July 31, 2003

June 27 Memorial Service at Nauvoo

On June 27, 2003, nearly 500 people gathered in the Smith Family Cemetery in Nauvoo, Illinois, to pay their respects to Joseph, Hyrum and Emma Smith.

Community of Christ and the Joseph Smith Historic Site host this annual event on the date of the death of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. Members of the Nauvoo, Illinois, Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also invited to participate in the service.

	This year flowers were laid on the graves by Elsa Wanyando, an International Guide from Kenya, Africa,
Florence Ourth from the Nauvoo congregation of Community of Christ and
	Sister Ann Parks, wife of the Nauvoo, Illinois, Mission President Sam Park for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Florence Ourth was a member of the Nauvoo congregation in 1928 when the bodies of Joseph and Hyrum were found and saw the remains of the bodies at that time.

Other people participating in the service were Joyce Shireman, site coordinator of the Joseph Smith Historic Site and the summer interns at the site representing Community of Christ and President Park, Elder Hollingsworth, the Young Performing Missionaries, and the Nauvoo Brass Band representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

-Joyce Shireman reporting