Nauvoo Adventures

September 28
We were privileged to attend a temple session in Nauvoo first thing this morning. The temple is beautiful inside too. We asked to see the baptismal font which is the largest font in all of the temples. The glass in the windows was imported from France in order to get the old, wavy glass. The glass in the star windows near the top is red center with white rays and blue field. The colored glass came from Germany.

The baptismal is in the basement and from there one can look up through the circular staircase to a star window on the ceiling on the fourth floor. Spectacular!!

The offices, an assembly hall and entry are on the first floor with dressing rooms and chapel on the second floor. The endowment rooms are on the third floor. It was a wonderful morning.

After the session we ate breakfast and then toured the area first by oxen drawn wagon. Then by a wagon ride through Old Nauvoo where we saw many of the original homes and rode down by the river. It is a beautiful city. Third we went for a carriage ride (seemed more like another wagon ride to me) through the fields and roads to see where the farm/pasture lands were and who owned them. I was in my element hugging and petting the oxen and horses.

Oxen ride

Bill and Bob

View of the river from the Smith Family Cemetery

This statue is beside the river where the saints crossed. Lily pads.

Smith Family Cemetery

Joseph Jr, Emma, and Hyrum vault

Red Belgian team

Nephi and Lehi - Percherons

The trees in the area are hardwood but they grow so fast they rot in the middle. (Right pic)
Wood for homes in Nauvoo was logged in Wisconsin in pine forests and floated down the river.
The thorny tree is promo ate in the area. The thorns are strong and will go right through a shoe.
Imagine clearing these trees to build a home.

Stream running into the Mississippi. The rocks are limestone similar to what the original temple was built from.
The new temple was built using stones from Alabama.

On our way out of town we were magnetically drawn to the Fudge Factory. Yum!!!!!

Need I say more?

We next drove to Carthage. The tour was nice. I am always touched in my heart when I go to the upper room.

Love these barns. Large to small.

Carthage

Bedroom and food in jail.

Upper room. Joseph fell from the window left of the bed.
Bullet hole in the door through which Hyrum was shot.

Stairway.
Dungeon.
Fireplace in the upper room with our guides.

Summer kitchen and table where the jailor's family ate and Joseph and the others were invited to join them.

Standing under the upper room window

We then headed toward Kirtland, our next goal. It is too far to drive all the way so we are staying tonight in Geneseo Illinois, 180 miles west of Chicago.

Good night to all. Love you