July 11, 2010
OK. There is just no way to adequately describe today. It just keeps getting better and better.
We started the day with Sacrament meeting in Hiram, OH, next to the John Johnson Farm. After the meeting, we went to the Historic Johnson Farm. This is where so much happened. Joseph & Emma lived there for a year. There were 16 revelations given there, including the Plan of Salvation section 76. In this upper room, God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared. What a marvelous place to visit. This is also where the persecution started to become very severe. Joseph Smith was dragged from his bed and tarred and feathered in the middle of the night. This was a particularly vicious attack. It was actually an assassination attempt. He was pretty severely beaten and scratched and left for dead. He then arose the next morning and preached from the front step, much to the surprise of the mob. The Spirit here was so incredibly strong.
The next stop was the Kirtland temple. I have had people tell me that they did not really feel the Spirit much there. However, I found it to have an amazing Spirit there. We were able to go into the temple and see the beautiful workmanship there. The tour guide was able to tell us quite a bit about the temple and what went into getting it built and also the dedication. But to sit in that room where God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared in such a holy edifice was an experience never to be forgotten. It is still the site of great spiritual importance and I could feel the Spirit in abundance. The tour guide even asked if the group would like to sing "The Spirit of God". What an experience. I almost couldn't get through the song. It's the second best singing experience in a temple that I've been able to have.
From there we went to the Historic Kirtland Visitor's Center. This was also a great place. The highlight of this site was the Newel K. Whitney store. This is also the site where many revelations were received. In the upstairs is the room where the School of the Prophets was held. Here in this room also God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared. Wow!! Three places in one day. To walk in the same places where such events have occurred has been amazing. It will be very difficult to top this day.
I so wish I could bring all the seminary kids to these places. What a great vacation this has been!!
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Praise to the Man
July 10
This morning we started the day at the Carthage Jail Historical Site. What a spirit can be felt there. We arrived about 20 minutes before they opened. We had been there about 10 minutes when two big tour busses pulled up. It was a stake youth conference from Mississippi. We were able to have about 30 of them on our tour. What great young people we have in the Church. It's pretty amazing what a wonderful feeling can be felt at a place that such a travesty occurred. What a great man was the Prophet Joseph Smith!!!!
We then had a very long drive to Cleveland in order to see Kirtland tomorrow.
This morning we started the day at the Carthage Jail Historical Site. What a spirit can be felt there. We arrived about 20 minutes before they opened. We had been there about 10 minutes when two big tour busses pulled up. It was a stake youth conference from Mississippi. We were able to have about 30 of them on our tour. What great young people we have in the Church. It's pretty amazing what a wonderful feeling can be felt at a place that such a travesty occurred. What a great man was the Prophet Joseph Smith!!!!
We then had a very long drive to Cleveland in order to see Kirtland tomorrow.
City Beautiful
July 9
What a marvelous day! We started the day with a beautiful drive up the Mississippi River towards Nauvoo. Bright blue sky, beautiful green country side, high muddy waters next to the road. Then finally, a break in the trees and a bend in the river. There it was - the temple on the hill - off in the distance. What a sight it must have been to the saints in the mid-1840s after weeks on a rolling ship to come up the river and come around that bend. I'm sure it made it all worth it.
We started out with a session in the Nauvoo temple. What a beautiful temple. We were allowed to see the assembly room. It looks so much like the paintings and drawings of the original. What a great experience. The murals in the rooms are breathtaking. After that, we were able to take the kids to do baptisms for the dead while Mom walked around Nauvoo. The youth group that was there at the same time Richard and Rachel were there, was from Kearney, Missouri, which is where we lived when Kim was born. Another amazing "coincidence."
During the afternoon we were able to see some of Nauvoo and enjoy the spirit there. Mom even ran into someone she went to high school with.
In the evening we were able to see the Nauvoo pageant. What a great production that tells a history of Nauvoo along with a story line that bears strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Words cannot convey the emotions. And at the end to have the temple light up atop that bluff was just incredible.
All in all - a wonderful day!!!!
What a marvelous day! We started the day with a beautiful drive up the Mississippi River towards Nauvoo. Bright blue sky, beautiful green country side, high muddy waters next to the road. Then finally, a break in the trees and a bend in the river. There it was - the temple on the hill - off in the distance. What a sight it must have been to the saints in the mid-1840s after weeks on a rolling ship to come up the river and come around that bend. I'm sure it made it all worth it.
We started out with a session in the Nauvoo temple. What a beautiful temple. We were allowed to see the assembly room. It looks so much like the paintings and drawings of the original. What a great experience. The murals in the rooms are breathtaking. After that, we were able to take the kids to do baptisms for the dead while Mom walked around Nauvoo. The youth group that was there at the same time Richard and Rachel were there, was from Kearney, Missouri, which is where we lived when Kim was born. Another amazing "coincidence."
During the afternoon we were able to see some of Nauvoo and enjoy the spirit there. Mom even ran into someone she went to high school with.
In the evening we were able to see the Nauvoo pageant. What a great production that tells a history of Nauvoo along with a story line that bears strong testimony of Jesus Christ. Words cannot convey the emotions. And at the end to have the temple light up atop that bluff was just incredible.
All in all - a wonderful day!!!!
Friday, July 9, 2010
The Drive
July 8, 2010
Hi all!
We've begun. Yesterday was the longest driving day of the trip. We left early in the morning to head for Kansas City to pick up my mom. We were a little late leaving, but made good time and arrived at the airport a few minutes after Mom's flight.
Next we headed to Adam-ondi-Ahman. What a great peaceful place. It is so incredibly green this year. We even ran into some people we know from Tremonton. Small world, right?
Got some great pictures. (Will post soon) But the best part, of course, was the spirit of the whole site. To stand there in those places and feel the spirits of those who have been there before - clear back to Adam - and of those who are yet to come. What a great place!!!!
Looking forward to a great experience in Nauvoo today.
We've begun. Yesterday was the longest driving day of the trip. We left early in the morning to head for Kansas City to pick up my mom. We were a little late leaving, but made good time and arrived at the airport a few minutes after Mom's flight.
Next we headed to Adam-ondi-Ahman. What a great peaceful place. It is so incredibly green this year. We even ran into some people we know from Tremonton. Small world, right?
Got some great pictures. (Will post soon) But the best part, of course, was the spirit of the whole site. To stand there in those places and feel the spirits of those who have been there before - clear back to Adam - and of those who are yet to come. What a great place!!!!
Looking forward to a great experience in Nauvoo today.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Getting Ready
We are in the midst of preparing for our upcoming Church History trip this summer. I decided to learn how to blog so that we can share this great experience with our family and friends. Getting very excited about it. We will be leaving July 8. Stay tuned.
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