NAUVOO...(part three)

There is a street in Nauvoo called Parley Street, and on one end of this street

is a trail that goes down to the Mississippi river. It used to be called the trail of

tears but now it is called Trail of Hope.

It is a trail that launched the great settling

of the West. It tells an inspiring story of the efforts of the pioneers who left their

homes in the middle of the winter and began their trek to the Great Salt Lake.

Every February, there is an exodus commemoration walk and program held there.

People walk down Parley street in weather that is so cold, (like 2 degrees) they do this

to remember those that have gone on before to make a better way for us.

The difference is, the people of today are dressed in the warmest coats, boots , hats
and gloves possible. The pioneers did it with the most meager clothing and under
the most strenuous and stressful conditions of being driven out in the dark of night.

Along this trail there are little parts of people journals

displayed for us to read. I loved this one because it tells

of the strength and spunk of women. Who says equal

rights for women is a recent thing? I think there have

been strong women all along, this speaks to my heart.

I so admire the strong women at this time. They didn't

have it easy and they willingly did what had to be done.

Ron and I walked the Trail of Hope just at sunset, we were the

only ones on the trail. There was such a feeling there as we walked

along quietly reading each piece of diary. Our hearts were with them

as we walked there. I thought of what they were going through and what

they were leaving behind. I turned around to look, wondering if they had

looked back to see.....

This...Yes, I am sure they looked back to see their beloved Temple.

The temple they had struggled to build and now had to leave behind.
What would happen to it? What would happen to their beautiful Nauvoo?
With hearts full of faith and trust in the Lord they moved on, on across a
frozen river in the middle of February, headed west not knowing exactly
where they were going but knowing that the Lord knew and would lead the way.

This is how some of the others crossed as the river began to melt.

This is where they crossed that night on the frozen river.

A statue of Joseph Smith showing Brigham Young the way Westward.

This was a very special experience for Ron and I to share.

Restored post office and print shop

The name of Browning has become synonymous with fine guns. In this shop

we saw a fine display of firearms made by Jonathan and his descendants.

We went back at sunset to get some pictures here. There was

a wonderful feeling here again, so beautiful and so peaceful.

This statue is called..."Calm as a Summer's Morn"...it is so beautiful, it is a
11 foot tall bronze statue of Joseph and Hyrum... on their way to Carthage.

~Sunset on the Mississippi~

We stayed in this good man's home one night. It is now called

The Willard Richards Inn. Willard Richards was the private

secretary to Joseph Smith and he was with him right up to the

end. He was with Joseph and Hyrum in the Carthage jail and was

a witness of their martyrdom. Willard was a good and a loyal man.

His home has been restored and it is so beautiful decorated in the old Nauvoo style.

Special attention has been given to furniture, linens, and the colors of each guest room.

It is a wonderfully comfortable and very memorable place to stay.

It sits on nearly two-acres and is adorned with giant 100-year old shade trees and is a

peaceful, quiet place to stay. I felt very blessed to be able to stay in this beautiful home.
The Inn Keeper was a lady named Karen and I consider her my friend. She was so warm
and kind to us, I felt that I had come to stay with a very dear friend. I connected with her
on a spiritual level... the best level of all I think. I hope to be her friend.

If you want to read about it, go here:
www.tripadvisor.com

We were the only guests this night so

we had the whole place to ourselves.

Many meetings were held in this home with the Prophet and apostles.

Joseph Smith wrote his history in this home. I could hardly wait to get

home and read it again....His words: "I was laboring under the extreme

difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one

day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads,

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Joseph said; "Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the
heart of man than this did at this time to mine." And the rest is history, I hope
you will go and read it, it is powerful and it is true.

One of the cute little windows in our room, I

loved how the vines had been growing on it.

The "Nauvoo Room" where we stayed. It was up on the

third floor and I could see the temple from it's windows.

Looking out the window into the back yard.

The home if full of pioneer treasures.

The one side of the home with the brick chimney.

There is a beautiful old cellar under the house where

they stored food and drink and goods and supplies.

A man was there working on things and he took us down to see it.

There was the cutest little bat hanging on the ceiling up in the corner.

Another home that has been restored, it was so

fun to take tours through all of these homes.

I loved this chair/rocker where a mom could

sit with her baby and yet get some work done.

The beautiful glow of this lantern caught my eye.

A lady's lovely dishes... restored.

A cute little child's room and toys.

The Print Shop...we learned how they set the tiny type and how they printed

their newspapers "The Times And Seasons" and "The Nauvoo Neighbor."

A beautiful organ...they were a refined people and

they loved music, plays, dancing and education.

A little girls doll

A little girls bonnet

A dear father went back after they had been driven out

because his little son was crying for his beloved horse. He

got it for him, and years later this same little horse was given

back to the man's original home, in remembrance of a good

and kind father.

The post office...it was a combined post office and store.

I took this picture as I stood looking out this window's old wavy glass.

I loved the beauty and the feeling of it...it told a beautiful
story of a great people... my people, of old Nauvoo.