Nauvoo Vacation, Day Five: Ryanne goes to the Temple!

Our first Day in Nauvoo was Saturday, July 3rd. 

Wes, Ryanne and I got up early and went to the Nauvoo temple

 to do baptisms for the dead. 

[We believe that ordinances, such as baptism, are required to enter the presence of God and must be performed for those who did not have the opportunity to receive them while in their earth life.  Therefore, we do these ordinances for them . . . not to be forced upon those who we represent, but to be available to them if they desire to accept them]. 

This was Ryanne's first time entering the temple.  She was nervous and excited.  The temple itself was absolutely beautiful.  The baptismal font was huge! We had prepared family names--names of our ancestors who passed away generations ago: grandparents, great grandparents, great-great grandparents, great aunts and uncles--it was these names we took with us into the font.  We met our friends Scott, Wesley and Adam Dalton at the temple and they helped us complete our family names. It was a beautiful experience. 

Ryanne said it was her favorite part of the whole trip. 

Mine too.   

After the temple, Wes and I took Ryanne to explore parts of Nauvoo without the other kids.  We drove through the town and went to the Red Brick Store  It was so nice to spend a few hours with just Ryanne; being with her was delightful.  She enjoys history, old buildings, tours, and information.  It was nice to be with someone who could truly respect and appreciate the places we were walking in. 

 Ryanne wanted to see the Homestead

where Joseph and Emma lived.

 Wes wanted to see the 

Red Brick Store that Joseph operated. 

 The second story of the store was used

as a meeting room for the church leaders.

Joseph also had a study in the store.



Here is the upper room.  Wes was very anxious and excited to be in the room used for the school of the Prophets.  Th was one of the places he was just dying to see!  He was beaming as he considered upon all that was revealed to man from the Lord right in that very room!   I loved standing there and reflecting on the organization of the Relief Society. 

 In the Red Brick Store.

 Dad and his two girls.