Joseph Smith in Nauvoo

Photos: Mansion House, Smith graves, Homestead, Nauvoo House.

Last Tuesday afternoon in Nauvoo we visited the Community of Christ (formerly RLDS) visitors' center and were fortunate to get in on a tour of the Joseph Smith sites with the site director.There was one other family (friends of his) on the tour, as well as two student interns whom he was training. He knew a lot about the site, which includes the Nauvoo House (which was not completed until after Emma remarried and most of the Church members had gone west), the Homestead (Joseph and Emma's first official home in Nauvoo) and the Mansion House (built and used as a hotel, as well as the Smith residence).

In the Homestead, we were privileged to go upstairs (where tour groups are not usually allowed), and in the Mansion House we were allowed to go into Joseph and Emma's bedroom to see the secret hiding place in the attic, with access behind the closet. Apparently this and other hiding places were used often by the Prophet Joseph when his enemies were after him.

We also saw the graves of Joseph, Emma and Hyrum Smith and heard about how the bodies were moved several times and then essentially lost and then found by 20th century researchers, when they were finally laid to rest in their current location. However, there is still some question as to whether Joseph and Hyrum are reversed in the graves. This is a question which historians like to discuss, but I hardly think it really matters.

Tuesday evening we went to the LDS visitors' center and saw the very interesting topographical map of Nauvoo. This helped us orient ourselves to the area and understand the hills and the way the river wraps around three sides of the town. Outside of the visitors' center is the women's garden, with all the beautiful statues done by Dennis Smith. I remember when they were raising money for this garden and asked for donations from Relief Society sisters. We had very little money at the time, but I do remember making a small contribution. I had completely forgotten about it until we walked into the garden. It was nice to see what a beautiful place they have created.