Nauvoo Day 3

This is the Lamoreaux house that we have been staying in for the last couple of days.  It was a wonderful home!  The history behind the family is pretty remarkable.  They were responsible for the saving of the Nauvoo bell and then later bringing it west to Utah.  It now hangs in a bell tower on Temple Square by the Relief Society Hall.  What a great story!

 This morning we said our goodbyes to the Lamoreaux house and headed to Carthage Jail.  We arrived half an hour early, only to find out that on Wednesdays it opens at 9:30 instead of 9.  But We are glad we got there as early as we did!  By the time the visitor center opened there were 4 buses and MANY cars full of people wanting to beat the rush.  While waiting for Carthage to open, we took the opportunity to snap some pictures and enjoy the immaculate grounds.



 After watching a short film on the events surrounding the jail, we were permitted to enter this building.   We walked up the stairs that the mob went up to when they killed our beloved prophet and others with him.  As they told the story I could just imagine seeing them with their guns running up the stairs to get the first shot.

We went upstairs to a room that left you feeling dark and depressed.  There wasn't a very good spirit there.  I couldn't imagine living my life in a place like that. 
 

 

We then went into the room where Joseph Smth was killed.  The room had a different feel from the one we just left.  You could feel that something of significance happened here.   I this room Joseph Smith and his faithful friends and servants spent their last night with him.  Some were willing to die for him.  Some did. 

This is the window that Joseph Smith fell through.

The doors are original in the house.  You can still see the bullet hole in the door that killed one young man.  Many tears were shed as they played a recording about those last few minutes of their life.  I am grateful for those that gave their life for their freedom, for their religion. 

 

 I hope my family was touched by the spirit as much as I was in this sacred place.

 After bidding farewell to Carthage we went back to Nauvoo for some souvenir shopping and lunch.  The kids found several treasures, and so did we!
We went back to the visitor center to watch a production called "The Promise".  Another great performance!  The energy and time these actors put into their shows are wonderful.

After the performance we went walking though the Women's Garden to look at all the statues.  My girls really enjoyed them.  

 We knew our time was running out on Nauvoo, so we went to 1 more place that we didn't get to visit the day before.  The boot shop.  All I could think of is the scripture "remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God. "

The process to make a pair of boots was pretty impressive.  They also had a neat display of the kinds of shoes and the tools to make them.

 A few went to see 1 or 2 more sites, but as you could tell by the look on Ethan's face, he was through with this kind of stuff for the day.

That evening we ran into Deanne and JD Smith as we watched our final performance together called Sunset by the Mississippi.  They included the kids in a parade, and had all the missionaries well represented from all of Nauvoo.  The band performed, the senior couples sang, and the young actors/actresses made us laugh.  It was a great way to end the evening!
A few of us decided to stay and watch the British Pageant one more time.  I really liked it the second time.  I was glad I brought a blanket though.  It got pretty chili tonight! 
We also ran into a familiar face.  Marlen Hansen!  What a surprise that was!  After the pageant they came over to our hotel for a photo.  It was a great way to spend our last night in Nauvoo!