Remember the excitement of wanting to serve a mission in Nauvoo. 
There is always something special about visiting Nauvoo and area.
There is always something special about visiting Nauvoo and area. Each time gets better to feel the spirit and touch the heart.
We traveled to Nauvoo with our dear friends, Arlene and Bryant Davis
We traveled to Nauvoo with our dear friends, Arlene and Bryant Davis
and visited other dear friends, Helen and Richard Wells
(they are serving a mission at the Nauvoo Temple)
Kansas City was our first stop, rented a car and drove to St. Louis. The baseball game experience was a restful delight on a beutiful evening. We stayed the first night in St. Louis and rode the metro to the game.
The next day as we traveled , we visited Springfield,Illinois the home of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. It was a lovely memorial park and well worth the visit.
Another stop was Hannibal, Missouri the boyhood home of Mark Twain, the author of the great stories of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. To feel the excitement and magic of Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and Becky Thatcher, we explored the cave, walked the historic downtown, and viewed the magnificent Mississippi river.
After making many circles in Quincy Illinois and having some good laughs, we found a nice Italian dinner. We stayed in Keokuk, Iowa for the next 3 nights.
The important sight to see in Carthage is the old Carthage Jail. Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, while under protection of Governor Ford were shot and killed. John Taylor was wounded , but Willard Richars was unhurt. The day after the murder Richards took the bodies back to Nauvoo for burial.
Everyday we watched delightful entertainment: Sunset On The Mississippi, High Hopes and River Boats, Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo, Just Plain Anna-Amanda. We attended the beautiful Nauvoo Temple and the Nauvoo First Ward. The tour of Old Nauvoo began at the Visitor's Center, then continued to restored homes, the Mansion House, the cemetary with the graves of Joseph and Hyrum Smith, wagon rides, walking the spiritual Trail of Hopes and the old temple stone quarry. We ate at Grandpa John's, Nauvoo Hotel famous Buffet and Magleby's Fresh
One of our favorite places to visit was peaceful, tranquil Adam-ondi-Ahman. It is unlike any other place, especially knowing, understanding and feeling the spirit of the eternal plan.
Far West, Liberty Jail, Independance Visitor Center and the temple lot all had special meaning knowing that the restoration of the Church transpired in these locations.
Far West, Liberty Jail, Independance Visitor Center and the temple lot all had special meaning knowing that the restoration of the Church transpired in these locations.
We finished the sights in Independance visiting the Truman Library, Frontier Trails Museum and Chicago Train Depot. Our final lunch was in a unique place called Trolly Inn and it was a trolly with a great lunch.
Another great trip, the weather perfect, the crowds pleasant, our travel companions delightful. We return home with renewed gratitude for the Restoration of the Gospel, Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith, The Book of Mormon, The temple and the faith of the all the Saints (and missionary work.)
Another great trip, the weather perfect, the crowds pleasant, our travel companions delightful. We return home with renewed gratitude for the Restoration of the Gospel, Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith, The Book of Mormon, The temple and the faith of the all the Saints (and missionary work.)
We had a fun May dinner to celebrate May events: 