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Homecoming Messages from the Nauvoo Experience

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Blog #69

By Kevin V. Hunt

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

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

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

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

This is what Sister Hunt said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Above: Sister Verna Belcher as Lucy Mack Smith

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Above: George Riser (Nauvoo Pioneer) Photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Above: Elder and Sister Hunt at Nauvoo Temple

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

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

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

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

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

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

My own testimony …

“NAUVOO MISSION EXPERIENCES AND MEMORIES”

By Kevin V. Hunt

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Above: Jonathan Browning – Gun Inventor

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

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

Above: Elders Craig Shaltes and Kevin Hunt in Nauvoo 1975

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

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

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

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

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

Above: Nauvoo Temple Lot as seen in 1975

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

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

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

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

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

Above: The Nauvoo Temple Illuminated

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

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

Above: Nauvoo Temple on the Hill above the community

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Special Times, Places, and People

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By Kevin V. Hunt

Blog #8  May 16, 2024

We seem to have many special times, places, and people as we serve in Nauvoo.  And the cool thing is that we really cannot predict the good times.  They just seem to creep up on us.  We never know when they are going to come … we just bask in the beauty of each moment or experience as it comes to us.

BIKES, MICE, SUNSETS AND EAGLES

Bikes, mice, sunsets, and eagles …  That sounds like an interesting combination.  If it rhymed, it could be the opening line of a Dr. Seuss book!

Okay, so a bike ride may not sound that exciting.  But, in Nauvoo, even a routine bike ride together has its surprises and enjoyments.

Previous blogs showed our bikes on top of our wagon as we came from Arizona to Nauvoo.  When we first got here, the weather was a bit chilly (at least for Lou) relative to bike riding.  She wanted to hold off until we had a bit more heat coming our way.  (Now that the weather is beautiful, we better do it before the humidity hits her!)

One challenge with the bikes was where to store them.  We tried just leaving them out behind our back door – and they would have been perfectly fine there – without being locked up.  We soon found, however, there was a bit too much rain and moisture to do this.  In just a few days, the chains could be orange with rust.  Hmmmm … where to put them?

We tried putting them on a corner of our small kitchen floor – on the tile next to the dining table.  But, that didn’t leave us much room for navigating around our small place.

Then we thought of our basement.  Yes, like many old  Nauvoo structures, our place does have a basement or cellar (with most of the original limestone rocks still intact).  A basement, I would think, would be a place on a  level below the rest of the structure.  And when I thought of “Cellar”, I thought of Grandma Hunt’s  old cellar on the Beryl Junction farm.  This was a stand-alone hole with a door entry.  And in the cellar, Grandma would store meat, veggies and fruit that she had bottled – and a plethora of spiders.  It looked like something out of a Halloween horror movie inside.  But, it sure did its job!  I remember trips down the cellar to get needed items for Grandma.

Here at the Simeon Dunn home in Nauvoo, the two concepts kind of come together.  The cellar connects to the basement.  Upon arrival, we went downstairs to explore – and found this creepy looking exit from the basement – up through the outside cellar doors.  (And of course, all of the women immediately see a “security threat” with such an arrangement – either that or an open door and welcome mat to all of the mice creatures that might be out lurking out there and an opportunity to enter our place).  With a few minutes of broom action, however, the cellar exit did actually work out quite well for getting the bikes outside and also protecting them from the outside elements when not in use.

We could ride anywhere – and we would see great scenery – with amazing green trees and grass everywhere (a bit different from our Arizona desert back home). 

A natural route is to turn west from our place onto the famed Parley Street.  And that is what we did.  We headed west down through “The Trail of Hope” – where the Saints walked with wagons and freezing children as they left Nauvoo, heading west). 

We arrived at the Mississippi River  just in time to catch the magnificent sunset for which Nauvoo is known.  Wow!

We rounded the corner as the road became Water Street.  And then, in amazement, we saw above us in a giant tree, a huge eagle’s nest.  And in the next we could see two baby eagles that were both being fed by mom and dad eagle.  Dad had caught a fish and was ripping it apart (throwing out the bones) and feeding it to the hungry kids!  Another wow!

Screenshot

WANNA BOOT?

Years ago, when we visited  Nauvoo, with  our family, we were touring some of the homes and shops.  We decided to head to the nearby Riser Boot and Shoe Shop.  As we approached, we were greeted by Sister Noble (wife of Ken Noble – my 8th grade choral teacher in Mesa, Arizona.  And that class is another story …  I was kicked out of class.  I couldn’t carry a note – let alone a full tune in the bucket.  Where was the Nauvoo tin shop when I needed a bucket? But, I wouldn’t have known where to carry it anyway) .  On that long ago day, Sister Noble (the senior site guide that day came outside and hollered in a really deep voice: “WANNA BOOT?” 

That made a lasting impression on our children.  They were often heard quoting Sister Noble, on that memorable day.  We found new meaning to the “Wanna Boot” phrase ourselves as it was now our turn to be the guides at the site.  Wanna boot?  That was the question George Riser would ask every customer.

George and Christianne Riser were both German immigrants in their youth.  They both ended up in Marion, Ohio where George became an apprentice (technically, a shoe maker was known as a “Cordwainer”) and by 1840, he owned his own shoe shop.  After they were married, George and Christianna heard of “Those Mormons”.  He had a worker, whom he said “was a better worker than a Mormon”.  Nonetheless, George was impressed and sold his shop and moved to Nauvoo as a non-member.  Hearing the Prophet, Joseph speak once was all it took.  They became instant converts and never looked back.  And they were faithful to the end.

Paying a “wagon and a team of horses”, he bought land and built himself a successful new shoe shop.  After a mission (back to Ohio), he returned home to find that the Saints were heading west.  He sold his business “for a wagon and a team of horses” and headed out.

In the shoe shop, Sister Hunt learned a new  skill (a possible Etsy business) as she became the Cordwainer of the day.  (That is one time that women’s lib paid off – at least for me.)

Riser Boot and Shoe Store Price List

And as she finished, she could say with pride, “WANNA BOOT?”

A SACRED VISIT INSIDE THE MAGNIFICENT NAUVOO TEMPLE

The most imposing building, by far, in Nauvoo, is the restored Temple.  It stands in majestic beauty atop of the hill.  Words cannot adequately describe its beauty – from every angle – in sunshine and in the sunset.

Photo “The Nauvoo Temple at Sunset” Copyright Kevin V. Hunt 2024

We wanted to visit inside and found it a bit challenging to get an appointment.  The Temple is a very popular place.  Everyone (living and the dead) wants to get inside – and it is truly worth it.  And the challenge is that at least through April, the last session of the day was at 5:15 PM – and we don’t get off from our home assignments until 5:00 PM.  We thus planned our trip there late on our P-day.

The Temple was as beautiful and amazing as we had anticipated.    We had actually been there a  couple of times before.  Our daughter was here with a BYU historical sites semester years ago and Lou and I and a few others were all on the end of vacuum cleaners and saw literally the whole place.  (Did I already talk about that?  I apologize if I have  already done so.)

We marveled at the fabulous full-wall murals in each room as we progressed from the creation room,  to the World Room, and then to the Telestial Room.  Wow!  In one room, the mural begins with scenery from Vermont, where the Prophet  Joseph Smith was born, then shows New York, Ohio, Missouri, Illinois and then Salt Lake City.  The mural is so amazing that the transitions to each new area of Church history just melt into each other.  And the spiral staircases are so breathtaking.  The craftmanship is deluxe to the max.

And after the tour, we went into the “left hallway” where we saw shadow boxes with the actual original Temple keys, the saber that Joseph used in the Nauvoo Legion, and some original Temple clothes that belonged to Mary Field Smith (widow of Hyrum, the Patriarch), and more.

We also did some “sealings” – and uniting couples as eternal companions – as well as some sealings of children to their eternal parents.  It was very exciting to have David Palmer, a Temple missionary serving here, as our “sealer”.  We were neighbors with him and his family 30 years ago – when we lived over  by “The Westwood House”. 

We thought that one of the “extras” who came to assist us looked familiar.  After the sealing session, we were talking to Brother Palmer and told him that we now live in metropolitan Maricopa.  The lady piped up and said that she also is from Maricopa.  Turns out, she is in our current Pacana Park Ward.  Are you kidding?  Nauvoo is full of surprises.  We were both a  bit new to that ward and we didn’t even put two and two together.

Photo: Joseph and Hyrum at Sunset – View from the Temple looking west to river

COUSINS AT THE PENDLETON HOME AND SCHOOL

I noted that we never know what is going to happen in Nauvoo – nor whom we might see.  We were assigned to teach one day at the Pendleton home and school.  I gave the history part and Lou became the school marm of the day.  And of course, this was right up her alley.

We were expecting several bus field trip kids to arrive (and they would give Lou plenty of practice in her school room).  She taught them until it was time to release “for recess”.  They didn’t have standardized spelling in those days.  People just kind of spelled as they heard words.  And this was a bit of a challenge with immigrants coming from so many parts of the country, Great Britain, and beyond.

Photo: Calvin Pendleton penmanship (telling his history in the church)

Here is an example of some of the words of the day.  We felt as if we were again playing “Mad Gab” with our teenagers at home.

In between the bus groups, I went outside to greet a large group (or large for the small building).  I found three couples out at the sign in front of the home.  We began with our usual greeting of our names and where we are from – and then asked the people where they hail from.  And then always follows a session of “Do you know …”   I was surprised on this occasion.  All three couples said that they were from Enterprise, Utah. Wow!  They were half of the town of Enterprise – and all here together right here in Nauvoo.  My father – and generations behind him called Enterprise home.    The three ladies were all sisters.  And coming from Enterprise, we knew that we were all cousins.

They and I all took out our trusty FamilyTree app on FamilySearch.   We did the “Relatives Around Me” game (which is so fun!).    Not surprising, they fund out that they were related – but also we learned that I am also “3rd Cousins – Once Removed” with them.  How fun!  So great to find all of these long-lost cousins.  We all hugged and sang, “Kumbayah”.  They also claimed Pendleton blood on their “other line” so they were anxious to learn all about their ancestor’s home.

COUSINS AND MORE COUSINS

And then there is the day that we were serving at the newly acquired Homestead and Mansion House of the Prophet Joseph.  (And these are very popular places these days …  people are thronging here to see these sacred and beautiful places.)

We greeted a large multi-generational group who in the “Where are you from, and who do you know” game, let on that they were Farmington, Utah.  I quipped as I often do, that “I am related to half of Farmington, … but they are all in the cemetery.”  My 4th great grandfathers, Joseph Lee Robinson and Ezra Thompson Clark were both early founders of this city.  (And Farmington is where Lou and I got our marriage license.  I then lived in Ogden and she lived in south  Salt Lake (Sandy) so we met in the middle – at Farmington to get the license.

Sensing possible more cousins, I suggested that we check “Relatives Around Me” together.  Several folks pulled out their phones – and sure enough, there were the relationships.

As I did this exercise with my new  cousins, there were three other separate (small) groups standing around waiting for a tour to begin.  These people noticed our excitement and activity going on and they wanted to join the scene.  So, people in these other three groups also pulled out their phones.    And believe it or not, we had five groups (counting me) who were all related somehow to folks in each of the five groups.    (That is where polygamy paid off!)

Another time, we were again at the Joseph Smith Homestead.  I had just come out of the house with a group and was heading over to the Mansion House.  One of the young sister missionaries came and got my attention.  She said that someone wanted to see me.  I went around the corner and was surprised to see my wife’s nephew (married to Michelle, daughter of Lou’s sister “She Jerrie” (not to be confused by her husband, “He Jerry”).  Richard Hirst was there with two of his daughters and his brother.  They were driving home (as Michelle flew) from Virginia for the college graduation of the oldest daughter.  They had heard that Lou and I (aka Sister Hunt) were serving in Nauvoo.

I guess they got the royal run-around as they looked for us around Nauvoo  Keep in mind, that I have already said that I have two other Hunt cousins who are serving here as Teamsters.   Upon arrival, they had gone to a few places – after getting hints about where a Hunt might be.  They finally got directed toward the real Elder Hunt (me).  If someone wants to get to Nauvoo, they have to be somewhat determined (or focused) to come here.  It is not easy to get here.  That had been the case with Richard and Family.  We don’t know how far out of their way they had come to find us and sadly, they used up all of their few available moments running around Nauvoo trying to find us.  We were with a tour group but took a momentary diversion to have one tour member get a photo of us.  And then they were off – on their way, heading west toward Utah.

ENTERTAINING ANGELS UNAWARES

Most folks who come on our tours are wearing their casual travel clothes.  But, occasionally, we have someone show up in Sunday clothes (on a weekday).  They are a dead give-away.  We know that they are going to or coming home from the Temple.  This couple arrived in their Sunday best (though he was not wearing a suit coat). 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I do not have many days where I am not wearing one of my characteristic bolo ties.  And even here, in Nauvoo, I have been able to wear a bolo most days.  (Though, admittedly, I had to do a bolo sorting exercise to see which ones might be Nauvoo appropriate.  Cowboys, for instance, had not yet come into Vogue in 1840, so bolos with cowboy hats are “out”.) 

Whittling was a thing in Nauvoo … Ever hear of the “Whistling Whittling Berigade”? (More on that later!)

My bolos have become a part of my Nauvoo period costumes.  And this particular day was no exception.  I greeted this couple sporting a bolo tie and this became a conversation starter with the couple.  The brother recognized my bolo and connected it to the Scouting Philmont Scout Ranch (in New Mexico). 

He asked if I had been to Philmont – and sadly, I had to report that I have never attended a training course there.  I mentioned that Sister Hunt had been to Philmont when age nine or so – when her father was in a stake presidency.  Then this brother admitted that he had attended Philmont when serving as a stake President a few years ago.  I started to do the math.    This guy still had “the look” even though he had been a stake president a few years ago.

As I later learned at the Print Shop, I just “cut to the chase”.  I flat out asked him, “So, are  you a General Authority now?”  He added humbly that he is presently a General Authority Seventy and that he has responsibility for a dozen stakes surrounding Nauvoo.  This means that he had administrative jurisdiction for Nauvoo.  Wow!  Elder Morgan and his wife were both very impressive.  We gave them our regular tour at the newly acquired Joseph Smith Homestead.  I am still here, so we must not have done too badly.

MEETING A TRUE FRIEND AND BROTHER – AND A TRUE SON OF HELAMAN

On our final tour one day at the Mansion House, we had some special folks as a part of a very large tour group.  Alfredo was there from Utah with his wife and a friend and his wife.  They were likely Lamanites – originally from Venezuela.  This Alfredo and I hit it off immediately.  We were instant friends.  This was one of those rare times where I felt as if I had always known him (and he acted likewise).  What a great man!

Alfredo and his group had come from Utah – having driven almost continuously to get to Nauvoo.  They were in Nauvoo for only a single day, and they were trying to pack in as much as possible in just that one day.  He lamented that they had to return home on the morrow and the fact that he had not seen all that he wanted to see.  He was really sad that everything would be closing within just a few minutes.

I said to him, “If you could see any one place that you missed, which would it be?”  He said he had hoped to see the Brigham Young Home.  I happened to have a key to the place (though I have not yet served there this time around).  I told him, “I have not taken a tour of Brigham’s home in 49 years, but maybe I can remember it to take you through it.”  He did not want to “put me out” but I persuaded him that I would love to take him through it.  We arranged to meet there at the Young home at 7:00 PM.

We met him there – as we had promised.  With us also was Lou’s brother and wife, Kerry.  (More on them later!)  We went into the home, and I began giving him the tour.  Amazing how everything came back to me.  (The Holy Ghost is so amazing under such circumstances!)

I had just begun the tour when someone opened the front door and burst in.  The guy said loudly and quite abruptly, “First, I want to know who you are and what your are doing here.”  I told him that I am a “site missionary”.  (We had been told that site missionaries can take after-hours tours for family and friends – so I thought that there was no problem.)  He introduced himself as a night security guard.  I was new so we had not met.  After he calmed down, he told me that all was well.  He later sent me instructions on how to next time inform security of an after-hours arrival and departure – so that I don’t catch them by surprise again.

The abrupt visit kind of caught us all off guard.  We caught our breath, and all had a good laugh.  It definitely gave us some added excitement.

Recently I re-read some of my journals from the 1975  era when I was in Nauvoo as a “young Elder”.   An entry  said that I loved giving tours of the Brigham Young home because it was easy to talk about the man, Brigham, and not to focus upon the antiques of the place. 

I shared with Alfredo and the rest of the gang about Brigham’s “Council Room” where the Quorum of the 12 Apostles met regularly to map out and plan the western migration of the church to the Salt Lake Valley.  (Joseph had previously told Brigham that the Saints would go to the Rocky Mountains and would create settlements all along the mountain range.)

This “Council Room”  is one of my favorite rooms because it contains a large painting of Brigham Young (a much older Brigham than when he was in Nauvoo.)   Years ago, we took our nine children to Nauvoo and were in the cast of the then “City of Joseph” pageant.  We did not have set roles in the show, but I had dressed up and had a beard to look like Brigham on a few other occasions.  So, I said that I was Brother Brigham in the pageant.  I cut my beard (the “square look” with no mustache) and colored it to look like Brigham.  And on that occasion, I had my photo taken with Brigham.

Even to this day, I love to show this photos with my Brigham beard to others (mostly guys who, like me, love beards).  It is fun to show them a beard that I have actually grown myself.    (It’s a “guy thing” … sharing beard-growing bragging rights!”) Over the years, there have been many other beards that I have grown.  Admittedly, however, my beard is no longer the rusty red of when I was about 30.)  And it is always fun to show the picture of the two of us.  And as I show the photo, I always say, “That’s me on the left!”  (This always brings a laugh from the on-looker … and I love it.)

When we were in the Pageant, our family made a visit to the Brigham home and I was wearing my full regalia costume to look like Brigham.  As we entered the home, the senior sister missionary was already giving a tour.  When giving a tour, the guide should be careful to stay facing the group.  This particular sister, however, had her back to the group and had her head up inside of the “bustle oven” (so named because the oven sticks out beyond the house – liker a woman’s bustle.)   When she came up for air from the bustle oven, she made a gasp as she saw me.  After her initial shock, she gulped and said, “Well, here’s Brother Brigham, now!”  That was my moment.  I gloated in it.

Back to the current tour …  I took all of the folks out to the back yard and showed them all of Brigham’s “out buildings” including his outdoor root cellar (that I talked of above), his well his rain water cistern, his carriage house, and the view that he would have had of the temple as it was under construction.  My friends were all amazed in awe.

Brigham’s Root Cellar

Then it was time to bid farewell to my friend and brother, Alfredo.  We hugged each other  – again feeling that we had forever been brothers.  It was a sad parting.

Oh, and one more funny incident with that beard … Earlier that spring (March 1997) I played the role of an apostle in the Mesa Temple Easter Pageant and had the beard for that production. During the pageant, I had to make an emergency trip to Utah for the funeral of my grandmother, Aususta Wilcox Hunt. As I was in the Las Vegas airport, I looked over and found myself walking paralell with famous football player, Steve Young. Without saying Brigham’s name, I said to him, “I am growing this beard to be your great grandfather in the Nauvoo pageant this summer.” He looked over at me and said simply, “Well, if you want to be Brigham, you will have to put on a few pounds.”

Backing up a bit …  I said that I had played Brigham on a few other occasions.  Two of those occasions date back to when I was about age 8 or 10.  On one occasion, I played Brigham in a Cub Scout pack meeting.  My sister and all of my brothers were all dressed up as my wives.  (I am sure that they loved that.  That was in a day when such action wasn’t super weird.)

And on another occasion, back then, I was Brigham in the 24th of July Pioneer Day parade at the church.  My brothers were spared the dresses on that occasion (but most of them still made the picture).  In those days, we had a neighbor, “Doc” Douglas who lived in our Park Place cul-de-sac.  He had previously been a “Shriner” in Canada and as such, he always needed to put beards on himself.  So, he had all of the materials to put a really great beard on me.  I loved his beards – and I used his skills and talents a few times.

I mentioned our participation in the “City of Joseph” production.  On that occasion, I had an arranged meeting with – and with my family – I was able to meet the Prophet Joseph at his Mansion House.  That was a happy meeting – which I shall always remember.

GIVING THE EXTRA MILE

We had another interesting experience stemming from a tour at the Mansion House.  (We have had a lot of great experiences there).  On our tour, we had many members of a large LDS  bus  tour group that was seeing various LDS historical sites across the country.   On the tour was another new-found “cousin” named Barlow.  As I heard his name, I knew before “Relatives” that we could be related – or that it was  likely  we were because Barlow is a good old Enterprise name.

Anyway, he told us that he had to be back to his bus in just an hour.  He and his wife had decided together (using the map brochure of Historic Nauvoo) that they really wanted to see the Sarah Granger Kimball home.  He asked if they would have enough time to walk down there by the bus meeting time.  I told him that it was located over a mile down the road and that he probably would not make it back in the allotted time.  They were kind of disappointed.

I remembered a time when Lou and I experienced a similar situation.  It was a bit strange – and the young sister missionaries thought that I was crazy.  I might have been, but I gave him my keys to my car parked nearby.  Under protest, the guy decided to take me up on my  offer.  And then they were off to the Kimball home (to learn about the organization of the Relief Society).  I was in the middle of another tour as they returned so my wife just quietly took the keys back.  They were very grateful.

The incident reminded me of a situation years before.  At that time, I worked for America West Airlines.  It was July 3rd or 4th – a holiday.  We decided at the last minute to take a one-day plane  trip over to Ontario, California to go to the beach for a picnic.  (Quite a feat for Lou and I for our nine children – all riding on “stand-by”.  We did make it to the airport – thinking that we could catch a bus down to the beach.  But, since it was a holiday, no buses were running.

An employee from the airline (where I also worked as the Corporate Claims Manager) had been talking to us about the possible bus scenario.  When we determined that we were out of alternatives, the lady absolutely insisted that we take her car  – with instructions “to just be back here at 3:00 PM when I get off work”. 

We went out to the parking space that she had mentioned.  We were delighted and grateful when we found her brand new bright red Suburban vehicle.  Wow!  And it even fit all of our family crowd.  We did drive the two or three miles to the beach and had a glorious picnic together under the swaying palm trees.

As instructed, we got back to the terminal and the designated meeting spot just as the lady came outside.  She grabbed her keys and sped off before we could even thank her – and could not pay her anything.   We have always been grateful to her as we have remembered her special service to us that day.

My wife also thought of this past scenario as we talked with our Barlow friends, and she agreed with me that it was the right thing to do. We were happy to assist them.

OUR FIRST FAMILY VISITORS

We have been told that as missionaries, we can host family and friends with us in our missionary housing.  They even make available air mattresses, bedding, towels, and whatever else might be needed – as check-out from “Facilities Maintenance” (with advance reservation).  So, under this wonderful scenario, we look forward to happy times with any who might come.

We were new missionaries, so some other missionaries were surprised when we got our first family members so soon after our arrival.  But we were happy to welcome Lou’s brother, Brad Belcher, and his wife, Kerry.  They came through as a part of an extended auto trip that they were taking around the country.  They were stopping to see anyone and everyone whom they had ever known.  When they got to us, they had put on 5,300 miles as they had traveled through at least 18 states.   Wow!  That sounds kind of like the train trip that Lou and I took last summer.

We were happy to claim them as family – and glad that we met the requirements of who they were to see along the way.

It was so fun to have Brad and Kerry here with us.  They met us as we got off work at the Mansion House on Friday night – and just after we had taken Elder and Sister Morgan on their tour.  We talked about this Elder Morgan and decided to look him up on our Google friend.  We found him, and were surprised to learn that in his youth, he had actually been a member of the Reorganized Church of Christ and converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  An interesting story, indeed.

We went with Brad and Kerry to eat at the local “Red Front” café – where Lou and I love to eat.  (I promise to write about this place later in a future blog … so stay tuned!)  The food at this place proved as wonderful as ever.  Back at our Simeon Dunn home, we had grand reminisces about the “good old days” in the Belcher household.  There were certainly a lot of funny stories about “Gramps” Belcher and Verna.  We talked about Elder Belcher’s creation of the Nauvoo brickyard and the bricks that are still given out as souvenirs.  (More about all of that later).  We also talked of Elder Belcher’s dedication in literally “saving” the Coolidge House – that was to be demolished soon.  And those are stories for other future blogs.

Brad and Kerry borrowed our bikes and used them throughout the day Saturday as they went to many different restored homes and shops.  They enjoyed this mode of transportation.

They were here with us over Sunday, so they were able to attend our missionary “ward” with us.  They loved the gathering of all of the missionaries – senior missionaries – along with our army of young Sister Missionaries.  (I think it even made them entertain the thought of being missionaries themselves.)

After Sister Hunt and I got home from our assignment of the day, Brad pampered us with scones.  He and Sister Hunt had collaborated on the recipe and procedures for the ultimate scones.  And they turned out fabulous.  We all ate too many of them.  We had all been hungry for scones after I told Brad and Kerry that Emma Smith “made fried dough – topped with honey” for her guests at the Mansion House.  I knew that she was  talking about scones.  (Scones have long been our Hunt go-to meal when we were short on resources, had little notice for a meal – or when we were to feed a big crowd.)   One of Emma’s dignitaries was highly impressed with the scones and asked Emma what they were called.  She said emphatically that they were “candidates”.   He questioned her name for the scones.   She said that they were so named because “they are puffed up and full of air”.  So true!

Well, enough is enough for one night.  I could go on with more, but you get the picture.  There is never a dull moment for us here in Nauvoo.  There are so many opportunities for special times in fun places with great people.  It is all such fun!

Again, Elder and Sister Hunt on “The Nauvoo Trail”.