “It’s Christmas! The books have arrived!” It certainly did seem like Christmas. The package will actually probably blow the mind of the Mission President. He has seen only three or four of the books previously. When I told him there were 15 or more, he reiterated, “I want ALL OF YOUR BOOKS”. So, here goes!
Above: 20 Books created and published in Nauvoo 2024 to 2025 by Kevin Hunt while serving as a Church missionary.
A WHOLE LOT OF BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR YOUR READING PERUSAL AND ENJOYMENT!
And here is the list of books that I compiled for the Teamsters. The rest of you might enjoy the list also.
All of the books are published on lulu.com. For the many Nauvoo books, you can find them all by doing a search with the word “Nauvoo”.
My other lulu.com books can be found with a search of my Kevin V Hunt name.
I am willing to send any of you a free PDF version of any book if you e-mail me a message of request. And of course, you may purchase them on lulu. And note that for most of my books I only charge a couple or three dollars above the printing cost. I do not try to make money on my books … I just want people to read them. And that is also why I do not publish them on commercial sites (like Amazon and Lulu Global) … they hike the price up so high beyond the printing cost – that no one can afford to read them.
I have created 60 historical blogs (an average of one about every ten days) while I have been here. I have compiled these into three books (and will create a fourth book after the mission concludes). The blog site address is innauvoowithkevandlou.wordpress.com
Available as pdf and Lulu: Volumes 1, 2, 3
“A Nauvoo Walk Down Memory Lane” – I was here as a “young missionary” 50 years ago (1975). I then took photos of Nauvoo historic homes. Then as I returned to Nauvoo last year, I took photos of all of the same places. The book compares the two and shows the effects of restoration in Nauvoo
“Nauvoo Homes and Shops” – This book details all of the 30 or so homes and shops in which we take tours. Many of these (two a month) have appeared the monthly newsletter – but this book is the full package.
“My Nauvoo Ancestors (Hunt Version)” – This book details my own 32 direct-line ancestors and includes biographical information on each. Names: Pulsipher, Alger, Wilcox, Rawson, Cheney, Terry, Wiggins, Robinson, Clark, and many more.
“My Nauvoo Ancestors (Belcher Version)” – This book details the lives of the 20 direct-line ancestors for my wife’s Belcher lines – including Perkins, Carter, Haws, Gardner, and many others.
“Nauvoo Homes and Brick Making” – This book introduces the history of brick making in Nauvoo – and tells about many of the brick homes in Nauvoo. It also introduces my father-in-law, Elder E.H. Belcher, who built the original (modern) brickyard – which you always talk about on your wagon tour as you round the corner by Lucy Mack Smith. Elder Belcher built the round kiln out in front at the brickyard. And he created the original souvenir Nauvoo brick that has been given to visitors for 45 years. The book details his research, and a history of his brick making in Nauvoo.
“Nauvoo Temple Brick Miracles” – This book talks of the many miracles that came together – and the history thereof – of the new Nauvoo Temple Bricks.
“My Nauvoo Hyrum #3 – Brigham District” – This book details the many great people and times in our district as we have served as district leaders over the past year.
“Nauvoo Family History Inspiration” – In January and February of this year, I created and presented five different family history related presentations for Nauvoo missionaries. This book combines all of the five presentations. The five subjects are kinds of personal history records, writing your personal journal, writing a personal history, compiling a family history, and a detailed look at how to publish books (books on family history – and any Lulu book in general).
“Nauvoo Monuments, Markers, and the Dash” – I made a study of Mormon historical markers and monuments within a 50-mile radius of Nauvoo and wrote history of each site. This is a travel guide for those markers and monuments.
“Nauvoo, City of Joseph” – This book is a tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith. It contains much information about him.
“The Nauvoo Martyrdom and Burials of Joseph Smith” – This book details the events surrounding the death of Joseph Smith and the many (5) different burial places of Joseph and Hyrum.
The following books were not written in Nauvoo but may be of interest:
“Peter the Apostle” – This is a biography of the life and times of the Apostle Peter. This book was written at the request of Elder E. H. Belcher – who absolutely loved the Apostle Peter.
“Christmas Is …” – This is a musical cantata of Christmas hymns and narration.
“Christmas Time Reflections” – For 40 years, and for each year, I have written a new Christmas poem or hymn. This book contains most of those (some were written after the book was published). Many of these hymns have been set to music by my cousin, Linda Hunt Waters. Also, many of these make up the Cantata book noted above.
“Writing the Journal of Your Life” – This talks of my 50 years of journaling – the “how, what, where, when, why, and how” of journaling. This is a great book for anyone interested in doing better at writing journals.
“Scouting in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” – This is a very detailed book about the 100 plus year association between the Church and the Boy Scouts of America. This book has evolved and changed over 30 years. The Church History Department made their records available to me and assisted in the original book research.
I have written many other books on the subject of Scouting (written from the perspective of being a 60-year veteran and personal experience (many of which derive from my personal journal.) Several books on Scouting are detailed specifically in many volumes of my own personal history compilation entitled, “My Life’s Collective Works”. Many Scouting books are available on Amazon, Lulu, and other platforms.
I compiled a very detailed collection of unpublished books on how to create and implement a home-centered MTC for your children and grandchildren. This is called, “Missionary in Training”. (Available on request)
I have composed ancestral books on many of my family ancestral lines (for family names listed above).
With a list like this, no one should want for a good book to read! Take one along for any and every trail along your way!
On the Nauvoo Trail 