Exodus Walk Down Parley St. Feb. 4, 2012--166 Years later

It rained and there was wind but nothing compared to the weather when thousands of the Saints were forced to leave Nauvoo in 1846. Here we are with our Temple President Spencer Condie getting ready to join the procession down the "Trail of Hope" (Parley St.) to the Mississippi. We are wearing the names of John's GG Grandmother and two of her children.

Flags represented the countries of origin for many of the early Saints. Our Ann --age 45-- (John's mother's GGrandmother) Sarah (10) and Samuel Pitchforth (20) hailed from the Isle of Mann in the British Isles. Ann left her husband and 6 of her children to travel to Nauvoo to be part of Zion. She was converted by John Taylor in England.

Can't imagine traveling 1200 miles in one of these--but it was better than walking and pushing a handcart.

And here is Brigham Young himself as part of the parade.