leaving Nauvoo

a couple days back Karen asked who the two guys on horseback were... the plaque tells the story, but as Paul Harvey would say, "and now, the rest of the story..."

the night before this trip to Carthage and the final ride depicted here, Joseph, Hyrum and Willard Richards took a skiff across the Mississippi to begin their flee to the Rocky Mountains. Tensions and hatred against the prophet has risen so high that he felt it best to leave that night.

Early the next morning a posse arrived in Nauvoo to arrest Joseph and Hyrum with a message that Governor Ford was so determined to apprehend the prophet that he would send troops to "Guard the city until they were found, if it took three years to do it."

About one that afternoon, Emma sent Orrin Rockwell and Reynolds Cahoon with a letter to Joseph requesting him to return to Nauvoo and give himself up. When they met with Joseph, Reynolds and others accused Joseph of cowardice for leaving the people... it was then that Joseph uttered the now famous quote... "if my life is of no value to my friends it is of none to myself." he asked Hyrum what he should do, "Let us go back and give ourselves up, and see this thing out," to this Joseph replied "if you go back i will go with you, but we shall be butchered." Hyrum disagreed, and indicated they should put their trust in the God that they would not be harmed. it was the strong persuasions of Reynolds Cahoon, Lorenzo D. Wasson and Hiram Kimball, who were carrying out Emma's instructions, that induced Joseph and Hyrum to return to Nauvoo.... and now you know the rest of the story.
top left... the mansion house, Joseph and Emma's second home in Nauvoo... this only shows about half the actual house, because the Smith's entertained so many outside guests they added an entire hotel to the back half of the house... there were multiple sleeping rooms, a large meeting room or hall and another kitchen and serving facility added on back. after Joseph was martyred he and Hyrum's bodies lay in state in the lower hall, it was said over 10,000 people came to the viewing to pay their respects to the Prophet and his brother Hyrum.

top middle... the original log cabin of the Smiths... It was added onto 3 different times, the white section on the left became a living room and parlor as well as a new wing to the front with additional bedrooms and a summer kitchen.

top right... main street which passed between Joseph's original log cabin and the Mansion Home. it is said to be the longest continuous street in the USA. Nauvoo jets out into the bend in the mississippi river... Main street dissects Nauvoo connecting the Mississippi on both sides, with a circular driveway at both ends, making it one continuous street. Main Street was also the main street of commerse in town.

bottom left.... just to the side of the cabin home near the Mississippi River is the Smith family grave yard. Joseph's parents, other family members and as shown the final resting place for Joseph, Emma and Hyrum.

bottom middle... looking back at the temple from parley street. It is a breathtaking sight.

bottom right... one of the 13 boot and shoe shops in Nauvoo. Nice to know i could have gotten work there.

consider the following:
- the population of Nauvoo grew from 1000 to 12,000 in the 7 years the saints lived there
- they were a learning people with 20 schools and 1 university
- they erected 2500 homes
- there were 7 brick manufactures
- every manner of artisanship was there
- gristmills and bakerys
- a gunshop
- 3 or 4 sawmills
- a cultural center
- the assembly hall
- 3 newspapers and printers
- 2 libraries
- a majestic Temple, which was a landmark for all who traveled the Mississippi
- it grew from an unpopulated, undesirable swap, to become the second largest city, (chicago was the largest) in 7 short years... just a few of the facts i remember.

this is for Karen... the grounds around the visitor's center are filled with flowers, trees and grasses. they'd love to have you as their gardener.

cheers