Touring Nauvoo

The next morning, we went bright and early to get a spot on one of the carriage rides to Inspiration Point. It was beautiful winding through the woods along the Mississippi and hearing stories of the people who built historic Nauvoo.

When we finished we hopped right on a horse-drawn Conestoga wagon for a tour of Old Nauvoo.

We passed the pageant site where final rehearsals were going on. It was fun to remember when we were in the Easter Pageant in Mesa getting ready to put on the show!

This patch of ground was left to grow so tourists can see what the swampy site of Nauvoo looked like before it was settled.

We loved all the red-brick houses. This was Brigham Young's home site.

We saw how the wagons were ferried across the river when the Saints were driven out.

I love this statue of Joseph Smith sharing his vision of the Rocky Mountains with Brigham Young.

One of my favorite sights was the acres and acres of lily pads floating on the river. Beautiful!

We passed by Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store but would visit it the next day.

The kids were fascinated by the horses pulling the carriage and wagon. They got to pet their noses and watch them eat and drink.

The Scovil bakery was another favorite stop.

We learned how the Nauvoo Saints made their baked goods and were each given a tasty little gingerbread cookie.

The Historic Nauvoo Visitor's Center was next on our list. Here we saw one of the original temple's sunstones.

Inside, Noah and Spencer reflect the profiles of Joseph Smith,

and Jesus Christ.

The young performing missionaries welcomed us to the visitor's center with a beautiful song.

They are amazing! We loved interacting with them throughout our stay in Nauvoo. 

Their show was called "High Hopes and Riverboats" and was so much fun!

The Family Living Center was another place high on our list of favorites. Noah had a chance to card some wool for spinning.

We learned more about baking bread in the fireplace ovens.

And we worked as a family to make some rope!

Everyone participated in the process.

Even mom and dad!

When we were finished, the sweet Elder taught us an object lesson. If we work together as a family, we will always be bound together in love. (A side note: our friends, the Parkers, came to visit us from North Carolina, and recognized the photo of this Elder. He was from their Stake!)

The boys loved it when we toured the Browning home and gunsmith shop.

They were so interested in all of the guns (even a machine gun!) that he had invented.

It was a busy day, but we just kept right on going! Late that afternoon we watched a darling show called "Sunset by the Mississippi."

Before the show, kids were invited to make patriotic hats and march in a parade playing an instrument. Jeremy and Isaac got in on the action.

We laughed and laughed at each scene. We LOVE the senior missionaries!

This was a hilarious song about mosquitoes (see the noses?).

The Nauvoo Brass Band was thrilling, too.

And the melodrama!

We really got into the show with our "boo's" and "hisses" for the villain and our cheers for the good guy!

That night we decided to go to the final dress rehearsal of the Nauvoo Pageant. We had wonderful seats on the second row and were truly moved by the songs and the messages of the pageant. The actor playing Joseph Smith was incredible and made me love the prophet even more.

He was so exuberant, so fun with the children, and so tender with Emma.

This couple was the comic relief. We thoroughly enjoyed their roles.

Watching the Nauvoo "temple" be built, with the real temple shining in the background, was a sweet experience.

I was personally touched by the way all of essential doctrines of the church were woven into such a fun performance. What a memorable night!