6 - Monday, May 26, 2025 -- Happy Memorial Day

View early one morning while on a walk

The temple is indeed a noble structure, and I suppose the architects of our day know not of what order to call it. Gothic, Doric, Corinthian or what. I call it heavenly, wrote Joseph Fielding in his journal.  

On our way home from church on Sunday, we stopped at Carthage.

Back of the Carthage Jail

Front of the Carthage Jail showing the top window from which Joseph Smith fell.

Carthage Jail was built in 1839 and served as a jail for 25 years.  It was then purchased and was a residence until 1903 when it was purchased by President Joseph F. Smith and restored to it's original state.  The first tours were given in 1935.  

The living quarters of the jailer, Mr. George W. Stigall and family of 7 children.  Original floor and fireplace.	Upstairs jail room for criminals.  Original floor and window casings.
Another room of living quarters for the jailer's family.  Original window casings and floor.	Original staircase in Carthage Jail.

The jailer's bedroom.  Mr. Stigall could see that these prisoners were not harmful and by the second night he gave them his bedroom as he was worried about their safety.  On Wednesday, June 26th Joseph worked on his legal defense, read scriptures and visited.  Several of the original 10 who were jailed had left on errands and were not permitted back in the jail.  On June 27th, only 4 were left.	Original fireplace and floor in the jailer's bedroom.  At 5:00 p.m. a commotion was heard.  Mrs. Stigall was in the kitchen below.  She bent over to stir her cooking pot and a bullet whizzed right over her head.  When John Taylor's watch was stopped, it was 5:16 p.m.
Outside (hall side) of the bedroom door.     It is the original door there at the time of the martyrdom.	Inside of the bedroom door showing bullet hole. There is a small section on the left of the door above the knob that was cut out as a souvenir.  The original piece was recovered and restored.

Brothers Joseph and Hyrum.  Hyrum was six years older than Joseph, but humbly always his backup and support.  It is fitting in this statue to see him just a bit behind Joseph.

Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world, than any other man that ever lived in it. . . . He lived great, and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his mission and his works with his own blood; and so has his brother Hyrum. In life they were not divided, and in death they were not separated!  (Doctrine & Covenants 135: 3)

Ba in Nauvoo, this is the Scovil Bakery, rebuilt on original foundation.  Lucius was not a baker, but knew a bakery was needed in Nauvoo.  He advertised that one could buy all types of breads, cakes and candies.  With foresight, he actually started a business so that women who needed to could bake from home and their goods would be sold in his bakery.  

Inside the Scovil Bakery sister missionaries are telling the Scovil story.

An original Nauvoo plate.  When Lucius Scovil was called on a mission to England he commissioned these plates.  Proceeds from the sales went to the Perpetual Emigrating Fund as well as to the building of the Nauvoo Cultural Hall.

Nauvoo Cultural Hall

Inside first floor of Cultural Hall facing the stage where the Saints could have theatrical productions.  A poster advertising this "grand moral entertainment" featured Brigham Young as a high priest and George A. Smith as a blind old man.  The cost was 12.5 cents--two for a quarter.	Second story room with original floor of the Cultural Hall or sometimes called the Masonic Hall as this is the room in which the Masons met. Also businesses, school classes, Priesthood Quorums, and the Nauvoo Legion met here.
Original floor with a trap door that opens above the stage below.  Imagine Brigham Young being let down through this hole.  Was this stage ahead of their time--with a trap door?	A hair wreath.  Waste not!  Hair from ladies brushes were collected and saved and later used to make this attractive wreath.

View of the temple (and Nauvoo water tower) from the Cultural Hall window.  It had to be off center to keep from getting the modern light poles in the picture. 

We spent part of the our memorial day participating in some of the events and festivities around Nauvoo.

Annual picnic in Nauvoo City Park.  This was a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts. 
Those cub scouts serving were so small!  

Nauvoo Brass Band concert.  Who would expect a band concert to be spiritual?  
As missionary performers introduced the patriotic, hymns, and Joseph's favorite numbers they
also bore testimonies.  

A Sisters in Zion performance.  These young sister missionaries told about the lives 
 of three women in Nauvoo: Louisa Barnes Pratt, Phebe Carter Woodruff, and Sarah Granger Kimball. Oh, the sacrifices and faith of these wonderful women!

Remembering Joseph -- from many who knew him. 

We bear our testimony that Joseph Smith was a prophet, called of God to restore His church upon the earth in the latter days.  We are so grateful for his life and legacy.