Nauvoo Reunion Part 6

Finally on Saturday we were ready to start for home!  A last look at our home for the last 4 days!  These cabins are all original to the pioneers and relocated to this area.  I think a couple even came from Utah!

The smallest of the above cabins slept all the teen girls - McKenna, Camille, Sarah Anne and Caitlyn and Jeff's sister Jamalyn.

The brothers and boys spent the night in the middle cabin - Jeff, Evan, Jason and Jay (brothers) and Garrett, Ryan, Brandon, Landon and Zac.

The larger cabin slept Grandpa and Grandma, the moms and rest of kids - me, Lei Ann, Michelle, and Jessica (sisters-in-law) and Kimber, Addison, Leighton, Sadie, Mattie, Carly, Kyle, Shelby, Chelsea and Shalyse.  We had a full kitchen, large family room and plenty of room to spread out.

Before leaving Nauvoo, we stopped for a carriage ride at the Visitor Center.  This ride was different than the wagon ride as it took us out in the country side of Nauvoo.  The tour guide was Elder Grygla - Carolyn Grygla's husband (mom's cousin).  He did a great job of pointing out various spots that were special to Joseph so he could escape the hectic life of Nauvoo and spend a few quiet moments by himself. We spent a few moments on the ride in a grove, sang "I am a Child of God" and reflected in the quiet what it must have been like to have lived in Nauvoo so long ago.  Rick and Rod were our missionary horses for the trip. 

We left Nauvoo with some great memories, grateful to have spent the time in such a wonderful way with family and with the missionaries who made it an incredible trip! 

Shortly after leaving Nauvoo we passed a real Oscar Meier hot do car!  A real one!  We drove through Rome and near What Cheer, Iowa.  After about 5 hours we arrived in Council Bluffs Iowa.  Next stop - Kanesville Tabernacle!

 Three years after the Prophet Joseph Smith's death, the Saints were driven from Nauvoo and settled in temporary settlements in Iowa to prepare for their journey west.  This time is now known as the Grand Encampment.  It was in the Kanesville Tabernacle that Brigham Young was sustained as the next prophet, seer and revelator. Heber C. Kimball and Willard Richards were called as his counselors.  Many in the congregation witnessed that as Brigham spoke they not only heard Joseph Smith, they saw him in Brigham place!  This miracle confirmed to many Saints that the mantleship of the church is to be passed according to the Spirit and not along lineage lines. 

 The tabernacle which has been long gone was originally build in only 2 1/2 weeks during the middle of winter!  Around 1,000 members could fit in it.  The building was 60 ft. by 40 ft. and was quite impressive because it was one of the largest cabins ever built. The Tabernacle was dedicated on December 24, 1847.
The tabernacle was built over an underground stream and the logs rotted out so that the Tabernacle was only in use for 3-4 years before the good logs were used in other buildings.  The Church constructed a replica and dedicated it in 1996.

 Later that day same day we met up with Jeff's brother Jason at his home in Omaha, Nebraska. They treated us to the first homemade meal in almost a week - a great bbq with hamburgers and fresh veggies and fruit!  It was great!  We spent the night at a hotel and left Garrett and Kimber to play with cousins.  It was the least crowded night of sleep with only 3 kids in our room and not all 5!

 July 1st we were packed and all together again so we could make it to the Winter Quarter's Temple just a short distance away.  The visitor center there opens at 9 am every day so we went to enjoy a brief tour of that and walk around the temple - the 3rd and last in our trip!

The handcart Kimber and Addison pulled was easy to do until....

 the sister missionary put just one small smooth rock under the left wheel.  Then they had to use a little more effort!  She explained those early pioneers who often struggled over mile after mile to pull and push their meager belonging in such a cart, to almost give up, and to turn around and see no one when their load suddenly became much lighter.  She also likened this to our lives, that if we are mindful, we will notice that when we struggle we will feel relief from some unseen power. 

Outside the visitor center and across the street to the West is the Winter Quarters original cemetery.  Around 300 pioneers are buried here.  It also feels like sacred ground not only because of the sacrifice of many who were laid to rest here but because President Hinckley dedicated this ground to be part of the temple grounds when he dedicated the Winter Quarters temple back in 2001. 

  The trek across Iowa that first year took 131 days.  It was slow going because of the thawing ground, heavy rains and bountiful mud.  The first company made it to the Salt Lake Valley from Winter Quarters in only 111 days with twice the distance to travel!  This shows how hard it was for the Saints when they first left Nauvoo. 

 It was from Winter Quarters that 500 men were called to help fight in the Mexican War.  This turned out to be a blessing by providing some cash flow for the struggling Saints. 

 From Winter Quarters we then loaded up to see how far we could make it towards home before dark.  Let's just say we drove and drove and drove and drove and then drove some more! 

 We reached the Rocky Mountains by late afternoon and were just about through them when we made this pit stop on the West side of the Rocky's.  To be back in the mountains by a relatively small stream (ie: the Colorado River) was heavenly!  I never realized how much I adore the mountains and valleys of our part of the country!

By the time we reached Grand Junction, Colorado, it was 10 pm.  We decided to just keep going and arrived home around 2:30 am!  So glad we drove straight through!  It was worth it not having to lug luggage in and out of a motel again, so worth it to sleep in our own bed!  

Total miles for the day?  1,070!
Total for the trip?  3,065!

Loved the trip!  Loved the time spent with our family and in the temple with our kids!  It strengthened by testimony, reinforced my commitment to the gospel and increased my love for my family and for those early Saints!