Stop #4: Kirtland, Ohio

April 23, 2008 - Wenesday

Kirtland, Ohio

Kirtland seems to be the place where the church and the number of saints really began to flourish.  It is in Kirtland that the church settled for the first time and began a community filled with enough skill and talents to build, manufacture, and grow all that they would need to sustain themselves on their own.  In Kirtland the prophet Joseph Smith received many of the revelations that helped build the foundation for what much of the church is based on today.  The temple is one of the revelations that the prophet received, instructing the saints to build up a house unto the lord.  But after much persecution the saints were eventually driven out. 

         In Kirtland we visited the Newel K. Whitney Store, where the first Bishop's store house was located.  We were also able to tour the Whitney home and the Johnson Inn. 

 

Then we went to the sawmill and the ashery, where we were able to see how much of a genius Newel Whitney was.  It was his income that helped the church buy the lot where the temple was to be built.  

After that we went to the temple, now in possession of the community of Christ, and were able to visit all three levels.  It is a wonder how they were able to build such a beautifully detailed building dedicated unto the lord.  As one looks at the intricate detail on each door, each railing, and in each room you can see that all who participated in its edification gave his and her very best efforts and exerted the best of their abilities into making it acceptable to the Lord.  From a distance it doesn't look all that spectacular but given what they had to work with and the sacrifices each saint put forth it is obvious why the lord willingly accepted the very best they had to offer.  Knowing the history of the Kirtland temple, and all that took place within that sacred building made this experience that much more powerful.

Then we went to the John Johnson home in Hiram Ohio where the prophet Joseph Smith lived for a short time and also received many revelations, including a visit from God the Father and the Son.  It was here that he was taken from his room by an angry mob, away from his family and out into the streets to be beaten, tarred and feathered.  The spirit was sure strong in that home and as our last place to visit before making our way to Philadelphia, there is no better place I would have rather stopped at.  

We hope that you all get the opportunity to make this trip some day and the only recommendation I would give is plan it out as time efficient as you can. Leave time to sit, ponder and reflect on all that took place at each location and as you do the spirit will testify of all that took place there.  I am so grateful for Michaela and the time and energy she put forth in planning out this trip.  She has been an incredible blessing to me and though the church councils us to stay out of debt...I only see more and more every day that I will never be able to repay her for all of the wonderful things she does for me each and every day.