NAUVOO...(Part Four)

While we were in Nauvoo I so enjoyed the pleasant fresh air, the temperature was perfect. The colors of the trees with their Autumn splendor was beautiful to behold and it was so peaceful.

Ron looking at the guns designed and built by Johnathan Browning.

The Riser Boot and Shoe Shop...this man I am sure

made a ton of shoes and boots while he lived here.

Loved this nice bed in one of the homes.

This caught my eye...the slight breeze blowing the tall grass, and the old shed.

A well at one of the homes. As they were being driven out some of the women threw their beautiful dishes down the well to prevent the mobs from destroying them.

These pretty dishes are 200 years old. They belonged to Lucy Mack Smith, Joseph's mother.

Lucy's small but lovely home where she lived out her life.

This is the homestead home of Joseph and Emma Smith. It sits peacefully looking out over the Mississippi river. This was their first home, they lived here 3 years. If walls could talk, there would be stories of great love, babies born and babies who died as she struggled to be a mother. Theirs was a great love, that bound them for all of their life, and and for all eternity.

An old picture of their home, the well is still there to at this time.

This home looks out over the Mississippi River.... it is so peaceful here.

Here by their home, we saw their graves. After Joseph was martyred, and the saints went West, Emma remained here to care for Joseph's mother Lucy and I think she couldn't leave this place, the place where her husband had been killed and buried, and where her babies were buried. After a time she remarried and was married for 25 years. She lived her life out here and when she died, she wanted to be buried next to Joseph. And so she is, they are buried here and also Joseph's brother Hyrum , buried next to his dear brother Joseph.

~Their graves and their little home behind~

The prophet whose life was destroyed by his foes,

sleeps now where no hand may disturb his repose

'Til the trumpets of God drown the notes of the wave

And we see him arise from his unknown grave,

God bless that unknown grave.

Joseph's parents graves are nearby too.

Emma, as a young women was tall and striking, with piercing dark brown eyes. The women looked up to her and loved her. She lead out and taught them to be good and strong women. She taught them to be women of charity and not to tattle on one another in petty gossip. She said that when they were privy to private things, to keep them to themselves. She said; " The tongue can sometimes be an unruly member and ought to be controlled." She invited the sisters to "throw a cloak of charity over faults that might be apparent...instead of criticizing, to forgive. She urged them to do as the Savior did, to love and serve one another.


Good advise for each of us today I think.

Joseph and Emma's daughter Julia said; "After my father was martyred, my mothers eyes never smiled again." Yes, Emma went on and lived a good life and loved and cared for everyone in her life, but I am sure that her heart at times felt empty, and ached for her dearest Joseph.

The women wanted to be helpful and were doing many needful things. Joseph complimented them, but said that the Lord had something more in store for them. On March 17th, 1842, a group of 18 ladies gathered in the upper room of the Red Brick Store, for a meeting with Joseph.

He told them that women are naturally compassionate, that they readily see the needs of the people and are quick to extend comfort and assistance. He said that the Lord had directed that the women should be organized for the purpose of giving them strength or authority to express their benevolent natures and assist the priesthood in looking after the needs of the poor, or the lonely.

The women voted for Emma to be the President of their Nauvoo Female Relief Society.This organization is the oldest and the largest women's organization on the earth today.

~This is a quote by Joseph Smith's mother~

The Red Brick Store.. where the Women's Relief society was organized.

Looking out one of the windows of the Red Brick Store, at the Mississippi River.

The upstairs room of the Red Brick Store where the women's organization began.

A painting of The Mansion House that Joseph built for Emma. They didn't get to live in it very long, it was their final home, from here Joseph and Hyrum left for Carthage.

Pictures of Joseph and his brother Hyrum in the visitors center.

A statue of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith...

"They stood next to each other in life and were martyred at

the same time, side by side, in the Carthage jail."

The jail was built in 1839, in later years it was converted into a home,

in 1903 the church bought it and restored and dedicated it. There is

such a strong and peaceful spirit there now...it felt very sacred to be there.

~The keys to the jail cells~


On October 27th, 1838, Governor L.W. Boggs issued an extermination order on the Mormons. His intent was to force the Mormons to leave the state under threats of extermination. He said in this order...The Mormon's must be treated as enemies and must be exterminated or driven from the state. This gave the mobs all the excuse they needed to go after the Mormon people and their leaders.

The jailer at that time was a friend to Joseph and tried to keep the mobs and tormentors away from the men in the jail. He would put them in the back room where no one could get to them.

Later he put them in a more comfortable room and it was there that one night a mob of men with black painted faces and guns in hand, rushed in and up the stairs, shooting through the door of the room where Joseph and Hyrum were. Hyrum was shot in his cheekbone, near his nose and fell backwards exclaiming. "I am a dead man." Joseph rushed to his side crying. "Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum." As guns protruded through the opening crack in the door, John Taylor used his hickory stick to push the guns upward so they would hit the ceiling instead of their intended target. Finally, wounded terribly, John Taylor crawled under the bed. Willard Richards was behind the door.

Willard said that at this time, in an attempt to save the other men's lives, Joseph quickly moved to the window, as he did so he was shot from behind, he fell threw this window and to his death below. When the attackers saw this they ran down the stairs and outside to see, making sure that Joseph was dead. Because of Joseph's going to the window the other two men were saved.

Someone yelled, "The Mormon's are coming," (even though they were not) and the mob dispersed in every direction. The Mormon people never retaliated. As soon as the word was out that the prophet was dead, there were predictions that Mormonism was also dead. "Cut off at the head," they said. A newspaper article concluded: "Thus ends Mormonism."

The same door is still there and bares the bullet holes where the mob shot their way through. Twenty two years ago when I visited here the blood of the prophet was still in the wood beams of the floor. It has now been covered so that people who come can dwell on the spirit and not on the murders.

Here is where Joseph fell out the upper window and lay dead by the well.

Joseph Smith said; "This church will grow and nothing can stop it...No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. It will continue to flourish in righteousness until it has reached every country, every clime, and sounded in every ear." (And indeed it has and does even to this day.)

Pictures of the Carthage Jail at that time.

~Words given to Joseph by the Lord~

The ends of the earth shall inquire after thy name, and fools shall have thee in derision and hell shall rage against thee. While the pure in heart, and the wise, and the noble, and the virtuous, shall seek counsel, and authority, and blessings constantly from under thy hand. And thy people shall never be turned against thee by the testimony of traitors, and thy God shall stand by thee forever." (D&C 122: 1-4)

I know that Joseph Smith was God's prophet, and through him the Lord's church was restored to the earth. I am so thankful that the Saviors true and living church is on the earth again. I know that God continues to speak to his children through his prophets today. I know that Heavenly Father loves each and every one of his children and has provided a great plan of happiness for us to live by, so that we can return to live with him again. I know that the way the Savior taught is the way to live. He taught us to love one another as he loves us, and if we can do this, we will find so much happiness as we live on this earth, and in the life to come, as we live together in love.

There are so many good people on the earth today. At times it doesn't seem like it as we watch the news, but they are here living good lives, loving others and raising good families. I have found so very many here as I blog, and I express my love to each and every one of you, my dear friends. I think it is such a choice thing, that even though we may all believe differently, we can still have respect and love for one another...I think that is how the Savior would want us to be.