8 Hours in a Van and Nauvoo, Illinois

 May 4th was a heavy driving day. We left Ohio around 7:00am and arrived in Nauvoo at about 3:30 p.m. I am surprised my driving buddies put up with me the whole drive!

 The day was beautiful and of course our first stop was at the Nauvoo Temple. We decided to attend  a session later in the evening and I loved it!

 Before we went to the session at the temple we decided to travel around the town a bit. We stopped at Joseph and Emma Smith's home known as the mansion house. 

 We also stopped at Joseph and Emma's home, known as the Homestead. Joseph Smith III added on to the home after Joseph was martyred and the saints left Nauvoo.

 This was the amazing view of the Mississippi River from the homestead. It was a very peaceful place. Joseph and Hyrum were buried out in this field with a minimal marking after they were killed.

 Later Joseph and Hyrum's bodies were exhumed and buried along side Emma in the Smith Family Cemetery. Most of Hyrum's descendants are buried in the Salt Lake City Cemetery, but he remains in Nauvoo. The cemetery is right next to the Homestead. 

 Joseph Smith Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith are also buried in the Smith Family Cemetery. 

 We stopped in front of the Red Brick Store. The first endowments were received here and we returned to go inside on May 5th. 

 We also stopped where Joseph Smith's stable use to stand and the foundation still sits. 

The endowment session in the evening was much needed for me. I have not been to a session in a while and this was a beautiful way to end our first day in Nauvoo!

Kirkland and Hiram, Ohio

 On May 3rd, our first stop was the Kirkland Temple. The Kirkland Temple is owned by the Community of Christ Church and is not used for LDS Ordinances. You are able to tour the temple and learn a great deal about the history.

 Several revelations were obtained here. The temple dedication was in March 1836, it was 8 hours long, Sidney Rigdon gave a 2 1/2 hour talk and Joseph Smith gave the dedicatory prayer that is found in Section 109 of the Doctrine and Covenants, 

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/109?lang=eng.

Thousands of people were outside the temple in the cold during the dedication so a second dedication was held the next day and it lasted 10 hours. 

 Unfortunately the building is getting old, but the Community of Christ is doing what they can to maintain it. 

 While inside the temple we sang "The Spirit of God" as the saints did when the temple was dedicated. Then a guy, named Chris, in our group asked if he could play a hymn. He played "Nearer My God to Thee." This was the time I truly felt the spirit as we toured this temple. I am so thankful he shared his talent and that God smiled upon us!

 After the temple we went to the LDS Visitors Center nearby and toured the Newel K, Whitney Store and areas around it. Newel K. Whitney and his wife, Elizabeth, prayed to be shown the way and soon after Joseph Smith came to the store and told them they had prayed him here. 

 This was a checkers game made of dried corn in the Whitney store. The store is 80% original. There were other uses for the store prior to the LDS Church regaining ownership, including a bar.

 This is the first Bishop's Store House, located in the Whitney Store.

 Joseph also stayed with the Whitney's for a time in the store. It was here that the School of the Prophets was held and the Word of Wisdom was revealed.

 This was the Whitney Home. Yellow paint was a sign of wealth.

 The group also went to the saw mill and ashery. What I found most interesting, in both locations, was that nothing was ever wasted, including ashes. 

 In the Visitors Center we saw the transcript of the Word of Wisdom.

 This is a panoramic picture of the street with the Whitney Store in the background. The Red Building is a rebuilt Johnson's Inn that was originally located there.  

 Our next stop was the Issac Morley farm. None of the buildings remain, but in 1831 Isaac Morley invited the saints to live on his farm and built a home for Joseph and Emma. It was here that Joseph Smith stated, "...this Church will fill North and South America- it will fill the world."

 Our final stop in the Kirkland area was a river area known as the Stannard Quarry. This is where the stone for the Kirkland Temple was gathered. You can still see the chisel marks in the side of the stone. 

 Our last stop in Ohio was Hiram. This is where the John Johnson Farm is located. Joseph Smith stayed with the Johnsons during part of 1831-1832. In 1832 he was attacked by a mob where he and Sidney Rigdon were tarred and feathered. Joseph spoke the next day at the Bowery Site and three people were baptized. 

 The three degrees of glory, D&C 76, were revealed here. This door lead to the room where Joseph stayed and we were given the chance to open the same door Joseph did.

Elder Wheeler was the missionary who took us on a tour of the farm. The tour was 90 minutes, which is not the usual amount of time. I truly felt he was with us for a reason and I will not forget my experience while there. 

Waterloo, New York and Susquehanna, Pennsylvania

 On May 2nd our first stop was at the Peter Whitmer Farm located in Waterloo, New York. This was the place the church was officially organized in this small cabin.

 It was also near this farm that the Gold Plates were revealed to Oliver Cowdrey, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris by Moroni. 

 The church built this chapel near the cabin home in the late 1970's. In the 1980 General Conference President Kimball and President Hinckley broadcast their talks from this location in honor of the 150 year anniversary of the organization of the church. The links to the talks can be found here:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/04/introduction-to-the-proclamation?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/04/media/session_4_talk_2/2819783447001?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1980/04/remarks-and-dedication-of-the-fayette-new-york-buildings?lang=eng

 They also placed a time capsule at the farm that will be opened at the 200 year anniversary in April 2030. 

We had a great time in Waterloo, New York and we occasionally broke out into an ABBA song. 

 We went to the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania, to see the spot where the first baptism was performed by Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, following the restoration of the aaronic priesthood by John the Baptist. 

 We went to the home of Emma Hale Smith's parents and the home Joseph and Emma lived in while in Pennsylvania. This was a location where are great deal of the Book of Mormon was translated. 

 Emma's parents and Joseph and Emma's first born child are buried in a near by cemetery. The Joseph Smith family has taken the original headstones and placed them in modern, more stable headstones. 

Our final stop was a place called the Sugar Bush. This was an area of Maple Trees where is is believe the aaronic priesthood was restored. It was a beautiful place and a wonderful day!

 In the evening we ate at Cracker Barrel as we prepared to head to Kirkland, Ohio. Tatiana was a fun new friend in my group of travelers and we had to take some silly pictures.

The group sent all the left over biscuits and honey home with me, needless to say our hotel room got a present when we left the next day.