Nauvoo, Illinois

We went to Nauvoo for Memorial Day weekend! It was on our bucket list before we leave Kansas and move to Arizona in less than 2 months, whaaa? It was such a fun weekend filled with just our family and learning about my ancestors and our church history. If you haven't gone, go! We had a blast and everything was free, because, duh, it's run by the church. Except if you want to tour Joseph Smith's home, that costs money because it's run by the Community of Christ. Which we did! So here are pics from our trip!

 Our first night we stayed at my great great Uncle's home, Willard Richards (Richards is my maiden name) which is now a cute bed and breakfast. The beds were insanely comfortable! And it's located right in Nauvoo! So crazy and fun to stay at my ancestor's house. There were so many old pictures and books and little quotes and stories all around the house. One of them, which of course I forgot to take a picture of, told the story of when our Prophet Joseph Smith was martyred. Willard Richards was there, in Carthage jail with him, when an armed mob of men with painted faces stormed the jail and shot and killed Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum. John Taylor was shot 3 times as well. When Joseph Smith fell out the window, the mob immediately ran down the stairs and outside to see if he was dead. That's when Willard Richards grabbed John Taylor and hid him under the mattress in the cell, awaiting the mob to return. After a few minutes, someone outside yelled "The Mormons are coming!" and the mob fled.

What's crazy and amazing is that over a year before, Joseph Smith prophesied to Willard Richards that the time would come when he would not receive a hole in his robe, though balls (bullets) would fly around him like hail and friends would fall dead by his side. Willard Richards only had one nick on his ear by a bullet.

 Another thing I learned about Willard Richards is that he was the Prophet Joseph Smith's personal secretary.

 THIS BOY! On our wagon tour in Nauvoo, which he calls NABOO, and I'm like, this ain't star wars kid. Hahaha anyone? anyone? no? k.

 

 Always gotta bring our doggy

 Joseph Smith's house

 Smith cemetery: Emma, Joseph, and Hyrum,

 The mansion house, Joseph Smith's second home, right next door, that was used as a hotel when visit Nauvoo.

 Just goofing around

 This boy was not in the mood for anything at around 5pm. It was really great. not.

Kissy by the Mississippi

 Nauvoo Temple! It's huge!

 The Prophet's Last Ride before heading to Carthage Jail and surrendering himself.

This is Carthage Jail and the top window he fell out of. It's about 25 minutes from Nauvoo.

This trip was amazing and so enlightening and spiritual. I loved walking where the Prophet walked and where my ancestors walked. You may not see it now, but Nauvoo was such a large city at the time, it was challenging Chicago in population! 

If you don't know, the Mormons were previously living in Independence, Missouri. They only moved to Nauvoo because Governor Boggs of Missouri issued an Extermination Order to kill all Mormons. To say Freedom of religion was not respected back then would be a serious understatement. After the Prophet was killed, the Mormons then traveled west from Nauvoo to Utah! And it would not be such an amazing place as it is today without them!