I Walked Where Joseph Walked...

The day after Kaleb's graduation, the whole family drove down to Nauvoo in a big, white Ford E-350. It was fun! A little uncomfortable at times, but fun! We stayed at the Nauvoo Family Inn & Suites and got a 3 bedroom room. It was cool! Anyway, here are pictures from our time in Nauvoo. It was such a neat experience for me. It was my first time being there and I absolutely enjoyed it!

Krista and Jessica on stilts 

LoL, Jacob said I look like the maid! Ha!

The olden days...

Inside our hotel room

Carthage

Inside Carthage Jail. Second story... This is the room where Joseph and Hyrum were kept. You can see the bullet hole on the door. That is the window that Joseph fell out of after being shot...

The window from outside

Nauvoo and Carthage was wonderful. I hope everyone has the opportunity to visit these places some time in their lives. I felt something in Carthage Jail that I hadn't felt in a very, very long time. The spirit was tremendously strong... especially when I was in the room upstairs where Joseph was. I felt him in the room. While we were in there during the tour, I stood by the window where he stood, I touched the doorknob that he turned, and walked where he walked. Being in there was like a couple of slaps in the face-- in a good way :)

 It was like someone was telling me, "wake up! this is for real!". 

It made me appreciate so much more than I did before. I hadn't felt this overcome with emotion since the day the sister missionaries came and taught me about the gospel. As I stood in the room, I took every breath calmly, counted my blessings, and privately thanked Joseph for being obedient and faithful and brave... for doing what so many would have been too afraid of doing. I will never forget what I felt in that room. I hope I get to go there again!

Brothers: Joseph and Hyrum Smith