Introduction to Historic Nauvoo and Carthage Jail

“Generations yet unborn will dwell with peculiar delight upon the scenes that we have passed through, the privations that we have endured; the untiring zeal that we have manifested; the insurmountable difficulties that we have overcome in laying the foundation of a work that brought about the glory and blessings which they will realize.” — Joseph Smith, in Times and Seasons (published in Nauvoo), May 2, 1842, 776

Historic Nauvoo, located in west central Illinois in the United States of America, is an important historic site of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. During the winter of 1838–1839, Latter-day Saints were driven from their homes in Missouri, and many eventually found their way to the area in and around what would be renamed the city of Nauvoo. Through revelation, Jesus Christ called upon the people of Nauvoo to become a “ cornerstone of Zion,” providing a strong foundation from which the Church could grow. The focal point in the city’s landscape and in the lives of the Latter-day Saints was the Nauvoo Temple. Under the prophetic leadership of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, this Latter-day Saint community gathered not only to build this temple city but also to make sacred covenants with God and each other through temple ordinances.

Carthage Jail, located about 20 miles southeast of Nauvoo, is the restored historic site where the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were killed by a mob on June 27, 1844. The martyrdom of the Prophet and Patriarch was devastating to the Latter-day Saints. Nevertheless, as the Saints mourned these great losses, they also followed the surviving apostles’ lead to carry on the work of restoring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter days.

In the two years following the martyrdom, the Saints completed construction of the Nauvoo Temple and performed sacred ordinances that bound them to God and one another. But they knew their time in their beloved temple city was drawing to an end. By the end of 1846, thousands of Saints had departed Nauvoo with the hope that they could build a more peaceful Zion home in the west.

Historic Nauvoo and Carthage Jail share foundational moments in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ that continue to impact the Church today. In Nauvoo, Joseph Smith received important revelations from the Lord—including the temple ordinances of baptism for the dead, the endowment, and eternal family sealings; apostles left on overseas missions; tradespeople developed a dynamic economy that supported temple construction; and the Female Relief Society was founded to care for those in need. At Carthage Jail, Joseph Smith concluded his mortal ministry, leaving behind an unwavering testimony of the living Savior Jesus Christ.

Today, visitors to Historic Nauvoo and Carthage Jail, whether in person or online, can discover stories of faith, service, work, devotion, tragedy, hope, and peace. These places and stories can inspire people to strengthen their own faith in Jesus Christ, make and keep covenants with God, share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, and build up the communities where they live.