Kirtland

While Kenneth's parents were here, we spent a day in Kirtland, OH. We left at about 8:00 in the morning and got home about 9:15 at night. We were all exhausted when we got home, but it was well worth the drive.

First we visited the Kirtland Visitors Center. They have a really neat movie that you watch at the visitors center that tells some of the history of Kirtland and the early saints in the area. The Whitney family was very influential in Kirtland at the time and Joseph Smith stayed with the Whitney's for some period of time. I thought it was neat that Newell K. Whitney's wife's name was Elizabeth Anne (though she went by Anne). The movie really brought the Spirit and helped me understand the significant impact for good that one family can have in spreading the gospel and helping those in need.

After the movie, two sister missionaries took us to the Whitney home, where Joseph and Emma stayed for a short time. It was neat to think of all the things that must have gone on in their home and it made everything seem so much more real. Then we went to the Newell K. Whitney store, where they started the first Bishop's Storehouse. My favorite part was the upstairs of the store where Joseph and Emma lived for some time and Joseph received several revelations from the Lord. We went into the room where they held the school of the prophets and it felt like such a special, sacred place because of the things that happened there. Next we went to the Sawmill, where many men of Kirtland worked. Then we went to the Ashery where Newell K. Whitney made most of his fortune. Finally, we went to the Inn. They had a computer database there to look up ancestors who lived in Kirtland and Kenneth found that one of his ancestors did live in Kirtland and that Eliza R. Snow actually wrote the song "Oh My Father" while staying at his home in Kirtland.

After that we went to the Kirtland Temple, which is currently owned by the Community of Christ Church. At their visitors center they had a movie about the start of the church and the building of the Kirtland temple. I really felt a dramatic contrast between the spirit that was at the LDS visitor's center and the Community of Christ's visitors center and temple. It was another testimony builder to me that the church is true. It was neat to go the the Kirtland Temple and think of the hard work that they must have put into building such a large structure with so few people and so few skilled workers. It must have been a great sacrifice for the people.

After a long day, and a stop by the Isaac Morley farm, we headed back home. I left feeling uplifted and grateful for all the sacrifices made by our predecessors and I felt my testimony had been strengthened that the Lord will help us through our trials and the responsibilities he gives us. He loves us and will continue to move this church forward.

Thank you to Cheryl for taking these great pictures!

Everyone in front of the Whitney home

Joseph sitting on a bench in front of the N.K. Whitney Store

Room where school of the prophets was held

Joseph and mommy in front of N.K. Whitney store

Elizabeth in the flowers outside the Kirtland Temple

Kirtland Temple

Elizabeth and Joseph in front of the flowers by Kirtland Temple

Grandpa Joe, mommy, Joseph, Daddy and Elizabeth in front of Community of Christ Visitor Center

Joseph and Elizabeth on little stump chairs by Isaac Morely Farm

Joseph on stump chair

Joseph watching a movie in jammies and sunglasses on the trip home

Elizabeth trying to sleep on the trip home