Church History Trip!

Saturday, June 13th - Friday, June 19th we spent the week traveling to Kansas City/Independence, MO and Nauvoo, IL for a church history tour to see all the sites from the early saints. It was surreal to think about how they traveled from Kirtland, OH to Independence, MO to Nauvoo, IL and then finally made the trek by walking all the way to SLC, UT (and going through our beloved Wyoming on the way). So much sacrifice was required of these early church members, all they had was given of them and more. It made me really think if I'd be that obedient to the Lord, that willing to go and do.

It was an amazing experience to sit in the very room that Joseph Smith was martyred by mobs, to see the actual bullet hole in the door, to ponder what it must have been like for him, but I could only imagine. I have a testimony that he is a true prophet of God, it would have been so easy for him to give up and let go of everything, and not continue the Lord's work, that was a man of many, many trials, but he pressed on and was eventually killed because of it. He sealed his testimony with his blood, I gained an even greater testimony of him that day spent in Carthage, and I can't deny it because the spirit of the Lord was so strong in that room.
It was so interesting to hear the stories at Carthage, one was that Joseph told Willard Richards who was in the jail with him that night along with Hyrum (Joseph's brother) and John Taylor, anyway, he knew they were going to be attacked and he told Richards that he would be the only one in the room unharmed when there were bullets flying around them everywhere, Taylor was badly injured and both Hyrum and Joseph died, Richards was the only one unharmed.
 Joseph also told Dan Jones to use his arm as a pillow and Joseph asked Dan if he was afraid to die, Dan replied, "Engaged in such a cause, I don't think death would have many terrors." Joseph replied to Dan, "You will yet see Wales and serve a mission appointed you before you die. Dan ended up serving a mission to Wales after Joseph's death.

My favorite parts of the trip (besides being able to see my family that came) was Carthage Jail, the Nauvoo temple, and Adam-ondi-ahman.

Liberty Jail in Liberty, MO where Joseph was held for five months on false charges

Lunch at Steak'n'shake after a long day in Independence

Sunset on the Mississippi--a program all the missionaries at Nauvoo put on every night M-Sat

The Smith homestead in Nauvoo

The mansion house where Joseph and Emma lived for sometime

Joseph's mothers home

Scovil Bakery

The graves of Hyrum, Emma and Joseph

We found our greatX4? grandmother in the Nauvoo cemetery

On the wagon ride around Nauvoo

Outside Liberty Jail

Kansas City, MO temple--doesn't get better then heaven on earth

Inside the Independence Visitors Center. The group--Dad, Alexa (niece), Keith, Me, Carson, Misti (sister), Mary & Jared (brother and sis-in-law) and their two kids Aiden and Abby. 

Swimmming!

The spot Joseph dedicated for the Jackson County temple site, it was never built because the saints were driven out of MO by mobs, but can't wait for that day when it's announced again.

Loved this place! Where it's all going to be :)

LOVE THIS TEMPLE!! NAUVOO 

The window Joseph was shot and fell from

Carthage Jail

I feel like I already posted so many pictures so I won't post all the stuff we did in Nauvoo but we packed it all in. In two days we did the visitors center, sunset on the Mississippi program, temple, wagon ride around to the sites, Brigham Young Home, Joseph Smith properties, Blacksmith Shop, Print shop, Post office, Old Pioneer games, Brick shop, Old Nauvoo Cemetery, Scovil Bakery, and a few more that I just can't think of right now cuz it's too late. All the shops and homes were like they would have been in the 1830s, some of them are still original, it's definitely so fun to tour and see how they made bread or candles back then. It was definitely a memorable trip that I will never forget!