Many early Saints considered Nauvoo a sacred place, and they passed down their memories to their children and their children’s children. My Dad is one of those deeply imbued with the Spirit of Nauvoo. Missionary efforts originating in Nauvoo led to worldwide church membership. “My own ancestors were living an ocean away,” President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said. “But as a member of the Church, I claim with gratitude and pride this pioneer legacy as my own.” Through this spiritual ancestry, every member of the Church can feel kinship to the early Saints and experience the blessings of Nauvoo
Our Stake went this past weekend for a youth conference at Nauvoo. And once again, nauvoo was a spectacular place to be and a place to feel the kinship.
Nauvoo was founded , in part, as a quest for peace. Physical peace through escaping the extermination order and persecution of Missouri and the spiritual peace through the relentless pursuit of building a Temple. The latter pursuit superseded the former and in fact provides one with the strength, insight, and serenity to survive the lack of physical peace In 1839 they fled and left behind Babylon in their quest for Nauvoo "But I had laid my idols all upon the altar." (Priscilla Staines) "We had the spirit of gathering so strongly that Babylon had no claim on us" (Robert Crookston) -
Then in 1946 it came to an abrupt ending. The early saints flocked to the Temple and cherished the learning they received. Sarah Rich expressed the feelings of nearly all the recently endowed Saints when she wrote: “If it had not been for the faith and knowledge that was bestowed upon us in that temple by the influence and help of the Spirit of the Lord our journey would have been like one taking a leap in the dark”
They then walked down Parley Street to cross the frozen Mississippi. The Walk Down Parley Street - the Trail of Hope - applies to any Ancestor who "left the World, to follow the Word of the Lord." They may never have been in Nauvoo. Their "walk" may have begun 150 years ago, or it may be happening now. Today we do the same, we leave Babylon, sacrifice on the altar our issues and strive for peace.The challenge is to find your own story leaving the world and finding peace while in the Temple. Then clinging to the Spirit of the Temple to see you though the challenges of the world.
I love Nauvoo and what it causes me to remember.
