10 - Monday, June 23, 2025 - Trail of Hope, Etc.

The Nauvoo Temple's south side, showing 42 windows;
126 of the 138 windows, distinctive features of the Nauvoo Temple--then
and now--were crafted just up the street from the temple by the 
recognized experts in historic restoration of window sashes and doors. 
States Charles W. Allen who heads up the family operation, "We've been
blessed to have our abilities and talents extended far beyond our normal 
capabilities."   (Sacred Stone The Temple at Nauvoo)

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Summer has arrived--the heat, the humidity, the bugs!!!   We can't complain because we have air conditioning wherever we are; and sometimes that's even chilly.  

This week we went on the Trail of Hope.  We remember that 1846 began the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo, leaving behind their homes, beautiful city, family and friends who they quite possibly would never see again in this life. As they journeyed west, many recorded their feelings and experiences in personal journals. 

Along the trail, Nauvoo Performing Missionaries were at various stops and presented very poignant and sacred experiences and remembrances from the journals of the Saints. 

From these journals we get a sense of what it would have been like to have traveled with them.  Some selected writings from these journals are reproduced on the signs along this trail on Parley Street where they made their way to the Mississippi River for crossing.

		This one deleted and I can't get it back.  It keeps causing issues. It may show up in a different place.                 Wilford Woodruff "I stopped my carriage on the top of a rolling prairie and I had a most splendid view. I could stand and gaze to the east, west, north & south & behold the Saints pouring our & gathering like clouds from the hills & dales, grove & prairie with their teams, wagons, flocks, & herds, by hundreds & thousands as it were until it looked like the movements of a great nation."
		End of Trail of Hope where the  Saints crossed the Mississippi  River.

Into the Unknown -- Church leaders planned to leave Nauvoo in the spring of 1846. Saints gathered supplies, built wagons, and organized into companies. They hoped to build a new community west of the Rocky Mountains. However, threats of violence persisted. Brigham Young advanced the departure of the first 2,000 emigrants. Despite the cold, they felt compelled to leave in February. 

Their journey began by taking a ferry across the Mississippi river--the first of several river crossings. Already cold temperatures plummeted further. The river froze, enabling 500 more people to cross and join the group. Their hasty departure left many ill equipped for the road ahead. Winter weather made conditions even worse. It took them a month to travel the first 100 miles instead of the expected 10 days.

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On our weekly shopping trip in Keokuk, we drove down Grand Avenue where we heard there were old, large mansions overlooking the Mississippi River.  Several were being worked on, several needed to be worked on, but here are a few typical midwestern nice homes from the turn of the century:

	Notice the bright red painted chimneys!

A couple of weeks ago we posted a photo of us in the cornfield next to the meetinghouse where we attend church in Galesburg, Illinois.  It's so fun to watch the height of the corn each week as we drive.  We thought we would post in a month to see the difference, however, the corn loves this soil, sun, and rain:  This is only two weeks!

June 8, 2025

June 15, 2025

June 22, 2025

Until next week...