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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.)
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 | | The Nauvoo Brass Band. |
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 | | People enjoying the evening. |
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A bit of music from the bagpipers.
This week we took the last official tour of homes:
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| 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.
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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
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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."
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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... |
