Nauvoo Day 2-4

On Saturday Morning we did temple baptisms, the night before we had done a session which was really cool. But after doing baptisms I have to say that was my favorite. It was my first time doing baptisms acting as one of the endowed adults, meaning, I didn't get baptized but I handed the kids that had their towels as they got out. I sat in on the confirmations first and as soon as they started the spirit became so strong. I could feel that the excitement and happiness of these people. I felt like standing and singing out for joy! I have never felt that way before. It was amazing. I had a smile the entire time, the spirit in that temple is so incredible. Everyone should go there!

After that we went to Carthage. It was a good day to do so, because it was raining so we could be inside the whole time. Again, amazing spirit that is there. There is a place in the visitor center that if you look at the jail, you can see Joseph Smith in one of the windows, because of where his picture is in the visitors center.

We had a few places we wanted to go and we went to a show put on by the Young Performing Missionaries. These are missionaries that have already served a mission, and had to AUDITION to come to Nauvoo for a 2nd mission. They served in Nauvoo and performed for 3 months, they had to obey all mission rules. Only 24 out of 250 applicants are chosen to be these missionaries. How crazy is that!? They were the best of the best! They had performed little skits on the Trail of Hope, and put on shows. They were incredible. (Are you catching a theme that Nauvoo is awesome?)

Sunday, church wasnt until 2, so we relaxed and hung out. We had Elder Baxter from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy there. He is from England and had the greatest accent. He was pretty funny and took the entire sacrament time. He talked about how we are Christians. He was pretty blunt on some of the points, like we dont believe that the God Head is one being because that is wrong. He didn't try to sugar coat anything. I love that!

Monday we headed over to the Joseph Smith Historic Site. It is was by the Community of Christ church. There is a totally different spirit there, or should I say lack of spirit. When we went to Joseph Smiths houses and places he had been it just felt like an old house. After we went to Brigham Young's House and the minute we walked in we felt a change, a reverence for this place. Whenever the Community of Christ sells the Joseph Smith sites to the church I want to go back to see the difference in the spirit. I know it will be moving.

Monday was our last day, so after we packed and had lunch we left because we had a 4 hour drive ahead of us. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone but its nice to know that we will be seeing them soon!