Day 8

We drove to Far West to the site of the future temple. Eldon and Sheryl gave parts about the Haun's mill massacre which was fitting since they have an ancestor, Jacob Foutz, who was wounded in the thigh there but lived to become a bishop in Nauvoo and then Salt Lake.

Brenda stood by the cornerstone of the temple and sang, "Be Still My Soul." Very fitting.

Be still my soul: when change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Then we drove to Adam-ondi-Ahman. It is a beautiful valley but there is nothing there to draw attention to it. It is where Adam and Eve went when they left the Garden of Eden (Independence) and where Christ will come.

We had lunch at the Cycles Restaurant in Gallatin.

On the long drive to Hannibal, Missouri, we shared ancestor stories. Eldon and I shared about the Fugls and Olsens who came from the same county in northern Denmark on the same sailing ship and same ox team company to Pleasant Grove. Ken shared about the Henry White family who were neighbors to the Smiths in Palmyra and ended up in Nauvoo. Sheryl shared about Jacob Foutz who was wounded at Haun's Mill. (The Whites and Foutzes are ancestors of Jenav Smith Olsen.)

In Hannibal we hiked to the top of a steep hill and looked at the mighty Missippi River.

Robin with her friend, Noah

There is a statute of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. The whole town is based on Mark Twain honorabilia.

Rachel whitewashing

Then we drove to Quincy, the town that welcomed the saints when they were driven out of Far West. It is a thriving town, blessed by their kindness. After dinner we heard a presentation by Dr. David Costigan, a world expert on Abraham Lincoln.