Last week my family came to visit. We went to Nauvoo, Carthage, Adam Ondi Ahman, Far West, Liberty, and Independence. We are so lucky to live right in the middle of these church history sites.
You can't go to any of these places without having the spirit testify that the cause for which the saints suffered was and is true! You can't hear a story about Joseph Smith and not believe he was a prophet of God. You can't walk where the pioneers walked and not feel a small part of the pain they suffered in hopes to live and believe freely. You can't stand at the Mississippi River and look across without thinking of the fear they felt, of leaving their homes, walking in the dead of winter to a land unknown. You can't look at the temple without thinking of all the people who gave of their time, talents, possessions, and even their lives to raise a house of the Lord. You can't walk on this holy ground and not know that God loves his children.
But as you feel the spirit of God testifying in your heart, you CAN understand why they suffered so much and gave so much and kept going when it felt as though they could not. You CAN understand how they found hope and strength to go on with willing hearts and happy spirits. You CAN understand that no mob could ever take away their faith and what they knew to be true.
And that is why they did it. Because they knew.
**My camera battery died...no pictures after Nauvoo...
2 comments:
i love being around all these neat sites, too! i love the peace i feel. i know they are just places, but they are so special! fun trip, having your family! yeah for family!
oh i love nauvoo so much! cute pictures!
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