2006 Church History Tour

I know this trip was two years ago, but for archiving purposes, I wanted to write about this trip. With Serena in Arkansas at the time, April in Texas, me in California and Tiff, Heather and Christy living in Arizona, it was worthwhile just to get everyone together. It was an awesome experience to be able to get a visual of all the sites that we read about in church history. (Just keep in mind that I had Leyna 6 months prior, April was 6 months pregnant, and Mom hadn't started her exercise/diet regime.)

This is us standing outside of the visitor's center in Nauvoo, Illinois.

Incarcerated in Liberty Jail with Joseph Smith were other Church leaders: Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin. During the winter months in which they were held in the basement jail, they suffered from intense cold and exposure to the elements because of the small slits in the walls that served as windows. The men slept on dirty straw and suffered poisoning attempts and insults. However, Joseph's biggest grievance was not his own condition of imprisonment but the knowledge that the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were suffering untold anguish that he could not prevent.

In April 1839, Joseph and his fellow prisoners were transported to Gallatin, Missouri, for a grand jury hearing. When that hearing was complete, the prisoners were told they would be moved to the jail in Boone County. While on the journey from Gallatin, the men guarding the Prophet and his friends allowed Joseph and the others to escape. The Church leaders, in a very weakened condition, soon caught up with the main body of the Church.

The Nauvoo Cafe that we ate at primarily because it was the only place available, but also because it was close and convenient.

Although only Joseph and Hyrum were under arrest for instigating a riot, John Taylor and Dr. Willard Richards remained with them in Carthage Jail. On 27 June 1844, the four men were held in the jail's upper bedroom. They noticed a large group of men with disguised faces and guns rush toward the jail. The four men tried to hold the door against the mob, but Hyrum was immediately shot and killed. The mob forced the door open just as Joseph turned to leap out of the window, perhaps to distract attention from his friends. He was shot twice in the back and twice in the chest as he fell from the second-story window. John Taylor was shot four times but miraculously survived. Willard Richards escaped without even a hole in his clothing. The Saints in Nauvoo grieved the loss of Joseph and Hyrum but remained at Nauvoo for almost two more years.

This is us standing in front of the window of which Joseph fell. I neglected to get a picture of the door that shows the original bullet holes from that historic day.