Blog #74

By Kevin V. Hunt

MISSION REFLECTIONS

This blog article is kind of a reflection of our mission and what we were able to do there as we served our Lord, Jesus Christ.

It was a glorious and wonderful mission.  We served for 18 months in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission.  This mission includes historic church sites in Nauvoo and Carthage, Illinois.  Our Mission leaders were President Daniel S. Mehr II, and his wife Rebecca.  We served as Senior Missionaries with principle duties as site missionaries.

The mission went by all too-fast.  We cannot believe that it is over and that we are now home.  And being home now gives us opportunity to reflect back on what we accomplished as we were in Nauvoo.

In our role, we had kind of specific tasks and functions that kept us very busy.  Some Senior Couples are rather unique, however, in that sometimes they are not given specific tasks.  These couples are left to kind of chart their own courses and how they will serve.

After our mission, we went to San Diego to visit with Sister Hunt’s brother, Elder Brad and Sister Kerry Belcher. 

Above: Elder Brad Belcher, Kevin and Lou Hunt, Cousin Bev and Rob Jafek in San Diego

The Belchers were originally called to serve as support in an YSA ward.  Just a week before their arrival a few Mandarin Chinese Saints were  organized as a “group”.  A group (including this one) is smaller than a ward and even a branch and is dependent upon a regular ward.  The were asked to support this group in a variety of ways.

Elder and Sister Belcher immediately dug their heels into the work.  They were creative in finding (or accepting) a wide variety of tasks.  As they accepted these tasks, they often became a part of their daily or weekly routine.  They drove people to the Chinese meetings and functions.  They provided catering for many missionary conferences and activities.  They became a support function to missionaries and members everywhere in the mission.  They even used pickle ball as a way to connect with non-members and missionaries around them. (And Kerry beat everyone!) They created their own special niche and the missionaries and Saints around them loved them.  And they seem to be loving their mission.

Elder and Sister Belcher are very busy.  One of their roles is to serve as zone leaders for about 22 couples.  In this role they work to welcome the new couples and to help them feel at home, socialize with them, and train them.  They told us of one couple who had recently arrived in their zone.  This couple didn’t feel as if they fit in with the mission and they mentioned to the Belchers that they really didn’t have much to do.  This was kind of the opposite of Elder and Sister Belcher.

THE ROLE OF SENIOR MISSIONARIES

Above: Sister Hunt teaches brick making to young Sister Rivas

Above: Elder and Sister Hunt hosted Church History historians from Salt Lake City for a home-cooked meal (Curtis Ashton and Alex Stromberg)

As Senior Couples serve, it becomes their task and opportunity to utilize their own talents and to create missionary service opportunities based upon or around those talents.  And often these talent opportunities don’t seem to fit the exact calling or function which their mission calls specified. Calls generally say the mission and the time for their service but give few other details.

THE LORD’S PARABLE OF THE TALENTS

I am reminded of our Lord’s Parable of the Talents as recorded in the New Testament in chapter 18 in the book of Matthew.  In this chapter, it first appears that Jesus is talking about money management and opportunities.  But it can also mean the talents (i.e.: spiritual gifts) given to people. 

In the parable the Lord gave a man 5 talents, another 2, and another a single talent.   After bestowing these talents, he went to a far country.  In time, he returned and called for an accounting from each of the men relative to the talents (or stewardships) given to them.  It is interesting that it was He who gave the talents – but then He also invited each to come to Him to “account” for their stewardships he had given to them.

AN ACCOUNTING IN THE STEWARDSHIP OF TALENTS

The servant who received five talents was industrious and expanded his talents to include five more talents.  Likewise, the man given two talents also doubled his talents to four.  And the third servant (whom the Lord called “Wicked”) did nothing with his talent.  Instead of working to increase his talent, he actually went and buried it in the ground.  So, he literally went “in the hole” or negative.

Upon hearing their reports, he bestowed double the amount or talent to each of the men who had magnified and multiplied their five and two talents. And to the man who had buried his talent, the talent was removed and was given to him who then already had 10 talents. And later on in Matthew, the Lord says that “unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance.”

MAGNIFYING AND USING TALENTS IN SERVICE TO OTHERS

It is interesting to see that when an individual uses his talents, shares them, and magnifies his talents, his number of talents increases.  His capacity to receive and use more talents increases and he Is able to enjoy, experience and serve with even more talents.  And the more that he serves with these talents (i.e.: gifts of the Spirit) he is able to serve even more. It is a beautiful principle!

That seemed to be the case with us on our mission.  We recognized that the Lord had given us many talents (Gifts of the Spirit) and as we used them in service to others, our abilities and opportunities to serve increased – along with the capacity to do even more.

SERVING IN OUR MISSION STEWARDWHIP

In describing the above talent scenario, I used the word used by the Savior – that of “accounting”.   That is an interesting word when used relative to church duties and service.  I noted that when the Lord gives us talents and then opportunities to use them, he also expects us to give a later “accounting” to him.  We are given opportunities to report back on the stewardships given to us.  We are even commanded to “give an accounting” of those stewardships.  So we are “stewards” of the sacred talents given personally to each of us.

In the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 72, verses 1-8, the lord states that the “elders are to render an account of their stewardships.”    Verse 3 is especially impactful as it says, “… it is required of the Lord, at the hand of every steward, to render an account of his stewardship, both in time and in eternity.”  Wow!

GRATITUDE FOR OUR MISSION STEWARDSHIPS

Now Sister Hunt and I would like to talk of the ways that we were able to use our talents in service to the Lord.  In giving this “accounting” of our stewardships and use of our talents given us, it is our hope that readers of this blog will not think that we are just bragging about what we were able to do and accomplish.  That is not the case.  In giving this “accounting” we do so to acknowledge the entire Godhead and their blessings unto us.  We express our gratitude for the assignments and opportunities to serve, but also recognize Their help in providing the resources, the connections, and Their guidance in accomplishing these tasks, functions, and responsibilities. 

With the Holy Ghost with us as our companion, we were able to perform and accomplish in ways that were way beyond our own capabilities.  (At least that is the way it was for me.  The Holy Ghost inspired and guided me in my every effort and made me much better that I ever could have been on my own.  Gifts of the Spirit are denoted in Corinthians, Moroni, and other places in the scriptures.  But, in addition to those lists, I have come to believe that anything that we do for the Lord comes to us as spiritual gifts.  I believe that all of these are also “gifts of the Spirit (meaning the Holy Ghost).”  Sister Hunt supported me in all of my labors in my use of these talents and helped to facilitate them.  And she herself was given additional talents which she used in service to others.  We made a great team working in tandem with the Holy Ghost and Jesus Christ.

So, here is our accounting – along with our expressions of gratitude.

SERVICE AS SITE MISSIONARIES

Above: Elder Kevin and Sister Lou Hunt teaching on a tour of Joseph Smith’s Red Brick Store

As noted, we were called at “site missionaries”.  This means that we were a part of a team of about 30 other site missionary couples.  And together we were responsible to know and present tours in 28 restored homes and shops – that were lived in or operated by the early pioneer ancestors who lived and built in Nauvoo between the years 1839 to 1846.  In just seven years they built a wonderful city and a strong foundation of faith for all of us who would come later.

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt with Brigham Young in his restored Nauvoo home

Many of the homes and shops were created by prominent people of the community – like Prophets and Apostles.  But that doesn’t mean that the contributions of our own ancestors were not just as important.  These specific homes have been restored because of their common heritage to all members of the Church.  And they are representative of the total community.

The Church Historical Department has established a “site guide” which includes the key doctrines and stories that can be recited in each home.  This Guide was the foundation for us as we prepared and presented tours in these many places.  Sister Hunt and I noted on our first day of service – in the Jonathan Browning home. 

Above: Elder Kevin and Sister Lou Hunt on April 17, 2024 – first historic tour given on their mission

The Turners had some really cool leather books in which they had captured the scripts for the many tours.  We liked these and found some similar little leather books on-line – and they cost only about $13 each.

Above: Leather Nauvoo “Site Guide” book used by Elder and Sister Hunt

I copied each of the tours from the “Site Guide” – the full text – into a Word document.  I then changed the format to fit within the small leather books.  I printed these out.  Sister Hunt and I each had our own personal set which we were able to make our own. 

Sister Hunt then cut out each of the pages.  She pasted these small pages into the books.  We also purchased some colored tabs which helped us to more easily find the different tour guides as we were assigned to different house.  There were so many tours that the material would not fit into a single volume.  So we ended up buying second books for each of us.

At first we had to refer to these books frequently in preparation for the day ahead.  Sister Hunt had me record each tour – as if I were reading them to my grandchildren.  We often played these and listened to them together during our breakfasts.  One might think the “remembering” task to be ominous and one could also muse about how it was possible to remember all of this.  Remember, however, that we often repeated these tours many times through a day.  So as we gave these ten or more times a day, we quickly remembered (or had brought to our remembrance through the Holy Ghost) what we needed to say.  And over a short period of time, we got the scripts “down” so that we could more easily have them brought to our memory.  And we didn’t need to refer to them so often.

I still took the applicable book to many of my tours.  I used the books when I wanted specific quotes.  I found it very impactful to read (with emphasis) from the book for these quotes.  And the books themselves looked to “legit”.   They looked like 1840’s scripture books.  They really looked authentic and so quoting directly from them at times helped to bring the Spirit to our guests.

Sister Hunt’s parents, Elder Everett H. and Sister Verna Belcher served as senior missionaries in Nauvoo some 45 years ago (1979-1981).  Their initial call was for 18 months but they had two 6-month extensions.  And they served for the entire two and a half years in the very tiny Lucy Mack Smith home. 

Things were different for sister Hunt and me in 2024 and 2025.  We were assigned to a different home each day.  So within each week, we served in six different homes. 

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt teaching Terry/Pulsipher cousins at the Sarah Granger Kimball Home

Above: Elder and Sister Hunt giving a tour at the Lyon Drug and Variety Store in Nauvoo

(One day was our Preparation P-Day and this was a day off – to prepare for the coming week, do laundry, grocery shopping, and to just relax.)  We actually really enjoyed this moving around.  It seemed to keep us “fresh” in our tours and helped us not to be bored repeating the same things over and over again.

Sister Hunt and I are very different people in the talents that we have.  We are kind of the opposite of traditional men and women roles.  She is very much the “technical person” in our relationship.  If a car has mechanical problems, she figures out a way to fix most things.  As she says, “we are not very good at that mechanical stuff, but I am all we’ve got.”  Gratefully she learned many of these mechanical skills from her father as she grew up.  If she wanted a car to drive, she had to go out with him to help tinker and resurrect an old car from the family property.  She learned early on to not trust me with any aspect of plumbing or electrical needs.  Working on our plumbing did not go so well for me and for us.

My dad was a fabulous mechanic.  He even served in the United States Air Force as a mechanic on the P-51 bomber during the Korean War.

Above: Russel Hunt with P-51 Bomber in US Air Force during Korean War (circa about 1951)

He scored the highest possible score on the mechanic tests of the time.  And with his high scores, he was given special time off and other considerations.  He could fix anything … but he hated doing the stuff.  (Odd combination!)  He worked and fixed cars and stuff as needed but didn’t really enjoy it.  And he never taught me (or my siblings) any of those skills.  (And I could never stand to get my hands dirty.)

Anyway, Sister Hunt gave all of the technical demonstrations that would have been mostly done by the men of the pioneer era.  She gave the demonstration of show making in the Riser Boot Shop. 

She gave the demonstration on how to make tin bowls in the Stoddard Tin Shop.  She demonstrated how make a gun barrel in the Jonathan Browning gun shop. 

Above: Sister Lou Hunt as School Marm at the Nauvoo Pendleton School

And she was the natural and very gifted teacher in the Pendleton School.  (Of course she was a teacher for about 20 years).

I was and am different.  I am very gifted in “administrative duties” – in planning, organizing, computer work and attention to detail.  I have been given a gift of the Spirit to remember facts – history, people, places, dates, and other details.  So, in our tours, I shared the history of the people and places and she gave the demonstrations.  This system actually worked well for us.  We each knew each other’s talents and abilities and together we made a really great team.  We were able to touch people through our combined efforts.

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt doing computer work between tours at the Browning Gun Shop in Nauvoo

We were there on the job every day of our mission.  We got up and got prepared for the day.  We proudly wore our pioneer costumes.  We took pride in wearing these and having them look nice.  I researched the look of the day and got several vests, suspenders, and hats to look the pioneer part.  I worked hard to look perfect for the time and Sister Hunt did also.

We were on-time and ready to serve each day at the appointed times.  As we look back, we think that there was only one day in the 18-months that we were home-bound.  That was a day that Sister Hunt was ill and unable to serve.  We had to call in sick.  Me …?  That was actually a blessing because I needed such a day to catch up on my history work and the project of the day.

After each tour which Sister Hunt and I presented I pulled out my trusty 3×5” card and recorded the number of people in the tour and sometimes special people and experiences.  Then at the end of the day I tallied the number of guests and input this into an Excel spreadsheet.  At the end of the mission it was astounding to us that we personally had served 19,625 people on our own tours!   Wow!

SISTER HUNT USED HER SEWING AND CRAFTING TALENTS

Sister Hunt used her talent of sewing and creating.  We bought fabric for several dresses and aprons even before our mission – and more after we got there.  Creating a Nauvoo pioneer woman dress was a challenge.  Specific and very detailed patterns needed to be followed.  And colors and “the look” had to be just perfect.  She consulted the talented Sisters of the Sewing Room to get her dresses in the perfect mode.

All through the winter, Sister Hunt labored to create many new dresses.  And she made a multitude of aprons in various colors – such that many of them were interchangeable with other dresses – to give her and guests different looks.  We tried to look the authentic part of the real Nauvoo pioneers – our own ancestors.

We also enjoyed looking as if we were “together”.  We worked hard to be color-coordinated whenever possible.  She would first pick out her desired dress and color scheme of the day.  (A woman thing …). Then after she had made her selection, then I created a composite color coordinated look (with pants, shirt, suspenders, vest, and hat) to go with her outfit.  My only challenge was when she chose purple as the color of the day.  I am not into purple (a guy thing) and so it was a challenge to come up with anything on those days.  We received any comments and compliments by the young sister missionaries who saw and recognized our “together looks”.

For many senior couples, being together always is the dream- and often the reason for serving a senior mission.  Couples envision working and serving together every day.  That is not always the case, however.  In Nauvoo, for instance, there are Teamsters.  These are the guys who care for and drive the giant horses and oxen.  They give tours along the way on the carriage ride (that goes up through the woods).  And they drive – as a team on both the wagon and carriage rides.  On the wagon rides one sister goes along and gives the narration.  Often in their duties they are assigned in different directions.  The Sister frequently is called to serve in a site as her husband is out “horsing around” (literally).   Or one spouse could be in the office and the other in a site or in the sewing center.  Some couples told us that they had not had any assignments together through their whole mission.  Sad!

Sister Hunt and I were very blessed.  There were only two or three times in our entire mission in which we were separated and had to serve individually.  And in those cases, it was for just an hour or two.  We are grateful that we could serve together every day.

SISTER HUNT AS A COOK AND MAKER OF DELECTABLE TREATS

Sister Hunt is known to her family and to many friends as a great cook.  She often used these skills (one of her best talents) to share with others.  She is particularly known for her cinnamon rolls.

Above: Sister Lou Hunt as master chef in Nauvoo

Lou made dinner rolls and cinnamon rolls frequently and shared them to all around her.  She took these to many dinners staged by and for the missionaries.  In preparation for the “Immersion trips” with the young sister missionaries, she went the extra mile made separate pans for each of the four or five cars that carried the young sisters on the trip.   Often she made cinnamon rolls and several kinds of cookies for the same trip.  She became a legend with the young sister missionaries and her cooking talents were greatly appreciated.

STAGING FUN EVENTS FOR THE DISTRICT, OUR MTC GROUP, AND EVEN THE MISSION

Using talents and skills given us years before – when we did catering or otherwise hosted and staged great events – many of them in our own log-cabin back yard, we were able to stage some great events in the mission.  These events were for our district as well as for the mission.

Twice we staged unique Dutch oven dinners.  These were different than the usual mission pot-luck dinner and were greatly enjoyed by the participants.  I even purchased a 14” Dutch oven so that we could hold these events.  Our first cooking event was for the 13 couples who were in our April 1, 2024 MTC group.  Our group had reunion dinners every 3 months through the mission.  When it came our turn to spearhead the event, we actually expanded the group to include about 10 other couples who came from the MTC alone – or just with another couple.  We thought that everyone needed “a group”.  The dinner was a grand success.

Later we staged the same Dutch oven dinner event for the eight couples of our own district.

One of my at-home traditions is pie making.  I gather the grandkids together on the day of before Thanksgiving and we make a multitude of pies together.  And then that same night we gather a crowd to eat the pie.  We have found that by doing this, we can call better enjoy the pies – without already being “stuffed” with Thanksgiving food.

I requested permission to stage such an event for the mission.  I was picturing kind of a low-key event that would be optional for anyone interested.  It became a much bigger deal than I had envisioned.    We were asked to create and host an event for the whole mission.  We created a flier which was sent out to all of the 50 or so senior missionaries (this event was held in the winter – so no young sisters were with us).  We created pie categories and worked to motivate folk – even men and others who had never made pies to participate.

Then at the event, we had judges present to taste and score all of the pies.   We had separate competitions for men and women.  We gave out some really great awards to the top three winners in each group.  And the large collection of pies were fabulous.

We had an event wherein one of the couple sat at a table – decked out in a large garbage bag apron – while the other person stood behind them (without being able to see what was happening in front) and fed the front person pie.  This was done with their hands only – and with no utensils – but we did give them gloves to facilitate the process.  We had about fifteen couples who got coerced into doing this.  (We committed them to pie eating before we shared with them how they were to eat it.)

The event came off wonderfully and was a grand success.

And incidentally, do any of you know the difference between sacrament meeting and a High Priest’s social?  (Answer … they serve pie at the social!)  That was the case with this collection of “old folks”.    They were accustomed to really “dry” socials that consisted mainly of eating the pot-luck meal, hearing brief words from the mission leaders, and then putting away the tables and chairs.  (But to be honest, we did have some fabulous events … like a campfire sing-a-long, a vintage dance, kite flying, sleigh riding, movies, and much more.) This pie-eating event was definitely out of everyone’s comfort zones.  We got them up and moving and everyone had a great time.  Many folks later told us that this was the best event that they had attended through their whole mission. 

COORDINATORS AT THE JOSEPH SMITH PROPERTIES

The many historic homes and sites are administered by assigned “site coordinators”.  We were very pleased that we were immediately assigned as coordinators for the Joseph Smith homes. 

Above: Joseph Smith Homestead in Nauvoo (SE corner view)

Above: Nauvoo Mansion House of Joseph and Emma Smith

This meant that we were the coordinators for the “Homestead” of Joseph and Emma, their “Mansion House” and the little rock structure built in a later time by Lewis Bidamon (2^nd husband to Emma after Joseph’s death).  Someone else was assigned to Joseph’s Red Brick store.  We were actually the first such coordinators for these Smith properties.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased these properties from the Community of Christ on March 5^th, 2024.  We opened them for our own tours just a couple of weeks later and just a couple of weeks after opening “under new management” Sister Hunt and I were assigned as the new coordinators.  We remained in that position for most of the rest of our mission.

Sister Hunt and I arrived in the mission just a couple of weeks later and were immediately assigned as coordinators for the places.  This was a great blessing and honor.  It was a very exciting assignment for us.  Such a great honor!

We were “eyes and ears” to report any need for the structures.  We did not do the actual repairs but we were the people who placed the call – or reported the need through the mission on-line reporting systems – to the Facilities Maintenance group. And then “FM” assigned missionaries (or a few full-time employees) who also served per their God-given talents – like for tree trimming, painting, plumbing, A/C and heating – or whatever the need.  If others saw problems, it was us who reported the need.

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt cleaning the Joseph Smith Homestead in Nauvoo

During our summer or busy season operation mode, the sites are cleaned each day at the end of the shift by the missionaries who serve at each place for the day.  In the winter, however, the coordinators have the cleaning tasks.  This meant that we went once a week (or more often as needed) to clean our assigned Joseph and Emma homes. 

Above: Sister Lou cleaning the Nauvoo Mansion House for Emma Smith

It was great to be able to serve Joseph and Emma in this way and we delighted in getting the places cleaned perfectly.  I note that even we were not allowed to touch the historic items or collections in the homes.  Those preservation tasks were reserved specifically for missionaries trained in those special and delicate tasks.  But the cleaning- sweeping, vacuuming, etc. were our duties.

And in the winter, this also meant that we were the official snow shovelers for the walks all around each of these three places.  The FM folks did snow plowing up to the sidewalks but we had the duty of the sidewalks. 

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt “layered up” for snow sweeping at the Joseph Smith Homestead in Nauvoo

And each of these places had many linear feet of walks that needed to be shoveled.  And that was quite a new thing for this Arizona desert boy.  I was way out of my element but was blessed of the Lord to get the snow moved off of the walks.

When we were newly married, we lived in Ogden, Utah.  I there had my first experience with snow. 

Above: Ogden, Utah home (upstairs … and outside stairs at rear left) of Newlyweds Kevin and Lou Hunt

We lived on the second story of a home (on 12^th Street) that had open outdoor stairs.  And when it snowed, I had the unpleasant task of removing the snow.  (I hadn’t learned the art of “sweeping” then, but the snow may have come more profusely.)  On one such occasion, I slipped doing the task.  I fell on my knee and was in a bad way for a couple of months.

This injury occurred right at the end of the year.  Being a “tough guy” I refused medical treatment – thinking that I could “man it out” and did not go to the doctor immediately.  But the intense pain persisted into the new year.  And by that time, it was into a new deductible for my insurance plan and I procrastinated still more.

Finally the pain was so intense that I gave in and went to the doctor.  He did an x-ray and said that I had actually broken my knee-cap.  He said that he really should have “rebroken” it to care for it properly but he chose not to do so.  But he cautioned me that I had to treat my knee as if I “had an egg in my shoe” and could do absolutely nothing on the leg for at least a month.

And with that background, I had nightmares of a reenactment of that situation- but in Illinois and Nauvoo.  That was a real fear.  Gratefully those fears were never realized.  I had to be very careful, but I was definitely protected in my service for Joseph and Emma. 

Above: The Nauvoo Temple in the snow

I cannot speak to the norm or “always” of Illinois weather but we were really blessed (in answer to my own prayers) not to have extreme snows.  I counted only eight snow storms during our time in Nauvoo (though there were many days when we endured sub-zero temperatures and conditions).  And each of these snow storms were “light” – meaning that the “white stuff” came softly and gently – and that I could use a broom to “sweep” the snow off of the walks and into the nearby grass – or at least out of the way.  But it also meant that I had to go quite early to the sites so as to get the walks clear before the sites opened to the public for tours.  If not done before they came, the first foot prints “froze” the spots and it was almost impossible later to remove the frozen spots – and thus creating a dangerous situation.  

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt snow “sweeping” at Joseph Smith Homestead in Nauvoo

The whole snow scenario – or threat thereof – was a constant fear for me.

I was, however, like Lucius Scovil, who owned a bakery in Nauvoo.  (And I often quoted him directly from my little leather book …)  As Lucius and his family were out on the pioneer trail west – out on the mud flats of Iowa and just six weeks or so from Nauvoo, he received a mission call to go serve in England.  He left his new second wife and their combined 8 children out there on the plains.  He said, “It seemed like a painful duty for me to perform, to leave my family to go into the wilderness and I to turn and go the other way. But inasmuch as I had been appointed go, I was determined to fill my mission if it cost me all that I had on this earth …  I thought it was best to round up my shoulders like a bold soldier of the corps … and assist in rolling forth the kingdom of God.”

SERVING AS DISTRICT LEADERS

We served for a full year as district leaders of the Hyrum #3 – Brigham District.  In Nauvoo, both partners in a senior couple are called to serve together as co-district leaders.  In this role, we served eight couples.  Four of them were of the “old guard” in that we came out basically together in the spring of 2024.  There were four other couple with us for a few months but then they left for home.  Then in the spring of 2025 we received four new couples.

Above: Hyrum #3- Brigham District members – photo taken August 30, 2025

In our roles as DL’s, we had several responsibilities and opportunities.  We were responsible for the “ministering” functions within the district.   As soon as we were notified of incoming missionaries to our district, we began to help and train them.  We called them numerous times and gave them help and insights about the roles they would do, what clothing they would need, and a multitude of questions and concerns common to newly called missionaries.  We helped them to get onto the mission computer “drive”.  We connected them with people who had answers to questions that we could not answer.  We assigned a couple to each new couple as their official ministers and worked to get them together.

A few days before the new couples arrived, we received the key to their assigned home.  We took photos inside their place so that they could kind of envision where they would be and what they should bring to make the place their “mission home”.

And then we kind of kept in touch with them as they made the reverse pioneer trek – going or coming east from Salt Lake City (the MTC) to Nauvoo.  And as they neared Nauvoo, we gave the final update to other district members relative to the projected arrival time.  Then as they crossed the Mississippi River (from either Montrose or Keokuk, Iowa) we encouraged all who could break away from their usual duties to come to help them move in.

Above: Hyrum #3 – Brigham District helping Elder and Sister Hayes (Center) move in upon arrival in Nauvoo

And with so many helpers, the task of unloading the truck or the Volkswagon much easier.  We generally formed a “chain” from the vehicle up or into their new home.  I gave the keys to their new place to one of them – with a caution to put them into their pocket – after one couple immediately locked themselves outside (putting the keys on the table – only to be forgotten once all of the goods were in the house).  That gave some added excitement!

We also  arranged to have three different couples provide meals to the newly arrived to get them covered for their first three days in the mission.

We scheduled ourselves to them on a tour of Nauvoo – showing them the restored places (in a drive-through), the local (non-historic) post office, the few eating places, the missionary post office, Deseret industries (“The D.I.”), and much more.  This all helped them to get acclimated to their new city.

We also had the task of planning a monthly training meeting to be held generally on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  This was a bit of a challenge for us because three of our men were in mission administrative functions – with a lot of meetings – so not always available to be with us.

Sister Hunt and I also planned a plethora of extra-curricular activities, dinners, and tours for our district.

Above: District Christmas Dinner held at the small Simeon A. Dunn Home where Elder and Sister Hunt resided … and a district tour at the Statue of Liberty Statue in Ft. Madison, Iowa.

Above: Hyrum 3 – Brigham District trip to Pella, Iowa tulip festival

Then at the end of our 1-year of service, we prepared a beautiful color magazine or book which created a wonderful history of the district, the couples of the district, and our many activities.  We printed copies of each booklet and presented them as memories of the good times in our district.  (No other couple prepared such …)  The book brought back special memories and much joy to us and we think to them too.

MAINTAINING MY DAILY JOURNALING HABIT ON THE MISSION

I got motivated by an exceptional former Bishop about the need to maintain a personal journal.  That was with Bishop Darwin Gunnell as I was in his Sunday school class for young single adults.  That was on May 20, 1973 in the old Mesa, Arizona 10^th Ward.   Bishop Gunnell challenged us to “go home that day” to begin writing.  I took him up on his challenge.  I went home that day and found a small green lined “record book” and made my first entry.

Above: Journals of Kevin Hunt

That happened 52 years ago and I have made an entry for EVERY DAY since that time.  This equates to about 142 volumes.  This habit continued on the mission.  I made a detailed journal record for every day of the mission.  These are in beautiful bound volumes (now made annually – and each annual book is about 750 to 800 pages.  These journal volumes will be available to my posterity (and maybe beyond) to have, enjoy, research, and to find themselves in the books – for generations to come.

USING MY TALENTS (GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT) TO TEACH AND TRAIN FELLOW MISSIONARIES IN FAMILY HISTORY AND JOURNALS

I got hooked on genealogy and family history when I was just age 12.  And the subject has been one of my greatest priorities throughout my life.  I have been dedicated to the cause of my own ancestors and helping others to discover theirs.

Through the many ensuing years, I have been able to assist countless individuals and families in their family history research.  (And incidentally, upon returning home from the mission Sister Hunt and I were called as ward family history consultants!)  I have had hundreds of experiences that have given me much knowledge of the how and why of family history..  And that knowledge has been accentuated and multiplied through the Gifts of the Spirit in wonderful ways.

With that knowledge and experience base, I wanted to help others.  History and records is and has always been a big thing for me but I realized that this is not the case for most folks around me.  I find that most people are quite petrified of the whole genealogy and family history scenario.  They all hope that Aunt Edith has “done” all of the work for them. 

And journalling … that is another trauma for most folks.  They all know that they should do it … and most WANT to do it.  They just don’t know how to go about it.   And a typical scenario is for people to begin writing and to immediately think that they need to begin with the moment that they made their exit from the womb.  This is their major mistake.  I have learned to tell people to just write for today … and to forget (at least for now) about what happened last week or last month – or when they first got married.

With this desire to assist others … and in anticipation of a long cold winter ahead (and one with fewer activities planned), I decided to plan and organize family history classes for missionaries.  I determined that I wanted five teaching sessions to effectively introduce the subjects.  I put the dates on the calendar (and that was hard to find a date convenient to all – devoid of meetings and other distractions) and spread the word to our fellow missionaries. It was like the building of the famous stadium – and words of a pro, “If we build it, they will come.”  And come they did … about 20 people per class.

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt teaching family history classes in Nauvoo

I created separate detailed and colorful PowerPoint presentations for each class and presented them on a big screen in an Admin room at FM.  Then later, I published these presentations on my blog site.  And still later, I combined all five with other past material on the subjects into a nice printed and  bound volume.  (And I am willing to send a PDF of the book and any or all of these presentations to anyone who writes me with a request!)

The five subjects included:

               Preserving Family History through Heirloom Records

               Writing the Journal of your Life

               Writing your Life Story

               Collecting Records for your Family History

               Compiling and Publishing your Family History

The classes were well attended and participants seemed very pleased.  Over the next several weeks, people came up to me and said that they were now working on their personal history or that they had begun to keep a regular journal.  Every time that little Elder Wise saw me he said, “Elder Hunt … I am working on my personal history!”  Sister Ward reported often of her progress.  And there were many others!  Hearing these stories was such exciting news for me.

CREATING A NEW BRICK DESIGN

Sister Hunt’s father, Elder Everett H. Belcher served a mission in Nauvoo form 1979 to 1981.  During that time, he researched the occupation and art of brick making.  He built a kiln and began molding small Nauvoo imprint bricks.  These bricks have been handed out to Nauvoo visitors for some 45 years.

Above: Elder Everett H. Belcher demonstrating brick making in Nauvoo brickyard (circa 1980)

Above: The original Nauvoo Brick created by Elder Everett H. Belcher about 1980

Our mission leaders – President and Sister Mehr learned of this family legacy.  They then invited Sister Hunt and me to design a new brick.  With the help of our Kaylea and JD (Stoddard), we created nine different pssi8ble designs. 

Ultimately the Mehrs and the Church History department approved our design with the Nauvoo Temple.  A number of miracles began to fall into place as we created and implemented the new Temple Brick.

Sister Hunt and I found the company in Quincy, Illinois where the Nauvoo brick mold was created about ten years ago.  This was patterned after the original mold that Elder Belcher created.  Our Keith, being a product design engineer, created the detailed design for the new brick.  Ultimately the Quincy company was able to create the molds for the new Nauvoo Temple bricks.  And we soon started producing these bricks in the missionary manufacturing room of the brickyard.  The new brick debuted in the Visitors’ Center just a couple of weeks before we left the mission. This was all a great miracle achievement.  President Mehr says that this new brick will be around for a very long time.

Above: New Nauvoo Temple Brick – Created 2025 by Elder and Sister Kevin and Lou Dene Belcher Hunt – 2025

We gave many families and missionaries tours of the brick making room.  We taught many people the art or skill of brick making so that the bricks could be created and shared with many Nauvoo guests.

Above: Sister Lou Hunt teaching brick making at the Family Living Center

When we served in the Family Living Center we shared with people a short presentation about brick making in old Nauvoo.  And Sister Hunt was able to share with people the history of how her father created the original brick demonstration kiln as well as the original Nauvoo brick.  People were amazed and dumb-founded as she shared this story.  And they gloried – as did we – that here we were as a couple serving in the same mission as her parents who had started the brickmaking function – as well as the distribution of the bricks to Nauvoo guests.

Even before the new Temple Brick was officially launched in the Historic Nauvoo Visitors’ Center, Sister Hunt shared the new brick and the miracles of its creation with special guests.  She kept a little stache of the new bricks and she discreetly handed them out to folks who came from other countries or who might never have the opportunity to return to Nauvoo.  She kept a little log and later discovered that she had presented the new bricks to special friends from 20 different countries of the world.  So the new Temple brick has a worldwide presence.

We also created and presented PowerPoint presentations about brick history to three different zone groups.   

HELPING OTHERS DISCOVER THEIR NAUVOO ANCESTORS

There is an “App” program for phones called “My Nauvoo Ancestors”.    To access this, one should open the “Family Tree” App.  Then at the bottom right (or sometimes the top left) click on “more”.  Then click on Family History Activities”.  Then after signing in with the Familysearch account, one can scroll down to the second line – and then to the right to the “Find My Nauvoo Ancestor”. 

This proved to be an unknown resource to our Nauvoo guests.  Using the process, anyone can look up their ancestors who were a part of the pioneer Nauvoo community.  The “App” will open up to 100 ancestors who lived in Nauvoo.   Then men (ages 20-70) show up – with women and children – in the index.  Men were the property owners.  And with this information, one can click on “memories” and details of the selected person will pop-up.  And for ancestors who lived in Nauvoo, one can scroll down and find a “nauvoo file”.  And within this file, is a map that shows the property location of property owned by the Nauvoo ancestor.  And then Nauvoo guests could go out to locate the property – so see what might be there.  (Some have buildings of the pioneer period and some are just vacant lots).

Above: Elder Kevin Hunt assisting guests with Nauvoo pioneer Land Records at the Nauvoo Visitors’ Center

I noted that this is an unknown resource.  I was particularly skilled in the use of this program and I invited many of my guests to get onto the program.  Once they figured out how to get into the system, they got very excited – not knowing before that this search activity was possible.  It was so fun to see the joy experienced by the guests who found their Nauvoo ancestors – and their property.

I helped virtually everyone whom I greeted in the Visitors’ Center how to do this.  And after many tours in other homes and shops where I greeted people (and shared the tour presentation), I asked the folks if they had Nauvoo ancestors and then this discussion generally led to the search described above.

Over the course of time, I probably helped 200 or more people access this special program. 

[And I note that this same resource is available to people “at home”.  It is not just a file that can be accessed while in Nauvoo.  (But obviously it is more of a challenge to go check out the property if not physically in Nauvoo.)]  There is much valuable information in the Nauvoo file and it is definitely worth finding and reviewing.

And a similar App on FamilyTree enabled us and all interested folks around us to check out “Relatives Around Me”. This application was very fun to use.  Most folks who use the App find that they are eighth or ninth cousins.  Most of us are related in this way.  But occasionally, we found third or fourth cousins in our guests.  This was really fun for all parties.  And often, I was able to expand upon t

he connections with additional information, photos, and other historical information about our shared ancestors.  I frequently sent these “cousins” new information via texts and e-mail messages.

SHARING THE SIMEON A. DUNN HERITAGE WITH HIS POSTERITY

We have noted before that we lived in the pioneer home of Simeon A. Dunn. 

Above: A typical guest family of Simeon Dunn descendants

We welcomed twenty or groups of Dunn descendants in the home as they randomly showed up and as we caught them outside taking photos.  The outside of the home is original but there is not much that is original within – except a fireplace foundation and the stairs that went upward from the basement to the side yard.  We generally did not have any advance notice for Dunn visitors but we brought them in and showed them the home – all three stories.  And at the end of our “tours” we invited them to sign the Dunn home guest register. I always got a kick out of people trying to figure out “how great” they were (meaning like the 4th great grandson of Simeon).

These Dunn action helped Dunn family members feel connected to their Dunn ancestors.  We were happy to help them in their search.

SERVING AS THE MISSION HISTORIAN

I received a specific calling to serve as the Mission Historian.  In this role I worked hard to research and present various elements of the Nauvoo heritage and history. I utilized various ways to help missionaries of the mission learn of the current mission – as well as people, places and events of the Nauvoo pioneer era.

Sister Hunt assisted in this role as she took photos everywhere.  Her photos (and more of mine) were incorporated into our various publications.

Having served as a “young missionary” in Nauvoo, I used the 1975 Nauvoo history and helped share those insights with my 2024-5 guests.

DOCUMENTING “CHURCH HISTORY IMMERSION TRIPS” FOR THE YOUNG SISTER MISSIONARIES

In our roles as Church Historians, we had a special and wonderful opportunity.  The Mission Leaders – President and Sister Mehr – invited us to be a part of a series of what they called, “Church History Immersion Trips”.  These trips were planned for the 36 of the young sister missionaries who would depart for home in the fall.  The trips extended from May through August. 

Each group got to experience three separate trips to Church history sites.  We first took an overnight trip to see the Missouri church history sites. 

Above: Young Sister Missionaries visiting the historic Liberty (Missouri) Jail

We visited Adam-Ondi-Ahman, the 3 and 8 Witnesses monuments, the Liberty Jail, Independence and more.  The second trip was to historic sites along the pioneer exodus trail through Iowa and Nebraska.  These sites included Richardson’s Point, Garden Grove, Mt. Pisgah, Kanesville, Omaha (formerly Winter Quarters) and more.  The final trip was to church history sites within a fifty or so mile radius around Nauvoo.

We repeated these same trips for a second group of young sister missionary.  So, with all of these trips, it was a very busy time.

Sister Hunt took photos everywhere along the way of our trips.  I took copious notes of talks, presentations, and learning opportunities.

The material that we compiled was used extensively by the many young sister missionaries as they made devotional presentations to all of the missionaries of the mission.

And after the tours were history, I compiled much of the information and published the material in a book prepared specifically for the young sister missionaries.  It is hoped that this book will be a valuable and beloved memory of the trips and the feelings that they had as they share church history experiences and testimony with their future families (and for their own reference).

I also prepared a shortened version (a “synopsis) of this Immersion Trip history for President Mehr to share with the Church History Department.

Also I created four other books with the material from the trips.  One book covers the Missouri sites, another covers Nauvoo and the surrounding area, and a third book features the Iowa and Nebraska sites.  And the last book is a combination of all of these geographic areas.

CREATING A MONTHLY MISSION HISTORY OR NEWSLETTER

As Mission Historians we were also charged with the creation of a monthly history of the mission – to include people and activities that occurred each month.  Again Sister Hunt provided many wonderful photos that were included in the history.  Missionaries throughout the mission loved this publication and they looked forward to it each month.

These monthly packages (most from 30-36 pages in length) were then combined into an annual history of the mission.  We were not the historians in 2024 but after the end of the year, I combined the PDF files for the year and had this book published (on lulu.com) and made it available for all missionaries to purchase.  The completed book was also made available (for free) in a PDF format for distribution to all missionaries.  The book was also submitted to the Church History Department as the mission history for the year.

Sister Hunt and I were in the mission until October 2025 and we were able to create the monthly histories for January through September.  It January of 2026 it is projected that we will have received the October to December pdf files from the new guard and we will again publish a full history for them 2025 year.  And again, this annual book will again be made available to all missionaries – as well as to the Church History Department.

RESEARCHING THE HISTORY OF NAUVOO

Though not specifically charged to do so, I continually did extensive historical research for the pioneer Nauvoo era.  I researched Joseph Smith and others of the prophets.  I researched my own 32 direct-line Nauvoo ancestors – as well as the 20 Nauvoo ancestors of my wife.  I researched brick making in old Nauvoo.  I researched the many church history related markers and monuments located in and around Nauvoo.  I documented the 1975 era (when I served in Nauvoo as a young missionary) with the homes and shops as they appeared in 2024 and 2025 as we served as missionaries in Nauvoo.

We gave presentations to individuals, districts and groups about the history of Nauvoo.  It was fun taking our district on a tour to local Nauvoo sites. We set up a Zoom conference call and district members could Zoom in to hear my narration along the way.

We gave three different presentations about the history of brick making in pioneer and modern Nauvoo.

WRITING HISTORIC BLOGS OF THE MISSION

After researching various subjects, people and places in Old Nauvoo – as well as current events and people, I wrote frequent blog articles of my findings.  Each blog required extensive research.  Sister Hunt’s photographs continued to add much excitement to the blog articles.  We made a great team as these blog articles came together.  I published these blogs on our missionary blogsite which was InNauvooWithKevandLou.wordpress.com.  I published these to the world – to my distribution list of 100 people – and through on-line resources to an unknown multitude.

These blogs and all of the historic Nauvoo books were written while maintaining our full duties as historic site missionaries. So there was much overtime work – at nights – and at the historic sites when we were not giving tours.

Over the course of the 18 months (and since returning home) I published some 75 blog articles.  These are published as a permanent historical collection that will continue to be available to interested parties.

Many of these blog articles also later found their way into hard-bound publications.

WRITING AND COMPILING HISTORIC BOOKS

I have noted my historic research on many subjects of Nauvoo history.  Following my research on these many subjects, I compiled the information into hard-bound books that I printed on the lulu.com self-publishing platform.  As an author, I can use this site to upload and then publish my books for the general public.  Then anyone can find my books on the site and can order them anytime (nor or in coming years) as they desire.  The books are searchable under the search word “Nauvoo” or by my own Kevin V. Hunt name.  (There are a few other books in both searches that are not mine  but each search will pull up a plethora of my published books.)

My personal practice is to not inflate my book prices.  Lulu decides the publishing cost and I can “up” the price to anything that I want as I set-up the book publishing parameters.  I do not charge what should be the cost for similar books but generally charge only $2-5 dollars above the publishing cost.  I do this so that the books will be more accessible and affordable by all who might want them.  By adding this minimal upcharge, the sales data will appear on my sales reports and I can see what books are being purchased.  And through this plan, many people can later reference and purchase my many books – and thus enjoy the historical data that I have discovered and preserved.

Before my mission I spent months creating a 2-volume set of books about my grandparents, Ray V. and Augusta Wilcox Hunt – as a gift to them for their 100^th anniversary of their marriage.  These books documents many family memories and history during that 100 year time.  I finished the creation of these two books while in Nauvoo and published the for the family.

I created a book about the Argentina mission of our grandson, Elder Bryson.  This book included his weekly letters and a plethora of his photographs.  His mother added a great many more photos.  We published this book for Bryson, his mother, and other family members.

Above: 20 historic Nauvoo books complied by Elder Kevin Hunt while a senior missionary in Nauvoo

It is unbelievable to me that over the course of the 18 month mission, I compiled and published 20 book volumes.  This was way beyond my own capabilities.  Such a feat was only possible through very close inspiration and direction (revelation) from the Holy Ghost. This brings us back to my introductory writing about talents and Gifts of the Spirit.  I definitely felt the power and direction of His assistance.  And as I used the talents that the Holy Ghost gave me, my talents and capabilities increased (almost exponentially).  He just kept giving me more and more talents – which I was able to share with others.  It was a glorious experience working in tandem with the Holy Ghost and in the process, I hope that “we” have created products and material that will be used and enjoyed by missionaries, family, friends, and Saints in general for many generations.  I am humbly grateful for being the medium through or by which these books were compiled or created.  I stand in great amazement and gratitude myself.

Anyway, it truly did happen.  Each book is available upon request to me – as a free a PDF file – which I am happy to share with others.  And if one likes what they have seen, the hardbound books are available (for purchase as described above) on the lulu.com website.

Here is a list of my published books.  The list includes some links to many of the PDF files.  The links likely are not “active”.  However, the link addresses can be copied into one’s own URL and with an “enter” can become the active files.  Other PDF links can be shared for or to interested parties upon request.

SAINTS IN MISSOURI, NAUVOO AND WESTWARD

This is the book for Senior Missionaries (and anyone in the world).  It combines all of the geographic areas of Missouri, Nauvoo, Iowa, and Nebraska into one book.

https://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-v-huntk/saints-in-missouri-nauvoo-and-westward-study-and-travel-guide/hardcover/product-84yyk7q.html?q=Nauvoo&page=1&pageSize=4

SAINTS IN MISSOURI BEFORE NAUVOO

https://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-v-hunt/saints-in-missouri-before-nauvoo-study-and-travel-guide-to-church-historic-sites/hardcover/product-v8mm458.html?q=Nauvoo&page=1&pageSize=4

SAINTS IN NAUVOO WITH PROPHETS JOSEPH AND 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

https://www.lulu.com/shop/kevin-v-hunt/saints-go-westward-from-nauvoo-study-and-travel-guide/hardcover/product-v8mmg9m.html?q=Nauvoo&page=1&pageSize=4

BLOG BOOKS

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 in Nauvoo 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 eras 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 teamster wives always talk about on wagon tours as you/they round the corner by the Lucy Mack Smith home.  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 which Sister Hunt and our family designed and which are now being produced by missionaries in the Brickyard..

“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 valuable information about him and his prophetic mission.

“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.

My book writing and publishing has helped to inspire others to take the big step to write and create for their children and families. One sister was inspired to write a special story of how she and her husband were brought together. She got the book published and looks forward to sharing it as a special gift with her family. She wrote to me, “My 1st book. Thanks for your inspiration and help.”

Several of our Nauvoo friends have thanked me for my help to them and they are moving forward in their writing and sharing quest. It is a joy to see such great things happening. Like a stone rolling forth …!

SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

I stated in my mission farewell and also in my homecoming talks that one of the major reasons for our mission was that we served for our nine children and 43 grandchildren.  That is very true.  We thought of them every day of our mission.  We enjoyed sharing frequent (often daily) photos and narrative of our special, fun, and sacred “Nauvoo Miracle” experiences with our family members.  We were able to share our testimonies with them in ways that may not have been possible otherwise. The family members seemed to be in a spirit to hear and believe what we shared with them. This was indeed a great blessing. We knew that each family member was praying for us wherever they might be.  And we prayed for them.  We – and many of our famjiy members – were blessed through our mission experiences.

Above: The full family of Kevin and Lou Hunt – 2025

WELCOMING OUR FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE THE NAUVOO SPIRIT

We had the special blessing and opportunity to welcome many of our children and grandchildren to exoerience Nauvoo with us. Because of our use of the Lord’s talents – and gifts of the Spirit – through my writing, we were able to assist many with needed resources to make the trip. Eight of our children and their families came were able to spend several days each with us. Those were glorious and wonderful days “never to be forgotten” (as Oliver Cowdery once wrote. See his words at the end of the Joseph Smith History in The Pearl of Great Price.)

We managed to house the families with us in our small Dunn home. We put out air mattresses for the crowds and sometimes were “wall to wall” in beds. We fed them and basked in special moments with them in our home.

With our experience as tour or site guides, we were able to share special tours with each family. We were able to share beautiful Nauvoo with them. We took each family to most of the homes and shops. We taught them of our own ancestors who lived in Nauvoo and who sacrificed their lives, strength and might for us.

We were able to testify of prophets who lived and served in Nauvoo. We helped each family to know and feel the influence of Jesus Christ in Nauvoo. We know that most family members felt the influence of the Holy Ghost as the Spirit whispered of truths to them. They were able to experience and feel of the power of the Restored Gospel and its great blessings to all of us.

We believe that miracles occurred in each family member as they received and participated with us in our mission.  As senior missionaries in Nauvoo, we feel that we gave our full and dedicated commitment – we gave our full heart, might, mind, and strength in support of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we believe that this attitude and our service permeated on to our family members. They felt of our commitment, our testimony, and our service.  I believe that the strengthening of our own family was the greatest element of and perhaps the greatest blessing of our sacred mission stewardships.

We indeed had many marvelous opportunities for service in ouir mission. We were able to use the many talents that the Lord had given us of the Holy Ghost, and as we used those talents in service to others, he gave us more and more. It was a great experience to see the Lord at work in our lives and for others. Our mission was a special experience for us. We loved it and the people who came to us. We are grateful to the Lord for the many “Nauvoo Miracles”, connections, and the ways that the Lord arranged special moments, times, and experiences. We will forever be grateful for our special Nauvoo service opportunity.