Church History Tour Continued- Carthage Jail

First of all, if anyone reading my blog has questions regarding my religion and the things written below and in previous blog posts, please feel free to email me or read more about my faith at mormon.org and/ or lds.org.  I am always happy to share and explain the teachings of our religion.

Carthage Jail in Carthage, Illinois is only about 20 minutes from Nauvoo, Illinois.  I still cannot believe that we were able to be here and see the place where Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith were killed.  There were beautiful plaques with quotes from Joseph Smith along the walkway to the jail.  Along the pathway to the Visitors Center and Carthage Jail are beautiful memorials to the testimony of Joseph Smith

I love this statue of Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum Smith.

What absolutely remarkable men.  'In life they were not divided, in death they were not separated”

The grounds of the jail were beautiful.  Poor little Porter looks so tired. 

And here is the jail

The upper window is the one that Joseph Smith fell out of when he was shot.

Here is some history on Carthage Jail.  Joseph and Hyrum Smith arrived at Carthage on June 24, 1844 to face charges brought against Joseph. On his way to the Jail, Joseph Smith said "I am going like a lamb to the slaughter; but I am calm as a summer's morning. I have a conscience void of offence towards God, and towards all men. I shall die innocent, and it shall yet be said of me. 'He was murdered in cold blood'" (D&C 135:4).

The next day they were released on bail, but they were detained after being falsely charged with treason, a charge stemming from their activating the Nauvoo Legion to protect the citizens of Nauvoo. Although only Joseph and Hyrum were under arrest, others remained with them in the jail.

On June 27th, the four men were held in the jail’s upper bedroom: Joseph, Hyrum, John Taylor, and Dr. Willard Richards. A group of men (about 150-200) with blackened faces and guns rush toward the jail. The four men tried to hold the door against the mob, but Hyrum was immediately shot and killed. Brother Joseph ran to Hyrum, and, leaning over him, exclaimed, "Oh! my poor, dear brother Hyrum!"  Here is the bullet hole in the door that killed Hyrum. 

Joseph was shot multiple times and fell from the second-story window. John Taylor was shot four times but miraculously survived. Willard Richards escaped without even a hole in his clothing. The Saints in Nauvoo grieved the loss of Joseph and Hyrum, but remained at Nauvoo for almost two more years.

The jail was constructed in 1839-40. In later years it was converted into a house. It remained a private home until 1903, when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints bought it and it was then restored in 1938.

Here are some pictures from inside the jail.  Here is the living quarters of the family that ran the jail. 

 

This is the first jail cell that Joseph and many other men with him stayed. For security purposes they moved them to another room.

Here’s the bedroom where they stayed, and the window where Joseph Smith fell out of and was killed.

It was an amazing and very humbling experience to be able to stand on such hollowed ground.  The spirit was so incredibly strong while listening about the events that happened there.  Our prophet, Joseph, and his loving older brother, Hyrum, truly did seal their testimonies of the truthfulness of this Gospel with their lives.  I am constantly humbled by their countless sacrifices made to bring about the restoration of Christ's church on the earth.

Happy 9 Months Kaden

I am playing catchup and am finally doing Kaden’s 9 month post.  Look at this beautiful little guy!!  Isn’t he just the sweetest little 9 month old?  I just love this little guy to pieces.  He is growing up so fast and it is so much fun seeing his little personality come out more and more.  This is his new trademark face..his little scrunchy face.  He does it ALL THE TIME and it is the funniest thing in he world.  He does it for everything..if he is tired, hungry, sad, needs attention, being silly, etc. etc.  Haha.. just looking at it makes me laugh.  Don’t you just want to kiss those  cute lips?

Kaden now has 3 top teeth, and 2 bottom teeth with another tooth on his bottom right side popping out any day.  I love his little toothy grin.  His poor mouth has been hurting lately because of teething, and he has started biting anyone he can get his mouth on.  He usually goes for your shoulder or your cheeks..ouch!

Look at his big beautiful blue eyes.  Such a handsome little guy.  He is loving table foods and hardly eats any baby food anymore.  He used to down jars and jars of baby food..but now since he knows he can get the real stuff, he takes one bite of baby food and he is done eating until you get him the real stuff.  His favorites are raspberries, oatmeal, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and grilled cheese sandwiches.  And he LOVES drinking out of sippy cups.  

Kaden LOVES music and LOVES to dance.  He really gets into it and it is so adorable.  I need to do better and play music for him more often.   He is such a cutie!!

At Kaden’s 9 month appointment he was: 20 lbs (50%) and 97% in height.  So he is just growing and growing.  He can stand now by himself for a little while before sitting down but he hasn’t taken any steps yet.  He can walk pretty well if you hold one of his hands. 

He loves playing outside with his toys while Porter rides his bike and scooter. 

He is getting super busy and moves around so so quickly.  He is curious about everything.  When he plays with his stuffed animals, he looks at them and then pets them softly and says “awwwww”.  It is so cute!!  Also whenever he sees a blanket, he goes over to it..rubs his hands on it and also says, “awwww” and then lays down to snuggle on it..he is so sweet.  He is our little snuggle boy and loves to give hugs and lay his head to cuddle on our shoulders.  I love love love it.  He loves being rocked and sung to sleep and I love every minute of it.  Definitely the highlight of my day.  I love that time I get to spend with him.  He usually goes to sleep at night around 7 and wakes up once in the middle of the night (usually around 5) and then up for the day usually around 7:30.  He takes 2 naps a day for usually 2 hours each time.    

Happy 9 Months to you sweetheart.  Thank you so much for the joy and love that you bring us.   We love you so much!!

Adam-ondi-ahman/ Far West

On our third day, we drove to Adam-ondi-ahman in Missouri.   It is the place where Adam and Eve lived after being expelled from the Garden of Eden. From a revelation received by Joseph Smith, we also learn that this is where Adam met with his children three years before he died to bestow upon them his blessing.  We also believe that is the site of a future grand council where Jesus Christ will meet with His stewards of all dispensations and receive back the keys of the kingdom in preparation for His Second Coming. Only those called to the meeting will know of its occurrence.

What a beautiful, beautiful place.  We walked around for a long time and I just didn’t want to ever leave.  It was so peaceful here.   

I kept imagining Christ appearing here in preparation of the Second Coming.  So absolutely unbelievable.  What an amazing place. 

Afterwards, we headed to Far West Missouri.  This is where the cornerstones for a temple were laid in July 1838. Although the Saints were not able to complete the temple, the cornerstones and property remain as a testament of their faith and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The cornerstones are beautifully preserved and displayed under protective glass.  We also know that Far West is the place where Cain killed Abel which makes it the place of the first murder on this earth. 

 

We learn this from Joseph Fielding Smith, who said this of Far West,

This hallowed and sacred place was designated by the Lord as most holy...Here the Prophet Joseph Smith contended with the devil face to face for some time...Lucifer declared that Joseph had no right to be there, that this was his place, for it was here that Satan entered into a covenant with Cain resulting in the death of Abel. Whereupon the Prophet rebuked Satan in the name of the Lord and he departed.