2027 Missouri and Nauvoo: A Journey Through LDS Church History with Mark & Janie Olgetree

This morning we depart for Kansas City, Missouri, the starting point of our journey through early Church History. Upon arrival, we travel to Independence, a place of profound significance in the Restoration. Our first stop is the LDS Visitors’ Center and the Temple Lot—the very site where the Lord commanded the first temple of this dispensation to be built. Here, will review the Lord’s revelations to the early Saints about establishing the center place of Zion.

Next, we will drive around the historic Independence Square – with brief stops at the location where the Book of Commandments was first printed, and the Gilbert/Whitney Store was built. We will then drive to LaBenite Park, a peaceful spot along the banks of the Missouri River to reflect on the sobering history of the Saints’ expulsion from Jackson County – a pivotal moment in our history that tested the faith of the Saints and forged a stronger, more unified people. This evening we’ll gather for our Welcome Dinner—which provides a chance to get acquainted and to have a brief overview of the sacred sites we will be visiting.

We begin our day with a visit to the Michael Arthur Farm, a sacred but lesser-known site tied to the expulsion of the Saints from Jackson County. Here we’ll remember the tender mercies of the Lord which followed the tragic expulsion period, the march and official disbanding of Zion’s Camp, and see the monument honoring the Eight Witnesses of the Book of Mormon. We will then make our way to Richmond, Missouri to visit several significant sites including: The Three Witnesses Monument, the Richmond Courthouse, and the site of the Richmond Jail where many Latter-day Saints—including the Prophet Joseph—were illegally incarcerated.

After lunch, we will visit the Liberty Jail, one of the most sobering stops on our journey. It was here, during the harsh winter of 1838 – 1839, that the Prophet Joseph Smith and other Church leaders were illegally imprisoned under brutal conditions. In this ironically holy place, we will reflect on the revelations received by the Prophet in the jail, including the three sections of the Doctrine and Covenants that inspire faith and endurance for us today. We will also make a brief stop at the beautiful Kansas City Missouri Temple for group photos and a moment of peaceful reflection.

This morning we drive to Far West to visit the dedicated temple site where cornerstones for a holy temple were laid in July 1838. Although the Saints were not able to build the temple, the cornerstones and property remain as a testament of their faith and devotion to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Next, we will visit the recently upgraded site of Haun’s Mill in Caldwell County, Missouri — the site of one of the great tragedies in our early history. After lunch we will visit a most-holy place – Adam-ondi-Ahman. Spring Hill was named “Adam-ondi-Ahman” by the Lord as recorded in the revelation (see D&C 116). We then continue on to Nauvoo.

We begin our day in Old Nauvoo, a city of historical significance in the Restoration, with a scenic drive-by tour of several sacred and key historical sites. We will make a brief stop at the Historic Pioneer Cemetery, a quiet and sacred place that honors the early Saints of Nauvoo. Our next stop will be the Nauvoo Visitors’ Center, where we will see an overview of the historic city, and sense a greater appreciation for its history, and the faithful Saints who once called it home.

You will then have free time, both before and after lunch, to explore many of Nauvoo’s significant historic sites at your own pace. Among the many memorable stops are the Cultural Hall, Browning Gun Shop, the Times and Seasons Print Shop, the John Taylor and Brigham Young Homes, the Riser Tin Shop, and the Scovil Bakery. Each site offers a glimpse into the daily lives, faith, and determination of the early Saints who built this amazing city. You might also choose to take a wagon ride through the historic district and/or visit additional historic homes on “the Flats”. After dinner, we will gather at the restored Seventies Hall—the center of missionary preparation in the early Church – for a short evening devotional.

This morning we start our day at the Nauvoo Temple—a sacred opportunity for those with appointments to participate in temple ordinances. (Please note: Temple attendance is optional and subject to the temple schedule.) Your time at the temple, will be a treasured memory as you reflect on the sacrifices made to build this majestic House of the Lord. Following the temple and lunch, we will tour the Joseph Smith Historic Sites, including the original Homestead; the Mansion House, once home to Joseph and Emma Smith and a gathering place for guests and dignitaries; the iconic Red Brick Store, where the Relief Society was organized and sacred ordinances were performed; and the gravesites of Joseph, Emma, and Hyrum Smith, where we will pause to honor their lives and legacies. As with the previous day, you will also have free time to visit additional historic sites or to take a wagon ride through beautiful Nauvoo.

After dinner, we will walk the memorable Trail of Hope, as we retrace the steps of the Saints who were forced to leave their beloved city in the bone-chilling cold of February 1846. Along the way, we will read excerpts from the journals and letters of these valiant Saints, and sense the sorrow, faith, and determination that filled their hearts as they stepped into the unknown.

We begin our last day with a memorable visit to the Carthage Jail—the solemn and sacred site where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his beloved brother Hyrum were martyred on June 27, 1844. Standing in the very room where this tragedy occurred, we will have the opportunity to reflect on their courage, their enduring testimonies, and their unwavering dedication to the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth in our day.

After lunch, we will drive to St. Louis for our evening flight home, carrying with us not just memories of the holy places we have seen, but a deeper and lasting appreciation for the faith, sacrifice, and vision of the Prophet Joseph and the early Saints in whose footsteps we have walked this week.