Candy Corn and My Peeps

 I got the chance to celebrate my birthday through the entire month of May. I went to Kris and Michelle's house on the night of my actual birthday. Claire picked out my "favorite" treat as a present, Candy Corn!

 Later in the week I hiked the Y with several of my nieces, nephews, sisters, and brothers. It is not a long hike but it is straight up and the kids were troopers on this very hot day!

 We had a great time and followed the hike with snow cones, a picnic in the park, and kickball! I could not ask for better!

 Saige wore boots for the hike and did not complain once. It was fun to watch her and Alaria head down the mountain.

I had the chance to have lunch with several friends this week and I have to say I feel so blessed by so many! Thanks to Deah, Denny, Camille, Mandy, Sarah, Melanie, Anna, and Breanne. Breanne gave me a fantastic Peeps gift to add to my collection. It includes Peep games, anyone want to play?

Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes! Thanks to family and friends for always making me feel so loved!

Going Home

This trip was one of the most memorable and life changing experiences of my life. I am so thankful for the new friends I made and the many things I learned.

As I returned to Utah and went to church on Sunday I saw this stone just outside my ward house. I could not help but take a picture in remembrance of the faith of my ancestors.

Most importantly I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the love He has shown to me throughout this experience and throughout my life. I am truly blessed!

Missouri Unfinished

 May 6th was the last day of our trip. We drove to Missouri and our first stop was at Haun's Mill, historically it is now believed to be Hawn's Mill.

 There are no markings there except the sign post and this stone. Saints were here when a mob came and killed somewhere between 15 and 17 Saints.

 Most the woman and children ran into the woods to hide. To me this was a tragic loss for no purpose.

 We did a complete 180 after Haun's Mill and went to Adam-Ondi-Ahman. This was my favorite part of the trip. This was the only place where we saw history, but more importantly future events will occur here and you can feel the spirit of that.

 There is no visitors center, just some restrooms and a couple of picnic tables. This area is known as Tower Hill and was named by Joseph Smith. We were given time to explore, ponder, and spend some time alone here. I truly recognized that the work is unfinished and that I am a part of the continued effort. The Lord's plan will roll forward with or without me and I felt a huge desire here to more proactively live my beliefs.

 There is no mission president at Adam-Ondi-Ahman. The First Presidency of the Church is the mission presidency. Members of the Seventy visit the area and talk to the 12 missionary couples every couple of months and return to report to the First Presidency.

 We ran into a couple who was serving there. I asked about their mission. They said that they maintain the grounds, work to improve the relationship with people in the community, and serve in a variety of other ways.

 We found four leaf clovers in Adam-Ondi-Ahman. I have never found one before and I kept the one I found there.

 We then went to Far West, Missouri. The corner stones of the temple are still placed there and it is interesting to see a place dedicated to a temple where a temple is yet to be.

 Our friend Emily Wilson parted ways with us when we went to Liberty Jail, so we had to take a picture of the whole group before she left.

 Liberty Jail is often referred to as a prison-temple. Joseph Smith was taught a great deal during a very challenging confinement for months here.

 This is the actual Liberty Jail key and the thickness of the walls of the prison.

 The door and windows left little to be desired and the winter weather made it painfully cold.

 Joseph and his brethren where held there from December 1838 - April 1839. The Saints were under an extermination order and were in the process of fleeing Missouri to Quincy, Illinois. There is no doubt that this was one of the most challenging times in the Prophet's life. Three important revelations were given here and are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 121-123.

 Our final stop was Independence, Missouri. Here a temple is to be built as well. It is a strange location. There is an LDS Visitors Center, it is the headquarters of the Community of Christ Church and the Church of Christ. The sign above is provided by the Church of Christ explaining where the stones marking the temple plot were found. However, we thought this was a funny plaque because we did not know what the stone that was found was for, when we first saw it. Needless to say, it gave us the giggles!

 In the LDS Visitors Center I took a picture of the sister missionary and sent it to her mother. Just for fun.

My honest feeling in Missouri was a huge sense that the work is unfinished and so much more in Missouri, as well as the church generally, needs to be done. I feel so grateful to have the fire of the gospel light a blaze in my heart!

A Birthday, Carthage, and Nauvoo, Illinois

 On May 5th we enjoyed seeing the sites of Carthage and Nauvoo, Illinois. Emily Wilson had a birthday so we made sure to celebrate with her all day! Chris made her a candy poster.

Our group consisted of Emily Wilson, Emily Earl, Jill Gurney, Bonnie Bradley, Tatiana Martins Inglezia, Chris Gunnell, and our tour guide Tom Pettit. Our first stop was Carthage Jail. This was the place Joseph and Hyrum Smith surrendered to and were martyred at on June 27, 1844.

 This is the original door of the room they were held in. The first shot was made through the door and the hole is still there. This was the fatal shot for Hyrum.

 Joseph was shot in the back, fell through this window and was shot in the front as well. The other two people, John Taylor and Willard Richards survived, but John Taylor was seriously wounded.

 This clock sits in the room at Carthage where Joseph and Hyrum died. It stays set at the time of their deaths.

 The top window is the one Joseph fell from. Carthage went through many owners and was used as a home after Joseph's death. The LDS Church as tried to restore it to it's truest form.

 This is the dungeon cell that the Smiths and other prisoners were suppose to be in. I am not sure why the jailer gave them a nice room in the house to stay. This was the place Willard Richard's hid John Taylor following the mob.

 Carthage Jail and the many other places I visited have led me to study the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith in a way I never have before.

 Back in Nauvoo we went to the visitor's center. This sun stone is from the original Nauvoo Temple.

 We went on a carriage ride through Nauvoo and learned about some of the saints you do not hear as much about, such as Samuel Smith. We stopped at one point and sang "I am a Child of God." This was the last song and words I ever heard Mom say before she died and I like to think she had a hand in having us sing it.

 The Sarah Granger Kimball Home was locked, but this was the house where the seeds of Relief Society were born.

 The Kimballs had an amazing view of the temple.

 We went into the city of Nauvoo and I saw this very funny stroller in front of, you guessed it, the Public Library! Yes, no matter where I go I find it!

 We visited Lucy Mack Smith's home where most of her original china is still there.

 We went to the Brick Yard because Bonnie had ancestors who helped in the making of the bricks and it was very interesting too! I got to bring a Nauvoo brick home.

 We visited the Brigham Young home and saw a list on the wall of things required for the trek west.

 We went back to the Red Brick Store and were allowed to go upstairs to where the first endowments were performed. I was reminded how blessed I am to have temples so close to me.

 We went to the Blacksmith Shop and learned about making wagon wheels, horse shoes, and diamond nail rings. One thing I learned here is that many saints took beehives on their covered wagons. I am not sure quite how that worked but I was impressed.

 The Blacksmith Shop had the largest Bellows I have ever seen!

 I was able to take a mini horse shoe and diamond nail ring at the blacksmith shop.

 Chris wanted to find out about his ancestors so we went to the records office. I am so glad we did because a distant relative was there and able to give him so much information about his ancestors, an awesome experience! After we stopped at the John Taylor home but were too late to go in, it did not matter because the experience at the records office was worth it! 

 Finally we walked the Trail of Hope where the saints lined up their wagons and waited to cross the Mississippi River. Some of the saints sat on this street in the cold for weeks. This was one of my favorite parts of Nauvoo.

 A couple of favorite quotes along the Trail of Hope.

 This statute of Brigham and Joseph is at the end of the Trail of Hope and is situated very appropriately!

 This was a replica of the raft used to move the wagons across the Mississippi, one at a time! I am unsure if there was more than one, but it would still be a huge process!

 The Mississippi River with my new friend, Jill Gurney.

 In the evening we watched the sunset at the Nauvoo Temple. I had a great deal of appreciation for Joseph Smith as I read the words of the statute below. Quoting Joseph it said:  “This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens; little do they know the trials that await them.”

Even to the end Joseph was focused on the people he loved. He knew he would not return. He reminds me, with his statement on this statute, that true charity comes in the deep love we feel for those around us, and the sacrifice we make for truth.