We took a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois to soak up some Mormon history and had such a fantastic time! It was soooo beautiful and just had a wonderful feeling to it. Here is the gorgeous temple.
Rick's ancestors- The Smiths (ie. Joseph Smith's family)I want to find him a - "I'm huge in Nauvoo" t-shirt
Temple at Sunset
The Nauvoo Pageant!!! Hundreds of volunteers to put on the incredible show in the evening. Before hand they have lots of pioneer-y games and activities. Rick attempting stilt walking (unfortunately, not very successfully). There was ring tossing, handcart pulling, sawing, etc.The show was just soooo good- it is at night though- so I wasn't able to really get any good pictures. But trust me!! It is worth coming to Nauvoo for!!
In old-timey clothes. All the cast members were so fun and nice.
Old timey dancing with an old timey band
Nauvoo- situated on the banks of the Mississippi River. Originally a swamp, and turned into a beautiful booming city by the Mormon settlers. This history would explain the abundance of mosquitoes and mud.
The Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. and his Brother Hyrum Smith and his wife Emma Smith buried together at Joseph and Emma's house.
Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith- buried just a few feet away from their sons.
Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store- famous for the school of the Prophets taught on the upper level.
Rick's School of the Prophet's reenactment
All of the Old Nauvoo is recreated to be like the 1840s- and they have Senior Missionaries to teach about what life was like back then. We got to learn how to make barrels and rope! Who says we aren't resourceful.
Old timey Nauvoo Brass Band on their horse drawn stage! haha- so awesome.
Nauvoo Temple again
We also got to learn about how to make bricks- obviously Rick needed the lesson.
All the old timey stores- gun makers, blacksmiths, post office, printers, Brigham Young's house, etc. etc.
A actor, portraying Joseph Smith (and doing a fantastic job), orated the King Follett discourses in a grove- it was incredibly powerful to hear those key doctrines in the same place and in the same way as over 150 years ago.
Memorial to Joseph and Hyrum- portraying them as they left Nauvoo for the last time, in front of the Nauvoo temple.
If you have any ancestors that lived in Nauvoo, you can look up where they owned land and lots of other information, at the lands & records office. So Lisa found her great-great-great-great Grandparents records- and THIS is exactly where they lived! Like exactly- partially now under water (because they later built a dam) - but so incredible to see.
Did I mention that Nauvoo is in the middle of nowhere rural Illinois? This and corn, this and corn- all around.
Last stop was Carthage Jail- where Joseph and Hyrum were martyred.
The stairs the mob rushed up
To the room where Joseph and Hyrum were shot- the bullet hole through the door was still there- but I didn't get a very good picture.
The window Joseph Smith was shot and fell through. It was a very somber feeling to be there.
Praise To The Man.
