Nauvoo Reunion Part 5

Chelsea, Addison, Carly

 June 29th, half of the adults woke early to go to the temple.  Most of all I think the thing that impressed me the most about going to the temple was service!  Yes the temple is beautiful and a remarkable tribute to those early Saints who sacrificed so much to build the original.  But my heart was so full as I realized the sacrifice of all the Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo today!  Service to those attending the temple, service at the visitor center and sites in Old Nauvoo, service by all the performers.  They go around with a smile, a helpful hand, and never complaining about the heat!

 After our session, Grandpa and Grandma, Jeff and myself, Jason and Lei Ann met Jay and Jamalyn in the baptistry with all the grand-kids 12 and older. Jason and Jay baptized our youth and Jeff and his dad confirmed them.  It was the icing on the cake to be able to do this with our kids.  LOVED IT!!!  I want to be there one day with each one of my children!

After the temple and lunch back at the cabins, we went in search of our Prairie Diamond (horse shoe ring), our Red Brick and just enjoyed a little shopping up in town.  We were treated to a delicious dinner at Hotel Nauvoo by Jim and Evalyn, went back up to the cabins and listened to family stories from Grandma and Grandpa.

 These cute cousins are waiting for the Trail of Hope to begin.  The Trail of Hope is down Parley's street in old Nauvoo.  It is sometimes called the Trail of Tears also.  It was this road that the Saints traveled down to cross the Mississippi on their exodus West.  We were fortunate to be in Nauvoo when the young missionaries guide visitors down this road giving them glimpses of what the Saints feelings and thoughts were regarding leaving their beloved home. 

 These two sisters sang so beautifully.  I have always felt that singing brings the Spirit so quickly.  Their voices were truly heavenly!

 A look back at what the Saints must have seen on their departure.  My phone doesn't take the clearest pictures - but still...what a difficult thing they were basically forced to do.

 Again so very blurry, but alas - it's not all blur!  Garrett is pointing to all the bugs!  Millions!  The end of the Trail of Hope - the Mississippi.

 After the Trail of Hope, we went up to the temple. 

 A bit of history of Nauvoo - Nauvoo was home to church members form 1839-1846.  Commerce was a failed community built on a swamp.  The Saints purchased this land and Joseph renamed it Nauvoo meaning beautiful in Hebrew. 

 As Saints flocked to the new community, Nauvoo grew to rival Chicago in size at that time.  A Charter was established allowing the Saints to maintain a militia and giving them the ability to be protected from being imprisoned for false charges.
 
 The Saints built a thriving city from the swamp.  Gardens, brickyards, blacksmiths dotted the city making it a desired location for merchants and tradesmen to do business.  A community hall, library and schools also increased the value of Nauvoo.  Sermons were often held outside to accommodate the large number of Saints. 

 Joseph began yet another temple and construction started in 1840.  The cost - $1,000,000!  The second temple actually constructed by the Saints was a beautiful building that could be seen from 20 miles away.  President Hinckley said of the temple:  "No effort was spared. No sacrifice was too great. Through the next five years men chiseled stone and laid footings and foundation, walls and ornamentation. Hundreds went to the north, there to live for a time to cut lumber, vast quantities of it, and then bind it together to form rafts which were floated down the river to Nauvoo. Beautiful moldings were cut from that lumber. Pennies were gathered to buy nails. Unimaginable sacrifice was made to procure glass. They were building a temple to God, and it had to be the very best of which they were capable."

 Joseph never did see the completed temple before his martyrdom, however precious temple ordinances were started before his death.  After his death, the Saints worked feverishly to complete those ordinances before they were forced to leave.  Before they left, more than 6,000 had received their endowment. 

 Back to the Trail of Hope, as the Saints began to leave, the Mississippi froze on February 4th, enabling the Saints to cross in safety and quickly before ensuing mobs could harm them. 

 After the temple was reconstructed and finished in June of 2002, President Hinckley said "How grateful I am, how profoundly grateful for what has happened. Today, facing west, on the high bluff overlooking the city of Nauvoo, thence across the Mississippi, and over the plains of Iowa, there stands Joseph’s temple, a magnificent house of God. Here in the Salt Lake Valley, facing east to that beautiful temple in Nauvoo, stands Brigham’s temple, the Salt Lake Temple. They look toward one another as bookends between which there are volumes that speak of the suffering, the sorrow, the sacrifice, even the deaths of thousands who made the long journey from the Mississippi River to the valley of the Great Salt Lake."

 A beautiful temple, a beautiful night!