As part of our summer vacation Mike and I had the opportunity to go on a church history trip with other teachers from around the country. We started in Sharon Vermont and ended in Kirtland Ohio. It was an amazing opportunity with many testimony building experiences. I'm so grateful for Joseph and Emma Smith and many of the others who helped to bring about the Restoration of the gospel. Their faith, courage, and determination is an example to me of how I should be living me life.
The monument dedicated to the life of Joseph Smith is in Sharon Vermont, his birthplace. The shaft is 38 1/2 ft high. In honor of the 38 1/2 years of his life.
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| This is such a sacred place. We were reminded how it compares in sacredness to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ. According to John Taylor who said 'Joseph Smith has done more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of man.' makes Sharon Vermont, the birthplace of Joseph Smith, very sacred. |
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A very peaceful and beautiful place. They have speakers set throughout the trees with the Tabernacle Choir playing hymna and benches where we were able to sit and ponder on everything we had been taught. It was amazing! I loved it!
My picture wasn't in the right order, but this is still Sharon Vermont. We are just enjoying the spirit that is so strong.
A statue of Joseph Smith at the Josiah Stowell home.
Hyrum and Joseph Smith's death mask. On the left is Hyrum, where the bullet hole next to his nose can be seen.
The first branch of the church was here in Colesville. They later move to Ohio with the rest of the Saints.
This is where they believe John the Baptist appeared to Joseph & Oliver Cowdery in Harmony PA. In an account of John the Baptist's appearance, Joseph says it was by the sugar trees. On Emma's families property where this took place they have only a small group of maple trees, which are refered to as sugar trees.
Joseph and Emma's homesite when they lived in Harmony. The church just bought this land not long ago and plan on rebuilding a replica of the home.
Harmony Pennsylvania, where Emma is from and where the priesthood was restored.
The monument honoring the restoration of the priesthood.
The Whitmer home where the church was organized in Fayette NY.
This statue is on top of the Hill Cumorah.
The Joseph Smith log home where he was living when he had his vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
We are standing by the log home and in the background is the Palmyra temple.
A very large tree in the sacred grove had recently fallen over. It is old enough that it would have been there when the first vision happened.
In the sacred grove. A very beautiful and sacred place.
As the saints moved from NY to Ohio, they traveled mostly by water through some of the great lakes. This is the Fairport Harbor where they landed. Kirtland is only 12 miles away.
Looking out over lake Erie from the top of the lighthouse. I felt like I was looking out over the ocean with how big the lake was.
The Newel K. Whitney store where many wonderful things happened.
Inside the visitor center at Kirtland. I love the scripture on the wall.
The Issac Morley farm where God the Father and Jesus Christ were seen in vision.
My very favorite home on this trip, the John Johnson home. Joseph and Emma lived here for a while.
This is the room where Joseph and Emma slept when the mob broke in and took Jospeh away to tar and feather him. As a result of that night their little baby died a few days later.
Karl Anderson and his wife. He is the church's expert on the Kirtland time peirod of the church. He was so wonderful to listen to.
The Johnson home from the outside. The porch is where Joseph Smith preached the next morning after he was tared and feathered.
Joseph and Emma's home in Kirtland. The church just recently bought it from the Community of Christ Church.
I loved what was written on Parly P. Pratt's wifes headstone. I took a pic so Mike would know what to put on mine.
The Community of Christ Church hosted a dinner for us inside their visitor center. We had an amazing view of the Kirtland temple. It was a wonderful evening.
This is my stake president when I was growing up, Mike Vellinga and his wife Pam. He is the newly called mission president of the Cleveland OH mission. He also was Mike's area director when we lived in WY. It was so fun to see them at the dinner.
On our last day in Kirtland we had a very spiritual experience in the Kirtland Temple. We were able to hold a special meeting and share our feelings about our experience. We sang 'The Spirit of God' as we sat in the pews where the saints had also sat and sang that very song. It was very powerful! I was able to reflect on my Savior and this work that has been restored and my part in helping to move it forward. My testimony was strengthened and my appreciation for all those who came before me was increased It was a wonderful experience!
