{Nauvoo: according to Bailee}

I had the opportunity to go to Nauvoo, Illinois with our Stake for Youth Conference this summer where we were able to see many incredible church historic sites. We left Monday the 6th of June at about 11:30 PM.

We drove through the night and the next day we got to Independence, Missouri. We were able to see the Liberty Jail Visitor's Center. I got to go here last Summer with my Family, but this was a very unique experience being with the Youth from our Stake. We also had the opportunity to see the Kansas City Temple Lot.

That Tuesday night we got to spend some time in the hotel's Water Park which I think was highly necessary after so many hours of sitting on the bus.

 Wednesday we traveled to Richmond, MO. We were supposed to see several sites, but, due to tornado and flash flood watches in that area, we would have to see on Friday on our way home. Instead we drove on to Nauvoo and made a stop at Carthage Jail which is a really amazing place, and it was also a greatly appreciated stop because several hours before arriving our AC broke and we all felt like we were melting on the bus.(The Humidity was not helping to say the least.) We then traveled to the Nauvoo burial grounds and the Trail of Hope.

 

Cemetery better known as the Children's Cemetery because of the immense amount of Children lost when the saints entered Nauvoo due to diseases transferred by Mosquitoes. 

  The trail of Hope is the path the Saints took as they were fleeing Nauvoo. The trail leads you to the edge of the Mississippi which miraculously froze over so the Saints could cross. Today you can go there and read journal entries and look back to see the temple in the distance.

Touching the Mississippi

  Several people from my ward that happened to be in my group during the Trip.

Thursday was ward day. We went to the temple to do baptisms as a ward and we toured Nauvoo. I think we were all thankful for a day that didn't include hours on the bus. 

original Nauvoo temple

Nauvoo temple today

 Women's Garden

The Women's garden was a really neat place to see. It's basically a garden that leads you through the journey of a woman. There were different statues that represented a certain element of a women's journey. 

                                               

The whole Wellington group

                                                              

Scovil Bakery

                                                                 

                Trying out some of the old pass times.                     

                                                                      

Gunsmith

                                                                    

Nauvoo Brass Band

                                                                

John Taylor home

                                                                   

Blacksmith

Friday we got to go back to Adam- Ondi- Ahman which we missed on Wednesday due to bad weather.When we got there all sound was drowned out by the sound of Cicadas. 

Saturday we headed home. We made one stop at the Winter Quarters Cemetery in Omaha, NE. I had an amazing trip, but it was so good to be back with my family!