Roadtrip!

I had big graduation trip plans, let me tell ya - Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Italy. Unfortunately, those didn't happen because, um, let's just say I can't justify taking out additional loans to fund a vacation when I have student loans coming due soon and am still in the post-grad job interview process. But compromises can be good sometimes, and the 3100 mile, 6 day roadtrip through 9 states was an experience I'll never forget!

First stop (after driving through Utah and Wyoming to get to South Dakota): Mount Rushmore. Foggy, snowy and 37 degrees. Still, at least the wind gave us occasional peaks at the monument.

California pride.

Next stop (after the rest of South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin into Illinois): Chicago! Navy Pier is so fun. I think I would've enjoyed it more had it been warm enough to go in the water, ride the ferris wheel, etc., but we still took a fun/freezing floating architecture tour on the river. Gorgeous buildings!

Of course we also had way too much fun taking pictures at the bean sculpture in Millennial Park.

Next stop: Carthage Jail in Carthage, IL. This is where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred in 1844. 

From the Nauvoo Print Shop, a type setting of James 1:5. This scripture encouraged 14-year-old Joseph Smith to ask God which religion he should align himself with. That prayer led to the First Vision, in which Joseph saw both Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and was told that the true church was yet to be restored.

Attending the beautiful Nauvoo Temple was the highlight of the trip. This temple was rebuilt from 2000-2002, but it stands on the foundation of the original temple that my ancestors helped to build, and attended in 1846 before they had to leave Nauvoo due to persecution from mobs. The temple is gorgeous inside!

Wilford Woodruff is sort of a family hero. He baptized my Harris ancestors (along with the other 600+ members of the United Brethren in Gloucester, England) and became their lifelong friend. All this in spite of Robert Harris' initial attempts to "rough him up" and drive the Mormons out of town. Robert helped build the Nauvoo Temple, served in the Mormon Battalion and became a Seventy, ordained by Wilford Woodruff.

Finally, this is Joseph Smith's Red Brick Store. The second floor of this store is where Joseph established the Relief Society, now the largest women's organization in the world, and where the temple ordinances were revealed to Joseph and first performed (because the temple was not yet completed).