Nauvoo

Nauvoo was just amazing! Within minutes of arriving in Nauvoo I recognized the spirit that was present throughout the area. People were cheerful, kind, willing to help. Everything seemed peaceful, and for the most part the weather cooperated. I was fortunate enough to be able to see the pageant. It was such a thought-provoking and remindful play! I felt as if I could actually imagine the pioneers draining and settling the land, building their homes, the temple, the gospel and each other. It's amazing how united the saints were in their purpose and in helping each other with all their problems and building each others faith. This visit to Nauvoo also helped me appreciate more fully the technology we have today. Our houses are built with insulation, heating and air conditioning. We don't need a summer kitchen to keep the heat out! We don't have to find ways to keep perishable foods cool, whether in a cellar or in the bottom of a well! Also, vehicles! From Nauvoo to Carthage it is roughly 30-40 miles. Now a days that is nothing, it's less than an hours drive! Then, it would have been days of traveling. Poor Emma, sending her husband to Carthage and asking if he would be returning only to be answered by silence. He was days away from her! Then, once there the only form of communication was letters! The postal service was unreliable, the time to get from one place to another was so much longer than it is today! We are so blessed with phones, email, texting, reliable postal serivce (for the most part)! It's so amazing everything we have. I love the spirit of Nauvoo, I love the feeling of sacrifice that is there. I join with President Hinckley in saying that EVERYONE should visit Nauvoo at least once in their lives. I'm grateful to live so close to have the opportunity to visit. I'm grateful for my own ancestors that sacrificed everything, including their lives, for the gospel of Jesus Christ. In summary of my experience: I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true gospel and that Joseph Smith was a prophet sent by God to restore the fulness of the gospel to the Earth. Joseph truly saw Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ, and I know that there is a prophet on the Earth today who recieves revelation from our Heavenly Father. I'm grateful for the testimony I have and for my family and the experiences which we shared this last week :)