Trail of Hope

On the last day we were in Nauvoo I went along the Trail of Hope in the morning. What a peaceful and sureal experience. You can almost feel yourself walking with them as they leave there beautiful Nauvoo never to return again.

This is the path they took and if you look through the trees you can barely see the river.

I took some pictures of a couple of the plaques to remember the events that happened.

This is a picture looking back at the temple on the hill.

Can you imagine having to deliver NINE babies in one night in those conditions. I would hate to be the person having a baby in that situation and I really feel bad for that mid-wife.

This is farther down the path almost to the river. If you look really close you can barely see the Temple. It makes me tear up just thinking of everything they went through to build a place for them to live and stay as a people and had just finished the temple and now had to leave it. I am so greatful for the saints and everything they went through just so I could be a member today and be sealed to my family. What a comfort it is to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints that is lead by a modern day prophet.

Tysons Family History

I actually have no idea what these pictures are except that this property belonged to someone in Tysons family at one point. This is mainly for Janie so she can save the pictures to her computer.

Nauvoo Temple

The Nauvoo Temple is one of the prettiest temples in the world. I think partly beacause of when it was built and where it stands. The inside of it is so beautiful and breath taking. It is so simple and elegant. It's the complete opposite of the Salt Lake Temple. The inside is very plain and then you have the spiral staircase. All I can say is breath taking. I want to go back just to go to the temple and see the inside all over again.

They said that it is 98% of the orginal design. I think the only changes I could see were the Angel Moroni instead of the weather vane and the inside for modern conveniences.

You can't see in my pictures but just below the third level the size of stone changes to a larger size.

I never noticed until one evening I was in this gallery that has a picture I want so bad. Anyway, the lady working showed me a picture and pointed it out to me and then told me the story. When the Joseph Smith was killed they stoped work on the temple. Then, Brigham Young had a revelation that they were going to be leaving the valley and needed to finish the temple. So, Brigham Young told the people they needed to finish the temple as fast as they could and told them to use larger stones to speed up the process. They did the same thing with this temple and knowing that meant so much more when I looked at the temple again the next day.

This statue sits just below the temple on the hill. It's a statue of Joseph and Hyrum looking over the valley for the last time as they leave Nauvoo to go to Carthage Jail. There's a plaque below it that says something about them looking down on a beautiful valley of a wonderful people. I can't remember it exactly.

Natalia just wanted to climb the steps of the temple.

I have a picture of all of us together at the temple but I think Lexi took it on her camera because mine died. Natalia and I had matching dresses.

Jaden with Audra. He has the biggest crush on Audra and so we had to get a picture while Trevor wasn't looking. :)

Carthage Jailul

I think that out of all the places I was looking forward to going to it would have to be Carthage Jail. I get chills just thinking about the place. The church has made the grounds so beatiful and special. It's a great memorial to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

This is the pathway leading up to the jail. Along this path are a whole bunch of qoutes by the Prophet. It's an amazing walk because it prepares you spiritualy for what you will be seing.

This is the very first thing that you see on the path. It is Joseph Smiths account of his first vision. I can't even describe the spirit you feel in this spot.

One of the many qoutes on the path.

A statue of Joseph and Hyrum right outside the jail.

The back of the jail where Joseph fell from the top window.

Right before we enter the jail.

This picture is mostly for Janie. These nails are square, which means these floor boards are original to the jail.

Natalia was getting tired

When John Taylor was shot and the mob left. They were afraid that they would come back so they took him into the actual jail cell and hid him under the straw. This is what probably saved his life. The pressure from the straw and it pushing into his wound kept him from bleeding to death. I never knew that part of the story which was amazing.

Something else I learned was that the family lived in the Jail. It was actually a home to the sheriffs family. They had no problem with Joseph and found him a very nice person. They actually on many occasions would eat dinner with the family. It was rather hot upstairs so much of the time he would bring them downstairs to a small cell down their where it was cooler. On the day the Prophet was killed the jailer was out of the house and decided to put them upstairs while he was gone for fear that they would try to shoot him through the windows of the room. When the mob came in they stormed the house and the family immediatly left for fear of their lives. Then it continued with the account we know today. (Some of this might be slightly off because of poor memory.)

The window that Joseph fell out of.

This is the original door with the bullet holes in it. It was replaced at one point when the jail was bought for a house. Through journals they were able to find the orginal door and restore it to the same door frame.

The window that he fell from when he was shot.

This is the well that he fell by.

I love this gospel and I am so grateful for a Prophet that was willing to give his life for this gospel and for me. Because of him I am able to be a member of this church and have the knowledge and blessing to be sealed to my family for eternity.

Carthage Jail is a sad place because of what happened there. But, it has now become a sacred and holy place where you can physically and spiritually feel the testimony of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. If you can only see one thing around Nauvoo and you had to pick, Carthage Jail would have to be the place to visit.