Nauvoo, Ill. - Nearly 156 years after early members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints left Nauvoo, Ill., thousands of Latter-day Saints returned to the historic site to participate in the dedication of the rebuilt temple.

Public Affairs for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints estimated that 17,843 people attended the 13 dedicatory sessions in Nauvoo that began June 27 and concluded June 30. One of the thousands of families that traveled to Nauvoo to participate in the dedication was the Lowe family.

Brian and Julie Lowe traveled with their two children, Tyler and Elizabeth, 450 miles from Blytheville, Ark., to attend the dedication.

Julie Lowe, a convert to the church, attended the temple's groundbreaking ceremony and applied online for tickets to the dedication.

"When the woman from the church called to tell me we had received tickets, I just started screaming because I was so excited," she said.

Julie said she lived in the temple district for years and was thrilled to see the beautiful temple rebuilt.

"I used to sit in the hole that used to be here," she said. "Now look at it."

Brian Lowe said he was excited to attend the dedication because of the importance it has for members of the church today.

"The temple represents a certain part of the church, and if it hadn't been for them, the church wouldn't be where it is today."

The Lowe's were among the many families and members of the church who participated in the final dedicatory session Sunday, June 30 at 5 p.m.

After the dedication and by the direction of President Hinckley, the Lowe family joined others as they walked down historic Parley Street.

President Hinckley encouraged those attending the services in the temple to recognize the sacrifice of the early saints by walking down the street.

The street is lined with historic homes, sites and a "Trail of Hope" that cites passages from the journals of early saints.

Many in attendance followed the prophet's counsel, and crowds of people lined Parley Street to remember and commemorate the sacrifice of early saints who left behind the beautiful city of Nauvoo to travel west.