Nauvoo Temple
As you can see, Nauvoo is truly beautiful.

This a log cabin where school was held. Inside the kids had a "lesson" using a slate board and chalk.
Don't the kids look thrilled to be "back in school".

This is the Printing Shop where the newspaper, "Times and Seasons" was printed.

1840's Post Office

The Browning Gun Shop.

Inside there is a display of firearms made by Jonathan Browning and his descendants. Browning opened his gunsmith shop in 1842 and it has grown into an international company that is still in operation today.

Pioneer wagons

We took a tour of Old Nauvoo in a horse drawn wagon. These are the horses and Sam got to pet them. He loved them! The white horse is named Sam, after Hyrum Smith's horse. The black horse is named Charlie, after Joseph Smith's horse. Sam said the white horse was his favorite because it had his name!

A view of the Nauvoo Temple from the wagon ride.

On the wagon tour we saw the Mansion House. This was Joseph Smith's home. Later a hotel wing was added because of the demand of visitors to see the Prophet. This is also were Joseph and Hyrum's bodies were brought after the martyrdom. Over 10,000 mourning saints came to pay their respects.

This is where the saints crossed the Mississippi River when they left Nauvoo heading westward towards the Salt Lake Valley.
We took a carriage ride up to Inspiration Point. This was a favorite spot of Joseph Smith. He came here to ponder and pray.

We went to the Family Living Center. Here we learned how candles were made, how bread was made and baked and about quilting and weaving.We also learned how barrels were made and how rope was made.

Here we are making rope. We were told that we had to work together to make the rope. The rope can't be made and won't be strong if we didn't work together as a family. They told us that our family is like the rope, we can't be a strong family if we don't work together. They gave us the rope we made to remind us to be a strong family and work together.

This is the Brickyard. Here we learned about brick-making and how many of the homes were made in Nauvoo.

This is the home of Sarah Granger Kimball. She organized a group of women who met in her home and sewed shirts for the men. From these meetings came the idea of women coming together and working for a charitable cause. The Female Relief Society was organized on

March 17,1842.
The Joseph and Hyrum Smith Memorial. This is were Joseph and Hyrum stopped as they left Nauvoo for Carthage, to face charges against them. Joseph gazed at the beautiful temple and toward the city of Nauvoo and said, "This is the loveliest place and the best people under the heavens". The monument is titled "Calm As A Summer's Morning". Joseph Smith said, "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter, but I am calm as a summer's morning".

A sunstone from the original Nauvoo Temple.

A replica sunstone at Zion's Mercantile.

A view of the Nauvoo Temple from Keokuk, Iowa. Our hotel was in Keokuk, which is about 15 miles southwest of Nauvoo.

On the steps of The Nauvoo Temple.

Nauvoo is a beautiful place to visit. There is so much to see and do there. Unfortunately, we didn't have time to see it all. We enjoyed our time there and hope to go back someday. The spirit is strong there and I felt such peace. I am thankful for my ancestors and the early saints who were forced out of their homes over and over again. Who traveled far, gave up there possessions, lost loved ones and endured many hardships so they and their posterity could live free to practice their faith and live the gospel they loved.