In honor of Pioneer Day (July 24, 1847) when the first company of pioneers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley, I’d like to take you on a “walk” through the Nauvoo Pageant. Experience the Magic Before it even begins, you’re in love. On your way to pageant, you pass the Mississippi River. Wait, look! The …
Sunsets, Music, And Dancing: The Magic Of Summer In Nauvoo Read More »
On June 27, 1844, the prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were murdered at Carthage Jail. The events of the day are familiar to Latter-day Saints: the plaintive singing of A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief, the frantic storming of the mob, and the volley of bullets into the upper room, which would send …
Death of the Prophet: the Martyrdom of Joseph Smith Read More »
This story starts with a burger. Just as Jordan Squire took his first juicy bite, his wife Morgan dropped the bomb. We need to sell our house, move to Nauvoo, and open a restaurant, she told him. An Unexpected Path Keep in mind, the Squires were not in the restaurant industry. He was a computer …
Burgers and Inspiration: The Story Behind Nauvoo’s Red Front Restaurant Read More »
Joseph and Emma were never meant to be together. She was rich. He was poor. She was well-educated. He was just a farm boy. Honestly, when Emma met Joseph she probably should’ve just looked the other way. Not only that, her parents were also entirely opposed to the marriage. But yet, Emma still chose to …
Why Joseph and Emma’s Heartbreaking Love Story Matters to Me Read More »
Happy New Year Everybody! January is an exciting time of year. It’s like we all take a collective deep breath, shake off the dust and wear-and-tear from the year, and agree to begin again. Hope runs rampant! I love that contagious feeling of hope and positivity—feeling like good things are coming our way. I wish …
What is the True Spirit of Christmas? December comes just once a year. If we’re not careful it can pass us by in a frenzied whirlwind of ribbons, packages, and parties. Or, for some, it may seem like a month just like any other. Nothing special. Neither of those scenarios sound like a fun Christmas! …
Worldwide Prayer of Gratitude It’s been exactly two years since President Russell M. Nelson offered his monumental prayer of gratitude to the world. We stood at the cusp of a global pandemic. The collective heart was full of fear, anxiety, even panic. And then, the prophet spoke. Of course! The healing power of gratitude. “Does …
I’ve experienced some defining moments in my life—discovering my testimony of the Book of Mormon, meeting my husband for the first time, experiencing the deaths of my beloved mother and grandmother—the list goes on. Joseph Smith also had many defining moments, but it all began with what has come to be known as his “first …
192 years ago the Church was organized with six members. Now, Church membership soars above 16 million across the globe.1 I love the description of this momentous day found in “Saints.” The day began with the meeting formally organizing the Church, which included the administration of the sacrament and the Prophet Joseph Smith receiving a …
‘His Joy Was Full’: 192 Years of the Restored Church Read More »
Even though it’s been 177 years since the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, the place where it happened still stands. You would think Carthage Jail would be depressing to visit, but the place is eerily triumphant. I write “eerily” because there is a palpable spirit there. It’s almost unlike anywhere …
