Geneology

We took a trip to Nauvoo, Illinois this past weekend with the kids. It was Ryan's first time going and the first time I had been back since going when I was 10 or 11. It was an amazing experience. The last time I went, we were taking pictures by the foundation of the Nauvoo temple while listening to the tour guide say that they don't know if or when the church would rebuild a temple on this site. I will say that it was pretty emotional driving into town down the Main St and seeing the temple coming into view. I remember the feelings that I had when I was little as we visited the church history sites were pretty strong but coming back to Nauvoo as an adult, as a mother and as a wife made all of those feelings I felt when I was younger so much stronger. Add to that the temple that really helped you envision how life was and how the people had to leave behind everything that they had worked so hard for. It really strengthened my testimony of the pioneers.

Here are some pictures and some facts as we go. This will probably be lengthy. I won't be offended if you skim.

Statues at the Nauvoo Visitors Center that depict the various stages of the course of a women's life. 

One of the original sun stones that was on the temple. It started to rain for a second so we had to hurry. There is a second sun stone in the Smithsonian museum in Washington DC.

Our motel room that was super cheap on the off season. 

Our kids love to play on the beds as soon as we walk into a hotel room.

Good parenting skills being practiced, I told Kate to stop jumping on the bed and then I started taking pictures of the scenario and a minute later she bumped her head on the head board. I totally acknowledge my great follow through skills.

Cool little house. 

The kids saw a pumpkin in the window and could not get over why it was in there.

Our kids are really into taking pictures lately.

This statue is of Joseph and Hyrum Smith depicting their last view of Nauvoo before heading to Carthage. Going to Nauvoo in the spring, you could easily see the beauty of the place and why it must have been so hard to leave.

The Nauvoo temple.

This picture is a self timer shot so it is what it is. But looking at it with the temple behind us reminds me that families are forever and that has given me so much comfort in my life, especially in the last year. It makes me happy to think that I will be with this crazy family forever.

The Motel we stayed in. 

A statue of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. It is here where the saints crossed the Mississippi river on February 4th. Living in California and being taught about the pioneers, I couldn't fully comprehend their struggles but living out here in Illinois and being here one winter ago on February 2nd when there was one of the hugest snow storms and remembering how freezing cold and windy it was made me have so much sympathy for them. I can't imagine being forced to cross that huge river with your family and everything you can carry in tow in those conditions.

A memorial to all of the pioneers that died on their journey. This is only half of the memorial. What struck me was how many names there were, plus how many actually made it to Utah. The church was pretty big back then, more so than I thought.

The Red Brick Store.The second floor was where they held the first Relief Society meeting, so it's only fitting that I should take a picture by it. Pictures by yourself are so awkward.

Where Hyrum, Joseph and Emma are buried. 

Ryan explaining to Kate where we were. I have images in my head of my Dad doing the same thing so a picture was necessary.

 Joseph and Emma Smith's house.

A view of the town with the temple in the distance.

Kate.

Kate and Ryan.

On our way to Carthage the next day we picked up some lunch items at the gas station (about the only thing that was open on Sunday) and had a picnic on the shore of the mighty Mississippi. Yes, our lunch was super healthy and I think all of the major food groups were covered in one form or another.

Another self timer shot. I now understand why Daddy Doug always had a tripod with him, there was a method to his madness. Can I also point out the stress that goes into self timer shots? It is so funny to see us trying to capture a happy moment as a family and to watch it turn into a real grumpy moment. We have some great outtake shots that I should compile into a post later.

Carthage Jail. Where Joseph and his brother Hyrum were killed. It was cool to see it but we forgot to take into account our children's attention spans. One cool thing that I experienced was taking Sam out and walking into another jail cell where Willard Richards hid a wounded John Taylor when the shots were being fired. It was so quiet in there and (this probably sounds weird out of context) it was cool to just be in there with my thoughts (and Sam) and picture what happened. I have always thought of John Taylor as awesome man, anyway I am rambling and this should probably just be written in my journal, so excuse me.

One last family picture before we headed home.

And one last fun fact: Ryan's dad texted us while we were there and said that Ryan's great, great, great, grandpa lived down the street from Joseph Smith. I also have a great, great, great, great grandpa that lived in Nauvoo as well. I did some digging around via Google and the NewFamilySearch and found out they were both there at the same time, which means they may have known each other. Which is kind of cool. I also realized that I will be the little old lady that is into geneology. One day I was talking to my mom and she said something about the talents you develop on earth will be carried with you in heaven. I said, "Well I hope they will need someone to know movie trivia and star facts, cause that's all I got." Looking around at pedigree charts made me think that there is hope for me because I do have a mind that remembers people and places so maybe I can use that skill for geneology. Now I can justify my knowledge of the stars in People magazine. One day someone will need to know the names of Brad Pitts kids and I will be there to help.

On a serious note, Nauvoo was awesome and if you can go there I suggest you do, it really strengthened my testimony of the early church and made me want to read more about the key players in our church's history. It was also a nice way to kick off our family road trip season.