Nauvoo the beautiful - Pres. Hinckley expecting 'large unseen audience'

Deseret News ^ | June 27, 2002 | Carrie A. Moore

[Illbay]

      NAUVOO, Ill. — Standing on the spot where early Latter-day Saints finished their temple but never had the chance to enjoy it, President Gordon B. Hinckley told reporters that those who built the first temple here would be present at dedicatory services scheduled later Thursday.

Merle Mckinnon, left, Eldon Luck, Debbie Mckinnon and Ovid Luck hug while listening to a news conference Wednesday outside the Nauvoo Temple. The temple is being dedicated today.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

      Speaking in front of the reconstructed temple steps with a view overlooking the Mississippi River, President Hinckley said he doesn't want to dwell too much on the hardships of the church's past, but he is sure that church founder Joseph Smith and other early leaders will be "among a large unseen audience" that he plans to mention during the first of 13 dedicatory sessions.
      "This is a significant day for those of us who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints," paying tribute to early Latter-day Saints who took five years to build the first edifice at tremendous personal sacrifice, he said.
      No expense has been spared in reproducing the original building, with minor modifications to make it a working temple, the church president said.
      With emotion coming through his voice, he said church members have returned to Nauvoo "contrary to all predictions made when we were driven out of here. We came back with strength and membership and capacity to do that which we believe deserved to be done."
      Thousands gathered on the temple grounds, some lining up as early as 6 a.m., for the ceremony that included placement of a time capsule inside the southeast corner of the building.
      Members of the church's Quorum of the Twelve and their wives were on hand for the service, as were Jon M. Huntsman and James L. Sorenson, both multimillionaire Latter-day Saints whom President Hinckley invited to the dais to put mortar around the coverstone.
      Asked during a press conference following the ceremony whether the two men were among those who had contributed to the funding of the temple, President Hinckley smiled widely and said, "I'm not telling you."

President Gordon B. Hinckley applies mortar to the coverstone at the Nauvoo LDS Temple.

Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

      Though the church has declined to release figures on the cost of the temple, estimates are about $30 million. President Hinckley emphasized that much of the funding had come through tithing donations to the church as well as many small gifts from church members and children.
      Noting his own keen interest in the details of the temple construction, President Hinckley affirmed that he had visited the building several times as it was being built, and its completion was "very emotional" for him.
      Bright sunshine and blue skies greeted participants in the ceremony, who watched as President Hinckley placed a variety of items in a time capsule, including a set of LDS scriptures and two of his own books, including the best-selling "Standing for Something." Trowels used in the construction of the building, a scrapbook detailing its reconstruction and a copy of the Deseret News Church Almanac and The Church News were also included.
      Dedicatory sessions will take place at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, in addition to the first session at 5 p.m. MDT.
      President Hinckley thanked the mayors of Nauvoo and surrounding towns for their support.

[Illbay]

"We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet"

[restornu]

I just got back thanks for the ping. It was beautiful and the tears were great at the Manhattan Meeting house. I am so thankful to be a part of this great occacion and my heart and soul swell with joy and sorrow for the price that was paid by the Saints in those days. I Heard about a man who was stripted and had hot tar pourd all over his body and than covered with feather and it was said he died shortly after that.

Who are these people that could do that to another human being? I also heard that there was on record that order issued from the United States government to not let the Mormons move West, but too exterminate them all to obliterate!!!

So much for religious freedom! I just thank the Lord for softing enought hearts that the Saints remained. I love the hosanna shout!

TO BROTHER JOSEPH

Praise to the Man, 27

Brother John Taylor sang this to Brother Joseph on that sad afternoon June 27,1844

A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief

Click to continue music

[BossyRoofer]

The people who exept Jesus Christ and are of the ten lost tribes in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost are very happy for the Latter Day Saints.

[CubicleGuy]

I also heard that there was on record that order issued from the United States government to not let the Mormons move West, but too exterminate them all to obliterate!!!

According to Gerald Lund's "Work and the Glory" series, this was a rumor that turned out to have no basis in fact, but it certainly got a lot of saints to leave Nauvoo early (early enough so that saints would be able to take advantage of the Mississippi freezing over solidly enough to be able to drive a oxen-drawn wagon across).

[restornu]

Many Blessings to you and your Quest!

[restornu]

I guess you will tell me next the man who was tared and feathered never happen!

[Utah Girl]

Darn, I was supposed to be in Manhattan for a business trip this week, we could have met. :) I had to cancel due to family illnesses last week. The dedication was beautiful though.

[Some hope remaining.]

I guess you will tell me next the man who was tared and feathered never happen!

No, I don't think any of us will do that. :^)

But what CG said is in fact the conclusion reached in "The Work and the Glory" series. It's been a while since I read it so I don't remember the details. Now it may actually be that there were some intentions of doing it and the Saints leaving early put a stop to it. Or it may have just been rumors. Brigham Young took it very seriously at the time, though, as he should have.

[rising tide]

I beleave it was the U.S. Postmaster General at the time who was pushing for extermination of all LDS. I viewed the last of the Navoo Temple dedications from our stake center yesterday. It was wonderfull in every respect. CTR.