6 - Monday, May 26, 2025 -- Happy Memorial Day

View early one morning while on a walk

The temple is indeed a noble structure, and I suppose the architects of our day know not of what order to call it. Gothic, Doric, Corinthian or what. I call it heavenly, wrote Joseph Fielding in his journal.  

On our way home from church on Sunday, we stopped at Carthage.

Back of the Carthage Jail

Front of the Carthage Jail showing the top window from which Joseph Smith fell.

Carthage Jail was built in 1839 and served as a jail for 25 years.  It was then purchased and was a residence until 1903 when it was purchased by President Joseph F. Smith and restored to it's original state.  The first tours were given in 1935.  

The living quarters of the jailer, Mr. George W. Stigall and family of 7 children.  Original floor and fireplace.	Upstairs jail room for criminals.  Original floor and window casings.
Another room of living quarters for the jailer's family.  Original window casings and floor.	Original staircase in Carthage Jail.

The jailer's bedroom.  Mr. Stigall could see that these prisoners were not harmful and by the second night he gave them his bedroom as he was worried about their safety.  On Wednesday, June 26th Joseph worked on his legal defense, read scriptures and visited.  Several of the original 10 who were jailed had left on errands and were not permitted back in the jail.  On June 27th, only 4 were left.	Original fireplace and floor in the jailer's bedroom.  At 5:00 p.m. a commotion was heard.  Mrs. Stigall was in the kitchen below.  She bent over to stir her cooking pot and a bullet whizzed right over her head.  When John Taylor's watch was stopped, it was 5:16 p.m.
Outside (hall side) of the bedroom door.     It is the original door there at the time of the martyrdom.	Inside of the bedroom door showing bullet hole. There is a small section on the left of the door above the knob that was cut out as a souvenir.  The original piece was recovered and restored.

Brothers Joseph and Hyrum.  Hyrum was six years older than Joseph, but humbly always his backup and support.  It is fitting in this statue to see him just a bit behind Joseph.

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. . . . He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!  (Doctrine & Covenants 135: 3)

Ba in Nauvoo, this is the Scovil Bakery, rebuilt on original foundation.  Lucius was not a baker, but knew a bakery was needed in Nauvoo.  He advertised that one could buy all types of breads, cakes and candies.  With foresight, he actually started a business so that women who needed to could bake from home and their goods would be sold in his bakery.  

Inside the Scovil Bakery sister missionaries are telling the Scovil story.

An original Nauvoo plate.  When Lucius Scovil was called on a mission to England he commissioned these plates.  Proceeds from the sales went to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund as well as to the building of the Nauvoo Cultural Hall.

Nauvoo Cultural Hall

Inside first floor of Cultural Hall facing the stage where the Saints could have theatrical productions.  A poster advertising this "grand moral entertainment" featured Brigham Young as a high priest and George A. Smith as a blind old man.  The cost was 12.5 cents--two for a quarter.	Second story room with original floor of the Cultural Hall or sometimes called the Masonic Hall as this is the room in which the Masons met. Also businesses, school classes, Priesthood Quorums, and the Nauvoo Legion met here.
Original floor with a trap door that opens above the stage below.  Imagine Brigham Young being let down through this hole.  Was this stage ahead of their time--with a trap door?	A hair wreath.  Waste not!  Hair from ladies brushes were collected and saved and later used to make this attractive wreath.

View of the temple (and Nauvoo water tower) from the Cultural Hall window.  It had to be off center to keep from getting the modern light poles in the picture. 

We spent part of the our memorial day participating in some of the events and festivities around Nauvoo.

Annual picnic in Nauvoo City Park.  This was a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts. 
Those cub scouts serving were so small!  

Nauvoo Brass Band concert.  Who would expect a band concert to be spiritual?  
As missionary performers introduced the patriotic, hymns, and Joseph's favorite numbers they
also bore testimonies.  

A Sisters in Zion performance.  These young sister missionaries told about the lives 
 of three women in Nauvoo: Louisa Barnes Pratt, Phebe Carter Woodruff, and Sarah Granger Kimball. Oh, the sacrifices and faith of these wonderful women!

Remembering Joseph -- from many who knew him. 

We bear our testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called of God to restore His church upon the earth in the latter days.  We are so grateful for his life and legacy.

5 - Monday, May 19, 2025 -- Reliving the Adventures of Mark Twain

 

Evening at the Nauvoo Temple 

"The idea of rebuilding the Nauvoo Temple had surfaced before. President Hinckley's father, Bryant, who was the LDS mission president over the Nauvoo area in 1939, proposed rebuilding the historic temple. Having just come out of the Depression, the Church did not act upon his suggestion. It is curious that President Hinckley in his great push to complete temples around the world would preside over the rebuilding of this remarkable structure. 'I count it something of a strange and wonderful coincidence,' he states, 'that I've had a part in the determination of rebuilding this temple.'

"But it is Joseph Smith who is most pleased with the rebuilding of the temple, according to President Hinckley: 'This was his crowning objective. This was the great desire of his heart. This represented his final great effort.'

"The Nauvoo Temple 'occupies a unique place in history and in the interest of our people,' President Hinckley states, 'It represents a backward look, a peek into our history, restoring the memories of the past.' He further suggested,  'The Nauvoo Temple might represent to the world a recognition of the maturity of this Church in its history. It says that we are aware and conscious and grateful for a great history that lies behind us. And that we are aware and conscious of a great opportunity and challenge which lies ahead of us. And this restoration stands as something of a monument to that maturity in the Church."   (Sacred Stone: The Temple at Nauvoo)

We were treated by a visit from our friends, Tom, Dixy, Josh and Mary Christensen. 
After dinner we enjoyed playing games. 

More company is welcome anytime.

Because this is the slow time at the temple, we have had opportunities many times to perform ordinances for our own ancestors while on our shifts.  That has been a blessing and special experience.  However, they keep telling us be prepared, the temple is going to get crazy busy starting next week.  

The other interesting phenomena is that all we heard before we came is "be prepared for the heat and humidity."  We've had one day that was hot so far; it's been chilly and rainy a lot.  We did not have any tornado issues.  However, we saw a large branch that had fallen off a tree near us.  There was much wind yesterday. 

For our P-Day this week, many of the senior temple missionaries had a field trip--to Hannibal, Missouri, to visit the Mark Twain cave and have a short ride on the Mighty Mississippi River on the Mark Twain steamboat.   

The Mark Twain Cave is the cave where Samuel Clemens played and explored as a boy.  He later used this cave in his books, i.e. Tom and Becky were lost in this cave for three days; Injun Jo hid in this cave and starved to death here.  Random views inside the cave:

There are 260 passageways in the cave.	The temperature stays at 52 degrees year round.	When water drips on you from the roof of the cave, that is a cave kiss.
Jesse James Hideout	"Signature Alley" -- Jesse James signed a couple of times and a C.C. Tucker signed over 100 times. He would have signed more, but he was "tuckered" out.	Of course there are stalactites  and stalagmites, but you can see the structure on the bottom left corner--part of the rail or stalagpipes!
Norman Rockwell set up his easel in the cave and painted his Tom and Becky painting while inside.	Aladdin's Palace.	By the time Mark Twain wrote his books, he was long gone from Hannibal.  He wrote all the cave experiences from memory.

 

Mark Twain Steamboat

Mrs. Holiday always had a light shining because her husband was a riverboat captain.  He died in a river-boat accident.  The lighthouse was built in his memory. Mrs. Holiday became the Widow Douglas in Twain's stories.

Jackson's Island on the Mississippi River served as a refuge for Huck Finn and Jim during their journey downriver.

Storrs Ice & Coal Company (the boat was moving)  was very prominent and needed when chunks of ice would be cut from the Mississippi in the wintertime and sold to those who could afford to buy ice in the summertime. Of interest, in the flood of 1993 the water rose 21 feet higher than it currently is.

Barge on the Mississippi.  It takes 962 trucks to fill 19 barges. Thus it is a savings of 50% to those who ship by water transportation, . . .

. . . unless the barge gets stuck on a sandbar and it takes tugboats hours or even days to pull it out.

Just a few words of wit and wisdom from Mark Twain:

Nothing so needs reforming as other people's habits.

Thunder is good, thunder is impressive; but it is lightning that does the work. 

Thousands of geniuses live and die undiscovered--either by themselves or by others. 

You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. 

I was seldom able to see an opportunity until it ceased to be one. 

Truth is stranger than Fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities. Truth isn't. 

4 - Monday, May 12, 2025 - Horses and History

 "The beautiful inverted stained glass stars that adorn the top of the Nauvoo Temple have a meaningful history dating back to the early Christian church. Known as the "morning star" in Revelations 22:16 it is a symbol of Jesus Christ. When the actual morning star's (Venus) orbit is tracked each morning it creates a perfect inverted five-point star. 

Carved in stone in Old Testament times the inverted star can still be seen on surviving structures and in museums. 

The inverted star was used on various versions of the United States flag until 1876; the most famous flag being the one that flew over Fort McHenry in 1814 and inspired the verses of the Star Spangled Banner. 

Unlike the large. intricate stained glass inverted stars found in the famous cathedrals, the early Latter-day Saints had only the means to gather enough materials for a humble three color inverted star window: red, white, and blue. 

When the Nauvoo Temple was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002, President Hinckley determined that the three-color stained glass windows would once again adorn the temple. The beautiful morning star windows again glow at night as they once did and reminds us of the sacrifice of those early pioneers who loved the Lord."   (from an information card found at Zion's Mercantile)

We went one morning to see the Nauvoo horses as they were being fed and readied for their day's work.  The horses are called by name and each comes and goes to its' own name-labeled eating trough. The black Percherons are on the left and they are the "boss."  The Belgians are on the right.  There are currently 24 horses.  They buy them from the Amish.  They 'work' (wagon rides around town) every second day and they are shod every six weeks.  They are well taken care of. 

Percherons eating

Belgians eating

Elder Munns brushing

Brushing before harnessing

Harnessing

All harnessed and ready

Porter and Parley are ready for work

Last thing - team prayer

A bit more Nauvoo history:

Stoddard Tin Shop

Sylvester Stoddard joined the Church in Maine. Two days later he was called on a mission.  Later in Nauvoo, he was one of several tinsmiths.  He helped with the horns of the oxen in the baptistry and the angel-shaped weather vane on top of the temple. Afterwards they had a watermelon feast in the unfinished temple attic. 

Tinsmith tools - the making of a skimming pan

Finished skimming pan and apple corer

Pioneer mousetrap. The bucket might have water or someone would just take care of the trapped mouse.

Browning Gunsmith Shop and Home 

Jonathan Browning was already well-known as a gunsmith and blacksmith at age 19 in Tennessee.  He and Elizabeth moved to Quincy, IL and he was one who helped the destitute Saints when they first arrived.  He was very impressed with them and asked his friend, Daniel H. Wells about them.  Wells told him they were very good people.  They both later joined the Church.  He bought this home and moved to Nauvoo with his 9 children. He was very generous, never worried about patents, and taught many the art of gunsmithing.  However, his son, John Moses Browning, has 128 patents and is known as "the greatest inventor who has contributed more to the national security of the United States than any other inventor."

The bottom two are original Jonathan Browning guns.	A tray owned by the Brownings.
A rocking cupboard.  Open the top, set the milk inside, rock and roll and you get butter.  Set the baby on top and you can rock him/her to sleep. You could use your foot while you do some knitting -- true multi-tasking!	The Browning cabin in rear of home.

The Post Office and General Store, John Taylor Home, and Print Shop

The combination Post Office and General Store was a gathering place.  Stamps for mailing were charged by the paper, so letters could be written horizontally as normal, the paper turned and horizontally written over the original writing, and if there was more to say, one could write diagonally over both previous writings. Cheaper to mail, but it might take weeks to decipher.  You could pay in full to mail something, pay one-half of it, or pay none of it and the receiver would then pay upon receipt.  At one time Joseph Smith published a notice in the paper that he would receive no more unpaid mail from friends or foe--it was getting too expensive.  

Mail boxes from the time period.

Replica of the original press.  The original was buried in Missouri at one time to avoid destruction,  and later dug up and brought to Nauvoo.

John Taylor was editor of the Times and Seasons newspaper, hence he also ran the post office and general store. His home was in the center.  Pioneer printing was time consuming, but important.  Individual letters had to be 'set' first in a galley and then in a chase backwards so they would print frontwards.  The 'upper case' held the capital letters and the 'lower case' held the small letters.  In a hurry you could bypass the galley and 'cut to the chase.' Small p's and q's and d's and b's are similar and thus you must 'watch your p's and q's.'  Dingbats (graphic images) were defined as " a pretty little thing that takes up space."  

General Store hardware items	General Store kitchenware items
Pull the 'tail' at the left and this becomes not a chalk line, but a berry line.  No chalk at that time, but they could put berries in the container and a berry juice line would be made for a marking.	A pottery canteen.  Why the hole?  It fits over   a saddle horn.

Bedroom in the John Taylor home.  The shaving stand  with mirror is original.

A room in the John Taylor home where meetings were held with Church leaders after Joseph's death.  Plans for the exodus west were talked about here.

Small Pendleton Home and School

Calvin Pendleton joined the Church in Maine in 1838, moved to Kirtland in 1839 and to Nauvoo in 1840.  He was a school teacher known for his handwriting and taught it (cursive) to adults. After his three and a half year mission back to Maine, he met Sally and they lived here.  He also learned gunsmithing and blacksmithing.  He attended a medical school in Ohio and learned botanical medicine. He was asked to stay in Council Bluffs for several years to help the Saints as they came through.  He and Sally later help settle Parowan, UT.   

Here's the math problem given us at the school:  In 1845 there were 2,500 homes in Nauvoo.  There were 350 brick homes and 650 clapboard homes.  How many cabins were there?  

And we close with this beautiful photo that Stan took of the Joseph and Hyrum Smith statue
across from the temple at sunset.