Getting back to the roots

This weekend, we had the wonderful opputunity to travel to Nauvoo, for the sealing of Mark and Kim. We anticipated that this was going to be somewhat of an uplifting experience, but we had no idea what amazing experiences we were going to have. Our first stop was in Carthage. We were able to tour the jail. Great-Grandpa Bunker at that time shared his most moving testimony with the family, drawing more than just a few tears. That night, we drove on into Nauvoo and got our first view of the temple, lit in its grandeur. After a quick meal, we were off to bed. This next morning, we were able to witness Mark and Kim's sealing. What a wonderful occasion. It was wonderful to have the family there and experience that event together. Later in the afternoon, we toured Old Nauvoo. We saw Joseph Smith's home, his parents home, his gravesite, and many other historic sites. We then went over to the vistors center. There, we watched the Joseph Smith movie. We have never been moved so much in our lives. We went later that night and watched a play about the early Mormon pioneers and their exodus out of Nauvoo. Over this weekend, I was made more aware than ever of the tremendous sacrifice of these people. Believe what you may about the LDS church, what those people went through was horrible and usually completely selfless. I don't know what it would be like to have to move, be tarred and feathered, or even killed for anything that I believe in. I am thankful for all the people in every aspect of my past that gave up for the things that they believed were right.