We have gotten to have so many experiences here in Nauvoo that have been amazing. I’ve given tours to several General Authorities, done Rendezvous in front of Elder and Sister Oaks, done unbelievable things. Well this opportunity ranks right up on the high end of the scale. During the Nauvoo period of Church history, the Prophet Joseph Smith was dogged by legal troubles stemming from the Missouri persecutions of 1838. Joseph Smith was either the defendant, plaintiff, or witness in over 200 cases during his short lifetime. His efforts to defend himself by using the legal doctrine of Habeas Corpus was the focus of this dramatization put on at the capital in Springfield. The day leading up to this Nauvoo was filled with dignitaries. Thomas B. Griffith the judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, he talked about opposition to Mormonism. Guess what, I got my picture with him. It made him laugh. In all his power and glory, I told him he was cute!! I think he actually blushed but we had a good conversation.
Ronald K. Esplin talked about Joseph Smith’s campaign for election to the presidency of the United States. He is the editor of the Joseph Smith Papers project. How interesting to know that Joseph Smith had petitioned the president and got no help or redress for damages inflicted in Missouri. His candidacy was cut short by his murder in June of 1844.
Guess who I talked to that came to that seminar?
yep! The Smarts’! They were so nice. I was working at Brigham Young’s house and so I got to give tours to all of the dignitaries that came through. Among them were: Utah Governor Gary Herbert, former Governor Olene Walker. Gery Chico, partner at the Chicago law firm of Chico & Nunes, and a moderator for the enactment. Michael A. Scodro, the Illinois Solicitor General. Jeffrey D. Colman a partner at Jenner & Block. The Honorable Anne M. Burke Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois. Honorable Neil H. Cohen, Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County, and more. I have to literally laugh to think of all the things that I have done. When I put on this badge I had no idea what would be expected of me, but I hope that the Lord will say that He is proud of me and what I have tried to do to represent Him.
That evening we were the greeters to seat everyone in the visitors’ center. So we say all of these people again and they were very nice. Elder Oaks said, “Weren’t you in Rendezvous?” (How nice to be recognized for the whining pole dancer!) Anyway, I had made friends with the woman who helped her husband put this whole production on. She was so nice. We hit it off immediately and I ended up getting tickets to the real re-enactment in Springfield the next day!!!
It was held in the theater in the Lincoln Museum. There were about 120 people there.
So, needless to say it was pretty exiting. I was actually part of a re-enactment of a very critical time of history. What an honor, I won’t forget.
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