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Many are Chilled but Few are Frozen

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MANY ARE CHILLED BUT FEW ARE FROZEN

By Kevin V. Hunt

Blog #31

There is a scripture in the Doctrine and Covenants that says that “There are many called but few are Chosen” (D&C 121:34).  Years ago, a friend and a cousin both went on a mission to Sweden.  They paraphrased that verse to define Sweden – as the land where “Many are chilled, but few are frozen.”  I can really relate to that here in Nauvoo.   The chill is here, but we are not yet frozen, And we thank God!

The weather outside is frightful

We all remember the Christmas tune that says, “The Weather Outside is Frightful”.  And we have found that this can be the case here in Nauvoo.  Next week, our forecast shows aa low of 10 degrees on Wednesday, January 15 as the low temperature and high temps will be in the mid 30’s.  Brrr! 

In spite of those lows, however, Sister Hunt and I feel as if the Lord has “shielded” us from those temps (like the people in The Book of Mormon – In Mosiah 24:15 – where the burdens of the people were made light – even though they still had the burdens).  We have been truly blessed.

We are counting the days for winter to be history.  We have noted and thought that winter could go here from October 1 to the end of March.  That means that we are already three and a half months into it.  And likely, we will have only two more months of cold and snow.  Can’t wait!

The Lord has sent His snows

It could have been worse, but we have only had five snow storms while we’ve been here.  A couple of weeks ago, the weatherman predicted very heavy snow – perhaps the worst storm in a decade or more.  This put us all in a panic.  The Facilities Maintenance personnel put out a full-alarm bulletin about the coming storm and how they planned to manage their snow plowing.  In this bulletin, they noted that their FM teams would plow and shovel the sidewalks up to the fence of each of the restored homes.  And they stated that the walks inside of the fences (between the fences and the restored homes) would be the responsibility of the site coordinators. 

Several times the weather report projected snow and the time for the arrival for the ominous storm kept getting pushed back further.  Gratefully, that predicted snow never came.  Wow!  Hard to believe.  We were braced for the worst in our community but we let out a sigh of relief and thanks when we got nothing.

Sister Hunt and I are the assigned Site Coordinators for the Joseph Smith properties.  These include the Homestead, the Mansion House and the Bidamon structure.   And in case you have not been here, that means a great deal of sidewalks for us to keep clear.

This means that on the day that the snow shows up, we have to high-tail it over there to do our job.  It is convenient that the Joseph properties are only a couple of small blocks away.  We can see the Mansion House diagonally right from our back door!

Snow shoveling 101 …

Being an Arizona Desert Rat, I’ve had to learn some new terminology.  One brother was saying, “It is too bad that we can’t use this tool (and he said the name of it).”  I said, “Hold on, you lost me on that one.  Being from the Arizona Desert, I have never heard of that.”  He looked at me in disbelief – as if I was from Mars.  (And it sounded bad … I don’t know that I really wanted to know what it was …!)

Luckily, most of our snows so far have been about 1” in depth.  One storm required a shovel – or so I thought.  The rest have been an inch or two.  And interestingly enough, the snow has all been light and fluffy – not iced or heavy snows.  So, this means that I have not needed a shovel – and that I could use a broom to just sweep off the snow. 

I have learned that it is important after a snow, to get out there as soon as it stops to sweep the snow.  (I guess I would have to go out there two or three times in a given storm – if the duration and accumulation demanded it.)  Anyway, if you sweep immediately – before you step on the snow, it comes right off easily.  However, if you step on it – like on the steps or the walks first, you compress the snow to the point that it clings mightily to the sidewalk, and it is nearly impossible to sweep it off.  (And then there is danger that it can become an ice patch).  And once swept, the walks will respond nicely with the rays of sunshine when it comes later.  With a bit of sun, the walks will be clear and nice – even though there will still be snow all around the surrounding area.

For many years, I was employed as a corporate claims manager for several large corporations.  One of those was Megafoods – then a giant grocery chain.  I often went to all corners of the Mega world and gave safety and claims management training for the store managers.   Part of my role was to keep the cost of claims as low as possible – after an accident occurred.    To get the attention of the managers, I would pose the simple question, “What is the cost of grapes in your stores?”  I would get answers like 39 Cents or $1.69 per pound.  Everyone would try to impress us with their best prices.

Then I would say, “Well, let me tell you the real cost of grapes.”  (Grapes and slip and falls from them were the greatest or worst cause of store accidents.)  I would then tell them about one grape (on the floor) accident that caused someone to slip and it cost the company $150,000 or more.  I would share a few more such cases.  And by then, I had their full attention!

So, being a former claims management guy, I knew how deadly ice on steps or walks could be.  And I didn’t want to be the cause of an accident at Joseph’s properties.  I knew too, that the Joseph Smith sites are currently our most popular sites for tours – since they are new to our church.

Conveniently, the weatherman often tells us when the sweeping should begin.  The other morning, as I arose, I checked the weather report first thing as I got dressed.  It said, “Snow stopping in 30 minutes!”  What? We got snow?  I dashed to the window and threw open the blinds, and sure enough, there was some of the white stuff all over the ground.  I then knew what I would be doing for the morning.

I proceeded to get ready for the day and again checked the weather.  The snow forecast had been extended to 44 minutes.   I told Sister Hunt that we would need to leave by 9:00 AM to go shovel snow for Joseph Smith.  On that day, we were the first missionaries in the “queue” so we knew that we would need to be ready to serve by 10:00 AM.    And as predicted, the snow did stop almost exactly according to schedule.  As Sister Hunt “did her hair”, I donned my best snow and cold gear and went to work on the walks of our Simeon Dunn home – both front and back.  Again, the snow was light and fluffy and it responded well to sweeping.

Snow gear side note …  On a recent trip to Quincy, Sister Hunt, of course, wanted to make a Goodwill store stop.  She found some snow boots for her – complete with a former wasp nest of mud in the toe of one.  She looked for some boots for me and found none.  We checked out and were about to leave.   We both looked in the special glass case for the more valuable treasures.  And there was the pair of boots that I needed and wanted.  The boots were beautiful in their red and black.  We stepped back for a second look – both fearing that the boots would be exorbitant in cost.  But Voila!  The boots were just the right size and they were wonderful. The beauties were only $11. Wow.  Such a deal!   Sold!

Together, Sister Hunt and I  went to Joseph’s places and we swept all of the walkways.  I began by making a swath through the middle of the sidewalk that runs from the parking lot over to the Bidamon structure.

Sister Hunt followed me and she swept the snow off of the sides – to fully expose or clear the whole walkway.  I then swept the stairs going up to the place.  Lou then made a two-foot swath all of the way west to the steps of the Homestead.  I then swept the steps and the rails – that lead up to the sidewalks – already cleared by the FM folks.    (I guess snow plows don’t work really well on stairs!)

Then I made another swath in the middle and around the whole south exterior of the Homestead – going clear over to the headstone marker of the graves of Joseph, Emma and Hyrum.  And Lou continued to sweep snow to the sides.  I then proceeded back to the sidewalk – already plowed by FM.  There were still many splotches that they missed so the walks needed to be done again.

I continued all of the walks over to Joseph and Emma’s Mansion House.  I swept the long walk from the road up to the house on the west side of the place and then did the same on the south side.  This whole process took just over an hour for the three houses.  And we finished it all in time to run home to get into our costumes to be prepared for a possible tour of the day.

Sweeping and Cleaning for Joseph and Emma

Again, as a part of our site coordinator duties, we are responsible for cleaning each of the Smith properties inside.  This is actually an enjoyable activity – since we both feel that we are directly serving Joseph and Emma (and obviously their guests who come to “see” and “hear” of them).  We achieve great satisfaction of this service.

Preparation for Site Visits by new Historians

We received a message from one of the members of the Mission Presidency.   We were informed that we needed to do a really deep-down comprehensive cleaning of the homes and sites in preparation for visits to each of them by a pair of new historians.  These historians have been hired to serve here permanently – and they are to be housed in what we now call the “south visitors’ center” (which was formerly owned by the Community of Christ Church – before the many properties passed to our ownership and management on March 5th of this year.

This, of course, called for some major cleaning at our Smith sites.  (Each of the 30 or sites have their own coordinators who serve as we do.)  We were happy to do it.  We did our usual vacuuming and dusting but also swept out all of the Asian Beetles (they look like lady bugs, but they bite and they are smelly … and that’s not lady-like!).  We dusted everywhere – being careful not to touch the artifacts that are off limits – even to us.  (These historic items are cleaned and dusted by specially trained FM missionaries.)

Visits by the new Historians

In addition to our extra-duty cleaning functions, we were told that the new Site Manager and the Visitor Experience Director were coming a few days of one week and that they wanted to see all of the various restored homes and shops.    All of the site missionaries were assigned a specific home to present a tour to the folks.  Sister Hunt and I were assigned to the Family Living Center.  We were given a schedule listing only the starting time of the daily tours and then a list of the order in which the tours would be done.

On the assigned day, we were at our post early at the Family Living Center (AKA: “The FLC”).  We were there with Elder and Sister Rieske.  Before our guests arrived, we talked and decided which parts of the place each of us would demonstrate.   I said I would be the Cooper and would demonstrate barrel making.   Sister Hunt, our “resident brick expert – carrying on the tradition of her Brickmaker father, Elder Belcher) would give the talk about brick making.  Elder Rieske would be the rope maker.  Sister Rieske would demonstrate wool and fibers.  Another sister would demonstrate rug making on the loom.  (She is kind of the “site coordinator” for this loom.)  One of the ladies would do pottery or candle making if requested – and I would demonstrate “make-believe” bread making.  We were prepared.

Sister Hunt teaching brickmaking to Historians at Family Livingt Center

Upon their arrival, I had the task of greeting them (as we always have someone there to do) and telling them of their options.  They chose brick making since it was right there close.  Sister Hunt did a great job.  And surprisingly, our guests even wanted to get their hands dirty by molding some clay into the wooden molds.

Elder Hunt teaching barrel making

At the barrel making, I told the folks that “back in the day”, in order to be a full-fledged Cooper, one needed to have been an apprentice for six years in order to do all of the tasks.  I told the group, “I am going to teach you all that I know about coopering in about ten minutes and admittedly, I have not had my six years of experience.”    I gave the talk and then let the folks create their own barrels with the kits available.

Elder Rieske did a great job with rope making and his wife then taught “packing the wagon” before her fiber demo.   The folks decided that they didn’t need to do candles (time).  The guy loved the many looms – and said that he’d have to get his wife cleared to teach these skills. 

The historians came with their own entourage.  Elder Sanders (photographer and site scheduler) was there.  The Grahams – who are the site trainers were there.  President Workman was there acting “presidential”.  All in all, we felt good about out tours.  And then they were off to another site.  Sister Hunt and I were also assigned to brick making that day, so we went home, changed clothes, and scurried over to the brick yard where we worked until about 2:00 PM.  All in a day’s work!

New Duties as Historians

With the coming new year, Sister Hunt and I have been invited to serve as the Mission Historians.  (Surprise, surprise!)   This means that we are to create about 20 pages of material each month (of photos, text, accounts of activities and training, and more …) each month – as the “monthly newsletter”.  And then these are to be sent (also monthly) to the Church History Department in Salt Lake City.  And then the monthly packages are to be combined into an annual history for the mission.  Our Mission Presidents (Elder and Sister Mehr) have often stressed that ours is a “ministering mission” so we are to capture and picture our missionaries at work serving and ministering to each other – and to our guests who come here. So, that is our “mission” (along with everything else) for the coming year.  (Not sure what happens to the history in the last quarter of the year after we have gone south …)

Enough of the mechanics and duties … let’s talk about some fun activities …

One thing of note is the passage of time.  If we ever thought that time was passing quickly before our missions, it seems to have gained a lot of speed here on our mission.

A Gathering of our MTC Group …

I have previously noted that we came out to the mission with a cadre of 13 couples.  We all entered the Provo, Utah MTC (Mission Training Center) on April 1st (no joke).  And since then, we have tried to have periodic reunion gatherings.  January 1st was the perfect day for a reunion.  This happened to be New Year’s Day and the last holiday (day off) when all of us would be off together on the same day.  No full mission was planned.  The day was also significant in that it was our “hump day” – the half-way mark of our 18-month missions.  Wow!  Where did that time go?  (“Time flies on wings of lightening”, … as the song says.)

We gathered at the “Pageant Building” for a late-morning brunch.  One couple was not present, one sister of one couple and a brother of another were sick.  But other than them, we still had 22 of us there for breakfast.  And Wow!  What a breakfast.  There were breakfast casseroles, hot cinnamon rolls, sausage and bacon, orange juice and a couple of fruit platters.    Sister Hunt crafted a beautiful fruit plate and this was a big hit. (All of that catering experience paid off!)

The food was delicious.  And after the meal, we gathered in a circle and each of us in turn, shared special experiences of memories of the first half of our missions. This was a great experience.  We all concluded that we knew that the Lord has brought us here and that He continues to let us be a part of special “Nauvoo Miracles” as we serve each day.

Then it was time for a photo op.   We got a photo of our large group.  A good-looking crowd, if I do say so.  It was also another occasion for me and my Hunt cousins to connect again and of course, we had to get a shot of us in the current moment. 

Hunt Cousins (L to R) Elders Jake, Brad, & Kevin Hunt

I had to laugh.  Seeing our camaraderie as cousin/brothers, Elder Atkinson rushed over.  He said, “I want to be adopted in.  I want to be a Hunt.”  He quickly joined our group and we even grabbed a nametag for him to wear.    

Like Abraham, we were happy to adopt him in.  Can’t get enough Hunts!

Sporadic Site Tours

In a previous blog article, I described our current “concierge” tour schedule. This means that we sit at our homes waiting and ready for the call to give a tour.  Sometimes only half or so of the list of folks get called.  Two days last week (Monday and Tuesday) we had a big fat zero guests on either day.  Wow!  That biting cold took its toll!  And of course, the kids of the world were back in school following the Christmas holidays and vacations.

I get up each morning and dress in my costume attire so as to be ready for the day in service.  We get called from missionaries (in charge at the Visitors’ Center) saying, “You are second in queue” or “You are up next”.  And once we get that call, Sister Hunt puts on her costume dress.  And sometimes we get called within a half hour or so, and some days, the assignment call never comes.

I, of course, am never at a loss as to what to do with my time.  There is always something to write about and even more history to research and explore.  It is actually a great life and I love it.

When we do get called for tours, we are happy to go – in spite of the biting cold.  (But again, we have felt specific “shielding” from the real chill … another “Nauvoo Miracle”.  We bundle up in our coats, scarves, hats, etc., and we head to the place where the guests said that they wanted to see.   We never know if it is one person – or a dozen.  We show up at the home or shop and look around to find our guests.  Sometimes we beat them there and other times they have to wait a few minutes for us.  But it all works out.

The Concierge plan is actually quite wonderful because we get to give our guests our full focus and time.  We tell them that they can have us for one or ten tours as they wish through the day.  We get to know the folks – the families – very well as we travel and guide them through the various sites.  It is great being with them and sharing the Spirit of Nauvoo – of Christ and Joseph.

Time to create some more of my books … and more …

With time on my hands, I have been able to focus on some of “my projects”.  I expanded the two blogs about local monuments and markers.  I was able to publish this as a new book on lulu.com.  Sister Hunt and I were able to create a slide presentation out of the brick book that I compiled earlier.  I compiled all of my personal journal entries for the year 2024 and published them (all 800 pages) into another Lulu.com book.  My daughter, Kaylea, and I have been working to create a book about the Argentine mission of her recently returned missionary son.  This has been a major project.

I asked if I could teach – and was approved to do so – a series of four classes on the subject of journal writing, personal and family histories, so I am starting to create those lesson plans and presentations.  The first class will be next week.

I asked if we could have a “pie night” as has become traditional with me on the night before Thanksgiving days.  Somehow that developed into a full-blown affair and now we find ourselves in charge of staging a pie-baking contest that is scheduled for January 24th.  I also got a call to give a talk in Sacrament meeting this coming Sunday.  We are district leaders and have been working with a new couple that are entering the MTC next week and then who will join is in our district.  We have had several training or welcoming calls with them.

Sister Hunt has been working to sew/create another new costume dress.

And Sister Hunt and I (and our children) have been working on a major brick design project.  I will not here divulge details of this project at the moment but it has taken up quite a bit of our time.  Watch for more details to come!  Pretty exciting!

So, you can see that we have plenty to do.  We seem to keep plenty busy.

Sister Hunt surprises an FM worker …

The other day, I was on the phone or working with a WIFI repair guy.  Sister Hunt had dressed in a beautiful red/maroon dress and was sporting a fancy matching hat that she had checked out at the sewing room.   The front door was knocked on (and we never use that door). She opened it and really surprised an FM worker as she greeted him in full period costume regalia.  I guess he didn’t know he was to be greeted by a woman of the 1840’s.

This worker just got employed by FM.  He got hired for a job which he had not applied for – but which I guess the Lord wants him to do.  He had applied for something else and then got hired for this one.  This brother Tenney – from our home Mesa, Arizona – received “signs” that he was supposed to move here.  So, he and his wife left their almost completed new home, packed up their 10 children and moved as prompted to Nauvoo.  They are currently holed up in four adjacent hotel rooms “uptown”.    It is interesting how many folks – from all over the country – get these distinct “impressions” that they are to move here – and often they don’t know why they have been brought here.

We could relate to these Tenney folks.  We had a similar hotel experience – for a month – when we first moved from Ogden, Utah to Santa Barbara, California, we both have a house full of kids, and we have the Mesa connection.  So, we decided to invite the whole clan over for dinner this Tuesday night.  (And growing up – and with our own children … I can count on one hand when our large families got invited to dine with some other family … so it should be fun.)

Senior Missions have become a family affair …

The idea is catching on.  Sister Hunt and I both have brothers who are leaving for senior missions – with their wives as companions – this next week or so.  This is very exciting!

Elder and Sister Brad and Kerry Belcher will be YSA (Young Single Adult) advisors in San Diego and will serve for a year.  (San Diego … a rough job, but I guess someone has to do it.)

And my brother, Darcy Hunt with wife Laura, are going to Vancouver, Canada to serve for 23 months as member and leader support missionaries.  And they will serve some 200,000 Chinese people of the area as they serve and work speaking Mandarin Chinese.  My brother served his “young mission” in Taiwan so he is excited to use his language again.  He has maintained his language through the years – having spoken Chinese almost exclusively to his children as he raised them.  He and Laura went to China for six or eight months soon after they were married.  They are excited about this new opportunity.

Soon to be Elder aHunt – far left, and Laura 4th from left with Kevin and Lou

It should be great fun serving together and swapping missionary experiences with one another.

Another visit to the town or former village of Ramus

I have written in the past about our visits to the far-off hamlet of what is now called Webster, Illinois.  In the pioneer era, it was called Ramus.  Many historical events happened there.  (And interested parties can read more of the place and its residents in my book and PDF document on the subject – in my “Monuments and Markers” publications.

Anyway, we did research and learned that Ute and Sarah Perkins – the fourth great grandparents of Sister Hunt- are buried in the cemetery in Ramus.  It took us three trips there, but we finally found them buried in the small country cemetery.  (We had thought that they were buried in Nauvoo.)  It was wonderful to visit their graves.  Catherine Smith – the sister to the Prophet Joseph is buried there – within a short distance of the Perkins.

Ute and Sarah lived in this area from about the mid 1820’s.  Joel H. Johnson came as a missionary to the area about 1839 and the Perkins family joined the Church.  Joel became the stake president.  His brother, Benjamin F. Johnson (ancestor of our son-in-law, Michael – also lived in this small community.

Sister Hunt at Fletcher Cemetery and grave of ancestor, John Carter

I am not sure if I have previously written about John Carter, another of Sister Hunt’s 4th great grandfathers – lived in Tioga – located just a few miles from Webster – on the way to Quincy.  We learned that John is buried there.  We scouted the area – and the internet – and found that he is buried (alone) in a small cemetery hidden by surrounding corn and soy bean fields – in the Fletcher Cemetery.  So fun to find the graves of these ancestors!

Holidays and special moments over the past month …

I talked about the passage of time … the time has passed so quickly that I realized as I sat to write this blog that I have not written about the wonderful times that we experienced through Christmas and New Year’s.  Wow!  Sorry about that!

Celebrating Christmas

I mentioned earlier that our Christmas celebrations this past season were a bit different than those we have known in the past.  It was strange and different being away from our large family and the many family times and traditions that we have come to know and love.  But, it was also fun to be surrounded by fifty other senior missionary couples – like ourselves – who are all in the same boat away from home.

We enjoyed a very beautiful Christmas Sacrament meeting program. This featured many missionaries performing in varioius ways. It was truly inspirational.

The full group of missionaries gathered around the Christmas tree in the Visitors’ Center for a Christmas photo.

A surprise visit from the local elves

The Squire Family of Red Front Cafe fame in Nauvoo

It was Christmas Eve and there was a knock on our door.  We opened it and to our surprise, we were greeted by the full Squire family from Nauvoo.  Remember them?  They are the folks who own the local “Red Front Café”.  They came in force and presented us a gift of their homemade popcorn.  They said that this delivery (to us and many other missionaries) is a part of their Nauvoo Christmas tradition.

CHRISTMAS EVE FOR ELDER AND SISTER HUNT IN NAUVOO

On Christmas Eve, we all (along with about 40-50 Temple service missionaries) gathered to the FLC for a wonderful time together.  We had a profuse collection of the best of food there which became a great smorgasbord.  Wow!  Talk about food! 

We then went to the nearby Cultural Hall where many of the missionaries serenaded us in song, on the harp, on the guitar, and more.  It was so fun to celebrate in this beautiful and historic place where Joseph, Brigham and wives – and our own ancestors gathered for cultural events of many kinds. 

We then returned to the FLC and Sister Jones treated us all to English Wassail and “figgy” pudding. 

President Preston assists Sister Jones as they serve the Figgy Pudding

We learned that figgy, carrot and other puddings are all very similar but they get their name by the key ingredient that makes up the recipe.  We had a glowing fire in the large fireplace (usually coldly silent as we “demonstrate” bread making of yesteryear).  What a wonderful gathering.

We went home and opened gifts sent to us from our daughter, Jenae.  She sent us each new Christmas Eve pajamas.  (Sister Hunt created Christmas Eve pajamas for all eleven us forever as the kids were growing up … and most of our children are keeping up the tradition – with the help of Walmart and Amazon.)  Thanks, Jenae!  We also basked in the beauty of our Christmas tree.

Christmas Day in Nauvoo

Christmas this year was different for us as we were alone without the warmth of family circle.  But, even from a distance, we felt their warmth and love.

It was an almost impossible task for us to buy and send gifts to each of our 61 posterity members.  This would have proven very costly and challenging.  We elected instead to create a beautiful photo calendar with many photos of us in our Nauvoo costumes displayed above the calendar dates – and with a photo of each the family members in the calendar squares for their birthdays and anniversaries.   (And that took time and effort … and a lot of love!) 

We were able to have these delivered – free of charge – to the Walgreen’s stores nearest each of our families.  We hope that the families will enjoy this gift throughout the year.

Marinda and her family sent us a small tree and “12 Days of Decorations” for the tree.  This tree was the perfect size for our place and we cleared a table for it – and this was also perfect.   Marinda said that she was reminded of when she was on her own mission (to South Dakota).  We sent to her (as we did to most of our 7 missionaries … or to the 5 in the US) a similar tree and “12 Days” decorations.  She said that was so wonderful that she wanted to bring it full circle back to us.  So nice of them!  Marinda said that she let each of the six children pick out their own decorations for us.  We enjoyed opening the gifts each of the 12 days and they looked so fun and nice on the tree.

We spent the morning quietly at home.  We got each other just a couple gifts – from the Merc downtown.  I received a beautiful “Nauvoo” sign – that I want to use to create a “Nauvoo Shelf or Wall” back home.

  (So many memories here!).  Lou wanted a small metal “courting lamp”.  (Maybe our kids can use this now as their children are getting into the “courting stage”.)

I handcrafted a special gift for Sister Hunt. Every time we have served in the Scovil Bakery, she has been enamored over a carved stick that was used in the pioneer era to scoop up dougnuts as they have cooked in the oil. I determined that I would carve the stick that she has been wanting. A couple of months ago, a tree in our “backyard” mostly fell. When FM came to work on reoving the fallen limbs, I found a bit of a limb that I thought would work well. An FM Elder helped me cut the desired piece.

A couple of weeks ago, I hibernated to our basement and as I was holed up there, I carved the piece. When we tested the stick on real doughuts I learned that the stick was a bit too thick, I borrowed a small grinder and removed about half of the stick (in thickness). The end result worked well. I hope that some doughnuts might be in my future.

We had a huge pile of gifts that had been sent by the children.   We received more than deserved – and needed (we are up to two U-hauls home already).   But we definitely felt the love!  We spent much of the day on phone calls from the nine children and their families.  We opened their gifts to us in the video calls – and we got to experience a bit of the Christmas celebrations with each family.  This was a special joy.  We did miss staging our traditional Christmas dinner as we normally would.  Thanks to all for the special gifts – …and  to Jackie for the 10-year supply of candy corn.  That was a corny gift, indeed!

i made some of my traditional peppermint dessert that the family always loves at home. This year, I added some chocolate to give it a new look.

And on Christmas Day, the same group of missionaries (as the night before) met at 2:00 Pm in the afternoon – again at the Pageant Building. 

We had a grand gathering in celebration of our Lord, Jesus Christ.  I am sure that He had pride in us being there/here for Him.  It was a grand and wonderful gathering – with smoked ham and turkey – and hundreds of side dishes.  The place was gaily decorated for the season.  The Christmas Spirit – the spirit of Christ – was strongly felt.  It was a joyous scene – with a hundred and sixty or so missionaries (Temple and our mission) gathered together.

Celebrating with friends, Kurt and LuAnn Walters

Happy New Year

We had so much fun on Christmas Eve, that we decided to do a repeat experience on New Year’s Eve.  And this event was just as fun as the week before.  Us missionaries do know how to eat and party – in our own “senior way”. 

The event didn’t last until the traditional midnight.  Life is a bit different being in a “senior mission”.  The event petered out about 7:30 PM.  Lou and I went home for an evening of Hallmark movies.  Midnight came and went with little fanfare.  Raw, raw (with no bang!  We missed banging pans and throwing serpentine strings with our family.)  Sister Hunt scrounged some fruit juice in the fridge and we quietly drank it together.  No sparkling cider for us this year …  But it was still a great time as we looked forward to the blessings and opportunities – and more “Nauvoo Miracles” in another year – and the second half of our great Nauvoo mission.

And of course, the next day we experienced the MTC brunch of which I have already written.

Missionary Craft Night Activity

One of the great things about being here as Nauvoo missionaries is having so many wonderful missionaries around us.  And all of them are so willing to share their own unique talents and abilities with the rest of us.

Such was the case as we gathered for an activity night – again in the FLC – the largest gathering place (other than the Pageant Building) here in town.

On this evening, we went again to the Family Living Center to join with missionaries for a craft night activity.  Elder and Sister Ward were to be in charge of the event but both were sick.  Other missionaries stepped in to assist and teach for them.  I went with most of the men – and a couple of women – to a leatherworking demonstration by Elders White and Bristol.  They did a good job.  Lou attended a women’s craft session.  Other ladies demonstrated various crafts – including tatting, making knitted squares, rugs, and more.  This sounded fun.

An unexpected Temple experience …

Many times each day, we pass the Temple – or from almost everywhere, we see the majestic building above us on the hill.  Words cannot describe its grandeur.

In my study and research, I have enjoyed reading about the activities and ceremonies surrounding the original Temple.  I learned that endowments were actually performed in the “attic level” of the Temple.  I have become very intrigued with the upper area of the Temple.  I have noted the flat area on top of the Temple and seeing it piques my curiosity all the more.

On one of our recent trips way out east – for activities in the Pageant Building, I turned to Sister Hunt and nonchalantly said, “I would sure love to go up there and check it out.”  I thought this was an activity that would forever elude us.  I didn’t ever see this as a real possibility.

Then imagine my surprise as I was pulled aside at the same gathering – by my zone leader, Elder Atkinson.  He said that he had a special activity for just his district leaders (husbands and wives).  He said that he had made special arrangements to take us up into the tower and attic of the Temple – seeing almost everywhere, and he gave me the date.  He said not to mention it to the world – since this was just for our small leadership team.   Another of those “Nauvoo Miracles”.  Wow! So unbelievable!  I was ecstatic! 

The date was set to happen a couple of weeks hence … 

As I thought forward to this event, my mind went backwards a bit too.  In 2002, our eldest daughter, Jackie, had the great privilege of participating in a BYU-Nauvoo semester here.  Of course, that was a great excuse to return to Nauvoo to be with her and to again enjoy our already beloved Nauvoo.  By the time that she was in Nauvoo, the Temple had been recently reconstructed and dedicated.

Just as in almost any unit of the church there were cleaning needs in the Temple.  Jackie knew of the cleaning needs and anticipating our visit to Nauvoo, she signed us up to clean the Temple.  Once again, I recruited my long-time Nauvoo friend, Craig Shaltes – and Nancy – to accompany us on our trip.  Our daughter, Kaylea and her then boyfriend Reed ______ were also with us.  So, if you are counting, that made seven of us.   (Kaylea was not then endowed so she missed the event.) 

Anyway, the seven of us reported for duty on the assigned night.    Soon all seven of us found ourselves on the top end of vacuum cleaners.  We went to work.  We each picked a section of the sacred edifice in which to exercise our vacuuming skills.  It was a great thrill.  Never had vacuuming ever been so enjoyable.  Under the direction of a temple maintenance supervisor, we were off.  And through the assignment, we got to see virtually every corner of the place.  Wow!

We had not got the message that we should not go into the large solemn assembly room.  We went in there and Nancy – who is a very accomplished pianist, began to play beautiful hymns for the rest of us.  It was a glorious moment as the notes reverberated through the grand room with its perfect acoustics.  Wow!  Talk about amazing!  (The supervisor heard us in there and calmly ushered us out … but the memories remain – even 20 plus years later.  Maybe that’s what heaven will be like!)

I was reminded also of a unique opportunity that we had with the renowned Conference Hall on Temple Square.  I don’t remember how we happened to be in the right place, but somehow we ended up in the Conference Center a day or two after a General Conference.  Upon entry, we saw scores of people all on the ends of vacuum cleaners.  We talked to some of the people and they said that they had received the cleaning assignment in their own ward – and they had volunteered for the task.  So great to be on assignment on and in Holy Grounds (as we again are now in Nauvoo)!

Anyway, back to the current Temple moment in Nauvoo.   The big day arrived!  (Elder Sanders even scheduled us off for the afternoon.  Thank you …!)  Anticipation was high!  Elder Atkinson confirmed with us relative to the time and space.  It was another chilly day – the predicted day of 10 degrees – but we knew that we would be warmed in the Holy place – no matter where we found ourselves.

We reported to the Temple Baptistry and joined about 16 people in our group.  We first went to lockers and changed into – or put on white clothes over other clothes.  I chose the latter – trying to retain any heat that I could.  This system worked well.  We met in the chapel and were given some instructions.  We learned that we were actually dubbed as Temple cleaners.  That was great! 

Elder Gillette, a Temple engineer and a few other Temple maintenance workers led us up a multitude of steps – 233 of them (one way) to be exact.  (We really got our steps in that day!) We were led up into the upper floors of the Temple.   We went up a multitude of floors of spiral staircases.  And the higher we got, the steeper the stairs.  About the fourth level up, we were each given some long dusting brooms.  With these brooms, we were able to reach up very high.  Our task was to dust everywhere in the upper floors.  We dusted steel beams and windows.

We climbed up through a multitude of high steel beams.  It was so interesting to see the infrastructure of the place.  The staircases were in the middle of the “room” on each floor.  Then the steel beams extended around all of the perimeter.  And on each floor, we could look outside through the windows.  And from the windows, we could seemingly, see forever.  The views from every direction were absolutely amazing and breathtaking. 

Sadly, we were asked not to take any photos that in any way showed any bit of the Temple.  And we were asked not to share photos on social medium platforms.  So, without the photos, the views are left purely to your imaginations.  I can see the point.  Any of the photos – if posted – would make everyone think that they ought to be able to do the same thing as we did today.

We went clear up literally into the cap of the Temple.  At the uppermost point, our guide told that we were literally inches under the statue of Moroni.  He quipped that we could “touch his toes”.  Another fun feature was the famed “Nauvoo Bell”.  Our guides had their watch alarms set to go off a few moments before the bells would chime.  We were there at 2:30 PM so this meant just a single bell would go off on the half hour.  We were in the bell room at 3:00 PM when the bell sounded off three times.  We could see the vibration of the bell and the hitting of the bell to make it sound off.  We all covered our ears for some kind of protection.

After we made our way to the top, we descended back to where we started.  Our Elder guides then took us downstairs below the Temple – and even extending out under the grass on the east side of the Temple.  There we got to see the many and various systems that keep the Temple running.  I had never seen such turbos, engines, piping, and other systems that are required for the modern Temple.  I never knew that such systems even existed.  A lot of “brain power” behind those systems.  There were tanks and piping for everything – air conditioning, water heating, fire suppression, and on and on.   Wow!

We were excited and grateful for the special opportunity that was ours.  The experience was exciting and fun.

Then, after the event, Elder Atkinson and his wife invited his DL’s – so Elder and Sister Pearce, Sister Hunt and me – to go out to eat with he and his wife. We dined at our favorite Mi Camino Real Mexican restaurant in Hamilton. We go there frequently but the other two couples had not been there. Another fun time!

The outside weather may be frightful, but the Spirit of Nauvoo continues to warm the souls of missionaries and our guests who come. It is a great blessing to be serving here and we are grateful to the Lord for his blessings and opportunities here on the Nauvoo trail.

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Patriotic, Cultural, and Country Fair Fun

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BLOG #15

By Kevin V. Hunt

At this season in Nauvoo, there are plenty of opportunities for patriotic, cultural and country fair good times.  And it is so fun to be a part of all of it!

Where to begin?

The 4th of July is exciting and fun – no matter where it is celebrated.  And that day back in 1776 is certainly worth celebrating.  On that day, the United States was born.  It took a while to develop, but that is when it really started.  A new nation!  A nation of freedom and hope.  It all began with 13 Colonies of folks wanting religious and other freedoms not then enjoyed under British rule.  We can all be grateful for those gallant men and women who made the decision to make the break from their mother country.  It truly is a moment that should be celebrated again and again.  Independence Day!  Hoorah!

THE BEGINNING OF A FOUNDATION FOR THE GOSPEL RESTORATION

July 4th – our Independence day was a pre-curser to the establishment of the Constitution of the United States that would come later (in 1789) after the ensuing Revolutionary War which cemented the “Spirit of God – the Spirit of Freedom” (Alma 61:15) in the creation of the true land of the free and the home of the brave.

The Doctrine and Covenants speaks frequently of the cause of Freedom.  In D&C Section  98 the Lord himself teaches “that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.  Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the Land.”  (D&C 98:4,5)

A few verses later, the Lord teaches us to live “according to the laws and constitution of the people, which I have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles”.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE FORMATION OF THE FUTURE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WAS TO LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR THE COMING FORTH OF THE BOOK OF MORMON AND THE GOSPEL RESTORATION

Nephi recorded: ”And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance … And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord: and the power of the Lord was with them.  And  I beheld that their mother gentiles were gathered together upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them.  And I beheld that the power of God was with them, and also that the wrath of God was upon all those that were gathered together against them to battle.  And I Nephi beheld that the Gentiles that had gone out of captivity were delivered by the power of God out of the hands of all other nations.”  (1 Nephi 13:15-19).

I like to remember that it was Moroni (and not Betsey Ross) who created the first American flag:  “And it came to pass that he rent his coat: and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it – “In memory of our god, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children – and he fastened it upon the end of a pole…. (And he called it the Title of Liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of /Christians remain to possess the land.”  (Alma 46: 12-13).  Moroni went throughout the land to establish the “Covenant of Freedom” (Alma 46:15) “And it came to pass also, that he caused the Title of Liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites”.  (Alma 46:36).

And so, with that background, it is appropriate that we gather wherever and however we can, in celebration of the “Covenant of Freedom” that God established for us.

A REUNION OF THE ELDERS AND SISTERS OF OUR MTC GROUP

It had been three months (could that be?) since the 13 couples of us had gathered at the Provo MTC in preparation for our missions to Nauvoo.  (April 1st … no joke!)  Those were glorious times and we forged friendships that will remain with us forever.  And so, naturally, we are drawn again to each other and the bond that continues to pull us together.

The day was July 3rd – and the beginning of our celebrations of freedoms now evident throughout our Nauvoo. 

The location for our gathering was a surprise.  I had not known that it existed.  (There are all kinds of such hidden places here in Nauvoo – and we seem to move from one to the other.)  Remember Elder Jones?  Well, he and Sister Jones (and another couple) decided that we should stage a regular reunion of our MTC group.  Their announcement said that we would meet at “The Kimball Barn”.  I thought, … “hmmm … where is that?”  I asked Sister Jones and she said that it was behind the Hiram and Sarah Granger Kimball home.

We arrived at the spot and Wow!  I could not believe this place.  Being a long-time party planner and caterer, this place really caught my attention.  It was magnificent.  The barn was majestic and beautiful. 

Inside, there were at least a  dozen tables – with room for three times that many.  I marveled at the grand party scene.  The food began to roll in as each couple came with their best picnic pot-luck contributions.  We set up a large table to hold the goods.

It was kind of a muggy night and the place seemed to capture the mugginess inside.  We decided that it might be a bit cooler outside.  And Voila!  There were another dozen picnic tables out there.  We all circled around the food table and we all took more than we needed (at least I know that I did).  And talk about great food!  It was amazing.

It was also great fun visiting with our MTC friends.  We didn’t talk much about the MTC but there was much to talk about otherwise.  Eight of the couples are now “Nauvoo Teamsters” and they provided the rest of us with many fun details of the horses and oxen that they drive around Nauvoo.  Elder Jones kind of surprised us with his energy and enthusiasm.  He was like the “Energizer Bunny” with his joy of the occasion as he kind of took charge and led the laughs.

WE EXPERIENCED THE TRUE 4TH ON TEMPLE HILL

No 4th of July celebration is complete without the traditional overload of fireworks.  And this year was no exception – but we actually experienced it on July 3rd – the eve before the 4th).  Nauvoo has the perfect and natural place for the best seats for viewing the fireworks.  This is on Temple Hill – located just to the west and in front of the Temple.  We went directly to the spot from our MTC gathering held earlier that night.

We parked in a nearby Temple parking lot and walked to the Temple and then across the street.  In my arms, I carried the new camp chairs given to us for Mothers and Father’s Day by our Lana.  (And she never does anything simple or basic.  No, these chairs were the greatest and best (and thus, a bit of overload in the carry)!  Thanks, Lana!

We joined hundreds of other people on the Temple Hill.  Everyone had brought their own camp chairs or blankets on which to enjoy the show.  There was plenty of room for everyone – and then some.  We found a spot that was good for us.  We recognized a lot of our Nauvoo visitors and fellow missionaries around us.

(And I note that tonight I had purposely left my two pocket knives – one a Hunt/Stoddard “Old Timer” and the other my trusty BSA carving knife … on my dresser at home.  I thought of a July 4th event 25 or more years ago in Payson, Arizona – when I had my BSA knife in my pants as I sat on the grass and it slipped out onto the grass.  We returned later but could not find it.  I was so sad!  I had carried this knife for some 20 or so years and it meant a great deal to me.  After that knife loss, my boys, knowing what it meant to me, bought me another just like it – and I have had it with me almost constantly since.  I did not want to lose another knife on this occasion.)

Imagine my joy as I heard the bagpipes piping nearby.  This group is so fabulous.  I have long belonged to the bagpipe loving society so this was heaven for me.  I relished in the music that the group was putting forth.  The Nauvoo Brass Band then took a turn and they played many of our traditional patriotic songs.  They were great, as always!

I enjoyed watching the crowd around us.  Sometimes “people watching” is one of the best aspects of such a gathering.  (One of my favorite activities wherever I go.)  Anticipation was high with everyone as we all sat in our spots enjoying the wonderful evening.  And God did one of his magic tricks for us. 

The sunset that evening was spectacular. Wow!  This was so amazing.  I took photos of each stage of the sunset – over a period of many minutes.  I was grateful for this wonder in front of me.  A sunset over the Nauvoo Mississippi River, with band accompaniment … it doesn’t get much better than this!  I took in and loved every moment of the total scene.

Then came the fireworks!  They started off with a bang.  We all adjusted our chairs a bit to the southwest and sat back to enjoy the show.

The show was not anything like the one staged annually in Idaho Falls (as we have experienced a couple of times with Lana and family) but for little Nauvoo, it was fairly decent. I know that it was a stretch for the community, and I was grateful for the efforts made for all of us (most of us not even being from the local community).  We enjoyed 20 minutes of pop and bang and then the expansion of bright colors.  Somehow, all of this made me proud again to be an American (in spite of national challenges going on around us).  I was happy to be a part of the grand scene.  And how cool to be seeing the show in Nauvoo and right there on the footstool of the Temple!  Way too much fun!  (Who’da thunk it a year ago …?)

A MISSION-WIDE 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION

At least once a month (or maybe every 6 weeks), the mission stages a dinner to welcome new missionaries and to say good-bye to some going home.  That is what we experienced on the eve of the 4th of July.  The event was held at the local Nauvoo Stake Center – because this place has room for the 200 or so missionaries (including the “YSM’s” (Young Sister Missionaries) as well as the Senior Missionary couples.

Sister Hunt had years before made us some very patriotic matching vests in the best of red, white and blue.   And she had added these to our “wagon” when we came to Nauvoo.  Luckily, I rediscovered these in a hidden drawer just a couple of days before the event.  We really looked the part – and we caught the attention of many as we made our entry to the hall.  It was fun to stand out in our personal celebration of the day.

The party organizers were genius in their preparations.  They had set up seven round tables and each one accepted food as it arrived.  They knew what they wanted on each table – to make sure that everyone would get the same options – no matter what table they went to.  Sister Hunt had made some family baked beans (a recipe made famous by her mother – Grandma Verna Belcher).  And I had made a plethora of my own famous banana chocolate chip cookies – for the occasion.  We were directed to the table needing our goods.

A missionary Elder welcomed the group, and we had a prayer of gratitude for the food before us.

My journal records the details of the event:

The food – including pulled pork – was all fabulous.  I loved Lou’s beans.  And there were several desserts – which included the cookies that I made.  The cookies seemed to be a hit.  They were all gone. We came home with quite a big quantity of beans – so this is good.

After the meal, many missionaries staged several musical numbers.  Elder and Sister Williams (him on the piano) led us in singing our National Anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner”,  and then “America” and “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”.  (And Lou and I could hardly refrain from singing the camp song, “I wear my Pink Pajamas” to this tune.)

Two young sisters did a great performance of the song, “Sisters”.  We all enjoyed their hilarious song.

A string band played several numbers.  With them was a musical group known as “The Hart Family”.  The band reminded me of the string band of Enterprise, Utah – that always played at the 24th of July celebrations that we often went to in my youth.  I loved the music.

President Daniel Mehr was the final speaker and as ever, he did a great job.  He talked of being a General Authority Seventy and eating in the cafeteria in the Church Office Building.  He talked of an occasion when then Elder Russell M. Nelson was present. Someone asked him his view of the world trauma of the moment.  He replied, “I am not worried about this.  This is the Lord’s World and He will take care of it.”  He talked of Joseph Smith and how he was a lover and promoter of freedom of religion to all.  He surprised me when he referred to the trauma in today’s world.  He compared it to the “Kingmen” and “Freemen” in The Book of Mormon.  I could understand who is Kingmen and who is the Freemen.  The society similarities of then and now are really scary.  He said that we should be zealous to defend and protect the family.  He said that he is doing his best to prepare his children and grandchildren to be worthy and ready to marry our children and grandchildren (pointing to all of us).

In all, it was a very fun evening.

PREPARING FOR THE COMING PAGEANT

After the above, Lou and I went to the stage where the Nauvoo pageants will be staged.  All of the missionaries have a part at the ending of the British Pageant shows – each Monday, Wednesday and Friday for the next three weeks.  The Senior Missionaries are to go forward at the finale of the show – and are to “stand resolute” as the show ends.  This should be fun.

EVENING PERFORMANCES OF THE NAUVOO BRASS BAND AND THE PRODUCTION OF “SUNSET ON THE MISSISSIPPI”

Most weekday evenings (not on Sundays), we offer some great entertainment for our Nauvoo guests.  The excitement begins with a special concert by the Nauvoo Brass Band.  It is so fun to sit there in the beauty of the evening – atop of the stage that we knew so long ago when we were in the “City of Joseph” pageant cast.  I love the energy – and the sounds – that the Brass Band puts forth.  I can’t get enough of them.

Then comes a drama production of song and dance staged by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries (“NSM”).  This production is “Sunset on the Mississippi”.

This is the “modern” version of a program that has been traditional here in Nauvoo for decades.  Forty-five years ago my in-laws, Elder and Sister Belcher, were cast (as Senior Missionaries) in the stage production of the “Night on the Prairie” – then held in and around the Cultural Hall.  The family cherishes the photo of the folks engaged in the stage fun (though they were not known for dramatic acting before their Nauvoo debut).

Anyway, back to the here and now …  The current production is staged by these marvelous young performing missionaries.  They are full of energy, and they show it well in their fancy and colorful period costumes.  The girls look beautiful in their ruffled dresses and pantaloons.  The guys are decked out in colorful shirts and vests – and the traditional Nauvoo caps.

The production is just so fun!  It is something that everyone needs to experience when in Nauvoo.  And this year, we got to experience it with our granddaughter, Brianna, as she came to Nauvoo with her O’Fallon, Illinois Young Women group.

 It just keeps getting better!

EXPERIENCING THE “COUNTRY FAIR” WITH THE NAUVOO PAGEANTS

It’s Pageant Time here in Nauvoo …!  It is the time long anticipated by every missionary here in Nauvoo.  This is such a grand time – with the Nauvoo spirit and energy everywhere.  It is such a great thing to experience.  We are all looking forward to it.  You can be sure that I will give many more pageant details as we really experience it.  I promise to make a full report in a future blog post.

I can speak from experience, however, when I talk about the “Country Fair” that is staged each night between the “Sunset” program and the actual pageant.  We got to experience it last summer with Jenae and girls and with the set-up that we have seen on the fields around us, we can be assured that 2024 pageant comers will surely get the same experience this year.  And this year, we will get to experience it again as Jackie and her family will be here for several pageant days.  They are to arrive soon, and we can’t wait to have them.  It will be fun to be a part of the Country Fair activities with them – just as we did last year with Jenae and her girls.  It is just so fun.  We could not believe that so many great activities could be packed into such a small space and time.

Last year, I wrote of the experience in my personal journal:

“We then went to participate in the “Country Fair”.    This was an absolutely fabulous event.  There were 20 or 30 different stations – each manned by a cast family (many for the “Gold Cast” who come here for just a week (and then more come in).  Some of my favorite events included handcart rides, May Pole dancing, Scottish dances (with bagpipes).  I looked on-line for a list of the traditional Nauvoo “Country Fair” events – for future reference.  Other events included stickball, stilts, Tug-O-war, Graces and hoops, sack races, log sawing, parlor games, wood branding, rag rugs, round dancing, quilting, stick pull, arm wrestling, a “Cousins” tent (to see who is related to who via Family/search), a puppet show, children’s games, and crafts.  It was amazing.  They could have handled 1,000 or so people.  As it was, there was a small crowd there today – so there was no waiting in long lines.”

MISSIONARIES GOT A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE COMING “COUNTRY FAIR” EVENTS

There is never a dull moment for missionaries serving (like us) in the Illinois Historic Sites Mission (which included Nauvoo and the Carthage Jail).  There is some kind of an activity, training, performance, or devotional going on all of the time.  And we look for any and all opportunities to party and celebrate.

The Country Fair will be staged every night for three weeks – as noted above – but many of us missionaries will have other support functions to fulfill as the Fair happens.  And so, pageant organizers let us participate in our own such event – ahead of the real thing.  But, it became the real thing for us. Again, my journal tells the story:

“This evening we had a fun mission event.  Elder Davies, who is over the pageant somehow, staged a “Country Fair” – similar to the fair that they have each night of the pageant.  He had a band composed of many missionaries.  They played music for folks to dance to.  It was mostly female dances – since the young sisters cannot dance with guys as missionaries.  They had a lot of refreshments.  Lou mixed up two bags of chocolate chip cookies to take.

Elder Davies asked if I would help him (or I volunteered before he asked).  I agreed to help run the stick pulling event.  This has long been a favorite activity for me.  (And Joseph Smith loved doing this!)  I was not very busy for the first while but then I called some people over to participate.  I pitted Elder Brian Reed against a big Tongan sister. 

The sister beat him.  He was really embarrassed – saying that “I’ve never been beat before.”  I got several sister missionaries out there on the tarp – competing against each other.

The highlight of the evening was getting the Mission President, Mehr, out on the tarp.  He took on several of the young sisters.  This was a surprise to all.   I also got a match between Pres. and Sister Mehr. Everyone got a kick out of the competitions with the President.

PIONEER GAMES AND CRAFTS AT THE FAMILY LIVING CENTER AND AT PIONEER PASTTIMES

About once a week, Sister Hunt and I get the chance to serve at the Family Living Center.  This is program area that is housed in a giant timber and wood building (just my style).  This is a fun place and everyone who comes there likes the many activities.  The place has demonstration centers for the following pioneer activities:

Wool carding

Cooking

Candle Making

Weaving

Bread Making

Packing the Wagon to go West

Rope Making

Barrel Making

Pottery Making

Brick Making

When Elder Belcher saved the badly deteriorated Coolidge home, he set up many of these demonstrations in the building.  Thus, this is another area of his ongoing legacy.  It is amazing all that he started, and which still is in place today.

We joined another Senior couple and two young sisters.  I enjoy helping or inspiring kids to “pack” the wagon for the trip west.  I have also volunteered to do bread making – since I did not know anything about any of the rest of the areas (but I am learning.  I now know barrel making.  The young sisters were able to do most of the demonstrations – since they have been to the place before.  I also love doing the rope making demonstration – partly because so many people love the activity – and are so fascinated with the mechanics of the rope making machine.

The other day, a rope making visitor said to me, “How long have you been doing this?” (meaning the rope making function).  I said, “I have been a Boy Scout for 60 years”.  She and others around her all got a chuckle out of this. 

Lou is often privileged to do teaching about her father’s brick yard and brick making.  She loves doing this and the people all seem very interested in it.  She enjoys sharing with the folks the tale of how her father started the brick yard and designed the small brick that is still given out as souvenirs to visitors.  It has been a great blessing and opportunity for her to do this teaching – in honor of her parents.

A ”Sister” station that is staged by the missionaries in the Family Living Center is known as the “Pioneer Pastimes Pavilion”.   This large tent ramada is located about a block south of the Family Living Center.  It is fun to go there (except when it is really hot) and to enjoy the walk down through the beautiful lanes en route.

On the way, we can often see the Performing Missionaries teaching prairie dances to curious on-lookers.  It is fun to see the NPM’s get the visitors up and dancing with them.

The missionary job at the Pavilion is to engage the folks – mainly the young children and teens – in the many pioneer game options.  We can offer them dress-up costumes where the kids (and adults too) can dress in authentic pioneer costumes.  It is so fun to watch the kids get into this action. 

We have hoops, stilts, “climbing monkeys”, various marble games, roping the horse or sheep, playing house, and more.  This is the place for families to come after a long day of dragging the kids into the various restored homes.  They suddenly lose their tiredness, and they have a great time – even engaging their reluctant parents in the activities with them.

FUN SHOWS AT THE CULTURAL HALL

There are about 30 homes or shops that we give tours in here in Nauvoo.  A couple of weeks ago, the scheduler asked us what places we had not been to, and which we would like to “learn”.  The Cultural Hall was one of the few places that we had not previously been to.  So, it was fun to be assigned recently to the place.

We had actually been to the Cultural Hall for a zone meeting a week or so before.  On that occasion, we gathered there with about 20 couples from the “Hyrum Zone”.  Elder Hurst (a teamster) is our new Zone Leader – after the recent departure of Elder Thomas.  It was fun to be in this Cultural Hall.  We thought of Grandma Verna being there and doing acting in the “night on the prairie” program.  Elder Hurst had created a great PowerPoint presentation about the contributions of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  I enjoyed this program a lot.

The Cultural Hall actually almost feels like a mini Salt Lake Tabernacle – with its oak look benches and pillars.

Anyway, we looked forward to our assignment to the Cultural Hall.  On our day of the assignment, we arrived and checked the site book to figure out how to turn on the lights on each of the three floors.  This can sometimes be a bit tricky.  Remember that the Saints did not have electricity when they were here – though they would have loved it.  And now, 180 years later, great effort is expended to try to maintain the original look and feel of the pioneer places.  This means that the electrical or light switch is often located down at foot level and the plug is generally painted to match exactly the color of the wood around it.  And each place has its own quirks  – and every place is different.

We did not know when assigned, but much of the job of the missionaries assigned there is to be host to folks who come to experience the many shows staged there each day by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries.  That is what we did – and it proved to be great fun.  It also meant that we were able to view the many programs ourselves.  This was so great.  These young performing missionaries have energy deluxe.  And they have such enthusiasm during their song and dance routines.

In the Cultural Hall, we were privileged to hear several performances of the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries.  They performed two different programs – two times each.  Each performance was fabulous!  The did programs entitled, “Hymns of Zion” and “Nauvoo Singers”.  I thoroughly enjoyed each performance.  I love the energy of the young people.

The groups performed: “Nearer My God to Thee”, “In Our Lovely Deseret” (which was fabulous).  They sang “Laura’s Nauvoo” (supposedly written by a non-member), “Praise to the Man” (by W.W. Phelps), “The Morning Breaks”, (by Parley P Pratt), and O My Father (by Eliza R. Snow).  They sang these words to four or so different tunes.

A youth group from Indiana came en masse – a group of about 20 youth and an adult couple.  It was fun to interact with this group.  They even got up on stage (in a slow period) and did their own song and dance routine.  This was their big moment.

In the mid-afternoon, the Performers came to present their last performance of the day.   Literally, no one was there to hear their show.  They went on with the show and Lou and I sat alone as the audience and enjoyed our personal concert – with just us there to hear them.  They were amazing and wonderful.

P-DAY ACTIVIITES FOR ELDER AND SISTER HUNT

Like any missionary serving anywhere in the world, we also look forward to our own P-day each week.  Here we are assigned a specific day of the week for a month. And then we switch to a new day for the next month.  Sister Hunt and I have just been assigned to Saturdays for the month of July.

On our P-days, we do our weekly laundry (though we have a washer and dryer in our place – so we can do it any time that we get the urge).  We clean our place. I also spend several hours each P-day writing blogs and posting photos to them.

We also try to find some unique activities that are new to us.  Often, this might include going to a new home or site that we have not yet experienced.  And later in the day, we generally drive the 12-mile trip down the river (on the picturesque and wonderful Mississippi Great River Highway).  We go to Keokuk – our newest town of any significance.

In Keokuk, we generally go to the Aldi store.  We there get fruit, vegetables and snack items for our lunch.  We usually have to go to the Dollar Tree Store for cheap incidentals.  We then go to Walmart.  It is always nice to restock our wagon there.  We get gas at a station by Walmart.  We are pleased that the gas on the Iowa side of the river is about 75 Cents a gallon cheaper than that on the Illinois side.  And our last stop is generally at the Dairy Queen.  Several weeks ago, we discovered their “Pecan Mudslide Sundae”.  This celestial delicacy is soft ice cream topped with both hot fudge and caramel toppings – as well as toasted pecans.  Wow! Talk about fabulous!  We now have the car trained to pull over there each week at the appropriate time.

AN UNPLANNED VISIT AND RIDE AT THE OXEN RIDE

Yesterday (July 6th) was our first Saturday P-day.  I got up and made computer reservations for us to go on the “wagon ride”.    Then I later realized that I should have signed up for the “carriage ride”. We were headed to the rides before I realized that I had made a mistake.  We headed toward Main Street and Hotchkiss streets – where the ride was to be.  And that is where I realized my mistake.

We kept going on Main Street, and I noticed the ox ride space up ahead.  In all of my years of coming to Nauvoo, I have never seen this ride location – nor have we taken the ox ride.  We decided to go for the oxen ride.

We pulled in and got out of the car.  We were immediately greeted by  our former Acacia Ward neighbor from Mesa, Arizona. She and her group somehow knew that Lou and I are in Nauvoo and they were going to go looking for us.  We visited for a few minutes and then took a photo.  It was interesting to see how the Lord puts these people and our connections with them together – (like today) since going for the oxen ride was definitely not in our plans – and with it being our P-day, we would not have normally been out in the sites.  These little “Nauvoo miracles” happen all of the time – and we are grateful for them.

Elder and Sister Doug Mills were there at the ox ride.  They took us on the ride and gave us a great story as we did so.  Sister Mills said that “This is the most authentic thing here in Nauvoo!”

The oxen were amazing – and huge.  I learned a lot of new facts about oxen and how the pioneers walked beside them all of the way.  It was all very interesting.

First, … the question of “what is the difference in a cow (steer) and an ox?” My teamster Cousin Brad explained it for me.  He said that “an ox is a cow on a mission – with an occupation”.

Oxen are very big and strong.  They weigh about 2,000 pounds.   And together, they can pull their combined weight – so 4,000 pounds.  We learned that oxen on wagons have to have horns.  The horns are needed to hold the wooden yoke up.  Without horns, the yoke would slip down onto their faces.

Oxen are always “yoked together” in pairs.  (Sounds like a good lesson about us and Jesus and us and fellow laborers in the Kingdom!) And often these pairs remain and work together.  And in so doing, one becomes the “right ox” and the other the “left ox”.  And I guess they get “befuddled” when they are moved to the other side.

Oxen get to know just five commends:

“Step Up” is the command to move forward.

“Gee” means to go to the right.

“Haw” means to go to the left.

“Whoa” means to stop.

And “Back” means to back-up.

We learned that one does not “drive” oxen – as one would with a bridled horse.  They are “led” by walking beside them.  So, there was not even a seat on the ox driven wagon.  We learned that the oxen loved and listened to the children – so the children were good at leading them.

Hearing this, I thought of the old Primary song favorite, “Pioneer Children”:

“Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked, and walked,

“Pioneer children sang as they walked and walked and walked, and walked,

They washed at streams and worked and played

Sundas they camped and read and prayed

Week after week, they sang as they walked and walked and walked and walked and walked”

I guess the pioneer children walked and walked alongside of their family oxen – leading them across the plains – and walking some 1,400 miles. 

As we got to the oxen, Elder and Sister Mills introduced us to Dan and Duke.  They seemed formidable and scary.  But the Mills convinced us that we could “become friends” with the oxen.  We posed with them – for the sake of posterity.

After the short ride around the muddy track, I was drawn to the plaques that lined the walkway around the oxen yard.  These were informative and interesting

A CARRIAGE RIDE AND A VISIT WITH COUSIN BRAD

We also then went to the “carriage ride” – starting at the station at the northeast corner of the visitors’ center parking lot.  We were greeted there by “Cousin” Brad.  I like this guy.  He and I have a connection.  We visited for a while.

I had not heard of the commemoration event, but Elder Brad told me that he had been privileged to be a part of a 180th Anniversary commemoration of the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum as they were viewed by the Saints in the Mansion House (some 10,000 of them).  He said that the original pioneer “Nauvoo Brass Band” had played at the original services for Joseph and did again on this commemorative experience.  Brad shared with me his feelings that he posted on his Facebook account.  I loved it.  Another of those “Nauvoo Miracles” that I introduced above.

He wrote, and I quote (with his permission): “180 years ago today on June 29, 1844 Joseph and Hyrum Smith lay in state in the Mansion House.  The Nauvoo brass Band played and my great, great grandfather and his family along with 10,000 grieving latter-day Saints filed through to bid their final farewell to the Prophet Joseph and his faithful brother, Hyrum.

“Today I had the privilege of driving the bandwagon and stopping in front of the Mansion House while the Nauvoo Brass Band played in honor of Joseph and Hyrum – just like they did 180 years ago.  It was most powerful.  They played “Praise to the Man”.   They also played another song called, “Emma’s Lullaby”. 

“Here is a quote from my Grandpa Dudley Leavitt’s history:  “Later as the bodies lay in state, the Leavitt family all passed to take their last look at Joseph smith and his brother Hyrum.  I was so impressed by the calm majesty of their faces that even after I was an old man, I of a surety that here was a prophet of the living God.”  No hardship could shake the faith of Dudley.”

We did not have reservations for the carriage ride, but Elder Hurst said that he would try to get us on the carriage.  He and Elder White were on the carriage and Elder Hurst was voice.  He did a great job of storytelling. They took us north of the station – up through “Joseph Creek” and beyond. 

We made one stop at the top of the hill to let the horses rest for a few minutes.  Elder Hurst showed us a well built in honor of King Follett (that was his real first name).  He died in a well accident when rocks fell down upon him as he was digging a well.  The Prophet Joseph preached King’s funeral sermon (later named “The King Follett Discourse”.  

On our Carriage Ride, we saw pastured horses en route.  Elder Hurst pointed out that even in the pasture, the horses stand in pairs – with their partners on the trail.  This was very interesting.

We drove near my old “Red Barn” environs (the barn and the white home) where I lived as a young missionary – and this was fun.  We really enjoyed this p-day ride out through the beautiful woods and through the river.

THE MORNING HORSE RITUAL

There are many hidden Nauvoo experiences that don’t appear on the schedule or brochures.  You just kind of happen to hear about them – and then you go and get a wonderful experience.  And then you think, “Too bad everyone doesn’t know about this.”

That is the way the morning horse feeding ritual is …  We just happened to hear about it last year when we were in Nauvoo with Jenae and family. 

The big event of each day is the feeding of the horses.  We wanted to be there for this.  At night, the horses are left in a large field.  Then in the morning, they let them out and herd them down to feeding stalls for grain.  They know where to go and they kind of run down to the feeding area.  Each horse has a name, and workers know the horses by name.  Some missionaries stand at the gate, and he calls out the name of each horse as it arrives.  Then Elders guide them to their selected places for their grain.

The Elders said that there is an “Alpha Male” (“Matt” – the only gray horse) that rules the roost with an iron fist.  And if any other horse tries to get ahead of them, he bites them.

There are some 18 missionary Elders who serve with the horses.  Their wives serve with them (as tour guides) and some work in other restored homes.  These guys all wore plain colored Western shirts.  Many of the men here wear the same style of pants with suspenders.  It was great to talk to many of the Elders as we watched the horse operation.  I told many of them of my youth missionary experience in Nauvoo 48 years ago.

After the horses ate their grain, they put 12 of the horses on “P-Day” (Pasture Day).  They use 14 horses each day.  They pull the carriage ride, the wagon ride and the carriage that carries the “Nauvoo Brass Band”.  They have utilized the ancient “Red Barn” that I knew as a missionary.  They have stations   or areas for each horse and at these, they have the individual harnesses for each horse.

One Elder says that most of the horses have hand spans (extended horizontally) of 17 to 18” above the withers.  Most normal horses have spans of 14 to 15”.  The horses are magnificent and beautiful.  The whole operation was amazing and interesting to watch.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Well folks, there you have it.  Patriotic … we go all out celebrate whenever and wherever we can.  Cultural events:  They are all around us.  The NPM’s (Nauvoo Performing Missionaries) add energy wherever they go.  It is so great to hear them – and the Nauvoo Band perform.  And with all of this combined, Nauvoo really is a very fun place to hang out.  It is very exciting to be a part of all of these experiences.

REMEMBERING JOSEPH

As another P-day activity, we went to the Visitors’ Center.  I had also made reservations for us to see the “Remembering Joseph” production staged by the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries.  This production was fabulous.  I loved it.  They quoted many people who had memories of Joseph.  Again, I got to hear Elder Smith sing “A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief”.  He is so wonderful singing this song.  The whole production was amazing, and I was touched tenderly by the Spirit.

Well, there you have it … patriotic moments, cultural events and country fair fun … all in week!

Elder and Sister Hunt on the “Nauvoo Trail” … and it just keeps getting better!