8 September 2013 - Kirtland, OH

Today has been a full day, but a blessing for us and a special treat during our journey.  This morning we attended the Kirtland Ward for all three hours and during Sacrament Meeting, a young couple, who recently moved into the Ward, spoke. They talked about keeping commandments and covenants and were both eloquent and uplifting.  The husband, Bro. Thornock, is a convert to the Church and until 3 years ago, was an officer in the Marines.  He told of attending his last Sacrament Meeting before he deployed to Iraq and it happened that Elder Bednar attended the meeting.  Afterward, when he shook hands with the Apostle, he was asked if he had been endowed.  When he responded in the affirmative, Elder Bednar told him that to be safe, he was "to keep his covenants".  He told of miraculous events that allowed him to return to his family without injury.  Then he was deployed again, this time to Afghanistan.  Once more before he left, when he went to Sacrament Meeting, an Apostle was present, Elder Ballard, who gave him the identical counsel.  During one mission, a bomb went off right by his vehicle. His driver was killed outright, his gunner lost a limb and Br. Thornock was shaken, but able to return to duty in 2 days without problems.  He bore testimony to the fact that as we do our best to be obedient and keep the covenants we make, the Lord has promised us His blessings. I felt the truth of what he said and it confirmed my comittment to the Gospel of Christ.

After the inspirational meetings, we traveled to the Kirtland Visitor Center for a tour of historical sites in Kirtland.  Two sister missionaries led us about and explained things to us. It was neat that one of the missionaries, Sis. Nesland, is from our stake and she was on Trek with me.  They took us to the restored Whitney Store, the "ashery" and the Whitney home.  In spite of all we know about the history of the Church, we gained further knowledge and appreciation for events.

The Newell K. Whitney store was still standing when the Church began restoration. The original floors and walls are still extant.  It has been restored as closely as possible to what it was like in 1831, when Joseph and Emma arrived by sleigh from Harmony, PA.  They lived upstairs for a few months during which time the Church began to grow and revelations were received to further the work. Later they moved to the upstairs rooms of the Whitney home, across the street from the store.  Here was held the School of the Prophets, Section 89 regarding the Word of Wisdom and other important doctrinal instructions were received.  It was also here that are recorded appearances of the Father and the Son to Joseph and others.

This sisters were wonderful and eager to explain the events and their meaning.  They had a sweet feeling about them and indicated how much they love the work and how it has been such a blessing in their lives to be able to serve.  As we spent a few moments in rooms and buildings, hallowed by the events that transpired in them, we felt a reaffirmation of our testimonies of the Restoration.


After visiting the Church's site, we went to the Kirtland Temple, owned and maintained by the Community of Christ.  Here we paid an entrance fee, were treated to a movie of the history and given a tour of the building.  It is a most amazing structure and as we spent time walking through the building, you could see the tremendous effort and sacrifice made by the early Saints to build a temple to the Lord.  We learned that the walls were built of sandstone rocks, cemented together to a thickness of 28".  They still are intact and strong.  The outside of the temple was covered with stucco, which they say  actually had a bluish tint, with a red roof and olive green doors.  They still have samples of the original material.  The finish work was meticulous and demonstrable of great skill for the 19th century.  We were able to see the pulpits and their breastworks, how the veils were lowered and the pews arranged. There is still a peaceful feeling there, even though it was desecrated after the Saints were expelled.  Now it is a valuable, historical structure and sometimes even used by our Church.  On Oct. 11th, Elder Ballard will hold a fireside there for the youth of the Kirtland Stake.

Did you know that the building was built without any blueprints?  The Prophet, Sidney Rigdon and Martin Harris saw the building in a vision and could see how it should be constructed, the rooms arranged, the pulpits structured and all the details.  They then instructed the Saints in building it and afterwards, Sidney stated that it looked exactly as they saw it in vision.  Truly a marvelous Temple and the site of incredible visions and revelations.  We know of 5 locations where the Father and the Son appeared to the Prophet; the Sacred Grove, the Whitney store, the Kirtland Temple, the Isaac Morley farm and the John Johnson home.

We visited the Isaac Morley farm and were able to learn more about this remarkable man.  Like Newell Whitney, he sacrificed all he had for the Kingdom, selling a prosperous farm, offering a place for the Prophet, moving from location to location as persecution raged and finally ending in Manti, Utah.  Even now, in memoriam to him, his temple apron is framed and hanging in the Manti Temple.  He built a schoolhouse on his farm and the 4th General Conference of the Church was held there.  It was also on this farm, on a secluded hillside, that another visitation or theophany was received.

In a sense, this location is another Sacred Grove, a place of divine revelation, personally given by the Godhead for the blessing of the Saints and those who were obedient enough to receive it.





As the day waned, we rushed to the last place to visit the John Johnson Home.  The Prophet and Emma lived here for over a year and during that time it was the Headquarters of the Church.  The prophet preached sermons from the front steps, received further revelations and this was the fifth place where the Father and Son appeared.  It was here that a mob tore the prophet from his bed, beat, tarred and feathered him and tried to force poison down his throat. In the process they broke a tooth and he is reported to have spoken with a slight whistle from then on due to the injury.  That brutal attack aggravated the illness of the twins they had and one of them died as a result.

This home was one of the nicest in the area at the time, filled with bright colors, spacious and comfortable.  The farm was rich and prosperous, the life good.  Again, the Johnson's sacrificed it all for the Kingdom. 

The time in Kirtland was the longest that the Saints would spend together in one place until they reached the Valley of the Great Salt Lake.  It was here that a large portion of D&C revelations were received, the Bible translation done, the Keys for the Dispensation received, the Church strengthened and the Father and Son made manifest.  For all of us, visiting Kirtland should be on the list of things to do to build faith, increase understanding and most of all, to feel of the rich Spirit present in this beautiful garden spot in Ohio.  It has been a great day.