Keokuk, Iowa has a National Military Cemetary, one of only 12 such so designated by the U.S. Congress. We spent some time driving through its beautifully cared for grounds this morning. We were vividly reminded of the sacrifice made by so very many to defend our country and maintain our freedoms. Those who have died in defense of country in all branch's of military service are buried here, some of them in unmarked graves.

It is Sunday. We have been staying at a hotel in Keokuk, Iowa, just across the Mississippi River from Nauvoo. We decided that we would attend the local LDS Keokuk Branch Sacrament meeting instead of going over to Nauvoo. A young family named Smith from Minnesota that have been on a school break and staying at our hotel also attended with us. Both his and her parents live in Gilbert. Her maiden name is Mix. They have a boy and girl, really a nice young family.

We didn't get their picture or a picture of the Branch meeting house, but it is a very nice building and a large Branch that is the size of a small Ward. We very much enjoyed meeting and worshiping with them and the blessing of being able to partake of the Sacrament and renew our Covenants. What a blessing it is to travel throughout this dear country of ours and to find the Church thriving and strong in every place we go.

Because the church historic sites do not open for visitors until 12:30 pm on Sundays it gave us an opportunity to visit several places of interest in Keokuk before driving due east across the river to Carthage, IL where the Carthage Jail is located.

This is one of several older mansions that are found along Grand Avenue on the bluff overlooking the river in the city of Keokuk (The city is named after an Indian chief).

Day 47, Sat, Oct 18, Keokuk, Iowa

We have enjoyed seeing so many homes and businesses decorated for the Autumn and Halloween season weeks in advance. Some real creative efforts.

Linda especially likes these ghosts that hold hands in a circle! Scary!!

We will be staying at our hotel today, so here are some pictures of Halloween decorations from the front yards of America, taken during our travels.

Day 46, Friday, Oct 17, Nauvoo, IL

Thursday, on arrival in Nauvoo, we found lodging at a locally owned and operated hotel, convenient to the Temple. We dressed in our Sunday best this morning and after checkout from the hotel we went to the Temple and participated in an endowment session with about 24 other patrons.

It was such a sweet experience to go inside this holy temple, carefully structured after the design and decor of the original. The spiral staircases that adorn the interior at the four corners of the building are so beautifully crafted. Except for those who need the elevator ( a modern addition) patrons use these spiral staircases to ascend to the endowment rooms.

What a special experience for us to attend the Nauvoo Temple today!

We motored on down river and crossed over the bridge and took a room at the Marriott Fairfield at Keokuk, Iowa, there being no rooms available for us in Nauvoo. We plan to remain in the Nauvoo area through Sunday and attend church services there and see more of the historic area maintained by the Church as part of the Illinois Nauvoo Mission before we continue westward.

Today, we are trying to recover from BYU's disappointing loss at TCU. The very best way to do that was a deeply satisfying and uplifting session at the Nauvoo Temple, followed by a drive along the Mississippi.

This picture was taken on the east bank of the river about 5 miles south of Nauvoo.

Day 45, Thurs, Oct 16, Bloomington, IL to Nauvoo, IL

We arrived in Nauvoo in the mid-afternoon on a very beautiful, clear Autumn day. It was such a feeling to see the Temple gracing this prominence above the Mississippi on the very spot where the original Temple once stood.

We visited the Temple site 24 years ago when we picked up our son Jeffery from the mission field in West Virginia (Jan, 84). We stopped in Nauvoo on our way home.

This Temple is affirmation of the history and the destiny of this great Church and its mission to the world!

How wonderful to be here! We took a room at a hotel a short distance away and settled down to view the BYU-TCU game.

We are hoping to prepare ourselves in the morning to attend a temple session after we check out of our hotel.

So, what do we find when we arrive at the banks of the mighty Mississippi River?

That's right! A rock tht says "Lincoln Spoke Here."

This is in the tiny village of Dallas City, Ill, just a few miles upstream from Nauvoo.