A Walk Through Nauvoo 2015

Nauvoo has always had a special place in my heart. I went every few years growing up and even got married there, and every time I go, it never gets old. 

I always get excited when we see the open fields because I know that we are getting close.

For the first time, we decided to stay in a cabin instead of a hotel. The covered wagon bed was adorable!

Eliza was very entertained by this cast iron stove and played by it all week.

There was even a museum right next to our cabin. The museum had Joseph Smith's military buttons and an original hymn book and way more than what I have pictured.

Our first stop was the visitors' center and I saw an original Nauvoo sunstone. Yay! I have always thought the sunstone represented the celestial kingdom in Mormon doctrine, but I read recently that one of the temple's foremen, Wandel Mace, said that it originally represented "a woman clothed with the sun."

Eliza said hi to the horses that pulled the covered wagons through town.

Hailey used to break horses, so she had the magic touch.

The first house that we went to was one of my favorites: the Lyon Drug and Variety Store.

I loved this quote, and it was sweet that the Lyons' put their child's age, even down to the hour, on her headstone.

Eliza made friends with this sister missionary while I took the tour.

We saw the Browning Gun shop.

And the tin shop.

We met up with Ashley, Mom, and Caroline for the Post Office.

The pioneers would check the newspaper to see if they had received any mail.

And here is the pioneer's version of Gatorade called Haymaker's Switchel.

I have always loved the spirit in the John Taylor home.

And I have always loved hearing this sweet story about John Taylor and his son.

This conversion story about the people in the boot shop also has always touched me.

These are some of my favorite artifacts that I saw. The bottom left photo is of Elizabeth Browning's sewing basket that I think was taken to Salt Lake by Elizabeth and donated back to Nauvoo.

After that first day of touring, Hailey, Ashley, and I took the kids to see a cute show the senior missionaries put on called Rendezvous.

They had some talent with their singing and good humor!

We saw the Seventies Hall the next day.

And the Joseph Smith cabin, Mansion House, and cemetery. I would love a house like the Mansion House someday. Just beautiful.

We were allowed to go to the original top floor of the Red Brick Store where the Relief Society was organized.

Next was the blacksmith shop. I even got the horseshoe this time.

Here is a video of the making of a horseshoe. Eliza kept saying, "What is that?"

Ashley and I toured the Brigham Young house.

These plates were original and were put back together piece by piece.

This was the conference room. I thought it was neat that as Brigham died years and years later, his last words were "Joseph, Joseph, Joseph."

One of the little cabins had a story posted about an Indian chief who kept trying to buy this girl because she had red hair. We were in a hurry so I accidentally had Ashley pose in front of the neighboring cabin but still funny.

 I got some cute shots of Eliza around Nauvoo.

The kids were having so much fun.

As well as the adults!

On our last night, we went to the Nauvoo temple right as the sun was setting. The results were stunning.

 I love how this picture looks like Joseph and Hyrum are really riding off into the sunset.

The sky was still beautiful when we walked the Trail of Hope. I took pictures of some of my favorite quotes of the Saints leaving Nauvoo. I almost lost it when I read that a woman, Bathsheba Smith, cleaned her house, almost reverently, then locked her door and left.

On the way back from the trail, I got a picture on this bench that is special to me. This bench is where I sat when I was waiting for Kenny to come find me after we hadn't seen each other for three weeks and he had just arrived in Nauvoo for our wedding. It was about this time of night too.

Although it was sad leaving Nauvoo, we left one of the best sites for last.

There is something powerful and sacred about the Carthage Jail.

The missionaries played a recording of the events that occurred when Joseph and Hyrum died. They died in this very room.

We all just had a wonderful time during our girls' retreat. My heart is bursting with my strengthened testimony of the Restoration that grows stronger every time I hear the pioneer stories and walk the roads the pioneers walked. I truly learn something new every time I come.

Until next time!