More Nauvoo...

On our third day, we went to the Nauvoo Temple and did an endowment session, as well as sealings for a few of Brad's relatives. One of the names belonged to a relative who had actually lived in Nauvoo at some point in his life. The temple is absolutely beautiful! When the temple was rebuilt only about 10 years ago, the exterior and the majority of the interior were reconstructed to be as close to the original design as possible. (A few years after the saints left Nauvoo, a mob started a fire in the temple. A few years after that a tornado destroyed much of the exterior, so the temple was condemned and torn down.)

Mulholland Street-- where the majority of the hotels, restaurants, and shops are. We found a small diner with the best frozen custard! Yum!

This was the backyard of the Browning Home. The small white picket fence within the yard is where their young daughter was buried. The family found comfort from their view of the temple and knowing that they would be reunited with their sweet daughter again.


Seventies Hall


Nauvoo Grove-- where Joseph gave many of his sermons, including the famous "King Follett Discourse"


View of the temple from the grove

Our last night in Nauvoo we walked the "Trail of Hope" which extends down Parley Street to the Mississippi River. This is the street that the saints walked as they left Nauvoo in early 1846. As you walk the trail, there are plaques containing quotes from journals and letters of early pioneers.

When President Hinckley dedicated the Nauvoo Temple,he asked everyone to take a few minutes to “walk down Parley Street to the waterfront,” to the Mississippi River where the Saints departed Nauvoo as they began their westward trek. He asked people to leave behind the comfort of their air-conditioned cars and walk along this historic path. This was another highlight of the trip for me. As I read the plaques I was amazed with the faith and optimism of the saints.

Parley Street


Walking along the trail




Mississippi River waterfront




Our love of the saints and the Prophet Joseph Smith grew tremendously and we are so grateful for their sacrifices and examples. It was a great trip!!