ROADTRIPPIN - THE "OTHER HALF" OF NAUVOO

Mansion House

The martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum in June 1844, left the Saints with a terrible sense of loss. And despite the expectation that the loss of these leaders would cause the church to crumble, just the opposite was true. Saints continue to flock to Nauvoo, and this small city once rivaled Chicago in population. So, the persecution continued and increased.

   Eventually, with their lives in constant danger and the Missouri Executive Order 44 in full effect (which made it legal to kill Mormons on-the-spot, no-questions-asked), the Saints were directed by Brigham Young that it was time for them to continue west. Much of what was left behind didn’t survive, although an impressive amount did. The Mormon Church has purchased much of the Old Nauvoo area, to preserve as historic sites open to the public (for free).

   In 1846, a small group stayed in Nauvoo, including the widow of Joseph – who was pregnant at the time of Joseph’s death. Years later, Joseph & Emma’s eldest son, Joseph III became the leader of a “New Organization” based upon the same principles as the original Mormon church. This was later called the Reorganized LDS Church, and is now known as the Community of Christ church.

  While the Mormon Church owns much of Old Nauvoo, the Community of Christ owns a significant portion still also. And they have done a beautiful job of maintaining and restoring the areas that they own. They have a beautiful new chapel, and have built a Visitor’s Center – open to everyone. For a modest $4 donation (used to continue to preserve these historic sites) they will take you on a Walking Tour. You start with a movie, then walk down to a few original buildings – with a history lesson, of course.

   And then you get to go into the Original Smith Family Homestead, a log cabin, and the first home of Joseph & Emma in Nauvoo. Behind this cabin is where the bodies of the slain Joseph & Hyrum were originally buried, in an unmarked grave so as to not be disturbed by those persecuting the Saints. Later the bodies were exhumed and reburied with a beautiful granite marker – Joseph in the center, with Hyrum on his right and Emma on his left. Now a beautiful little Smith Family Cemetery takes up a corner of this homestead, with other members of the Smith Family buried there too.

   Across the street is the Mansion House, the last home that Joseph & Emma shared, which still has some original artifacts. Originally built with a Hotel wing to accommodate the many guest constantly arriving in Nauvoo, the family later made some modifications. The original main part of the home is still intact, and is beautiful.

  Just down the block is the Red Brick Store. Although the original was torn down in 1890 (due to disrepair), a beautiful recreation now stands in its place. Joseph’s Office and other rooms are recreated in detail – including the Upper Room, true to how it looked when the first Relief Society was organized there in 1842. The lower floor is now a “General Store” where you can purchase period-type toys, treats, décor – and a good selection of books about the history of Nauvoo.

  I strongly recommend that you make it to both sections of Nauvoo – they share a history. And both churches, although some beliefs continue to be shared while others have changed in the past 175 years – they both share one important belief: Joseph Smith was inspired of God, and the work that he did, the influence he had on the lives on the Saints in Nauvoo, and the tragedy of his murder – those are things that are undeniable. And both believe that it’s a history important to preserve and teach to future generations. And both do so beautifully and in harmony.

ROADTRIPPIN - HITTING THE RIDES IN NAUVOO

Two really big horses, my "big" sister Fran, and me.

One advantage to having a sister that is a missionary in Nauvoo is that she knows every single thing there is to do there – and yes, it is a short list. So I sneaked her away from her mission (at the Family History Center) for a few hours, and we went on all the Rides.

   OK, so it might not be quite the type of Rides that you are expecting – but there are a few Pioneer-style Rides.

  First, there is the Oxen Ride. This is a ride in an Oxen-pulled Wagon, with real oxen. These are some pretty big animals. The Oxen Team Lead (the guy in charge of the animals & ride) walks along side the wagon, while we get to ride in the covered wagon – and he explains about the animals, why they were chosen, what the Pioneers' covered wagons were like, and a little history lesson. It’s not a very long ride, just around the little fenced area – but definitely an interesting history lesson.

   Then there is the Wagon Ride. This is a Pioneerized version of a Sightseeing Tour Bus. It’s a lovely horse-drawn ride, that leads you on a guided tour around most of the primary sights in the old-section of Nauvoo. Missionaries point out the different historic homes and shops along the way, and share stories of some of the pioneers. You’ll need a ticket, it starts and ends right near the Family Living Center, and it’s about 30 minutes.

   But my favorite was the Carriage Ride. This one is pulled by beautiful huge horses (about the size of Clydesdales) – and they take you off the beaten path. Literally. This is a tour of the very rural and woodsy side of Nauvoo. You go down dirt paths carved out just for this carriage ride. And your Tour Guide, a Teamster and a missionary, shares heartwarming and heartbreaking stories of the Nauvoo Pioneers. You ride through the woods and get a glimpse at the dense woodland that these Saints turned into a beautiful and bustling city.

   Kids will love the rides, but parents and grandparents will too. It’s truly like stepping back in time. 

ROADTRIPPIN - CARTHAGE JAIL

Another stop my Personal Missionaries took me to was Carthage Jail. For those of you familiar with Mormon Church History, this is the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith was murdered by an angry mob.

   I’ve heard the story my whole life, and read the account numberless times in the Doctrine & Covenants Section 135. The missionary that gave our tour did a beautiful job recounting the history and the details leading up to that fateful day. The “jail” was also a home – and the story goes that the Jailor was kind and compassionate. Instead of keeping the brothers Hyrum and Joseph in the jail cell, he gave them an upstairs bedroom to share (with the others also there) and even had them eat supper with his family at their table.

   Much of our U.S. History is dotted with mistreatment, prejudice, and unfair and immoral behavior – and that fateful night in Carthage is among the darkest. Wrongly imprisoned in the first place, an angry mob broke in with only one thing on their mind: Murder. Unarmed and defenseless, and no doubt tired from years of mistreatment, these two brothers lost their lives – all because they wanted to worship God differently. The very reason this country was established, yet denied them.

   The hole from the bullet that killed Hyrum Smith is still in the original door. I touched it as I walked through the doorway, wanting to remember that sacrifice and the sacrifice of Joseph.

   How grateful I am that these men, and so many others, stood true to their beliefs. Although their lives would have been easier if they had denied the church, denied their experiences – they could not. It was not in them to do so.

   And because they held true, the gospel and its truths are in my life – are my compass through this wearying world.