Brian and I dropped our little "Squeaker" off with her grandparents and visited church history sites in Independence, MO and Nauvoo, IL this last week. It was pretty amazing to see the places that we had learned about all growing up and it really hit us how much the early saints sacrificed for our religion.
The first day we went to Liberty Jail in Independence where they have built the visitor center around the jail. The floor of the jail is original and everything else had been restored. This place had a very solemn but uplifting feeling. I think Brian just saw a ghost....
I am bummed this pic is blurry because I can see it had cute potential and I almost can't even tell I am pregnant in it :)
Here is Brian being a little sacrilegious, but can you really blame him? This temple is kinda crazy looking (it's the Community of Christ (formerly known as the RLDS) temple). We went to a "Pray Session" there and prayed for some country called Tumba I think. We really should have stuck around and checked out the museum because we heard later that they have a lot of cool Joseph and Emma Smith stuff. It was right across from the LDS visitor center so of course we hit it up.
Adam-ondi-ahman - Brian and I both thought this was a beautiful place. It is such pretty land and we took a very windy scenic route to get to it thanks to the GPS being set on "shortest distance" and not "fastest time." Good memories :) I am glad we survived it!
The next two days we spent at Nauvoo where the Saints built an amazing community before they were forced to leave. When we flew back into SLC it made me realize how much prettier and greener Nauvoo is compared to SLC. Those poor Saints probably really missed it and thought they got jipped with all the dust and tumbleweed!
For some reason I never realized Joseph and Emma and a lot of other Smith's are all buried in Nauvoo. We went on a tour that took us into their various homes. It was pretty incredible to be at Joseph Smith's grave.
There are SO many missionaries in this little town. Every place we went to in Nauvoo had two Elders or Sister missionaries to tell the history of the place. Brian was really excited to get his own brick from the masonry. We had no idea that there was so much to do there! We got to ride the horse and ox drawn wagons around the place.
The temple up on the hill is an incredible site. We went to a session and were chosen to be the witness couple because we were by far the youngest in that little group. There were so many beautiful murals in there and we also got to see the baptismal font, Joseph Smith's saber and the keys to the original Nauvoo temple. I just love that place!
The first night at Nauvoo we went to a play put on by the senior missionaries and it was pretty hilarious. I would love it if when Brian and I get older we go here on a mission.
We ate at the best buffet at the Hotel Nauvoo. Brian thought the raspberry pork was incredible and I kept going back for more chocolate mousse cake. Brian and I did our best to live it up and eat whatever we wanted on this vacation. You only live once.
The last day we were there we visited Carthage Jail. I am so thankful we got the chance to go to each of these places and stand where the prophet stood and feel the spirit so strong!
We bought Sadie this cute little bonnet. She loves playing dress up! Now I just need to make her a matching apron to go with it.
