Nauvoo to Salt Lake City

Joseph and Hyrum leaving Nauvoo for the final time...
The Nauvoo Temple
The Salt Lake Temple In the last few weeks, I have had the priviledge of attending a session in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple, doing Initiatories in the St. Louis Temple, and attending a session in Nauvoo. This was pretty remarkable for me, it's the most temple attendance I've had in months, since moving 5 hours away from a temple. It was wonderful to be able to do so. I was touched by many a connection...
While living in Lehi, I had the amazing opportunity to perform in the choir that recorded the music for the Nauvoo Pageant. It was a very spiritual experience, and really touched my heart and filled it with a desire to see the pageant. This year, that opportunity arose! It was incredible to watch the show with my family, being moved by the stories and music and knowing that I contributed (a very small part!) During the show, the lights are turned off at the temple, (as it is being built on stage), and after Joseph Smith and Hyrum leave Nauvoo for the final time and the temple is finished, the lights are very dramatically lit! It is an emotional and awe-inspiring moment to see all that the pioneers accomplished, and also, all that they left behind, in Faith. To hear our beloved President Hinckley's voice talking of "Joseph's Temple" and "Brigham's Temple" facing each other and the urge he felt to restore it, is so remarkable. I was so grateful that I was able to spend time in each of the temples in the last few weeks, and without a long walk or handcart journey in between!
Living in Missouri and seeing the beauty that the pioneers were forced to leave behind once, before building their beloved Nauvoo and leaving again to go to a desert....(a lovely desert, but still, only after much effort! Did you know that farmers in Illinois do not ever have to irrigate their crops?!?) This has made us so very grateful for our heritage and the testimonies of our ancestors who followed the Prophets of the Living God.
We are so blessed to be living in Missouri and to be able to have these opportunities! We are grateful for the knowledge of the restored gospel and the blessings of having a Prophet on the earth today. We urge you to continue to share your testimonies with others so that they may also find the joy that we so often take for granted...

Piper at the Nauvoo Temple

Piper was so adorable during our last few minutes at Navuoo. She walked reverently all around the temple grounds, examining flowers, walking up and down the stairs, and posing in front of doors. It was so sweet and fun to follow her around, taking pictures, imagining her thoughts and thinking of other pioneer children who probably did the same many years ago...

Fun Family Pics at Nauvoo

Nauvoo Fun!

Sack races, photo with Joseph and Hyrum Smith from the pageant! They were so amazing and wonderful on stage and off, and real brothers as well.



Piper posing on the well outside Lucy Mack Smith's house.

The Nauvoo Experience

The Nauvoo Pageant, Handcart riding, pioneer activities!

Monte Rides a Bike

We have been test driving a bike for Monte to ride, he is really loving it! He's so excited to push he pedals and go really fast! Now we just have to save the money...

At the St. Louis Science Center

Animated Dino's at the Zoo Space center fun pics...
Sorry it's sideways...

The boys take a break, Piper builds rocket...

Zoo Trip in St. Louis

The two sleeping monkeys..

Piper was enthralled with the elephant and shocked by the close encounter with the hippo!