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By Mark Wright
Nauvoo Temple Brings New Tension to City
NAUVOO, ILLINOIS -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
and the city of Nauvoo have a long history together. Unfortunately,
some of that history is very painful and awakens troubled memories
for all concerned. However, like it or not, it's time for round two
of the "Meet the Mormons" in the city of Nauvoo.
Ever since President Gordon B. Hinckley announced the reconstruction
of the Nauvoo temple at April General Conference in 1999, emotions
have been running high on both sides of the relationship. Faithful
members of the Church of Jesus Christ are excited about reclaiming an
important symbol of the Church's early days. Many of the non-member
residents of Nauvoo, however, worry that their town will become a
Latter-day Saint version of Mecca. The families who have been here
for generations fear that their lives will become a mere afterthought
in a setting dominated by the presence of the Temple and the influx
of the faithful who make the trek to Nauvoo.
The uncomfortable situation in Nauvoo stems from the expulsion of the
saints more than 150 years ago by the ancestors of many of the
modern-day residents. Like most any story, this one has two sides
and the passage of time hasn't clarified much. The present residents
of Nauvoo believe that the original saints were an unsavory lot and
responsible for creating their own problems by antagonizing their
neighbors.
On the other side of the story, official Church history tells of
murderous mobs destroying homes, driving out men, women, and
children, pillaging and eventually destroying the original temple.
Given the strained relationships that seem to exist, it seems
somewhat ironic that the economic future and probable survival of the
area is now inextricably tied to the growth of Church-related tourism
in the area. While approximately 250,000 tourists visit Nauvoo during
a typical summer season, estimates for visitors once the temple is
completed go as high as 1,000,000 per year. This is bound to be
disruptive to a small town in Illinois that currently has about 1,300
year-round residents.
As part of an effort to minimize the impact of the rapid growth
associated with the temple, the Church agreed to bring in a city
planner to coordinate the construction effort. Ken Millard was
appointed by the Church to work with the mayor and town council but
only lasted on the job for about 7 months before being suddenly
removed. While both the city and the Church note that Millard had
some difficulties in reaching consensus, he seemed determined to move
forward and get things resolved. However, just like the earlier
stories about the Church in Nauvoo, the facts of this situation are
somewhat difficult to pin down. While everyone acknowledges the
change in assignment for Millard, no one can quite put their finger
on exactly what happened. Apparently the people who know, including
Millard, aren't talking.
Given the rapidly-growing interest in the temple and the
ever-increasing number of visitors destined to make the pilgrimage to
Nauvoo, the now-simmering emotions will certainly come to a rolling
boil in the near future. An old adage proclaims that those who
refuse to learn from history are destined to repeat it. It appears
that the world will soon see if the Church and the residents of
Nauvoo have been diligent students.
Source:
After 154 Years, Old Nauvoo, Mormon Faithful Still at Odds
Salt Lake Tribune 11Mar01 D1
By Dan Egan: Salt Lake Tribune
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