Veteran's Weekend in Nauvoo and Carthage Illinois

 Here in Liberty, Missouri area we are among so many historically significant sites, both from the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and U.S. History-namely the Civil War. Our family has visited nearly all of them. Another historical site, Nauvoo, Illinois, is a short 4 hour drive for us. The last time Brian and I were there was in the 1980s and things have changed much since then and we wanted to go see the updated visitor's center and surrounding buildings. So since Friday was Veteran's Day and our son-in-law, John, had the day off we decided to load up two cars and go for the weekend. 

We picked a great weekend to visit--it was extremely cold and started to snow as we were there. That meant Nauvoo was very empty which was nice to miss the crowds, but the cold felt like it went right through you and the wind coming off the Mississippi River was frigid. It really helped me understand what those early Saints went through as they were forced out of their beloved Nauvoo and crossed the river in the cold winter. 

Our first stop was the Nauvoo temple. Brian and I and Audrey and John were able to go while Eric, Lucy, and Peter stayed with Ollie. The temple is incredibly beautiful and I felt such calm and peace while I was there. When we were done Audrey and John took Ollie and went to the Airbnb to make dinner and Eric, Lucy, and Peter were able to come in and do baptisms. 

We spent a fun night playing games and enjoyed being with each other. The next morning we headed down the street to the city of Nauvoo. The Visitor's Center is large and has so many things to look at and do. Our first stop was at the Lands and Records desk. Both Brian and I and John have ancestors who were born, lived, and died in Nauvoo. The senior missionary (who is from Tooele, Utah which is where my mom grew up and knows my cousin well!) looked up their names on a database and was able to print out a map of where they lived. We found out that Brian's 2nd great grandfather and my 4th great grandfather lived right next door to each other in Nauvoo!

We drove around and saw the land they lived on. Brian and my ancestor's land is mostly under the Mississippi River now, but it was still amazing to walk where they may have walked. 

With the cold and wind we didn't see everything there was to see--we definitely need to go back! We did see the oxen since my grandson Ollie loves cows!  They were so gentle and were named Jim and Joe. The missionary couple yoked them for us and took us on a small ox cart ride, which, have I mentioned, was SO cold!  They were from Star Valley, Wyoming and Brian and the husband knew some of the same people which was a great connection!  Even these seasoned Wyomingites thought it was cold!  

We stopped at a small café for lunch and then drove 30 minutes to Carthage, Illinois, where the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed. It was a lovely peaceful sacred place. 

We then headed back home. It was a wonderful two days and we are definitely planning on going back when it's warmer!!