1500+ miles, 5 states, 6 days, and lots of fun later we survived our first road trip with Lily! WOW! She did so great! I was worried that it would be hard on her being in the car that long, but she was a true trooper and did such a great job! She did great not having real naps or skipping them all together. Having Lily so well behaved really helped us have a wonderful trip. We started our road trip Monday July 6
th and returned home on July 12th. After
TJ got off work we drove to Hays, Kansas. The next morning we got up and drove to Liberty, Missouri where we saw the Liberty Jail. We also visited
Independence, Missouri where we saw the sight of the temple and the Community of Christ Temple. We stayed that night in
Independence at a super fun Bed n Breakfast - I think this was my favorite place to stay. It was full of incredible antiques. We then headed to Far West and Adam-
ondi-
Ahman. After we headed to
Hannibal - home of Mark Twain and then to
Nauvoo. We spent the next two days in
Nauvoo and Carthage. We then headed to Newton, Iowa on our way to Winter Quarters. We went to the
Kanesville Tabernacle in
Council Bluffs, Iowa and then to Winter Quarters, Nebraska. We also celebrated Dad's birthday. We went to Dinner at Red Lobster to celebrate. We were lucky to get to spend his special day with him. After dinner we headed to our final stop before returning home, North Platte, Nebraska! What a trip! So the above is a travel log of the places we went. Among the pictures I will be writing more about the feelings and details of our amazing Church History trip. I hope you enjoy the pictures and stories and feelings of our journey.
Here are a few pictures of Lily along the way. We kept her happy with her favorite books, a new toy guitar, treats, and singing. Lily also got to try her first piece of licorice . She got to suck on it for a while and cried when I took it away...what a mean mom.
Yummy!
Our first stop was Liberty Jail. I was not expecting what I saw. They have
reconstructed half the building on the original spot all inside of the visitors center. When you go into the place they have the building you recognize just how small and cramped the quarters were. One thing I really liked was how they talk about this place not being a place of sorrow, but a place of joy. This is a place where revelation came, where Joseph F. Smith was given a name and a blessing because his father was a prisoner there, a place where Faith was tested and proven worthy.
Sorry this is a dark picture, but the lighting was not the best. This shows the dungeon cell which was not that big. One of the prisoners (I forgot his name) walked with a slump because he had to bend over the whole time he was there. It goes to show that many people sacrificed so much for the gospel. WHAT AM I WILLING TO DO FOR THE GOSPEL?
Lily enjoying a drink of water with her dad outside the Liberty Jail.
This is the Community of Christ Temple. The Community of Christ, known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ until 2002, has their head quarters in
Independence. Also in Independence is a temple site, owned by yet another splinter church. It is such a beautiful site for a temple and not a small one either.
Though there is no temple here, it was eye opening to me that all along our trip we went from temple to temple. The Saint knew how important Temples are and so every place they were there is at least a temple site. It made me realize that I have taken the temple for granted for way to long. I have a temple twenty minutes from my house and I don't go nearly enough. One more thing I need to work on.
This is our Bed and Breakfast. The 3 buildings are all part of Serendipity Bed & Breakfast. It was so fun to see all the old antiques. Each room was a little apartment in itself. There is so much history in
Independence, not only the history of the Church.
Adam-
ondi-
Ahman is amazing! What a sight that Grand Priesthood meeting will be! Spring Hill is the spot where the Temple is to be built. There is a mound, I have on video but I didn't get a picture of it, that the Prophet Joseph said was an altar. It was so cool to see. Also There is a rock, actually two rocks, that is called Preacher Rock. This is where the Prophet Joseph would deliver sermons. He did so because this place had the perfect natural acoustics and could be hear around the valley. I also did not get a picture of this but Mom and Dad did. It is amazing the Spirit that is here. This is a place where Christ walked. This is a place where the Prophet Joseph walked and taught. It is incredible.
Lily enjoying being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa Warner. She had so much fun with them. They sure had a great time with Lily. It was fun to see them get to spend a week with just her, not to say we don't like having the whole family around! They did a great job at spoiling her!
In Far West there is just the temple spot. The original
cornerstones are still there. It is crazy to think that there once was a town full of Saints.
Lily napping along our way. Just two precious not to post!
Right before you cross into Illinois on your way to
Nauvoo is Hannibal. It was fun to see where Mark Twain grew up and was inspired to write so many classic books. We were able to see Tom Sawyer's house, Becky Thatcher's house and the Mississippi River and much more. It was a fun little stop.
This is a statue of Mark Twain right by the river.
In the back you can see the steamboat on the Mississippi.
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn
Welcome to
Nauvoo! It truly is a beautiful city! We were lucky enough to get to see familiar faces once we got there. Two families from the ward I grew up in were there. One was there on a mission - the other there to visit. The first place we stopped was the visitors center. Right in front is an original sun stone from the
Nauvoo temple. It was in great condition and great to see. We later saw one at the Community of Christ visitors center that was not as well preserved. It is incredible just how detailed it is. The time and care put into each stone blows me away. There was nothing but the very best when it came to the temple.
Our little Lily LOVES music. She was lucky enough to get to see a lot of singing. At night during the summer in
Nauvoo they do three shows. One is Sunset on the Mississippi. We went to this the first night we got to
Nauvoo. She was mesmerized by the singing and dancing. It was fun to watch her lead the music with her waving hands and sing with them. It will be interesting to see if she pursues music when she grows up. We also went to Rendezvous in Old
Nauvoo which was full of singing and dancing. After this show she made eyes at all the
Grandparents that put the show on. The Couple
Missionaries just loved Lily and she gave them big eyes and smiles to make sure they fell instantly in love with her.
Lily in front of the
Nauvoo temple. She is super cute I had to share the picture.
This is Joseph and
Hyrum facing the
Nauvoo Temple. It depicts them riding out of town to Carthage to face the mob.
Our cute little family in front of the
Nauvoo Temple. What a beautiful building. I love the history of the original temple built in the 1840's. They knew that they would be leaving the city before the temple was supposed to be done, so what did they do...put more effort into completing it before they left. They did this because of the sacred ordinances which take place in the Temple. Once it was finished they preformed what they could and left that beautiful temple and headed west. I have grown to love the temple even more than ever. I want to have the same love and desire for temple work that those early Saints had. I am touched by the sacrifice that they gave because of the love they had for the Lord. I want that same Pioneer conviction. I am working on that kind of faith.
So in order to see the Joseph Smith properties you have to pay and go on the tour with the Community of Christ Church. They own the Joseph Smith properties. I learned a lot about their church that I never knew before. Their prophet is able to retire if they choose. It was fun to see the Joseph Smith sites, but we were unable to take pictures of the inside of the buildings. They only allow you to take pictures of the outside of the buildings. So this first building is the
Nauvoo House. This building was never finished before the Saints left
Nauvoo. Also, the
Nauvoo House was a safe keeping place for the bodies of both Joseph and
Hyrum for a time. Once the bodies were brought back to
Nauvoo there was a viewing for them. Once this was over, Emma had the bodies replaced with sand bags for the funeral. Emma was afraid that someone might want the bodies so she hid them. They were later moved and hid again. Now they have their final resting spot in the Smith Cemetery.
This is the Homestead, where Joseph and his family lived when they first moved to Nauvoo. The white part was added later by Joseph Smith III. It is so hard to believe that they took so many people in when they had hardly any room themselves. I can only imagine when the Saints were camped out on the lawn sick with malaria. Emma is such an amazing woman. Taking care of so many people and staying so strong.
This is the Mansion house. This is where Joseph moved his family from the Homestead. This is a beautiful home. It had twenty guest rooms. In Joseph's room there was a secret hiding place that the Prophet could hide if people came looking for him that weren't friends. I love that he had hiding places! It is so mysterious!
I love this picture! If you can't tell, it is TJ standing in Left Center field of a baseball diamond. We went to the Lands and Titles building and looked up where our relatives lived. This is where Alexander Neibaur lived. It is only fitting that it is now a baseball field! We were also able to see where Edwin D. Woolley lived right below the temple. We were unable to see where James Harvey Glines lived. It is so fun to know that our relatives were a part of this amazing Faith Based History.
Carthage Jail has a very unique Spirit there. This is where the Prophet Joesph Smith and Hyrum Smith sealed their testimonies with their lives. You just feel the Love that Joesph had for the work when you enter. This window is the window that the Prophet jumped/fell from. He was trying to insure the safety of those left in the room. He is an amazing man who did an amazing work. It is because of his faith that we have the Church here today. It is not his Church but it is because of him that we have the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth today! I love this man even more now that I have seen the places he walked and taught and was sentenced to unacceptable circumstances. Praise to the Man!
This is the exact door that was on the room the day of the Martyrdom. The big hole is the one where the bullet came through that killed Hyrum. Once the jail was no longer a jail a family bought it and converted it into a house. They left the hole there but patched the smaller one. A man many years later, after the church bought the jail back, remembered where that piece of wood was and it was restored to the door. Amazing how little things such as this happen!
The well is where the Prophet was sat against until he was later taken to a home and prepared to go back to Nauvoo.
This is the home and shop of Jonathan Browning, Gunsmith. WOW! This was incredible. He created the first automatic rifle. He was more than a gunsmith. He was a faithful member of the Church.
The Printing Press.
So cool story. This horse is very special. This horse belonged to John Taylor's son. This was his treasured favorite toy. When the Saints left Nauvoo, this was left behind. Once in Montrose, Taylor's son was inconsolable. Taylor asked what was wrong. His son said that his favorite toy was left behind and that he loved that toy. In the middle of the night, John Taylor went back across the Mississippi to get this horse for his son. What love he had for his family! I love this story and this sign of love!
Super cute Lily and me on our wagon ride. We were so lucky to know the Moline's. This is how we got our tickets. Sister Moline got us the tickets for our wagon ride and our country trail ride. It pays to know people!
This is the Seventy's Hall. This is their version of the Mission Training Center. Here you could sign a registry if you had an ancestor that was a seventy in Nauvoo.
I have no pictures of Pageant, but I have to say a few words about it. It was incredible! I loved it. It was a great story of Nauvoo. This is a must see. The Saints worked so hard to create a beautiful city...one that rivaled Chicago in size.
Our next stop on our journey was the Kanesville Tabernacle. I had no idea that this even existed. It has a neat story though. This is the place that Brigham Young was ordained President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He went all the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley and then back to Kanesville before he was ordained in a solemn assembly.
The new First Presidency. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards.
This is the Winter Quarters Temple. It is so beautiful. Winter Quarters is the final resting place of one of our Glines ancestors. Many Saints waited here while their Husbands and Sons were taken away in the Mormon Battalion. One interesting fact about the Mormon Battalion...many of them helped settle San Fransisco, California! They started many stores and the first printing press. Also interesting about the Mormon Battalion, a group of men hired on to help Sutter build a mill. During construction they found the first gold. As many of the other workers quit, it was the Mormons who stayed until their job was done. Then instead of staying to make a fortune on the gold, they headed to find their families. I love the example they set of priorities. Family and Church are important. Money and worldly possessions are not.
To end our journey, I must share my testimony. My testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith has been strengthened on this trip. I know that he restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that he sealed his testimony with his life. I know that God lives and that he loves his children. He had his hand in all that happened to those early Saints as he still does today. Those Saints were Faithful to the end. I hope and pray that I can have that same Faith and endure to the end as they did. I have a testimony of the Temple. I know that families are forever because of those sealing powers used in the Temple. I know that it is our responsibility to be worthy to enter the temple and preform the work for those that are unable to do it for themselves. I am so grateful for those that sacrificed so much so that I may have what I have today. I pray that my posterity can say the same about me.
If you ever have the chance to visit any of the Church sites, do it. I learned so much and grew to love those early Saints even more.
We made it home! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming with us and making our trip that much better. We are glad that you got to share the experience with us! Lily had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa. We can't wait to spend time with you again. Lily says thanks for the fun Nauvoo shirt! We love both of you so much!
Little disclaimer on the photo...Lily found this teddy bear laying on the floor and became instant friends with it. Since it is not hers, I wanted to take a few pictures without it, so that is when the tears came! Mean mom! I still love the picture! She is super cute, even when she cries!
Lily loves her little scooter toy. She will push it and ride it all day...or at least until she sees a book she wants to read!
Lily loves books so much. One day I found her looking at her dad's mission scrapbooks with such care! She is too cute!
I just love this picture...with the diaper sticking out! Lily stands up against everything and tries to walk! I am afraid it is not long before I have a little walker!
Mmmm! I love otter pops! Lily would eat a whole one if I would let her. 
Oh what fun it is to play under the table! Lily will get herself stuck and then after I get her out she goes back for more!
Here are a few pictures of Lily along the way. We kept her happy with her favorite books, a new toy guitar, treats, and singing. Lily also got to try her first piece of licorice . She got to suck on it for a while and cried when I took it away...what a mean mom.
Yummy!
Our first stop was Liberty Jail. I was not expecting what I saw. They have reconstructed half the building on the original spot all inside of the visitors center. When you go into the place they have the building you recognize just how small and cramped the quarters were. One thing I really liked was how they talk about this place not being a place of sorrow, but a place of joy. This is a place where revelation came, where Joseph F. Smith was given a name and a blessing because his father was a prisoner there, a place where Faith was tested and proven worthy.
Sorry this is a dark picture, but the lighting was not the best. This shows the dungeon cell which was not that big. One of the prisoners (I forgot his name) walked with a slump because he had to bend over the whole time he was there. It goes to show that many people sacrificed so much for the gospel. WHAT AM I WILLING TO DO FOR THE GOSPEL?
Lily enjoying a drink of water with her dad outside the Liberty Jail.
This is the Community of Christ Temple. The Community of Christ, known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ until 2002, has their head quarters in Independence. Also in Independence is a temple site, owned by yet another splinter church. It is such a beautiful site for a temple and not a small one either.
Though there is no temple here, it was eye opening to me that all along our trip we went from temple to temple. The Saint knew how important Temples are and so every place they were there is at least a temple site. It made me realize that I have taken the temple for granted for way to long. I have a temple twenty minutes from my house and I don't go nearly enough. One more thing I need to work on.
This is our Bed and Breakfast. The 3 buildings are all part of Serendipity Bed & Breakfast. It was so fun to see all the old antiques. Each room was a little apartment in itself. There is so much history in Independence, not only the history of the Church.
Adam-ondi-Ahman is amazing! What a sight that Grand Priesthood meeting will be! Spring Hill is the spot where the Temple is to be built. There is a mound, I have on video but I didn't get a picture of it, that the Prophet Joseph said was an altar. It was so cool to see. Also There is a rock, actually two rocks, that is called Preacher Rock. This is where the Prophet Joseph would deliver sermons. He did so because this place had the perfect natural acoustics and could be hear around the valley. I also did not get a picture of this but Mom and Dad did. It is amazing the Spirit that is here. This is a place where Christ walked. This is a place where the Prophet Joseph walked and taught. It is incredible.
Lily enjoying being spoiled by Grandma and Grandpa Warner. She had so much fun with them. They sure had a great time with Lily. It was fun to see them get to spend a week with just her, not to say we don't like having the whole family around! They did a great job at spoiling her!
In Far West there is just the temple spot. The original cornerstones are still there. It is crazy to think that there once was a town full of Saints.
Lily napping along our way. Just two precious not to post!
Right before you cross into Illinois on your way to Nauvoo is Hannibal. It was fun to see where Mark Twain grew up and was inspired to write so many classic books. We were able to see Tom Sawyer's house, Becky Thatcher's house and the Mississippi River and much more. It was a fun little stop.
This is a statue of Mark Twain right by the river.
In the back you can see the steamboat on the Mississippi.
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn
Welcome to Nauvoo! It truly is a beautiful city! We were lucky enough to get to see familiar faces once we got there. Two families from the ward I grew up in were there. One was there on a mission - the other there to visit. The first place we stopped was the visitors center. Right in front is an original sun stone from the Nauvoo temple. It was in great condition and great to see. We later saw one at the Community of Christ visitors center that was not as well preserved. It is incredible just how detailed it is. The time and care put into each stone blows me away. There was nothing but the very best when it came to the temple.
Our little Lily LOVES music. She was lucky enough to get to see a lot of singing. At night during the summer in Nauvoo they do three shows. One is Sunset on the Mississippi. We went to this the first night we got to Nauvoo. She was mesmerized by the singing and dancing. It was fun to watch her lead the music with her waving hands and sing with them. It will be interesting to see if she pursues music when she grows up. We also went to Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo which was full of singing and dancing. After this show she made eyes at all the Grandparents that put the show on. The Couple Missionaries just loved Lily and she gave them big eyes and smiles to make sure they fell instantly in love with her.
Lily in front of the Nauvoo temple. She is super cute I had to share the picture.
This is Joseph and Hyrum facing the Nauvoo Temple. It depicts them riding out of town to Carthage to face the mob.
Our cute little family in front of the Nauvoo Temple. What a beautiful building. I love the history of the original temple built in the 1840's. They knew that they would be leaving the city before the temple was supposed to be done, so what did they do...put more effort into completing it before they left. They did this because of the sacred ordinances which take place in the Temple. Once it was finished they preformed what they could and left that beautiful temple and headed west. I have grown to love the temple even more than ever. I want to have the same love and desire for temple work that those early Saints had. I am touched by the sacrifice that they gave because of the love they had for the Lord. I want that same Pioneer conviction. I am working on that kind of faith.
So in order to see the Joseph Smith properties you have to pay and go on the tour with the Community of Christ Church. They own the Joseph Smith properties. I learned a lot about their church that I never knew before. Their prophet is able to retire if they choose. It was fun to see the Joseph Smith sites, but we were unable to take pictures of the inside of the buildings. They only allow you to take pictures of the outside of the buildings. So this first building is the Nauvoo House. This building was never finished before the Saints left Nauvoo. Also, the Nauvoo House was a safe keeping place for the bodies of both Joseph and Hyrum for a time. Once the bodies were brought back to Nauvoo there was a viewing for them. Once this was over, Emma had the bodies replaced with sand bags for the funeral. Emma was afraid that someone might want the bodies so she hid them. They were later moved and hid again. Now they have their final resting spot in the Smith Cemetery.
This is the Homestead, where Joseph and his family lived when they first moved to Nauvoo. The white part was added later by Joseph Smith III. It is so hard to believe that they took so many people in when they had hardly any room themselves. I can only imagine when the Saints were camped out on the lawn sick with malaria. Emma is such an amazing woman. Taking care of so many people and staying so strong.
This is the Mansion house. This is where Joseph moved his family from the Homestead. This is a beautiful home. It had twenty guest rooms. In Joseph's room there was a secret hiding place that the Prophet could hide if people came looking for him that weren't friends. I love that he had hiding places! It is so mysterious!
I love this picture! If you can't tell, it is TJ standing in Left Center field of a baseball diamond. We went to the Lands and Titles building and looked up where our relatives lived. This is where Alexander Neibaur lived. It is only fitting that it is now a baseball field! We were also able to see where Edwin D. Woolley lived right below the temple. We were unable to see where James Harvey Glines lived. It is so fun to know that our relatives were a part of this amazing Faith Based History.
Carthage Jail has a very unique Spirit there. This is where the Prophet Joesph Smith and Hyrum Smith sealed their testimonies with their lives. You just feel the Love that Joesph had for the work when you enter. This window is the window that the Prophet jumped/fell from. He was trying to insure the safety of those left in the room. He is an amazing man who did an amazing work. It is because of his faith that we have the Church here today. It is not his Church but it is because of him that we have the Church of Jesus Christ upon the earth today! I love this man even more now that I have seen the places he walked and taught and was sentenced to unacceptable circumstances. Praise to the Man!
This is the exact door that was on the room the day of the Martyrdom. The big hole is the one where the bullet came through that killed Hyrum. Once the jail was no longer a jail a family bought it and converted it into a house. They left the hole there but patched the smaller one. A man many years later, after the church bought the jail back, remembered where that piece of wood was and it was restored to the door. Amazing how little things such as this happen!
The well is where the Prophet was sat against until he was later taken to a home and prepared to go back to Nauvoo.
This is the home and shop of Jonathan Browning, Gunsmith. WOW! This was incredible. He created the first automatic rifle. He was more than a gunsmith. He was a faithful member of the Church.
The Printing Press.
So cool story. This horse is very special. This horse belonged to John Taylor's son. This was his treasured favorite toy. When the Saints left Nauvoo, this was left behind. Once in Montrose, Taylor's son was inconsolable. Taylor asked what was wrong. His son said that his favorite toy was left behind and that he loved that toy. In the middle of the night, John Taylor went back across the Mississippi to get this horse for his son. What love he had for his family! I love this story and this sign of love!
Super cute Lily and me on our wagon ride. We were so lucky to know the Moline's. This is how we got our tickets. Sister Moline got us the tickets for our wagon ride and our country trail ride. It pays to know people!
This is the Seventy's Hall. This is their version of the Mission Training Center. Here you could sign a registry if you had an ancestor that was a seventy in Nauvoo.
Our next stop on our journey was the Kanesville Tabernacle. I had no idea that this even existed. It has a neat story though. This is the place that Brigham Young was ordained President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He went all the way to the Great Salt Lake Valley and then back to Kanesville before he was ordained in a solemn assembly.
The new First Presidency. Brigham Young, Heber C. Kimball, and Willard Richards.
This is the Winter Quarters Temple. It is so beautiful. Winter Quarters is the final resting place of one of our Glines ancestors. Many Saints waited here while their Husbands and Sons were taken away in the Mormon Battalion. One interesting fact about the Mormon Battalion...many of them helped settle San Fransisco, California! They started many stores and the first printing press. Also interesting about the Mormon Battalion, a group of men hired on to help Sutter build a mill. During construction they found the first gold. As many of the other workers quit, it was the Mormons who stayed until their job was done. Then instead of staying to make a fortune on the gold, they headed to find their families. I love the example they set of priorities. Family and Church are important. Money and worldly possessions are not.
To end our journey, I must share my testimony. My testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith has been strengthened on this trip. I know that he restored the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that he sealed his testimony with his life. I know that God lives and that he loves his children. He had his hand in all that happened to those early Saints as he still does today. Those Saints were Faithful to the end. I hope and pray that I can have that same Faith and endure to the end as they did. I have a testimony of the Temple. I know that families are forever because of those sealing powers used in the Temple. I know that it is our responsibility to be worthy to enter the temple and preform the work for those that are unable to do it for themselves. I am so grateful for those that sacrificed so much so that I may have what I have today. I pray that my posterity can say the same about me.
We made it home! Thanks Mom and Dad for coming with us and making our trip that much better. We are glad that you got to share the experience with us! Lily had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa. We can't wait to spend time with you again. Lily says thanks for the fun Nauvoo shirt! We love both of you so much!