To celebrate our anniversary, we went on a road trip to church history sites.
We started in Winter Quarters in Florence, Nebraska (outside of Omaha). I have never been there before. Because it was the first stop and we hadn’t yet talked to dozens of missionaries, I enjoyed it the most, I think. I was very impressed with the sacrifices the early Saints made AFTER all the struggle in Missouri and then leaving Nauvoo. They were driven out of their homes time and again. Now they were so grateful to have a roof over their heads. 10-15 people spent a year in a tiny cabin smaller than my storage unit. They had gone through so much. And then they would have the ordeal of crossing the plains. So many people died, and yet they were grateful to the Lord for the gospel in their lives.
And should we die before our journey’s through,
Happy day! All is well!
We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;
With the just we shall dwell!
But if our lives are spared again
To see the Saints their rest obtain,
Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell–
All is well! All is well!
My husband and I attended a session in the Winter Quarters temple. It was a special experience. I felt close to the early pioneers who gave so much. I wondered what Heavenly Father will ask me to sacrifice. Has he already asked me? Have I willingly given of my time and talents? Will I be ready and willing to do what is asked of me in the future? I don’t yet know what “plains” I’ll have to cross.
We then drove to Missouri. We visited the Independence Vistors Center, Liberty Jail, Adam-ondi-Ahman, Far West, and a few other locations where various sections of the Doctrine and Covenants were received.
Then we headed to Nauvoo. We’ve both been there a number of times. By this time, we’d be driving a lot over the past few days. So we were pretty tired. We went on a tour of the Joseph Smith Mansion House and Red Brick Store, and we enjoyed walking the streets of old Nauvoo. Tuesday morning we enjoyed the sunrise over the Mississippi River (though we were a little too late for good pictures) and we went to a session in the Nauvoo temple. Another good experience.
After a stop for Nauvoo fudge, we headed on home.
When (if) we have time again, we’ll have to go to Kirtland and Palmyra. For now, I sincerely hope our next trip will be to Australia!
I’ve been reading the Work and the Glory books. I have only the last book to go, meaning they just barely got to the Missouri River. Reading the series has certainly given me a new perspective on what the Saints went through time and time again. I have such a new appreciation for their sacrifices. When they started the trek out of Nauvoo in 1846, they really believed they would get to the Rocky Mountains and plant crops in time for winter–THAT winter! They had no idea that it would take them an additional year or more in some cases.
I am a little envious that you got to go to those church history sites, for I think I would enjoy such a tour even more now that I’ve read about it. Don’t get me wrong, I know the Steed family is fictional and I’m not gaining a testimony of fiction, but reading the series has given me greater fervor to read the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants.
I hope you get to go to Australia soon!