Visiting Carthage was surreal. But not at all for the reasons I thought it would be. It is such a beautiful building and home. I tend to forget the fact that this building was a home to a family with children as well as being a jail. I think the reality of it being a home with a family living there makes the events on June 27, 1844 all the more horrific. Our tour guide explained how compassionate the jailers had been to Joseph and the other brethren. They treated them like family. They ate with the family at meal times. Most of the time they were not even in there appointed cell because it was too hot. On the day of June 27, 1844 the jailers family was worried that there was a plan in the making against Joseph, so he moved Joseph and the brethren into his own master bedroom hoping it would provide more protection. Had the jailer not moved them, they would have been trapped in a cell at the mercy of the mob. But since they were moved into another room they were able to defend themselves somewhat. Two of the brethren eventually escaped alive.
This cell was the "debtors" cell for the average petty criminals. Joseph and the brethren were allowed to stay in here because the cell on the upper floor reserved for the hardened criminals would get to be about 120 degrees, plus humidity. But the jailer felt they were honest men and he could trust them, so he allowed them downstairs.
This is the original door to the master bedroom that the mobs forced open to shoot at the brethren. The bullet hole and proof of forced entry still remain.
This is the second story window that Joseph threw himself out of after being shot hoping that the mob would come after him and leave the other men alone.
This was our crew for the trip: Scott, me, Ben, Grandma Gwenya, Grandpa Wayne, Becky, Baby Andrew, Megan, Clark, Russell and Libby.
Ben wasn't thrilled about all the touring through the houses. But he did love the dirt! It took him 3 seconds to find something to dig in after we toured Carthage. 
Daddy and Ben found a ladybug!! What great entertainment. Ben kept telling me how nice that lady bug was. "He nice bug."
Untitled from Britta Bruderer on Vimeo.
Ben thought it was so great that the bug "wiked" (liked) him so much. In truth the ladybug did not want to go back on Scott's hand. He preferred climbing up Ben's arm.
I am so lucky to have such handsome boys!! Scott got Ben all ready for church by himself. I was off with my mom on an adventure and I came back expecting to rush to get ready or miss church all together and I found two clean and handsome men all ready for church!! Wow.
