One of my friends was so so so nice and watched my kids for me ALL day while Shannon and I did a day trip to Kirtland, OH. It's about a 3 hour drive from my house. It was such a treat to go do something fun with just me and Shannon and not have to worry about the little ones. The Church has done such an awesome job restoring this area. And it was nice to be reminded of what incredible people the early saints were. Such as the Whitney's. They served everyone and gave everything they had to the church. They are examples to me of the kind of person I want to be.
They are restoring the outside of the Newel K. Whitney Store and we got to see the original siding as they are replacing it. Pretty cool.
We also drove over to the quarry where the rock for the Kirtland Temple came from.
"The sandstone quarried here was used in the construction of the Kirtland Temple. Workers spent long days cutting stone, drying it in the sun, then driving stone-loaded wagons to the temple site, two miles north. The laborers who worked in the quarry and at the Temple construction site did so with great conviction and sacrifice. Joseph Smith, founder and first church president, served as quarry foreman. The temple was begun in 1833 and completed in 1836."
Joseph and Emma lived in several locations around the area and the church members eventually built them a home next to the temple. It is a private residence currently with a sign out front indicating they were the original owners.
We also spent some time at the Kirtland cemetery next to the temple. It was interesting to see the headstones dated back to the time the saints lived there. Many of them have newer markers there with the information. This was a memorial for the Smith family members who are buried here.
The Kirtland Temple is such a beautiful building. It is not owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints but inside I can still feel a special feeling as I am reminded as to what events took place here and of the people who built it. I wonder if I would have been as strong and committed to the Gospel at that time when everything was so new and new revelations were being received regularly. You would have had to have known that Joseph Smith was not just a man starting up a new church but the man that Heavenly Father chose to be His prophet.
And then it was time for Shannon to leave. We had so much fun with her while she was here and seriously felt like we were on vacation too! Here we are right before taking her to the airport. The kids and their "silly face".
Their "happy face".
"Happy face" again.
"Mad face"
And Owen and Shannon. Please come back again Shannon!! We still need to teach you to jump and there are a lot more things to see and do here!!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment