NAUVOO the BEAUTIFUL!!!

Last week was AMAZING! It's taken me a few days to write about our trip because I wanted to make sure I could write and do it justice! I can't even begin to describe how much fun we had in the beautiful little town of Nauvoo! It's an indescribable feeling there. We had about a 5 hour drive...we took our time with diaper change stops along the way. The last 15 miles is along the BEAUTIFUL and HUGE Mississippi River, and I mean RIGHT ALONG the river. It's a gorgeous drive and we were loving it! We were approaching Nauvoo around 9:30 p.m. so it was already dark outside and we saw a sign that said, "Nauvoo...the beautiful!" We were so excited...then the road started to turn uphill to the right and all of the sudden the most beautiful sight I've ever seen, the Nauvoo temple in all it's majesty is lit up against the dark sky! It was absolutely GORGEOUS and we were all like little kids, giddy with excitement. We stayed in a fun hotel and the town is just so quaint and old fashioned.
My heart was full of gratitude the whole time we were there. The people who laid the foundation for the gospel were absolutely amazing. I heard story after story which confirmed to me over and over again that this church is absolutely true. I know it is without a doubt and our Savior knows. He knows what is best, he knows which trials we need and he knows us. I am so grateful to know that He lives and that Joseph Smith was an absolute prophet called of God. The temple contains within it the beautiful and essential keys and powers to be sealed to my family forever, now that knowledge, to me, is true happiness.