Today, June 27, is the 172nd anniversary (1844) of the martyrdom of Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum. At 12:15 we attended "A Service of Remembrance" at the Smith Family Cemetery in Nauvoo. This commemoration was organized by the Community of Christ Church, with participation by the LDS Church and the Restoration Branches. There was a retelling of the Martyrdom through historical text, scripture, and music. We estimate that approximately 100 people were in attendance.

The Restoration Branches are former members of the RLDS Church who broke away in the 1980s when the RLDS Church made several changes to their doctrine and practices, including the ordaining of women to the priesthood.

The following graphic illustrates the four generations of Smiths buried at the Smith Family Cemetery.

This evening we attended another service, held at Carthage Jail, commemorating the martyrdom. There was music, and the reading of journal entries dealing with the last few days of the prophet's life. We estimate that there were approximately 400 people present.

Carthage Jail

When we arrived in Nauvoo on 28 April the corn was just an inch or two high. Now, two months later, it is about six feet high. 

It rains about six inches a month here during the summer. June has been exceptionally dry and the crops are showing the effects of no water. Most farmers here do not irrigate. In the following picture note how the corn leaves are curled.

An ordinance worker from Idaho, who is a farmer, explained to me that the leaves are curling to reduce the surface area exposed to the sun. This decreases how quickly the corn will dry out due to no water.