Monday, July 11, 2016 – Sis. Johnson’s story of the Nauvoo Temple

********* Notice – This entry was written by Sis. Johnson - Sunday, July 10, 2016 **********

A couple of weeks ago, while cleaning out the Carthage Visitor’s Center flower beds , a man and his wife came over to visit with me. We had a wonderful visit for about 10 minutes and then they went into the visitor’s center.  This man was tall, with sandy colored hair and striking light blue eyes. That night, Elder & Sis. Bowler (Visitor’s Center missionaries here in Carthage) drove us to our “Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo” performance and on our drive to Nauvoo Elder Bowler related an experience he had while giving a tour.

Elder Bowler visited with this same man and his wife after the tour and was also drawn to his familiar facial features.  Elder Bowler found out that he was the great-great grandson of Hyrum Smith (the brother of the Prophet Joseph Smith).

Then today (Sunday, July 10, 2016) A sister missionary shared an experience/story she had a couple of weeks ago.  She was working in the Nauvoo Historic Site called “The Seventies Hall” and gave a tour to this same couple. 

In the Seventies Hall there is a library upstairs and a “Descendant Registry” to sign if you had a member in your family serve as a Seventy in old Nauvoo.  This Sister Missionary found out he did have family members that lived in Nauvoo and did serve as a Seventy and served missions. He then introduced himself as the great-great grandson of Hyrum Smith. He then was inspired to tell her of a very special family experience that he had last time he was in Nauvoo.

It was a couple of years ago and his son had received his mission call. His son was in the Nauvoo Temple preparing to receive his own endowments. As the son was about to do his initiatory work, he had some of his family with him. The Temple President, with a very pale white face, came to them. The Temple President asked, “Who is this young man?” The father introduced his son and gave his name.  But the Temple President answered, “No, who is this young man?” Puzzled, the father repeated his son’s name. The President then replied, “Not his name, who is this young man:” Finally the father realizing what he meant, he introduced his son as the great-great-great grandson of Hyrum Smith.

Learning who the young man was, the President said, “Oh, that is why the Prophet Joseph and Hyrum are here today!” The Temple President then explained that the Nauvoo Temple is their Temple and they still preside over it. 

Miracles still happen today, angels are real, heavenly visitations occur and Joseph Smith is the Prophet of this dispensation. He and his brother Hyrum sealed their testimonies of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter-days with their blood. It is true.