Day Trip to Nauvoo, IL

Here are some shots of our daytrip to Nauvoo, IL. Note the swing bridge from Ft. Madison into Illinois. The Barbara and Olivia shot is at the Joseph Smith home on the Community of Christ site (formerly Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints).

Here are a few things I’ve noticed: both the “regular” LDS and the Community of Christ groups put a ton of emphasis on Emma Smith and none, zero on Joseph Smith’s other wives.

The LDS visitor’s center had a painting of Smith “translating” the Golden Plates. Missing were the seer stones. Also, Smith’s arrest was reported. Not mentioned was the press he had burned.

But, this was an important part of Illinois history, and turning Nauvoo into a city was an impressive engineering feat.

If you visit Nauvoo, I’d recommend visiting both church sites: the Historic Nauvoo Visitor’s Center (run by the LDS church, founded by those who followed Brigham Young after Joseph Smith’s death; they are in Salt Lake City) and the Community of Christ Joseph Smith Historic Site (those who followed Joseph Smith III; their center is in Independence, MO.).

Though both are full of superstition and woo, the Community of Christ, while much, much, much smaller in size and influence, appear to be more reasonable. They even ordain women into the priesthood.

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