Nauvoo doesn't feel like our heritage

[_LDSToronto]

The free cookies, the free brick, and the free carriage rides are nice and all, but Nauvoo isn't part of my heritage because I am from Canada. My brothers-from-other-mothers in the Congo feel the same way.

What has being from Canada got to do with anything?

Nauvoo is part of the heritage of any believing Latter-day Saint -- and, in a very real sense, of cultural Mormons, too.

I'm Canadian; culturally, historically, socially. My heritage is embedded in the Canadian Shield. Everything about this place defines me - it's English/French divide, it's social diversity and acceptance. Roman Catholicism, Montreal, the Plains of Abraham, Louis Riel, all of that is part of my history, a history that began, for me, in the 1500's when my ancestors set sail from France. Canada, and all things Canadian, are part of my heritage.

As a Mormon, my heritage is the lesson manual and the sisal covered walls of my local meetinghouse. Nauvoo is an American experience, with American political history, American religious culture, and American narratives that, frankly, I do not place myself within.

Nauvoo is as much a part of me as is the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

H.

[_Willy Law]

Nauvoo is part of the heritage of any believing Latter-day Saint -- and, in a very real sense, of cultural Mormons, too.

Not to mention the Community of Christ, Strangites, Cutlerites etc. Really easy for us Brighamites to try and monopolize church history.

I realize Dr. Peterson will disagree, but I feel the CoC presence in Nauvoo is more beneficial than the LDS presence.
I felt the purpose of the CoC volunteers was to teach us the historical significance of Nauvoo, while the only vibe I got from the LDS presence was self serving missionary work.

[_Daniel Peterson]

I still find it quite strange to say that Nauvoo isn't part of a Canadian (or Bolivian or Swiss or Japanese) Latter-day Saint's heritage.

Of course, I'm talking first and foremost about believing Latter-day Saints. I suspect that very few non-American believers would dismiss Nauvoo as irrelevant to them. (It's curiously rather like devout Jews, I think. They may or may not have ever been to the land of Israel, but they will still, almost invariably, feel a special link to its history and to its present situation.)

Some years ago, when the Mormon History Association had its annual meeting in Casper, Wyoming, and focused its attention on the handcart pioneers, my wife and I gave a ride back to Salt Lake City to an Australian woman, a convert, who had come for the meeting from the Australian "Gold Coast." (She attends every year.) And, during a year when the annual meeting was held in Kirtland, Ohio, I got to know a Japanese convert who was attending from Osaka. They obviously felt that the history being discussed was, in a very real sense, theirs.

I think their attitudes are far from uncommon. That's why Danish and Nigerian Saints, for example, have organized "handcart treks."

Nauvoo is part of the heritage of any believing Latter-day Saint -- and, in a very real sense, of cultural Mormons, too.

Not to mention the Community of Christ, Strangites, Cutlerites etc.

True, of course.

I realize Dr. Peterson will disagree, but I feel the CoC presence in Nauvoo is more beneficial than the LDS presence.
I felt the purpose of the CoC volunteers was to teach us the historical significance of Nauvoo, while the only vibe I got from the LDS presence was self serving missionary work.

Well, I agree and I disagree. I think it's true that the volunteers from the Community of Christ -- actually, if I'm not mistaken, many of them are actually paid (e.g., in summer jobs) -- tend to be more focused on teaching history. Whether that makes them "more beneficial" than are the LDS missionaries there depends, it seems obvious, on whether or not one sees benefits in hearing and accepting the message of Mormonism. (I do.) And I don't feel comfortable with any description of LDS missionary efforts as "self-serving."

[_Phouchg]

Just popping in to share a trip report I made exactly 4 years ago today...when my ex-wife and I toured the midwest including Nauvoo...keep in mind I was at best a nominal member of the church way back then - it seems like a million years ago.

http://forum1.aimoo.com/Folk_of_the_Fringe/General-Discussion/The-Phouchg-midwest-tour-2007-1-738464.html

fook

[_LDSToronto]

I still find it quite strange to say that Nauvoo isn't part of a Canadian (or Bolivian or Swiss or Japanese) Latter-day Saint's heritage.

Of course, I'm talking first and foremost about believing Latter-day Saints. I suspect that very few non-American believers would dismiss Nauvoo as irrelevant to them.

I didn't say Nauvoo was irrelevant; I did say Nauvoo wasn't part of my heritage. I went to Nauvoo as a believing Latter-day Saint, I think it was in 2006-2007, late spring of one of those years. I attended the temple, took the full tour, rode along the Trail of Hope, and spent a full 3 days in the area. I felt emotional, the stories of the people, especially those who's journal entries are engraved on the placards along the Trail of hope, were heart-wrenching. But I can't say I felt it was part of my heritage because as much as those stories tore at my heartstrings, they did not create me nor lead me to be the person I am.

H.

[_why me]

Since Nauvoo is an intergral part of Mormon culture and history, it is by proxy apart of a Mormon's heritage. For any Mormon to claim that Nauvoo is not apart of their heritage, they would be basically lying to themselves.

However, when a person may leave the faith or is considering leaving the faith, they may begin to look into their Mormon heritage and attempt to find something that they may dislke to justify their backsliding.

The free cookies, the free brick, and the free carriage rides are nice and all, but Nauvoo isn't part of my heritage because I am from Canada. My brothers-from-other-mothers in the Congo feel the same way.

H.

American history is definitely a part of my hertiage because I am an american. I can not separate myself from my country's history. Now with nauvoo it is a part of Mormon history as Mormons it becomes a part of your Mormon heritage. It really is as simple as that. Now of course, canadian history and culture are not a part of my heritage. However, if I were an Irish-american, Ireland becomes a part of my heritage because it is the place where my ancestors come from.

Heritage implies connection.

[_why me]

But I can't say I felt it was part of my heritage because as much as those stories tore at my heartstrings, they did not create me nor lead me to be the person I am.

H.

However as people who shared in your faith, their stories could have become a part of your heritage if you allowed them to do so and they could have given you inspiration in how to do and conduct life. Now for a baptist it would be quite different because they are coming from a baptist heritage and may feel absolutely no connection to Nauvoo' past.

[_why me]

Since Nauvoo is an intergral part of Mormon culture and history, it is by proxy apart of a Mormon's heritage. For any Mormon to claim that Nauvoo is not apart of their heritage, they would be basically lying to themselves.

However, when a person may leave the faith or is considering leaving the faith, they may begin to look into their Mormon heritage and attempt to find something that they may dislke to justify their backsliding.

No thread is really complete with out why me's all knowing authoritative opinion being spewed out. I am in total awe of why me's mind reading skills. He knows everyone's every thought whether they be a porn star, one of the brethren, past or present prophet, present day apologist or apostate. He knows their feelings, too, yes their true feelings and motives too. What a guy!!!

You are more than welcome to show me where I may be wrong? No Mormon can say with a straight face that nauvoo isn't a part of Mormon heritage and as Mormons, it becomes a part of that person's Mormon heritage.

[_jon]

You are more than welcome to show me where I may be wrong? No Mormon can say with a straight face that nauvoo isn't a part of Mormon heritage and as Mormons, it becomes a part of that person's Mormon heritage.

I guess as Mormons we must therefore accept the following as part of our heritage too:
Racism
Polygamy
Polyandry
Sexism
Murder
Swindling
Lying
Banking...oh, wait...I already said swindling

[_Joseph]

Have spoken with a few older non l-dsinc residents of the area when driving through a couple years ago. They don't like the 'Mormon attitude' of 'this is ours and we will force you out'.
Seems the morons moving back in are a obnoxious as the ones who ran away to Utah in the 1800's. Some things never change. Instead of some moving in and trying to be good neighbors they want to run out those who are not of their faith. Such a great example of missionary work in action.