Nauvoo the Beautiful

What a beautiful place Nauvoo is. I'm so glad we came here. Tonight we ended our time in Nauvoo by going to the temple. It's decorated in the theme of the 1800's with some of the most beautiful furnishings and lightings. The colors of the wood work is dark cherry. The spiral staircase is gorgeous. After we came out, the sun was setting and we had the most beautiful view of the Mississippi River. There is a touching huge sculpture of Joseph and Hyrum on horses looking over their beloved Nauvoo on their way to Carthage Jail. Very moving. I loved the Mansion House. Very elegant. We saw the grave sites of Joseph, Emma, Hyrum, Joseph, Sr. and Lucy Mack Smith. A very moving walk was walking down Parley Street and reading several plaques of actual journal entries of Saints who were forced out of Nauvoo by the mobs as they waited to cross the Mississippi into Iowa during a miserably cold, snowy and rainy night. The trail is called "Trail of Hope". It is hard to not weep as I read those plaques and turned to look at the Nauvoo Temple and imagine the awful night the saints left their homes and this beautiful place. I even read the words of the midwife who states she delivered 9 babies that awful night. Very moving. I can't describe it. We are tired tonight after such a busy day. It was in the 90's and very humid. Tonight the weather stations are announcing tornado watches in Iowa and local areas. Yikes! Also Missouri where we are headed tomorrow. I hope the weather subsides so we can travel in safety. We didn't get to see everything, especially the shows, but we feel satisfied at what we saw. One thing I loved was seeing Mary Fielding Smith's temple clothing displayed in a glass case inside the temple. She was one of my heros. I loved it. Tomorrow, Liberty Jail, Far West and Independence. Can't wait to see those sites as well. This has been a wonderful trip so far!!!! Joanne