[Teachldsseminary] Christmas in Nauvoo

[Linda Harper]

I thought you may like this story about Christmas in Nauvoo.  I'm also 
sending a separate one about Pioneer Christmas that could be used in a 
Christmas lesson.



Linda Harper



***

>From “Joseph Smith the Prophet” by Truman Madsen, p. 59

“Calm times were rare, but we find in the records here and there a day of 
family peace, especially at Christmas.  On Christmas Day 1835: ’Enjoyed 
myself at home with my family, all day, it being Christmas, the only time I 
have had this privilege so satisfactorily for a long period.’  The Prophet 
recorded the following for Christmas morning 1843:  ‘This morning, about one 
o’clock, I was aroused by an English sister, Lettice Rushton, widow of 
Richard Rushton, Senior (who, ten years ago, lost her sight), accompanied by 
three of her sons, with their wives, and her two daughters, with their 
husbands, and several of her neighbors, singing, ‘Mortals awake! with angels 
join,’ &c., which caused a thrill of pleasure to run through my soul.  All 
of my family and boarders arose to hear the serenade, and I felt to thank my 
Heavenly Father for their visit, and blessed them in the name of the Lord. 
They also visited my brother Hyrum, who was awakened from his sleep.  He 
arose and went out of doors.  He shook hands with and blessed each one of 
them in the name of the Lord, and said that he thought at first that a 
cohort of angels had come to visit him, it was such heavenly music to him.’”