After a very chaotic week in Chicago, our family decided to drive through some of the famous Church history sites on our way back to Dallas. It was a major change of pace for us and a much needed stress reliever.
We started off driving to Nauvoo after Sam finished his class on Friday. We blew in with the breeze right as the "Sunset on the Mississippi" show was beginning. We were so glad we were able to catch it. Other than the huge surplus of bugs everywhere, we really enjoyed the show. Everyone in our family was laughing through most of it. We liked the old pioneer ladies dancing with their walkers and the movie tryout spoof the best. It was 4 missionaries pretending to be doing an audition for a movie. The script was about making eggs--------. The funniest part was when the "director" told the cast members to slow it down. So they did... very v e r r r y slow. We loved it!

When the show was over, we drove to see the Nauvoo temple and then headed to our hotel for the night. The temple was beautiful! It is hard to believe that people could destroy something so stunning.

In the morning, Saturday, we ate breakfast and headed to Historic Nauvoo to catch the "Just Plain Anna Amanda" show and for a tour of the sites in the village. We all were amazed to see what the saints did day to day in the Family Living Center, how they worked to keep their horses fit for travel in the Webb Brothers' Blacksmith Shop, how they played at Pioneer Pastimes, and how they traveled on the Oxen and Wagon ride. They even made us some rope and a horseshoe for our family.

Our kids turned pioneer!




The End of the Trail of Hope
(Where the Saints crossed the frozen Mississippi)

Our whole family did not want to leave, but we had to because we wanted to see Carthage Jail before heading to Kansas City that afternoon.

It was well worth the stop. We all enjoyed the history we learned and saw about what our Prophet Joseph Smith experienced before he passed away. It was a very spiritual experience for all of us!
On Sunday morning, we were in Kansas City, Missouri. We traveled a short distance over to Liberty, Missouri to see Liberty Jail. Up until visiting Nauvoo the day before, I never knew about Liberty Jail. It was an amazing sight to see the place that our Prophet spent 1 very long and freezing cold winter with his followers for false charges. I am so surprised that he survived such horrid conditions. The kids were just as amazed.

From Liberty, we drove to Independence, Missouri to visit the Visitor's Center there. It was fantastic. We watched a "moving movie" about eternal families and walked through a replica pioneer village to show what is was like to live in Independence in the 1800's.

We had to cut our trip a little short because William fell and skinned both knees and an elbow on their gravel path. But we were able to see a First Edition Book of Mormon and several Book of Mormons printed in all sorts of languages before we headed home. It was a wonderful experience and a very educational one for all of us. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to see these sites. I am very glad the Church has preserved them for all to see and enjoy!