After the martyrdom of Joseph Smith, the Saints continued to put forth a very dedicated effort to complete the Nauvoo Temple even though they knew they would soon have to abandon it and go west. Once the temple was ready for ordinance work, the Saints worked around the clock to give and receive the temple ordinances. Based on my research, at least eleven of our ancestors (four on my side - William Casper, Arvilla Durbin, and James and Ellen Bennett) and seven on Mom’s side - Joseph, Newel, and Lydia Knight, Joseph, John and Susanna Egbert, and James Loveless) received their endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. Joseph Knight, Newel Knight, and Lydia Goldwaite Knight were endowed in mid December of 1845. William Casper, James Bennett and his wife Ellen Pincock Bennett, and Joseph Egbert were endowed in late January of 1846.On February 3, 1846, Brigham Young announced to the throng assembled at the temple that they would not be able to continue performing ordinances since the brethren needed to leave Nauvoo before their enemies prevented them from leaving. He recorded in his journal the following. “I also informed the brethren that I was going to get my wagons started and be off. I walked some distance from the Temple supposing the crowd would disperse, but on returning I found the house filled to overflowing. Looking upon the multitude and knowing their anxiety, as they were thirsting and hungering for the word, we continued at work diligently in the house of the Lord. Two hundred and ninety-five person received ordinances.”
Four of our ancestors were among the 295 persons that received their endowments in the Nauvoo temple as a result of this continuation of ordinance work. Arvilla Durbin Casper who was the mother of William Casper, John Egbert and his wife Susanna Hahn Egbert, and James Loveless were all endowed on February 7, 1846.
2 comments:
what about casper's wife sarah?
one source i've read says casper and bean (married in 1844) were sealed in the navuoo temple by BY on Jan 22, 1846. i don't know that endowment was pre-requisite for sealing in those days, but was she not endowed that same month? at some other time?
Joel, you are right, William Casper's wife Sarah was also endowed on the same day as William. However, I didn't list her since she is not our ancestor. As you know, our line comes through William's second wife, Elizabeth Erickson. Thanks for your interest.
Dad
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