13 - Monday, July 14, 2025 -- Fireside and Fieldtrip

 

A back/side view of the Nauvoo Temple. The temple's exterior is a near duplicate of the original temple exterior.  The limestone quarried in Alabama, is indistinguishable from the stone used on the original temple. 

* * * * *

Sunday, July 10th we attended a fireside given by Kimberly Jo Smith, great-great granddaughter of Joseph and Emma Smith.  

Kimberly Jos Smith and Sharon

She was born in Tennessee and knew nothing about her ancestry.  Her mother had been taught about Heavenly Father, the Savior, and the Holy Ghost, and she then continued to teach her daughter Kimberly, about the Godhead.  "This foundation was integral throughout my childhood as I encountered many trials and traumas which could have taken me down dark and lowly paths were it not for this knowledge my mother gave me."

By the time she was 12, they had moved 40 times.  About this time she bought an album by The Osmonds called The Plan.  It would change her life.  The album cover had  a diagram of the Plan of Salvation, which was new to her. As she was looking at it and listening to the music, she heard the words, "Let me take care of you and keep an eye on you...."

But then her dad heard the album and was very upset.  She asked him why and he said, "Because they are Mormons!"  His countenance was cold and dark. She knew nothing about Mormons; she just recognized the changed atmosphere at that moment.

Two months after this they visited her grandmother in Ava, Missouri.  When she walked in she saw two portraits hanging on the wall.  Time stood still, and she was drawn to know about them. She learned they were her great-great grandparents, Joseph and Emma Smith. Grandmother told her that he had established the "true" church, The Church of Christ Temple Lot.  They soon moved to Ava, MO and she subsequently learned about the bitterness and hatred her people had for Brigham Young.  They felt that it was his fault that Joseph was killed and that he was bent on destroying Emma and the children, and usurping the work for which Joseph had died.  This was very hard for her because it was not in her nature to hate.

By 1989. married with a son and expecting a daughter, the desire to know about her family reached an unbearable point.  She asked how and where to do research and was told to go to Springfield, MO, 60 miles away, to a family history center. What is a family history center? She learned that it was run by the Mormon Church.  "The woman may as well have run a knife through me," Kimberly said.  Her father had warned her about Mormons. In time, she finally decided she would just go, take her own tablet, and act like she knew what she was doing so she didn't have to talk to anyone and she wouldn't get "snookered by Mormon missionaries."

It didn't quite work out that way, and she did receive help from very nice and kind missionaries who she felt had the Holy Ghost with them (because she felt it while she was there).  She kept returning and eventually learned about a town called Nauvoo.  She knew she had to go there. 

"Upon entering the Homestead in Nauvoo, everything took root in my heart," she said. "It was one of those moments that people identify with deja vu. I felt as if I had been there before." She continued to visit Nauvoo annually, and to learn more about her history.  

And then she won tickets to see the Osmonds in Branson, MO--just 50 miles from where she lived.  During the show, Merrill sang a gospel number that reached her soul and she knew she needed to meet him.  She did meet him and in the conversation, mentioned that she was the great-great granddaughter of Joseph Smith.  His face changed as he said, "Oh, I need to talk to you."   It seems that two days before Merrill had had a vision of the Smith posterity. Merrill said it was as if he was looking upon a sea of faces and they were miserable.  Joseph said to him, "This is my posterity, please help them."

Long story short, Kimberly was taught the gospel and was baptized June 7, 1998.  It took a long time, but Kimberly was able to get over her hatred for Brigham Young which had been instilled in her as a child.  Kim and her son now travel, speaking to people about their experience and about the healing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. She feels it is her responsibility to talk to people about healing and uniting, letting go of hard feelings.  Kim's mother and sister were also eventually baptized. 

Kimberly is a descendant through Alexander Hale Smith, her father is Joseph Frederick Smith.  

•         2,600 total Joseph Smith descendants
•         1,900 living descendants
•            276 descendants and spouses who are LDS
•               17 descendants who hold  the Priesthood  
•            300 descendants attended the last Smith reunion

The next reunion will be in Kirtland, Ohio. 

* * * * *

We went on a short "fieldtrip" in a part of Nauvoo we didn't know existed to hear about Sister Irene Tukuafu's life, house, and mostly her musical instruments.  She met and married Tomasi Tukuafu in Hawaii.  They lived there, in Tonga, and several places on the Mainland before settling in Nauvoo.  They had 12 children and adopted two.  She grew up in a musical family and their whole family is very musical.  She said, "Kids cannot argue when they are singing!"  She is not only musical, but she has made her instruments.

Bass Recorder	The 59th harp she has made	Dulcimer--she has made 27
Playing and singing the original version of Praise to the Man on a different dulcimer	Bowed Psaltry-- she has made 147	"Canjo" -- made with a can
Plucking Psaltry	Ukelele--she has made them, but would much rather make a harp	Lyre--she made this one
Banjo she made--Tahiti's national instrument	Didgeridoo--Given to her because she didn't have one!	Flute
Flute that she found in Hannibal, MO for $3	Drum she made with her daughter	Knee drum--made with the leftover cedar from her husband's casket
Tongue drum	Dancing Dan or Limber Jack--Appalachian, but also found in Egyptian tombs	Hurdy Gurdy--not quite finished

Irene and her husband built their home.  She said she sawed many of the logs you see.  It's a round house, which she always wanted.  It was hard to get photos of the house, as it is quite full, but it's pretty amazing work.  Many of the logs were from a house built in 1750.  Together they made 10 tables and 40 benches.  Tomasi passed away in 2007, but she is still making instruments at age 83.  

Kitchen

Ceiling in the main room

Bedroom

* * * * *

The other day on an early morning walk, Sharon saw these low-lying clouds, fog, vapor, mist, humidity--and watched it move to the west across the field before it dissipated. . . .

. . . and then Monday morning it looked like this, and by the time Sharon got home her hair was soaking wet!  It's called humidity -- 99%!

Saturday evening game night --

Garth Rasmussen, Stan, Sharon, Stan Coleby, Sharon Coleby, Kathy Rassmussen

And we keep forgetting to take photos of our Sunday dinners with friends.

Until next week. . .

12 - Monday, July 7, 2025 -- Celebrating the Fourth

This is the front of the temple on Thursday, July 3rd -- the day Nauvoo celebrated the Fourth of July.  In the street in front of the temple, the construction company that is building a new temple visitor's center furnished hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and ice cream for around 1,000 people.  The entire city was invited!  People gathered on the steps of the temple and in the street for food, music from the Nauvoo Brass Band and a bagpipe group, and fireworks!  The fireworks originated from across the river in Montrose, Iowa.  (No photos of fireworks because we left. We had early morning at the temple on Friday.)

The Nauvoo Brass Band.

People enjoying the evening.

A bit of music from the bagpipers.

This week we took the last official tour of homes:

William and Caroline Weeks Home

Three rooms inside the Weeks home.  Notice the variety of wallpaper, mantels, carpet, doorways, etc.  Weeks was an architect and his home was where he could show people the varieties to choose from.  Stephen Markham built a home next to the Weeks home and Sister Eliza R. Snow stayed in the Markham home for a time.  It is where she penned "O My Father," her last poem before leaving Nauvoo with the Saints.  

Edward and Ann Hunter Home

Edward Hunter was a convert from Pennsylvania.  He was a squire, very successful, and owned property.  He sold his property to help stock the Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store.  He also helped many Saints get to Nauvoo.  Notice the pineapple wallpaper; it is true to the period and is a symbol of hospitality.  Edward was called as bishop of the temple ward. The bottom right kitchen photo shows that their kitchen was a sort of bishop's storehouse.  Joseph Smith lived here when he was hiding at the time Governor Boggs was looking for him. 

Right out the back of the Hunter home is the West Grove, where the Prophet Joseph preached.  It was here that he first spoke about baptism for the dead.  

Samples of the limestone used in the building of the Nauvoo Temple, and the pulley system.

William and Esther Gheen Home

The Gheens were friends of the Hunters.  They could see the temple out their front window.  Notice the casket at left in the living room.  Brother Hunter died, but all 6 of their children lived to adulthood.  Brigham Young spoke at his funeral and said he was a good guy; "if he lived his life over, he could not mend it."

Friday afternoon we saw "The Spirit of God," performed by the young men of the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries.  This was the best one we have seen so far--truly amazing, poignant, and spirit-filled. It was the story of Samuel Smith's mission, thinking  that he might not have been successful because he only placed Books of Mormon with John Green and Phineus Young -- all connected to Brigham Young.  The hymn, The Spirit of God was interwoven throughout the story.  Truly wonderful.  Whoever wrote the vignette is also masterful.  

.  

Until next week... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Gheens were friends of the Hunters.  They could see the temple out their front window.  Notice the casket at left in the living room.  Brother Hunter died, but all 6 of their children lived to adulthood.  Brigham Young spoke at his funeral and said he was a good guy; "if he lived his life over, he could not mend it."

 

 

11 - Monday, June 30, 2025 -- A Busy Week

 

In one of our preparation meetings this week, a facilities management person came in to review emergency procedures.  "If there is a storm, a fire, or any natural disaster," he said, "the temple is the safest place to be. None of those things will affect this building.  If fact, you are probably in the safest building in Illinois."   He went on to tell us that over the years in his construction career he has never seen a building built so well and so securely.  

Save this structure from desecration of any kind. May it stand immaculate with "holiness to the Lord. Strike down the evil hand of any who may seek to injure or destroy. Preserve this Thy house from the storms of nature and destructive elements of all kinds. (from the dedicatory prayer, June 27, 2002, President Gordon B. Hinckley)

* * * * *

It's been a busy week.  Last Sunday we had two couples for dinner and enjoyed playing some games afterward--and no photos were taken.  We had enchiladas left over, so Monday had another couple over.  No photos were taken.  

Larry and Cydney Blocker (who are leaving), Sheldon and Pat Dance (who were our host couple), Stan and Sharon,, and Christine and John Norman (who live in our same building).  

Tuesday evening we were invited to another neighbor couple's home for some games as they are leaving this week.  

Temple Arrival Center

Both our baptistry shifts this week we were assigned to the Arrival Center.  On those days we don't dress in our white temple clothes, just Sunday dress.  This building is across from the temple north and is a place where groups, families and individuals who are traveling might come to change clothes before going to the temple.  It is nice especially for groups who come to the baptistry because recommends can be prechecked and those who have issues or those who have forgotten their recommends (which are many in the youth groups) can get checked and cleared prior to entering the reverent lobby of the temple.  We then escort the groups across the street to the temple.

A crowd of people attending the Martyrdom Memorial.  
We were quite far back.

Stan, Sharon, Zach and LeAnn.  Zach Eyring is the son of Brenda (Sherwood) Eyring, one of my friends and classmates with whom I grew up in Kirtland, New Mexico.  When Stan served as a scoutmaster, Zach went with his troop to the 1993 Boy Scout National Jamboree.  They have remained in touch somewhat over the years, and we were happy to discover that he now lives in Carthage, Illinois.

Stan and Zach

Friday evening - June 27th - we met up with old friends Zach and LeAnn Eyring in Carthage, went to dinner (Mexican), and then attended the annual Martyrdom Memorial.  It was a beautiful evening and tribute to the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. the Nauvoo Brass Band played, Nauvoo Performing Missionaries sang, a young sister missionary spoke, the keynote speaker was Brother Adam Petty, a LDS Church Historian with the Joseph Smith Papers Project.  He spoke about the reasons for the martyrdom.  It was EXCELLENT.  Closing remarks were by President Daniel Mehr, President of the Historic Sites Mission.

Here is the link to listen to the actual memorial.  It will be better seats than we had:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H19VX5vo5lQ

Sunday we both spoke in church -- another reason we did not attend tours this week.  That's over!  Our ward also had a Linger Longer after meetings, the first since we've been here.  It seems that's a fifth Sunday happening; it gave us the opportunity to meet more of the members.  

Sunday evening we attended the first performance of the season on the Pageant stage (with the temple in the background). The rest of the season the stage will be used on alternate nights for the Nauvoo and British pageants. The performance we attended is only done two times a year--last night and July 27th.  Again the Nauvoo Performing Missionaries were awesome in Our Story Goes On, a cycle or circle of life told in story and contemporary song. 

Finale -- with addition of ALL Performing missionaries.

June 29th -- the corn is "as high as an elephant's eye, and it's reaching clear up to the sky."