Nauvoo

It was finally moving day! The uhaul was packed, the apartment was clean, and we were ready to go. We'd been cruisin' for quite a while when Brayden received a call from the townhouse manager in Kansas City telling us that things were backed up and our place wouldn't be ready until a week from now. WHAT!!? Little freak out moment....we're over halfway there with a rented truck full of all our stuff. What are we going to do? Well, our move ended up being more expensive than we planned, but we decided to make a mini vacation out of it and visit Nauvoo and other church sites along the way. It was a nice little surprise.

 The view from the top floor of the Cultural Hall where they held most of their community activities. The top floor was the ballroom. You can see the Nauvoo Temple out the window.

Liam and Brayden

Grandma Harris and Liam with the original rocking horse found in a bedroom in John Taylor's home.

Browning Home & Gunsmith Shop

(this was Brayden's favorite site)

 This is where John Browning made his guns. John was very influential in modern gun technology. His designs and developments are still being used today. He was known for loving guns, but what he really lived for was The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He was always ready and willing to help when the Lord needed him.

 This is the backyard of Browning's house. When our church started restoring the buildings in Nauvoo they noticed this small, white fence (to the right of the picture) in the middle of the yard. Browning had a baby girl that passed away and that is where she was buried. This picture is one of my favorites because you can see the temple in the upper left hand side of the picture, which is a sweet reminder that we are sealed to our families and can be together forever.

Brayden wishing he could have this :)

 

Nauvoo Pageant 

We ended the night off with the Nauvoo Pageant. It was such an amazing performance. These actors, stage directors, costume designers, etc. all do this for free. They spend their summer in Nauvoo giving service and sharing their testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel.

Nauvoo Temple

view of the Temple from Main Street

Carthage Jail
Carthage Jail is where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were martyred. It is a sacred and humbling place to be. Being there reminds me to be grateful for the freedoms we have now and for the sacrifices people made so I could have what I do today.

One of the prison cells in the jail 

The window Joseph fell from when he was shot

 The door with the original bullet hole that struck Hyrum Smith

Where Joseph Smith fell. They were actually staying in the bedroom upstairs, where the prison guard sleeps, because he had gotten to know Joseph Smith and thought he would be safer on the second story where mobs could not get him as easily.

Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith 

Wonderful place to visit

Adam-Ondi-Ahman
While we were visiting Carthage Jail we ran into some missionaries serving in Adam-Ondi-Ahman (which happened to be our next stop). They told us some of the places to see while we were there. It was very peaceful there.

 My boys :)

the view

The family is standing on what is called, "Preacher's Rock." This is where Joseph Smith would stand to preach to the congregation. It is amazing! I am way down in the field below them and they are talking in a normal voice, even a whisper at times, and I can hear them! I could even hear them over the crazy, loud locusts. 

Liberty Jail
Liberty Jail is where the Prophet Joseph Smith spent about five long, cold months awaiting trial. While there he received three revelations that are included in the Doctrine and Covenants. One that has brought comfort to me in times of need is D&C 121:1-8 (below).
Joseph Smith says:
"O God, where art thou? . . .
How long shall thy hand be stayed . . . ?
Yea, O Lord, how long shall [thy people] suffer . . . before . . . thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?" 

The voice of God came, saying:
"My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;
And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes."

This was a sacred place and I am blessed to have been there.

 Upper level where the guards were. Notice the walls too. They are 3 layers thick.

Lower level  

me & my handsome man

Elder Holland spoke about Joseph's experience at Liberty Jail and the lessons learned there. This was a great talk. If you'd like to read it, just click on the link:

http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=1798

Getting into our house late turned out to be a great experience!