Visiting Beautiful Nauvoo – Part 3 of 4

Monday morning we checked the girls in to EFY, and dad and Bonnie led my family and Natalie on a tour to Carthage Jail. This was, of course, another highlight of the trip. I found again and again that it was quite surreal being at these actual sites that had become almost legend in my mind, having heard about them all my life. I'm grateful my family could experience Carthage and that my teens now personally know the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith spent his final days.

Bonnie, Dad, Natalie, Eliah, and Daryl at Carthage Jail Visitor's Center Theater.

The second-story window from which Joseph Smith fell to his death after being ambushed and shot by an angry mob.

Throughout the rest of the week, dad and Bonnie worked their temple shifts and met up with us when they could for more shows and tours. It was fun to run into Meili and Abbie's EFY groups almost on a daily basis. The general size of historic Nauvoo is small, so this was inevitable. A really special day was the one we spent in the Nauvoo Temple. Dad arranged for us to be there while he and Bonnie worked in the baptistry. Daryl was able to really help out, performing confirmations and baptisms, and Eliah and I both were able to be baptized for family members on my mom's side. Natalie had done an earlier endowment session but was there also to watch and support us. Afterward dad and Bonnie showed us some unique and beautiful features of this temple.

Another noteworthy excursion was on the afternoon we four (Nat, Daryl, Eliah, and I) decided to drive the surrounding areas outside historic Nauvoo. Without even a site map, we kind of stumbled upon the Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds. After a short hike up a wooded hill and through a cobweb-filled wooden pavilion, we found the most enchanted, sacred spot. All of Nauvoo feels apart from the world, but this peaceful sanctuary felt completely isolated and protected. We walked quietly among the weather-worn tombstones and statues. This was, without a doubt, my favorite site. I must have been so caught up that I forgot to take a single picture. Here's one I found online:

Old Nauvoo Burial Grounds