Our Road Trip #5 - To Carthage Jail

I enjoyed our visit to Carthage. It seemed a quiet, small, peaceful town. Here at Carthage Jail where Joseph and his brother Hyrum were both martyred for what they believed, I couldn't help but reflect on these great men~ their faith, their obedience and their unwavering testimonies of the restoration of the gospel.

This photo of two of my sons, standing with Joseph and Hyrum was a poignant reminder not only of the great loss that the Saints felt at their death, but also the sorrow their mother experienced when she lost them both at once. . . I can't even imagine how difficult that would be for her and their wives and children. I stand in awe of these early Latter-Day Saints and what they faithfully endured.

Grant checks out the dark, gloomy jail cell in the upper story at Carthage Jail. Something that I didn't know before and learned on the tour was how kind the jailer and his family were to the prophet Joseph Smith, his brother Hyrum, Willard Richards and John Taylor as they were incarcerated there. The jailer and his family lived downstairs and were kind to the prophet and his companions; they were able to eat with them, and socialize with them. Because it was so hot in the jail cell, they were allowed to move into the jailer's bedroom, where there were windows for ventilation and the jailer and his family slept downstairs.

The bullet that went through this door killed Hyrum instantly, then
Joseph was shot four times as he leaped through this upper story window.

Brittany, Hunter, Jesse, Cori & Ray - at Carthage.

"Hey, guys, I think it's time to wake-up!" Gracie was kind to be the center pillow for Megan & Ethan. We went to a park so the kids could play and have a picnic of some "New York style" pizza after our visit to the jail, but found it just another cardboard pizza, expensive and tasteless . . . we'll stick with our good pizza here in the West! We all drove to Keokuk and spend the night . . . then it was hard, as always, to say good-bye to our Illinois family, but we had to part ways here . . . we drove west and they drove north.

Road Trip 4 - To Nauvoo

Going back to Nauvoo has been on my wish list since 1972 . . .

there is such a lovely, peaceful, joyful feeling there. The Saints left their beautiful Nauvoo back in 1845 . . . what joy they must feel now as the temple as been rebuilt and Nauvoo has been restored as a historic monument to their hope, hard work, dedication, dreams, and their sacrifice. We have many ancestors that lived in Nauvoo and helped build the temple there. . . the Rockwoods, Giffords, Clements, Elders, Stoddards, Hardy, Teeples, Rushtons, Hales and
Roundy were all there, contributing, raising their families, building a community from the swampy land near the Mississippi. I am so grateful for their faith, obedience, and courage.

The carriage and wagon rides were lots of fun for all of us. Grace, Ashton and Arianne are getting to know the horse that will be taking us out into the country to Inspiration Point. The whole area is so beautiful, lush and green ~ how the Saints must have loved it here!

Ethan and Megan ~ Joseph and Emma

The gardens are beautiful and well cared for.

This wonderful Women's Monument is a tribute to the important role women have in the world, influencing home, family and society.

Gracie . . . on her way to becoming . . .

The Family Living Center was one of our favorite places. Here, the Senior missionaries demonstrate how the pioneers made bread, spun wool, wove their cloth, made pottery, ropes, rugs and other necessities.

The Smith family cemetery - gave us time to contemplate and give thanks for a living prophet, for his loving family and all they sacrificed in the restoration of the gospel.

The Trail of Hope - - - I imagined this as a place where many tears were shed as the Saints looked back at their beloved city, yet they went forward with faith and hope across the icy river and on westward. The trail down Parleys Street to the Mississippi River, is marked with plaques containing journal and letter entries from the Saints as they left. They were insightful and poignant. "My last act in that precious spot was to tidy the rooms, sweep up the floor, and set the broom in its accustomed place behind the door. Then with emotions in my heart . . . I gently closed the door and faced an unknown future, faced it with faith in God . . ." Bathsheba Smith

Ethan, Megan, Ashton, Jessie, Grace, Cory & Hunter on the Trail of Hope

Ashton, Cory, Brittany & Hunter

Grace, Jessie, Cori and Grant

Arianne

Sandy & Ray ~ on the banks of the Mississippi

Another favorite place was Pioneer Pastimes, especially created for children~

well, yes, children of all ages! Grace & Cori

Grace, Hunter and Ashton trying out a wooden cradle

Grace and Ashton ~galloping away

Megan ~ demonstrating the Hoop Roll

A pioneer family ~ Brittany, Hunter, Ashton & Cory

Touring the restored homes and shops, we learned much about how things

were made and how skilled the artisans were. This was a tinsmith shop.

Upstairs in Joseph and Emma's Red Brick store, the Relief Society was first organized.

Arianne, Sandy and Brittany

The lovely Baywater home, where we stayed in Nauvoo.

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

"If I could be you, if you could be me

For just one hour, if we could find a way

To get inside each other's mind

If you could see you through my eyes

Instead your own ego

I believe you'd be

I believe you'd be surprised to see

That you've been blind

Walk a mile in my shoes

just walk a mile in my shoes

Before you abuse, criticize and accuse

Then walk a mile in my shoes. . ."

(words & music by Joe South, sung by Elvis Presley)

Here is a photo of some of the beautiful children in Kersa Ilalla, Ethiopia for whom we are collecting flip flops and t-shirts. So far, we have collected over 150 pairs of flip flops and more are coming in . . .