I have wanted to visit Nauvoo for years now and about 6 months ago I approached my parents and asked them if they wanted to go on a trip to Nauvoo with me and the kids AND go visit the place of my birth . . . St. Louis! I was SO happy when they said YES and I began to plan out our week long trip!
The beautiful Nauvoo temple was one of the first things we saw when we drove into the town. It sits at the top of this hill when you view it from lower old town and it is so majestic and stately.
This gorgeous statue of Joseph and Hyrum was only steps away from our hotel door. It was a peaceful little park with a few old cabins and benches and the most amazing old trees!
K is for KELSEY!
These lights are where they hold the Nauvoo Pageant during July. I am SO glad we didn't come during pageant time. It wasn't crowded at all and we had most of the sites all to ourselves.
I had a special experience here I'd like to share. One morning on our trip, I woke up early to go on a walk by myself. I walked down the hill from the temple and found the Nauvoo Groves. It was a peaceful place that had pathways and various photographs of pioneers that you could read about along the pathways. I kept walking and found myself in a make-shift chapel in the woods complete with a podium and benches. After having read that Joseph Smith would often hold meetings in this grove when the weather was extremely warm or when the church meetinghouse was overflowing and they needed more space. So, I sat down on one of the benches and began to pray. I had prayed so hard that my daughter Kelsey would have a spiritual experience here in Nauvoo that would help her come to love Joseph Smith. She was on my mind. Her seminary teacher, unfortunately, confused her with some details about his life that are confusing to a teenager without focusing on the prophetic nature of this man. As I was praying in my heart, I began to imagine. I imagined Joseph Smith, the prophet, riding with his beloved Emma in a carriage then stepping out to address the congregation. I imagined him holding the Book of Mormon and walking up to the pulpit. As I pictured this scenario, my mind began to ask a question . . . "Would I have been one of the believers?" Would I have been one who sat in the back skeptical and unsure, questioning some of the things I had heard about the man Joseph. Or, would I have been on the front row with eager eyes waiting to hear the prophet speak having faith that he truly was a prophet of God? At that moment, I felt a rush of wind through the trees and then the Lord put a question into my heart: "Tamara, do you believe that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon? Do you believe he saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ?" I answered out loud with an affirmative YES! I BELIEVE!! Then, I felt the calming of the Holy Ghost whisper, "Then, all of your other questions don't matter. In due time, all will be made known unto you."
I felt such tremendous JOY surge through my body that I leaped up and began to run back to my children to tell them what I had just learned for myself. Now, I'm not a runner . . . but I RAN up the hill by the temple and I had such energy because I was filled with so much happiness! I found them all in their beds struggling with waking up and wanting to stay in bed longer. I hugged them all and with tears in my eyes, gathered them all together and bore testimony of the prophet Joseph Smith. When I was finished, I looked at Kelsey and she hugged me and said, "Oh, thank you for telling me this, Mom!" It was an experience I will NEVER forget and will always be grateful for.
Truly, the women's statue garden was a highlight for me on this trip!
John Taylor rode his horse all night to come back for this little rocking horse for his son. They had to leave it when they packed up to head West but his little 3 year old son cried so hard because he missed it so. What a sweet story!
The Young Performing Missionary on the right is Sean Worsley and I worked with him in the baptistry at the Gilbert Temple. Such a funny and talented guy!
I saw Randy Booth there because the Young Ambassadors were performing in Nauvoo!
Mom, Dad and I did an endowment session after the teenagers did baptisms for the dead. Truly it was a magnificent temple and so beautiful on the inside. They kept the same style as it was in the original temple and my mom and I kept oohing and ahhing at all the lace and pretty fixtures.
CARTHAGE JAIL
Inside the upper room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were shot and killed. Being in the same room and touching the bullet holes for myself was a surreal experience. We were standing on holy ground.
Locks in the Missippi River and Kelsey saying her morning prayers.
Kelsey and Spencer did baptisms for the dead and Hailey wanted to go inside so badly!
This was Joseph's home and their room was the one with the blue curtains.
The graves of Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum Smith.
Where the Relief Society was formed - upstairs in the Red Brick Store of Joseph Smith. Mom and I are both Relief Society presidents and it was fun to stand in the same place as those valiant women.
Enjoying a cold rootbeer to help with this humidity. Mississippi River in the background.
After sacrament meeting, we felt like we wanted to go do the Trail of Hope Walk before we left for St. Louis. It was such a moving experience to walk where those Saints walked and to stand at the edge of the Mississippi River, knowing what they had to leave behind. Such a spiritual moment for me.
The St. Louis Temple. Wow - it was gorgeous!
This is where my dad attended dental school - St. Louis University.
Here we are at the top of the St. Louis Arch. What a dream to finally be here and to share it with my parents!!
Of course, we had to try the famous Baked Ravioli!!
Here is the hospital where I was born in St. Louis.
This is the apartment where my parents brought me home from the hospital. It was like a treasure hunt driving around with mom trying to remember the streets. I can't believe she found it! We took out the old picture, matched the bricks and windows that were there 45 years ago and yep---it was a match!!
We loved going to Grant's Farm and seeing all of the beautiful Budweiser Horses!
This was a trip that I will never forget. My kids got along so well and it meant the world for me to have my parents with us. I am so thankful for them teaching me the gospel and that ancestors accepted the gospel many years ago so I could bring my children here and have them experience this!
