Abraham Lincoln Presidental Library and Museum, Springfiield, Ohio

After we left Kirtland we drove to Springfield, Ill. to see the Abraham Lincoln Museum. You walk through the different "phases" of  President Lincoln's life. The original Gettysburg Address, a signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, Mary Todd's wedding dress, and the Ford's Theatre box seat where President Lincoln was shot.  There were two theater presentations with amazing special effects.  It was wonderful.  What a treat!

 

Kirtland Temple

We went to the Kirtland Temple in the morning, again, by ourselves.  We loved our experience there. We felt the tremendous sacrifices made by Joseph Smith,  his family, and the early saints. We felt their testimonies and the tremendous power of what occurred there under the direction of Jesus Christ. We also were amazed by the architecture, size, and beauty of the Kirtland Temple. 

Temple visitor's center of the Community of Christ's Church.

The window below opens up automatically after a short 

film to show is all it's glory, The Kirtland Temple.

Kirtland, Ohio

Monday morning, July 31st, after attending the Palmyra Temple, we drove to Kirtland, Ohio.

Johnson Inn

Whitney Store

School of the Prophets

Whitney home Joseph & Emma lived in.

The Kirtland Ashery is where settlers brought in wood for money or credit. The ashes from the burned wood were used to make potash and more refined pearl ash, used in making glass, cleaning wool, and other industrial uses. Most of this was shipped in vessels to factories in the east and Great Britain.

Heading Home - Palmyra

We left our mission on Sunday, July 31st. It was very bittersweet, but we were ready to head home to family. Our first stop was six hours north to Palmyra. We hiked the Hill Cumorah, and went downtown so I could see the Grandin Publishing House. We toured the Smith family homes and walked through the Sacred Grove. There are five trails you can walk on. You are not shown an actual spot, because no one knows where that is. It was at dusk, very quiet, we were by ourselves, very beautiful. Monday morning we attended the Palmyra temple. It has a big picture window, looking out toward the Sacred Grove. 

Hill Cumorah - this memorial, a visitor's center, 

and a huge hill where the pageant is produced.

The pageant had just finished, so it was peaceful

and quiet.

Grandin Publishing 

We found out the Sacred Grove visitor's center was open

until 9:00 pm. We had a lovely tour of the Smith Family's 

homes on the100 acre farm they were purchasing. Their first 

cabin is a replica on the original foundation. So small.

 The grove is behind the cabin. 

This is the home Alvin Smith built for his family, one that Joseph Sr 

and Lucy could spend their final years and be taken care of. Most 

of the home is original. There was so much history here. For 

example, we were shown the different places the family hid 

the plates when mobs burst into the home and searched for

 themselves. As we know, they were not able to keep the home. 

Lucy Smith's feelings were so tender, sad about leaving it. The 

whole family had to move back into the little Smith family cabin, 

with Hyrum and his family.

Missionaries We Love

Elder Peter Eck

Elders Newbold & Eck

Elder Newbold 

Elders Eck & Oberhansley

Elders Eck & Giraud-Carrier

Elders Oberhansley & Caine

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Elders Oberhansley & Morgan

Elders Eck & Morgan

Elders Kartchner & Caine

Elders Chamblerlain & Criddle

Elders Heiner & Short

Elders Chamberlain & Heiner

Elders Bardhun & Carnahan

Elders Buchanan & Wach

Elders Hunter & Bennett

Elder Stolk

Elders Jensen, Mansell, Morgan, King

Elders George, Chugg, Draper, Aceves

Elders Maxfield & Hart

Elder Chang

Elders Jenks & Chang

Elder Hawkins

Sister Lemperle