We were able to talk one of the missionaries into showing us a movie out of turn since the schedules were all thrown off anyway. They showed us a movie about the Prophet Joseph Smith that played at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building a couple of years ago. I think it is called Joseph Smith Prophet of the Restoration. It is an amazing and moving movie. Several times during the movie I tried to put myself in the Prophet's shoes and each time I came up short (no pun intended). He was an amazing man, prophet, and leader.
The wagon ride was fun. One of the senior missionaries narrated while Ben and Rocky (the horses) did all the work. We just got to sit there and have things pointed out to us. The following picture is one of the Nauvoo groves in which outdoor meetings were held.
Along Parley Street to the Mississippi River is a trail called the Trail of Hope (formerly called the Trail of Sorrow. The Saint marched down Parley Street to the river to cross over to Montrose during the exodus. The trail contains plaques with statements from exodus participants. (This cow was watching us as if we were the items of interest.
They offered covered wagon rides pulled by oxen, but we didn't get down that far. So much to do and so little time.
This is a statue of Joseph and Brigham at the Pioneer Memorial and Exodus to Greatness. This is the point at which they crossed the river to Montrose, IA.
This is a picture of the temple taken from the wagon. This is from the "flats" where most of the Old Nauvoo restoration has taken place.
You can't read the sign, but this carriage was once owned by Heber C Kimball. We wound up taking Heber's picture a lot. When the missionaries would get curious about what we were doing and we would explain that we were taking Heber C's picture with Heber C's stuff, they would get excited and start treating Heber special. And you go from house to shop to house, all with different people, all who need an explanation, all who think it is neat and treat him special for their 15 to 20 minutes. It go to the point that the first thing out of his mouth was, "I'm Heber C." I felt bad for the other kids. We realized today the Heber C Kimball's wife was named Anna and, of course, Spencer W was his descendant. We are trying to find a Rachel link.
The kids got to help make rope.
This is obviously the Heber C Kimball home. This house was cool for several reasons: it is historical, it is big and comfortable, and it started it all. Heber's great grandson bought this home in 1954 and restored it intending to use it as a summer home for his family, but it became a popular tourist attraction so he started a Nauvoo restoration society and began the work that has brought us what we have today.
Sorry, no pictures of the Smith properties. They are owned by the Community of Christ Church (formerly the RLDS). They do not allow pictures in the Smith properties. They do put on a good tour (the introductory video is a little different). It was cool to see the places and even some of the original furniture. 
It's been a long day and I am tired. And because of the slow internet connection in the hotel, I have had to type much of this twice. I am going to bed now.
Sorry, no pictures of the Smith properties. They are owned by the Community of Christ Church (formerly the RLDS). They do not allow pictures in the Smith properties. They do put on a good tour (the introductory video is a little different). It was cool to see the places and even some of the original furniture.
After we got done with all of this, we made it back to the hotel too late for dinner (it was after 5:00 pm). So while I headed to the temple, Jen and the kids loaded up to head for the next town over to get some dinner. The temple was AMAZING! It is beautiful. It is old school so it has different rooms for the different steps in progression. There are three different murals in three different rooms.Unfortunately, the early bird gets the front of the room, so I didn't get to see as much of the murals as I would like to have.
As a follow up to a comment I made earlier, I was pondering some of the day's events while in the temple and I thought of the video from this morning. While I will never measure up to the Prophet, I realized that who he was, he owed to the Lord. And the Lord is willing to help me overcome my shortcomings, too.
Before the temple session, I had a discussion with the officiator during which I expressed a desire to see the baptistry. After the session, he found me in the locker room and offered to escort me to the baptistry. I also got to see the sword Joseph gave to Brother Allred. It is in the President's office. What a great trip and what a fabulous day.
It's been a long day and I am tired. And because of the slow internet connection in the hotel, I have had to type much of this twice. I am going to bed now.
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