Johanson Family Reunion - Nauvoo, IL 2008 Part 1

What a fun week! We rented a home in Nauvoo, Illinios, and spent 3 nights together as a family. We had 12 adults and 11 children, for a total of 23 people. I had a blast, and was so excited to be with everyone.

We picked Nauvoo, Illinois because of the church history associated with that area. It also seemed to be a logical location given how spread out everyone is, and since some of the family is relatively close (in Iowa and Arkansas). It was humbling to attend some of the historical locations and hear about the faith of the early members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They had been kicked out of Kirtland, Ohio where they had lived previously, and were diligent in building up a city and a temple in their new home of Nauvoo, Il. They had faith and followed their prophet, and prospered for a time. They were again persecuted, Joseph Smith was murdered, and in 1846 they left and went to the Salt Lake valley where they could worship in freedom.

I am so grateful for the freedoms that I enjoy, and also the same knowledge of the plan of our Heavenly Father, that gives me the courage to face the challenges that I face with hope, and resolve to learn, grow, and be happy.

In Nauvoo we had an opportunity to attend the temple, which has recently been constructed, we visited homes restored to a early 1840s time period, went to a musical presentation about the residents of Nauvoo, visited Carthage jail where the prophet Joseph Smith was murdered, and learned about our ancesotrs who had lived in Nauvoo. We did lots of fun family stuff too, like get coordinating cousin outfits, matching T-shirts, play card games, improv games, dance, sing, play on the rope swing, blow bubbles, enjoy the Mississippi River, humidity, and bugs. Everyone pitched in for some great food, and easy clean-up. The adults stayed up late very night and enjoyed being together.