Tour II, Missouri-Nauvoo-Winter Quarters:
Discover the best of the Midwest at incredibly beautiful & meaningful sites! Fly to Kansas City to be met by a deluxe, air-conditioned bus which transports you in comfort to explore important church history sites as described, below. Fly home from Omaha, near Winter Quarters. This routing allows you to see the the sites in historical order, making this complex history clear and understandable.
Begin in Missouri where the Saints were commanded to build up Zion, yet were rebuffed and expelled. Cross the Mississippi River to Quincy, Illinois, where the Saints were compassionately received. Continue north to Nauvoo and the temple (2nd one here in this dispensation; re-built and dedicated in 2002). Follow Brigham Young’s trail across Iowa topping at important settlement sites. Complete our journey at Kanesville and Winter Quarters, discussing crucial events that took place along the way.
NEW for 2026: enjoy a delightful Mississippi Riverboat dinner cruise at Hannibal, Missouri!
Places Visited
INDEPENDENCE MO
Gathering place of the Saints. Area of ancient Garden of Eden. The lost ten tribes of Israel will gather here and build the great City of Zion before the second coming of Christ. A great temple will be constructed here that will eclipse anything we have yet experienced. It will be lighted day and night by a celestial source from above. The Lord will govern the world from this city during the Millennium.
RICHMOND MO
1. Site of Richmond Jail, where the Rebuking of the Guards by Joseph Smith took place. (This event is often erroneously thought to have taken place at Liberty Jail.)
2. Graves of Oliver Cowdery, Mary Whitmer, David Whitmer, Judge Austin King, and other key players in our history.
3. Monument to heroic Alexander Doniphan.
LIBERTY MO
Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith was incarcerated with Hyrum and others. Some time later, Porter Rockwell also was imprisoned here on a false charge of attempting to kill Governor Lilburn Boggs. Wonderful visitors center and inspiring missionary presentations. Learn why this site is referred to as a “temple prison.”
FAR WEST MO
Third and last Missouri home of the saints before being driven out in 1839 by the Extermination Order. Sacred dedicated temple lot. Declared by President David O. McKay to be the site of a future “glorious Millennial city.”
ADAM-ONDI-AHMAN MO
Adam dwelt here after expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Three years before his death, he blessed his posterity and prophesied important future events of this earth. A great meeting will take place here before the Second Coming, attended by millions from both worlds. Every prophet who ever held keys will report his stewardship to Adam and return keys to him. The Lord will then appear and Satan will be stripped of his power. Finally, Adam will deliver the keys to Jesus Christ in preparation for His thousand-year reign.
HANNIBAL MO
Stop by Hannibal on the Mississippi River to explore a little Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) history and sites - try your hand at whitewashing the picket fence! Walk to the river's edge or climb the stairs up the hill to view the lighthouse. Enjoy an evening Mississippi Riverboat dinner cruise to top off the day.
QUINCY IL
Lovely, upbeat, blessed town that rescued the Saints when driven from Missouri by the Militias (mobs) in the middle of the winter of 1839. Discussion of the monumental importance to the future of our country and of the Lincoln-Douglas debates – see the site where one of these key debates took place.
GREEN PLAINS IL
What is left of the town founded by Reverend Levi Williams, the minister who led the mob that killed Joseph and Hyrum at Carthage. We pass by his grave and read his dire predictions for the Mormons, which have failed to come to pass. We also read Joseph Smith’s counter-prophecies which are being fulfilled every single day.
WARSAW IL
The town that raised the Carthage mob. Also home of Tom Sharp, the editor of the Warsaw Signal. See the immense contrast with blessed Quincy.
NAUVOO IL
Founded in a swamp in 1839; the swamp was drained and a thriving, beautiful city emerged. It was home to the Saints until they were driven from here in 1846, two years after the Prophet’s death at Carthage. The second temple in this dispensation was built here and was later destroyed by fire, then a tornado. The rebuilt Nauvoo Temple was dedicated by President Gordon B. Hinckley on June 27, 2002 at 5:00pm--the 158th anniversary of the day, and hour, that Joseph and Hyrum were killed at Carthage. Today, visit wonderfully restored homes and shops with senior missionaries to learn about day-to-day life in the 1840s with pioneer skills and faith. Tour the sacred space of the upper room of Joseph’s Red Brick Store along with 2 homes of Joseph & Emma. Take a wagon ride pulled by excellent horses carefully cared for by skilled senior missionaries. Skip rocks on the mighty Mississippi River. Enjoy delightful pioneer entertainment to cap off two+ days here.
Nauvoo Temple
Optional temple sessions in the glorious new Nauvoo Temple (if open on our travel dates) – endowment session and/or baptism sessions. Most (if not all) of our group members attend the temple together. It is a joy to attend with new & dear friends made in the tour group! Temple clothes can be rented, but be sure to take your recommend with you.
Carthage Jail, CARTHAGE IL
Scene of the murders of Joseph and Hyrum Smith at the hands of an angry, vile mob in Illinois. Powerfully moving missionary presentations at this restored site. One cannot come away from this visit without feeling incredible emotions and gratitude for the blessings of the restoration, facilitated by Joseph, the prophet.
IOWA MORMON TRAIL
Follow the Iowa Mormon Trail across this former wilderness stopping at pioneer temporary settlements along the way. Learn of the pioneers’ arduous journey thru storms, mud, and freezing temperatures--plus the good days, as well! Hear about the efforts of today’s Iowans as they discover & preserve this precious history.
MT PISGAH
Most important & largest Iowa temporary settlement for our pioneers leaving Nauvoo. Beautiful and peaceful setting atop rolling hillsides with a fitting monument to those pioneers who died at the site. Fascinating wagon ruts on the pioneer trail with dug-outs, cabin sites, grave sites.
KANESVILLE IA
Council Bluffs, Iowa: Brigham Young was sustained here as the president of the Church in December of 1848 after a return from the Salt Lake Valley. That same year, a much-humbled Oliver Cowdery made the long, hard journey here to beg to be re-admitted to the Church in front of a thousand saints. He was baptized nearby in Indian Creek by Orson Hyde.
WINTER QUARTERS NE
Just across the Missouri River into Nebraska. Outstanding visitor’s center, pioneer cemetery with 600 unmarked graves, incredible Avard Fairbanks sculpture, and the beautiful Winter Quarters Temple all located adjacent to each other on sacred ground!
Return home, on a flight from Omaha, humbled with appreciation, increased understanding, and a commitment to carry on in faith as resilient as that of our forebears.