Our Nauvoo Trip

We were lucky enough to be able to stop in Nauvoo, Missouri

on our way home from Chicago, and continue our church historical site tour

we'd started in Winter Quarter's Nebraska.

The small town is very special in Latter Day Saint History.

While in Nauvoo, we got to learn how the early Saints had turned the once desolate swamp land into a beautiful and thriving community with God's help.  We learned how the early Saints sacrificed to build a temple to the Lord.

My testimony was strengthened as we saw their struggles to build up this community and safe haven away from the relentless mob persecution. And how they then willingly left it all to follow Heavenly Father's plan for them to set up Zion in the west.

After all the Saints had suffered, most losing all they had-- after all they had sacrificing and how they worked so hard to build a community and temple-- they left their beloved city to follow the Lord's plan for His people. Trusting completely the words of The Lord's prophet, Joseph Smith. I'm so honored and humbled to be a member to a such devoted and strong people. It's a legacy that I try to honor with my own life's ,seemingly small, sacrifices in comparison.

This is the only family picture we got

The Blacksmith's

 We went on a horse-pulled wagon tour of Nauvoo

which started out great!

 We loved the senior missionaries that came out as the tour went by (dressed completely head to toe in the clothes the Saints wore). 

I wish I had gotten a picture of them lining up to wave to us all as we went by, it was so fun!

And then Ash started to get bored...

and Taidan got even more silly.

 

Then things got wet...

I love her drooly face

really, really wet...

poor Kimbree was over it.

 

So we went and learned how to weave, make bread and candles and rope and even got to help!!

{And to run around a little bit...}

 

We had a lunch picnic in the beautiful Women's Garden

and I got some CUTE pictures of the kids

Yes- it's the same picture, I couldn't pick my favorite version ;)

Taidan loved the rope he, and the rest of us, helped make! 

Kimbree Kathleen,

you are a gorgeous baby- from the inside out.

More pictures of the site's and activities,

you can click on it to enlarge the pictures.

It was an amazing experience that made me so excited to go back again someday when the kids have grown a little.  I feel so lucky to have gotten to see this and Winter's Quarters, it helped me connect more with my LDS heritage.  We've really enjoyed our first two stops on our Church History Tour!

Any suggestions for our next stops?????