Edward and Ann Hunter Home

While living in this home, the Hunters served within the covenant community of Nauvoo and were blessed to see the temple city and their family grow. Ann joined the Female Relief Society of Nauvoo in August 1843. In November 1844, Edward was called to serve as Bishop of the Nauvoo 5th Ward, which included duties such as helping organize labor tithing to construct the temple and collecting fast offerings to redistribute to newly arrived immigrants and others in need. That same year, Ann gave birth to the couple’s only child, Ann.

The Hunter family lived in this home from 1842 to 1846. Edward and Ann Hunter converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1840. They then sold their prosperous farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania, made arrangements to have this home constructed before their arrival, and helped other Church members from their local branch, including the Gheen family, follow the prophetic call to gather to Nauvoo.

In the summer of 1842, Joseph Smith went into hiding in the Hunter Home to avoid marshals who had entered Nauvoo with the intent to arrest him and take him back to Missouri. While in hiding, Joseph continued in his roles as prophet and leader, communicating divine revelation to Church members through written letters. In this home, he dictated two letters related to the temple ordinance known as baptism for the dead, portions of which now appear as sections 127 and 128 in the Doctrine and Covenants.

Read about Joseph Smith’s evasion of unfair legal actions, including his time in hiding at the Edward and Ann Hunter Home where he received revelations concerning baptisms for the dead in Saints, Volume 1, Chapter 39.

What to Expect

The Hunter Home is a three-room guided tour that covers the parlor, office, and summer kitchen. After the tour of the home, missionaries will walk you downhill to the Gheen Home to conclude the Temple City tour.

360° Walkthrough