Nauvoo - We arrived!

Upon our arrival in Nauvoo, as we followed the highway along the Mississippi, not quite knowing what to expect, the road turned up a little hill and out popped the beautiful temple!

We had arrived!

It was splendidly gorgeous, even in the drizzly gray weather.

John and I were very grateful that we were able to attend a session. The outside doesn't do the inside any justice! It is breathtaking and I don't know if I've seen woodwork and craftsmanship and decor so beautiful.

Then we saw the show Sunset on the Mississippi which was moved inside to the Visitor's Center due to the rain and soggy grass.

On Wednesday morning, we took a tour of some of the properties that the Community of Christ (formerly known as the RLDS) owns. It is the only activity/tour in Nauvoo that has a fee and you also cannot take any pictures inside any of their buildings, even the visitors center, except for the Red Brick Store. I'm not quite sure why that is, but I found it to be very odd.

The Nauvoo House

Brooke, Miranda, Madison.

Waiting during the Community of Christ homes-tour. I love all the wildflowers and the view over the Mississippi.

This is the Red Brick Store and it is actually made of, well, red brick.

The view outside Joseph and Emma's home.

The Smith cemetery.

Inside the Red Brick Store (where pictures are allowed). This is where the Relief Society was organized and the first endowments were performed.

Part of our gang on the wagon tour.

Right after our CoC tour, we went on a wagon tour. It is a free tour pulled by a team of horses and narrated by an LDS missionary guide. It was really fun, and very informative - also a great way to see the town and learn where everything is.

Here are Ben-Jamin and Christian - cousins and best buds. We had them matching most of the time and they loved it - and it was easier to find them. It's our tradition to send a matching shirt for their birthdays. Orange is what Ben sent Christian in January.

All they cared about, once they saw each other, was being together. When we were touring alone, Christian could care less about what we were seeing or doing - he was only concerned with what Ben might be doing and when they could play again. Joe and Heather were smart to not tell Ben that he was going to be seeing Christian in Nauvoo until they arrived! That would have been a much longer drive across the country for them.

The Merrill gang in Nauvoo!!

Joe and Heather's Family, Matt and Heather's Family, Our Family and Grandma & Grandpa

22 in all.