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Nauvoo Legacy Gardens
Sunday, August 8, 1999
Nauvoo, Illinois – (The participants in the Joseph Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith family reunion were gathered for the dedication service of this beautiful Nauvoo Legacy Garden and the memorial monuments opposite the southeast corner of the Nauvoo Temple lot.) What a wonderful occasion to gather and dedicate this Nauvoo Legacy Garden and the enduring memorial monuments now placed here and those that will subsequently be placed. It has been created as a place of beauty and culture and a spot to display special memorials to events and personalities that played a significant role in the history of Nauvoo. As you have already heard, all of this is due to the generosity, love and dream of Steve and Pat Glenn and family and to the vision and genius of Dee Jay Bawden. How appropriate it is that the first sculpture placed is that of the Pioneer Prophet created by Dee Jay, and that it be situated at the entrance to the garden. This magnificent likeness of the Prophet Joseph with his ax tells us that he was a common man. He chopped wood, worked in the soil, planted and harvested crops, played with his children and socialized with his family and friends. He also communed with God and was the instrument in instituting the greatest movement for the betterment of mankind since the Savior was on the earth. He was one of eleven children born to Joseph Smith, Sr. and Lucy Mack and these children learned from their father and mother, very early in their lives, to love and care for one another and be unified. From the time Joseph received his assignment from the Heavenly Messengers, this family of parents and nine surviving children believed and were with him all the days of his life. They never left him. They and their families worked with him, prayed for him, supported and encouraged, served missions, endured the persecutions and the hardships, even died for him Not one abandoned. As a result they all played a significant role in the restoration of the Gospel It is 203 years since Joseph married Lucy and began this remarkable family. For 203 years this, the first family of the Restoration and the Church and of Nauvoo, have gone largely unheralded and unrecognized. The dream for placing a long over-due memorial to them is that of Steve and Pat, Dee Jay, and Buddy. They came to Eldred and me to try their dream out on us, and it didn't take more than ten minutes for us to enthusiastically say, "Go for it." The means to accomplish the project have been supplied by donors. The fence has been donated (if you knew how expensive it is you would know what a sizeable donation has been made), the bronze statue, the flowers are a gift (Pat and her sister-in-law planted every one of them), the work of craftsmen, the huge Vermont granite stone and the bronze plaque—all donations from people who love and revere the Prophet Joseph and the Smith Family and who want to visibly perpetuate a tribute and memorial to them. Many have come, not once, but several times, from as far away as Utah, at their own expense, to help make this happen. The monument speaks for itself. Imprinted here, forever after, are the likenesses of Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith, noble parents of the children who are listed on the bronze plaque. From now on, you, your children and your children's children can come to this spot and point to one of the children's names and say, "that is my great grandfather or grandmother and he or she, too, gave all for the restoration of the Gospel." No longer will they be unrecognized. Read the inscription on the plaque. This stone of beautiful Vermont granite weighs 6,000 lbs or 3 tons. Miracles have been evident in its being here today. Last Monday it was being polished at the quarry and Steve and Dee Jay got word that it could not be delivered before next Monday, thus it would miss the date of dedication. Pat said, "This can't be. We must pray." And pray they did. Then came another phone call from the quarry, saying, "This never happens. We never have trucks leave in the middle of the week. We don't know why, but there is a truck leaving for the Midwest on Wednesday with just enough room to ship this stone." As a result it was delivered on Friday, and some of us have watched as the craftsmen made it ready for this morning. There are other miracles. We feel that Father and Mother Smith are accepting of and pleased with this effort. The monument is not yet complete. Another bronze plaque is to be placed on the back of the stone. It will have on it the likeness of the Prophet, and the words of his prayer for his Family that are printed on the back of your programs. In that prayer are the words, "...and establish their feet upon the rock of ages." Coincidentally, the quarry from which this stone was cut is the Rock of Ages quarry. The cost of $1300 for the plaque has yet to be donated. There may be some among you who would like to make contribution to the memorial. If so, see Steve or Dee Jay. Each of you family members will undoubtedly want to express individual gratitude for this great gift. But, Steve, Pat, son Jason, Steve's brother and sister-in-law, Dee Jay, Buddy, donors, all those who have worked so diligently to accomplish this remarkable project,---representative members of the Smith family are here, all standing. Will you look upon this as a standing ovation to you from a grateful family for your expression of love and respect that goes way beyond the ordinary? We love you! Please, family, let us express our gratitude and admiration with a standing ovation and applause. Thank you.
For more information, contact Dee Jay Bawden or Steve L. Glenn at 801-373-5655. |
