Church History Tour

My friend and neighbor, Lori Stricklin, and I had talked about going on a trip together for quite a while.  We finally decided a church history tour sounded like fun.  We researched and found one tour that actually gave time to attend both the Palmyra and Nauvoo temples, not just walk around the ground, so we decided to go with that company.  Living Heritage Tours, lead by Tom Pettit was the winner.  Dates were chosen, weather was checked, clothes were pack, and we found ourselves in an Uber at 4:00am headed to LAX!!

October 7th--Day 1--Palmyra

We spent the day seeing the sites of Palmyra.  Our stops included the Sacred Grove, the Smith Family Farm, including the log cabin where Moroni visited Joseph and Alvin's frame house where Joseph and Emma lived when he finally received the plates, the Hill Cumorah, the Grandin Press (where the Book of Mormon was first published), and the Martin Harris Farm. The day ended with an endowment session in the Palmyra temple.  The day was overcast with rain during parts of the day.  It actually poured while we were at the Hill Cumorah while Lori and I got lost trying to take the "easy" way up the hill.  We backtracked and made it up, but we were drenched by the time we got back down!!

Oct 8th--Day 2--Fayette, Harmony

We started the day in  Harmony, PA where Joseph and Emma moved after persecution in Palmyra.  They first moved in with Emma's parents, and later into their own home just down the road.  It was in this home that Joseph and Oliver Cowdry translated 70% of the Book of Mormon. It was in the Susquehanna River, in Joseph's back yard, that he and Oliver Cowdry were baptized, after receiving the Aronic Priesthood from Peter, James, and John. We visited the home of Joseph and Emma and the Isaac Hale home.  We were then off to Fayette, NY where we visited the Peter Whitmer Farm. This is where the Church was officially organized. It was also here that the Three Witnesses saw the angel and the plates and the rest of the Book of Mormon was translated.

Oct 9--day 3--Niagara Falls

We took a side trip today to Niagara Falls.  Lori had never been there before, so it was extra cool.  We took a ride on the Maid of the Mist...yeh, not so misty, it should have been called Maid of the downpour!!

And then we had some time to explore the State Park.  So beautiful.  

We ended our day in Kirtland, ready for a full day tomorrow.

Oct 10--day 4--Kirtland

 We started our day at the Newell K. Whitney home (where Joseph and Emma lived) and the Newell K. Whitney store (which included the School of the Prophets and where many revelations, including the Word of Wisdom, were received). We visited an Ashery, that was really interesting, and a recreation of the school.  We then toured the interior of the Kirtland Temple.  It was here that the Savior appeared to Joseph and Oliver.  Moses, Elias, and Elijah also appeared and restored Keys of the Priesthood. We ended the day at the John Johnson Farm in Hiram, Ohio.  It was here that Section 76 was received.  Joseph and Sidney saw the Celestial Kingdom, the Father and the Savior, and many other things in the upper room of this home.  It's also the place where Joseph was tarred and feathered.

Sat Oct 11--day 5--The Morley Farm

This morning we visited the Morley Farm where General Conference was held, the Father and the Son appeared, where missionaries were first sent from, and where the first High Priests of this dispensation were ordained. All that is left is a grove of trees, but it's pretty cool. We then flew out of Cleveland into Kansas City to continue our journey.

Sun Oct 12--day 6

After attending church with a local ward, we visit the reconstructed Liberty Jail.  I really didn't know much about that period of church history, so it was fascinating.  The visitors center had a lot of Book of Mormons in different languages.  I looked for Phanpeian for Emma, but I could only find two other islands of her mission.   We also visited  the cornerstones of the temple in Far West.  They got those laid, but went no further. Our final stop of the day was at Adam-ondi-Ahman where Christ will come during the second coming.

 Mon Oct 13--day 7

Again, a side trip, this time to Hannibal, home of Mark Twain.  Ann and I went there many years ago for Mark Twain Day's, so I had some wonderful memories of the place.  But, time has not been good to this city...not much left to see or do.  My favorite thing was finding Tom Swayer's fence.  All together now..."painting the fence, painting the fence..."

Mon, Tues, Wed Oct 7, 8, 9--Day 7, 8, 9

Nauvoo. I'm not going to break this into each day, just what we visited, saw, and did during our time there.

Homes and shops--There was so much to do and see.  We would have needed a couple of more days to visit every site.  But what we did see was fascinating.  There were sister missionaries at every site and it was so fun to meet them all.  I even found a Sister Pulsiver who I'm related to.  Zera is my 3rd great grandfather, and he is her 5th!! We were able to visit Browning Home & Gun Shop, the John Taylor Home, Print shop, and Post Office, the Scovil Bakery, the Stoddard Tin Shop, the Lyon Drug Store,  the Webb Blacksmith Shop, and the Riser Boot and Shoe Shop.  Interesting fact...they didn't make left and right shoes!  They were both the same and would adjust to the feet they were put on. Kinda like pointe shoe! 

Pioneer Pastimes...

The Pioneer Pavilion had all kinds of hands on activities like candle making, weaving, and brick making.  We also went on an ox wagon ride that was super fun.

Nauvoo Temple--We spent one morning doing a session in the temple.  It's so beautiful...and we went from room to room, so we got to see all of the amazing murals on the walls.

We also spent some time in the visitors center where we discovered ancestors that lived in Nauvoo.  I already knew about Zera Pulsipher's family and John Chidister's family, but I didn't know there were others.

Two cool things I learner...Zera traveled with Brigham in his company

And One of my ancestors was in the rescue company that was sent out from Salt Lake to help the Willy handcart company.  Todd Mortensen's family was in that company!!

Carthage Jail--one of our mornings was spent at the Carthage jail, where Joseph and his brother Hyrum were murdered.  I was such a sobering morning, learning about their suffering and the final hours of their lives.  

Trail of Hope--A few years after Joseph's death, the Saints were driven out of Nauvoo.  They had to leave their homes, possessions, and the newly built temple. They walked the Trail of Hope, the street that the Saints walked just before crossing the Mississippi River.  Here the Saints took their first steps on their way to the Salt Lake Valley.  As I walked it, I had a renewed gratitude for these early saints, their grit, determination, and love for the gospel.  

What an amazing experience.  My knowledge and appreciation of the early saints grew so much, especially for Joseph and Emma, Hyrum, Oliver, and mother and father Smith  I am so grateful for this life changing trip with this great group of fellow saints.

Bucket List #21-Palmyra Temple

Bucket list #21...go inside the Palmyra temple.  A couple of years ago, I joined Amy's family to a vacation that included Washington DC, New York, and a mini church history tour.  And by mini, I mean basically Palmyra.  We visited the sacred grove, Joseph Smith's homes, and a walk around the temple grounds.  I was struck by the beauty, especially the stained glass windows, and decided to add attending that temple to my ever growing bucket list.  It did not disappoint.  

One of the temple workers pointed out to me these windows (the ones facing the sacred grove).  They are all clear, no green leaves or brown trunks.  It represents the holy event that happened just across the field and allows temple workers and visitors to look out to the sacred grove.

Happy Birthday Kathy

Kathy spent her day doing all of her favorite things, a long run, working outside, reading, and dinner with the family.  Happy birthday to the best DIL.

 

Come From Away

 Lori was given two tickets to "Come From Away" and asked me to join her.  It was fantastic.  I've seen it twice before, but this "small" production was just as good as the traveling company.  I laughed...I cried...and all the emotions in between.  Thanks Lori, for a very fun evening.

Go Cougs!!!

 Carson was able to get us tickets to the BYU game, so we made a quick trip up to Utah.  And by quick, I mean we got there after midnight, Friday night and left Sunday morning!  But it was worth it because I got to see Todd and Kathy, Claire and Sophie, and Carson.  We got a lot crammed into a Saturday...met Carson for breakfast at Kneaders, stocked up his freezer at Costco, found white shirts at the bookstore for the "whiteout game", found succuss shopping at the mall while Todd and Owen were equally successful at fishing, met everyone at Burger Supreme for dinner, and then cheered BYU to a win.  I'll admit, I spent some of my time looking for Carson on the sideline!! Oh yea,  I also got to try a Cougar Tail!!  What a fun, and exhausting day.

Disneyland

Todd really wanted to go to Disneyland, so he took the day off and away we went.  It was so much fun being there with my adult child.  We had lightening lane passes, so we were able to go on everything he wanted, including all the indoor rides in Fantasy land.  I was really excited to see the new parade and it did not disappoint.  A great blend of new with a tribute to the old electric parade...the old music was interspersed throughout the entire parade, Donald rode a big drum, and there were a few self propelled floats all covered with lights. 

And just like that, Todd's week was over.  We did get some stuff fixed around the house.  A new kitchen facet, ordered a strawberry stack for my garden, added new dirt to my berries, and most importantly, figured out my lawn.  He sprayed it for bermuda grass, put a pre emergent down, and will be coming back in early spring to aerate and reseed.  His spraying is working!!

Beach

 If it's Labor Day, you can find me at the beach!!  This time with both of my kids, just like days gone by.  

Oh yea, Todd and Owen were there too!  It was a perfect day.