Moving East Part 1

On Thursday, August 18, 2011 Brett and I started something that is both bitter yet very sweet. We began our trek to the East Coast where Brett will begin school at Sacred Heart University, to a foreign land, 2,290 miles away from the place we have called home for 20 plus years, where no one knows who we are. Both of us feel as if we are traveling into the great unknown with Heaven only knows what challenges lie ahead. Yet, with all of the unknown, we feel at peace knowing that this is the place that the Lord wants us to be for the next 3 years - and we obviously have something to learn from this big adventure.
Day 1 of our journey was a LONG one. We traveled from Newton, Utah to Lincoln Nebraska, over 900 miles, totalling about 13 hours in the car. Absolutely nothing exciting to report except for the awesome storm we hit ran into about an hour outside of Lincoln. Here are a few videos to show you how the storm progressed.





Day 2
We traveled to Liberty, MO to visit the Liberty Jail. Very cool place.... The jail was a lot how I pictured it to be minus the fact that it is in the middle of town! I expected it to be out in the middle of a field or something - not sure why?!? But there is a neat spirit that can be felt there.


We then decided to bypass Adam-ondi-Ahman for the sake of more time in Nauvoo. So we headed to Nauvoo to enjoy the evening there. We were able to visit the Visitor's Center, walk the trail of hope, and attend "Rendezvous of Nauvoo" that is put on by the Senior Couple Missionaries of Nauvoo. We also walked up by the temple and enjoyed the temple ground at night.


Day 3
We got up early and attended the 8 AM session in the Nauvoo Temple. It was an amazing experience and very neat to be able to see the inside of the temple. I can't imagine just how beautiful it must have seemed to the Saints living in Nauvoo in the 1840's. It's breath-taking now, I can't even imagine how it must have been in those days. We then toured Old Nauvoo, walking in many of the houses, learning of the way the Saints lived at the time.
Then it was off to Carthage Jail where the Prophet Joseph was martyred. It was very humbling to learn even more of the character of the First President of the Church. My love for him and for all that he sacrificed for the early Saints of the Church as well as for the progress of the church has grown immensely from the experiences that we had today.
There is no way I could deny the spirit that was felt today and the love in my heart for a man, a simple man who sacrificed so much for so many. I am blessed because of those sacrifices.

Heber C Kimball's Home

Brigham Young's home

Chelsea in front of a sunstone

Brett in front of John Browning's gun shop and home

Temple overlooking Old Nauvoo

Joseph, Hyrum, and Emma's grave with the Smith Homestead in the background

Joseph and Hyrum's statue as they leave for Carthage in June 1844

Joseph, Hyrum, and Brett outside of Carthage Jail

The Chamber room where John Taylor was taken after he was shot. Also a room the prophet could have been in for more protection.

The window that Joseph fell from after being shot by the mob

The original door with the .53 caliber bullet hole still there. There are also several marks on the door and the mantel from the rest of the flying bullets.

The room where our beloved Prophet was martyred
Part 2 will contain Kirtland, Palmyra, and the journey to our new home in CT - so stayed tuned... :)