Discovering Nauvoo: Lessons from D&C 124 on Faith, Effort & Temple Work

Good morning (or good evening where I’m at), friends! I love picturing you putting on this episode as you get ready for your day. Today we’re diving into the Doctrine and Covenants (D&C) 124 and the rich story of Nauvoo, Illinois—and how it applies to our lives now.

1. Last Week’s Challenge & What We Learned

Last week’s episode focused on General Conference. The challenge: read or listen to one General Conference talk each day. I loved revisiting a talk by Chieko N. Okazaki (formerly Sister Browning talked about Primary songs—just a fun reminder of how music strengthens our worship!). I even made a playlist on Alexa. My hope is that you felt the power of General Conference and have brought that spirit into your scripture study.

2. Jumping Into D&C 124

Let’s open up to D&C 124—if you have your scriptures nearby, flip to that now. This section is packed with revelations given in Nauvoo that shaped the growth of the Church and the lives of its members.

Key verses that stuck out to me:

• Verse 1: “Verily, thus saith the Lord … I am well pleased with your offering and acknowledgments.” Even though I’m imperfect, the Lord can still be pleased with my efforts. It reminds me: He loves effort.

• Verse 24: “This house shall be a healthful habitation … it shall be holy, or the Lord your God will not dwell therein.” This is a powerful reminder that the temple invites holiness—not casual participation.

• Verse 41: “For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the dispensation of the fulness of times.” We live in that “fulness of times.” Revelation isn’t just ancient—it’s ongoing.

For background on D&C 124’s context (temple, gathering in Nauvoo, structure of the Church), check out the Joseph Smith Papers info. The Church of Jesus Christ+2Doctrine and Covenants Central+2 And for commentary that underscores how D&C 124 acted as a “spiritual charter” for Nauvoo, see this article. LDS Scripture Teachings+1

3. Why Nauvoo Matters

The saints in Nauvoo weren’t just living—they were building, worshipping, sacrificing, and responding to revelation.

• The word Nauvoo reportedly comes from Hebrew meaning “beautiful place”. National Park Service+1

• In the 1840s the Church established itself in Nauvoo and built a themed city centered on the temple. The Church of Jesus Christ+1

• The original Nauvoo Temple was dedicated on May 1, 1846, by Orson Hyde. Church Temples+1

• That temple was later destroyed by fire (1848) and tornado (1850) but was rebuilt and dedicated in 2002. Religious Studies Center+1

Because the temple played such a central role, D&C 124’s emphasis on “this house” and ordinances makes even more sense. The revelation links the physical building of the house of the Lord with the spiritual house of Zion. Doctrine and Covenants Central

4. Personal Reflections & Application

• Effort & invitation: Verses like 1 and 15 (“blessed is my servant Hyrum Smith; for … I love him because of the integrity of his heart”) invite me to trust that even imperfect efforts matter. The Church of Jesus Christ+1

• Temple priority: My own experience lately at the temple has been deeply spiritual—it echoed the pioneers’ zeal for the house of the Lord. If the temple is to be “holy,” then our preparation, our worthiness, our attention to covenant matter.

• Pioneer connection: The saints who lived in Nauvoo did so in harsh conditions—marshy land, mosquitoes, tents, diseases, yet they built the temple, the Relief Society was organized there, baptisms for the dead began. Church Temples+1 It helps me remember: faith is not about comfort, it’s about perseverance.

• Living revelation: We’re not just reading history—we’re part of a living Church that still receives revelation. Verse 41 reminds us of that.

• Legacy thinking: The sacrifices of our “ancestors” (literal or spiritual) invite us to consider: what are we building for those who come next?

  
  

5. This Week’s Challenge

Let’s build on last week. For this week: Choose one pioneer who lived in Nauvoo, OR one pioneer story connected to Nauvoo (for example, Caroline Barnes Crosby—hers is an amazing journal from that era). DigitalCommons+2The Church of Jesus Christ+2

• Read about their life, their testimonies, their challenges.

• Ask: Why did they endure? What did their faith look like?

• Then reflect: What is my faith motivating me to endure?

• Scripturally tie it back to D&C 124: building, gathering, temple, revelation.

  
  

6. Closing & Lighthearted Laughter

Because we like to keep it light too, here are a few jokes I found this week:

• What happens when a frog’s car breaks down? It gets toad away.

• What happened when two slices of bread went on a date? It was loaf at first sight.

• Why did the dog sit in the shade? Because it didn’t want to be a hot dog.

Back to serious: We are the pioneers of today—just as the saints in Nauvoo were pioneers of their day. Let’s be motivated by Christ, let’s build with purpose, let’s keep it simple and faithful. The future is bright as we follow Him.

Keep being a pioneer, and keep it simple. Until next week—bye.