BLOG #11

By Kevin V. Hunt

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

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

SISTER HUNT VISITS HER FAVORITE PLACES

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

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

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

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

GATHERING FOR “HOMES OF THE APOSTLES”

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

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

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

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

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

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

HELPING OTHERS CONNECT WITH THEIR ANCESTORS

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

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

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

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

THE KIMBALL HOME WAS THE START OF MODERN NAUVOO RESTORATION

DR. J. LEROY KIMBALL – THE NAUVOO RESTORATION VISIONARY

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

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

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

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

I SERVED MY “YOUNG MISSION” UNDER DR. KIMBALL

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

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

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

THE APOSTLES WERE ALL SOME OF THE GREATEST MISSIONARIES EVER

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

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

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

MISSIONARY SERVICE AND SACRIFICE FOR CHRIST

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

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

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

A SURPRISE BECAME A SACRED AND WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL

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

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

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

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

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

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

A FELLOW BROTHER WITH A SUTH’N MISSION EXPERIENCE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SPECIAL YOUTH AT THE HYDE HOME

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BIRTHDAY RECONNECT WITH A NAUVOO MISSIONARY COMPANION

ELDERS SHALTES AND HUNT 1975

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

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

ANOTHER MIRACLE STAGED BY THE LORD

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE MARY FIELD GARNER STORY AND TESTIMONY

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

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

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

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

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

A MOTHER TEACHES HER CHILDREN OF THEIR ANCESTRAL HERITAGE

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

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

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

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

THE FAMILY SEEKS NAUVOO ANCESTORS

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

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

DUNN PROGENY VISIT THEIR DUNN ANCESTOR’S HOME

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

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

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

THE DUNN FAMILY LOG OF DESCENDANTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE DAY KEEPS GOING WITH EVEN MORE SPECIAL EVENTS

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

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

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

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

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

“HOORAH, HOORAH, HOORAH, FOR ISRAEL”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AND THEN “ALONG CAME JONES” …

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

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

THE EXCITEMENT CONTINUED AT HOME

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

POWERHOUSE YOUNG MEN VISIT NAUVOO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WOW … WHAT A DAY!

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

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

From the busy but happy Nauvoo trail,

Elder Kevin