Nauvoo Endowments

Soon after the saints moved to Nauvoo, they prepared to build a temple. On April 6, 1841, the temple's cornerstone was laid. The beautiful structure was to be 128 feet long by 88 feet wide with a clock tower and weather vane reaching to a total height of 165 feet - a 60% increase over the dimensions of the Kirtland Temple.

Weather-vane atop the temple tower

There were many similarities to the Kirtland Temple which they had been forced to abandon. For example, there were two assembly halls, one on the first floor and one on the second. One difference with the Kirtland Temple was a full basement which housed a a baptismal font.

Construction was only half complete at the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith in 1844. 

As mob violence increased during the summer of 1845, Brigham Young encouraged the saints to complete the temple even though they were making preparations to abandon the city, so they could receive the sacred ordinances before they departed on their perilous trek across the continent.

Due to persecution, the saints were not able to entirely complete the construction during the Nauvoo era, however the basement with its font had been finished and dedicated in 1841, as were the first floor assembly hall and the attic (dedicated November 1845). When these parts of the building were completed they were used for performing ordinances (basement and attic) and for worship services (first floor assembly hall).

 

Assembly Hall today in the beautifully reconstructed Nauvoo Temple

During the winter of 1845-46, the temple began to be used for endowments and sealings. The first endowments were performed in the temple on December 10, 1845, and before the saints were expelled 5,615 endowments were performed and recorded.

Erastus Snow

Elder Erastus Snow beautifully described the spiritual outpouring upon the saints during this time, “The spirit, power, and wisdom of God reigned continually in the temple and all felt satisfied that during the two months we occupied it in the endowments of the Saints, we were amply paid for all our labors in building it.” 

The building was in use for only a short period, but during that time period, many of my ancestors were privileged to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple, including the following. Many proxy baptisms for their departed loved one were also performed.

                                                            Birth date                     Endowment

• Bateman, Joseph                    04 Sep 1802                28 Jan 1846
• Bateman, Thomas                  17 Sep 1808                 27 Jan 1846
• Bateman, William                  24 Apr 1824                29 Jan 1846
• Chase, Abigail Eliza                04 Oct 1820                15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Abner                           18 May 1813                06 Feb 1846
• Chase, Amos S.                       18 Dec 1820                 06 Feb 1846
• Chase, Charlotte                     11 May 1825                 15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Darwin                         25 Feb 1816                 06 Jan 1846
• Chase, Diana                            23 Jul 1827                 15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Ezra                               04 Feb 1796                15 Dec 1845
• Chase, Isaac                              12 Dec 1791                 13 Dec 1845
• Chase, Phebe                            07 Dec 1794                13 Dec 1845
• Chase, Tirzah                           29 Jul 1796                 15 Dec 1845
• Edwards, William                    16 May 1810               31 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Edward M.                    20 Jan 1792                20 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Hannah                         24 Jan 1797                20 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Hannah E.                    24 Feb 1827                29 Jan 1846
• Fuller, Ovanda                          27 Jun 1822                20 Dec 1845
• Greathouse, Mary Ann           04 Nov 1827                02 Feb 1846
• Pond, Abigail A.                       14 Jul 1828                 30 Dec 1845
• Thorn, Abigail                          02 Apr 1821                20 Jan 1846
• Thorn, Asahel                          04 Sep 1808                28 Jan 1846
• Thorn, Joseph                         22 Dec 1811                 28 Jan 1846
• Thorn, Richard                        18 Jun 1825                 22 Jan 1846

I am certain that this group also volunteered to labor during the construction, the brethren giving one-tenth part of their time, while the sisters knitted socks and mittens, and preparing garments for the laborers.

Most of the Latter Day Saints left Nauvoo, beginning in February 1846, but a small crew remained to finish the temple's first floor, so that it could be formally dedicated. Once the first floor was finished with pulpits and benches, the building was finally dedicated in private services on 30 April 1846, and in public services on 1 May. 

In September 1846 the remaining Latter Day Saints were driven from the city, no doubt looking over their shoulder at the temple they loved.

Honoring Sandi McCracken Birch Hemming and Abigail Thorn Pond, born on April 2nd

On this anniversary of the birth of my sister, Sandi, today I will add a brief history of another family member born on April 2nd.

Sandi

One hundred thirty-four years earlier than Sandi, Abigail Thorn was born in 1821, the daughter of Richard Thorn, Senior, and Mary Anner Armstrong, my Great, Great, Great, Great Grandparents. (Note: some records indicate the spelling as Thorne.)

This information is gathered from Abigail's history written by her own hand and also from records of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Abigail Thorn was born in Larr Promise, Cayuga County, New York, on April 2, 1821, where she resided until 15 years of age. Her family then relocated to Livingston Co., where it is said that “curiosity actuated” Abigail in September, 1838, to attend a religious meeting conducted in the community by two Mormon elders. Both the songs sung and the message proclaimed made deep impressions upon her soul. Because of this moving spiritual experience, she was converted and baptized upon the occasion, thus becoming the first proselyte to the Mormon faith in that section of the country. As a result of her conversion, the entire Thorn family joined the church with the exception of her father. The family emigrated to Nauvoo, Illinois, in 1841.

Abigail had the great privilege of being acquainted with the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum Smith, who pronounced upon her a patriarchal blessing when she was 22 years of age, just 15 months before Hyrum was martyred. Of particular mention in this blessing was the gift of dreams and visions by the Holy Spirit.

Following the martyrdom of the prophet, it was her special privilege to be present upon the occasion of the transfiguration of Brigham Young. "It was on Thursday, August 8, 1844. A vast assemblage of Saints had gathered. Sidney Rigdon spoke for one and one half hours presenting himself as a guardian for the church. The longer he talked, the more the people were convinced that he was without the inspiration of the Lord. When Brigham Young arose to speak, the people were greatly astonished, for President Young stood transfigured before them and they beheld the Prophet Joseph Smith, and heard his voice as naturally as ever they did when he was living. It was a manifestation to the Saints that they might recognize the correct authority."

Abigail became a skilled seamstress and family lore holds that once Brigham Young was given a suit and coat made by Abigail Thorn.

After her marriage to Samuel Russell, in the Nauvoo Temple, they left Nauvoo in the spring of 1846, when they were driven from their homes by angry mobs. In consequence of the persecution and deprivation of the journey, Abigail suffered from scurvy and rheumatism throughout the remainder of her life.

In the spring of 1847, her family again set out to find a haven of rest, finally arriving in Salt Lake City in September of that year. Abigail walked by her husband’s side, carrying her baby, practically the entire distance from the Missouri River to the Salt Lake Valley. Upon reaching the valley of the mountains, her husband prevailed upon her to continue westward to the gold fields of California. Her immediate reply to this suggestion was both curt and poetic, “Samuel Russell," she said, "I came here for the sake of the gospel and not for gold.” He departed, with others, but his wife and child remained with the Saints.

About a year later, Abigail married for the second time to Stillman Pond, also a pioneer of 1847.

In her history, she never talked about her trials or her early life, but it is not difficult to imagine that her life was not one of comfort or ease. The life of this good woman, eventful and colorful, was typical of that of the sturdy pioneers who gave their all for the establishment of what they thought was right.

As with any mother, her outstanding accomplishment in life was her family of boys and girls. During the difficult task of establishing of a home in the desert, her boys did not have shoes, causing their feet to chap and often bleed. To relieve the soreness as best she could, Abigail would bath them in warm bran water. This kindly service during the summer time was one of the special duties of the mother before retiring at night. 

Abigail

Abigail Thorn Pond possessed a powerful and magnetic personality together with a great store of practical wisdom and was a popular fireside personality. With a profound knowledge of the scriptures, she always had an appropriate passage to substantiate most any statement she made. One of her favorite bits of philosophy was expressed in the following words: “Oh consistency, thou art a jewel.”

Abigail not only quoted that philosophy; she lived it. She had endured many privations and hardships throughout her life, but never wavered from the faith that came to her soul when a girl. The faith and devotion she manifested for the cause of truth in the long trek across the plains as a young woman remained with her to her dying day, and continues as a living inspiration to her posterity.