Nauvoo day 3

Our last day was just a half day in Nauvoo as everyone had to catch their flights and Mom and Dad Doutre and Cami and Sean were driving to Ohio to see friends when she was on her mission there. We did the Trail of Hope which was some of the people from the pageant cast told stories of people's experience leaving Nauvoo for the last time. Each story down Parley Street led us closer and closer to the Mississippi River where the saints crossed to Iowa. The spirit was really felt in their stories.

Afterwards we did a quick tour through the Seventies Hall and we all got to find our ancestors who were some of the first Seventies of the Church. The Seventies Hall acted as the first missionary training center. It was funny because me and another guy there was looking for Benjamin F. Johnson and he's like, "you realize we're like cousins, right?"haha...gotta love polygamy ;)

Then we toured a couple of houses. We got to go to Wilford Woodruff's home. This one wasn't planned but I'm so glad we did because it was my favorite. Wilford Woodruff pleaded with the Lord to remember the sacrifice of this saints. Man, that broke my heart. They sacrificed so much! Of course the Lord would not forget and I'm going to try to not forget either.

I also loved that him and his Phoebe wrote letters to each...just like Austin and I. They had the original letters framed in one of the study rooms. When we saw that, Austin looked over and winked at me. :) Also, they had an original blanket that Phoebe quilted. It was still white and absolutely beautiful.

Last home we saw was Heber C. Kimball's home. The outside is gorgeous. His home was the start of the restoration and buying property of these home in the 60's because of his great grandson's efforts. I didn't realize that my ancestor, Willard Richards, was also a counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency, along with Heber C. Kimball.

Similar to a piano that Beethoven would play. In Heber's home.

We are so grateful for our experience in Nauvoo. One of the sister missionaries said, you can Google how the brick was made or any other facts about Nauvoo but you can't Google the Spirit of Nauvoo. You have to come and feel it yourself. So true.