A Recommended Vacation Destination, Nauvoo, Illinois


I've been to Nauvoo a couple of times and plan to return one of these days. Why? Because it is a place where religious history was born. What came to be known as the Mormons (who now use a different name)  and the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (which also use a different name) split up and went their separate ways. The link from a Mormon publication reflects the solemn importance to Mormons of Nauvoo. It discusses the meaning of the Temple and religious events such as the prophesies of Joseph Smith.

I'm sure many would disagree, but to me visiting Nauvoo is akin to visiting Bethlehem or "The Holy Land." It is a place where religious people believe miracles or miracle-like events took place. They see it as a spot where events important to the entire world took place.

The link explains why the site of this Mormon Temple is so important. You will see language in the link used only by Mormons but they would be offended if you did not know the terms. This branch of the faith is so important, they might say, all should know its terms. This is identical to the criticism I have received from other branches of the faith here. How could I not know these terms when their importance is world wide? Every branch of Christianity thinks it is the only correct one and is certain everyone knows this. I suppose all religions are similar.

Part of the Mormon faith involves super natural events. It is different than most of Christianity because the miracles happened here in the U.S. Maybe the proximity in time and place make Mormon outlandish miracles more believable than he outlandish ones in the Bible. 

Joseph Smith experienced revealed truths, miracles and feats that are said to only have been possible without the direct intervention from God. Even the writing of the Book of Mormon was a miracle. Smith was barely literate yet wrote the book during a brief period of time--a feat that required divine intervention.

Nauvoo, Illinois, is a place one can learn more about the Mormon faith and that of the breakaway Reorganized Church. It is also a place to ponder the amazing hold religion has on so many in the general public.

Comments

  1. little helperJune 12, 2021 at 8:40 PM

    Jon; Looks like you lost your congregation. Smilie face.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jon LindgrenJune 13, 2021 at 7:44 AM

    Helper--Not many comments, good readership numbers. I like it better that way. Missed a blog yesterday because of a huge family gathering, 90th birthday of my oldest brother. We toured the old community and identified land once or still owned relatives on both by grandmothers and grandfather's side. About 50 people were there. From what we can tell, some young Swedes from various parts of that country somehow ended up in Altoona, IL. Then a couple bought land or came to work in NW Central Iowa in the mid 1800's. What was then know as the Swedish Covenant Church came with them.

    ReplyDelete

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