Well I'd never been to po-dunk America until I arrived here. Nauvoo is truly in the whoop whoops or back end of nowhere, with flies everywhere! This was our longest stay in any one place (4 days). Deldon's parents hired 2 big houses to put us all up, which was great fun for the kids and adults alike- very noisy though. My parents drove down from Chicago to spend the weekend with us as well. There is so much to see and do in Nauvoo, I don't even know where to begin. It is a special place, and my favourite of all the places we saw. This sounds strange, but it's almost as if you can sense the spirit of the pioneers that lived there. I somehow felt more connected to them by the time it came to leave. I am so glad we visited since the Nauvoo Temple has been rebuilt, words can't describe the presence of that building. I loved when at the end of the pageant they lit up the Temple which lies up on a hill behind the stage, and what a blessing it was to be able to attend an endownment session there.
I love this quote from Pres Hinckley:
"How grateful I am, how profoundly grateful for what has happened. Today, facing west, on the high bluff overlooking the city of Nauvoo, thence across the Mississippi, and over the plains of Iowa, there stands Joseph’s temple, a magnificent house of God. Here in the Salt Lake Valley, facing east to that beautiful temple in Nauvoo, stands Brigham’s temple, the Salt Lake Temple. They look toward one another as bookends between which there are volumes that speak of the suffering, the sorrow, the sacrifice, even the deaths of thousands who made the long journey from the Mississippi River to the valley of the Great Salt Lake". I can't even imagine the faith they must have had to leave their beautiful city and homes behind. It must have been an overwhelming experience, I was constantly wondering if I would have had the faith and physical strength to do it?
Samantha and daddy on a wagon ride that takes you around all the main sites of Nauvoo, it's great as you can decide what you want to go back and see on foot, as there is so much.
This was taken at the pioneer games, held every day for the kids to come and learn and see some of the typical games the pioneer kids would have played.
Pre -Pageant activities are fantastic! This is a mini handcart ride, the girls were so freaked out I had to get in the cart with them, most painful bumpy experience, not recommended for more than 60 seconds.
Sophie loved the pioneer dancing, she even found herself a partner! I had a go with Samantha, it was great fun, they had a live band playing the traditional dance music and dancers intermingled amongst us so we could pick up the dances quickly.
Navuoo visit to be continued.........
It was here that the First Presidency of the Church was given the keys of the kingdom, and the School of the Prophets first met in a room above this store. I had to miss that part of the tour as Sophie and Samantha needed a break, but one of the sister missionaries kindly took me up to the room where the school of the prophets was held after everyone else came out. I felt it a privilege to stand in that room, where so much learning, revelations, and visions were had. 
Another exciting moment in the day was when I saw Sister Victoria Hutchinson coming towards me. She grew up in my home ward and is serving a mission at the Kirtland Historic sites. I was so happy to see her, chat for a little while. and to give her a hug from her mum.
After lunch Samantha went back to the hotel with Grandma and Papa Van to swim and we went on a tour of the Kirtland Temple. now owned by the Community of Christ (RLDS). I was so impressed by the beauty of the Kirtland Temple, and loved the 30 minutes or so that we were blessed to walk through it. My brother-in-law Darren asked if we could sing The spirit of God whilst in there, it was the perfect way to end our time in that once House of the Lord.
At dinner time a few of us went out to the Isaac Morley Farm where Joseph and Emma Smith lived from March until September 1831. The first high priests were ordained here, Joseph worked on the Joseph Smith Translation at the farm, and a number of revelations were received there. We listened to a couple tell us the history of this man, family, and his farm, then found some logs to sit on where Deldon's parents shared some of the revelations received there. Sadly we ran out of time to go out to the John Johnson Farm (where Joseph Smith was tarred and feathered). But what a great day we had in Kirtland, it's a beautiful place and the Temple couldn't not be in a more perfect setting. How sad it must have been for the Saints to leave it behind. The next day we left our hotel just before 7:30 a.m and rolled in to Nauvoo shortly before 7pm that night. I had been dreading this 600 miles treck for months, but the girls did brilliant, no doubt thanks to the dvd player.
