Sunday in Nauvoo

On Sunday morning, we left Hannibal and drove the few hours to Nauvoo. We attended church with a local ward as well as with much of the pageant cast. It was wonderful!

The church building was near the temple so we stopped for some photos. It is amazing to see it in real life, rebuilt to what it was like when the Saints were in Nauvoo.

Isaac picked a pretty flower and we put it in his shirt pocket. He's so sweet.

The steps of the Nauvoo Temple were a perfect place for a family photo!

We then drove to Carthage to see the visitor's center and jail. Each one of the boys had their picture taken with Joseph and Hyrum. My prayer is that they will always be loving and loyal to their brothers, too.

Taking the tour was a very somber experience. I think all of us felt the weight of what happened here.

We gathered for the presentation in the room where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred and felt the spirit testify of a living prophet in our day.

The outside view of the upper window where Joseph fell to his death.

We're so grateful for the restored gospel and for forever families!

When we got back to Nauvoo, we decided to go to some of the sites before dinner. 

We visited the wainwright's shop, where they showed us how they made wheels for the wagons.

And right next door was the blacksmith's shop. Our home teacher, Brother Baxter, had told the boys to watch for two things when they were there; one, a prairie diamond, and two, the Baxter Winery. We didn't ever make it to the winery (ha, ha) but the boys were pretty excited to get a prairie diamond from the blacksmith (a prairie diamond is just an old-fashioned nail bent into a ring used by those poor pioneer boys who wanted to give one to their sweethearts).

The blacksmith also gave the boys a mini-horseshoe he had worked on. We really grew to LOVE the senior missionaries throughout Nauvoo. They have such an amazing spirit that really made our stay incredible.

Our next stop was the brickyard where our family was presented with a special red Nauvoo brick.

We also enjoyed going through Lucy Mack Smith's home. She inspires me.

Finally, we headed for the home where we would stay for the few nights we were in Nauvoo. The sweet Steen family were so gracious to open their home to us and we really loved getting to know them. They welcomed us with a yummy dinner and put us right at ease.

Later that night we had one of our most moving experiences of the trip. 

As we walked the trail of hope down Parley Street, we stopped and heard beautiful historical vignettes given by the young performing missionaries.

The spirit was so strong as they shared stories and music about those who were driven from Nauvoo in 1846.

As we walked to where Parley Street disappears into the Mississippi we went to the pavilion that houses this plaque along with the names of each person who left Nauvoo to follow a prophet to the "place for us prepared, far away in the West."

A peaceful Sabbath Day. All is well.