Hotel Nauvoo was a delight! Our rest left us refreshed and ready for a new day. We started at the statue of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum. It was made to commemorate their last ride together, leaving Nauvoo to turn themselves in at the Carthage Jail. Here they would spend their final days. They were both shot and killed by a mob who attacked the jail.

From here we took much the same journey to Carthage to visit the jail. After serving as a jail, the property was converted to a home, many of the original walls, windows, floors, left intact. The family who resided at the converted jail was very patient with people who wanted to see where Brother Joseph had been shot, and later contacted the church to see if they wanted to buy it. It has been restored to how it once was, including a summer kitchen off the side. We were surprised to find that the jail keeper had his family living there with him. When the first shots of the attack were fired, his wife took her children and hid in the summer kitchen. The jailer had moved Joseph and his men into the living quarters upstairs, thinking they would be safer there. We saw the window from where Joseph fell and saw the original door through which Hyrum was shot and instantly killed. It was a very moving experience.

We had a pleasant trip back to Nauvoo, riding through the farm area and along the Mississippi River, catching a glimpse of a river barge. It was like riding through a different era. It really seemed like going back in time when we toured Nauvoo. There is extensive resoration work being done here.

It turned very hot this afternoon, so we slowly walked by homes of past leaders and members of the church, and saw restored church office buildings and places of business. Nauvoo had grown to be one of the largest cities in Illinois, with over 11,000. For years the leaders of the church had discussed leaving the city and moving west, where they could live in peace. After the death of Joseph Smith, it became more and more impossible to live in Nauvoo, and the exodus west began.

We walked down Parley Street to the banks of the Mississippi. It was this walk the saints took as they left their beloved city. Along the path are monuments with excerpts from several pioneer diaries, including one of Shirlene's ancestors, Jane Johnston. This walk is called the Trail of Hope, and we were touched with how hopeful and faithful these saints were.They expressed joy at the thought of establishing their own home, aware of the dangers and sorrow that could come with this journey, but looked forward wibth faith.

The last building project completed by church members as they prepared for their journey was the Nauvoo Temple. After the city was emptied, the temple was burned. The church recently restored the temple, using the best of research to make an exact copy of the temple, down to the contents of the windows. We were able to go through the temple early this evening. It was an experience we will never forget.