September 12, 2010 - Sunday - Kirtland, OH

Kirtland Temple

Today we attended the LDS Church in Kirtland and then went to the Kirtland Temple controlled by the Community of Christ (formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints). Because our group was so small, our guide allowed us to access the third floor of the Temple where Joseph Smith had his office and schooled the leaders of the Church. This was special since large groups are not allowed on the third floor because the floor beams are too old to support very many people. After walking through the second floor hall, we then sat in the general hall on the ground level and learned about the craftsmanship and visions that occurred in that spot. At the end, the guide allowed us to linger in the Temple to meditate and feel the sacred quietness. Dad and I were the last to leave the Temple.

Hyrum Smith Home

Then we looked at Hyrum Smith’s home (which is currently used for lodging sister missionaries), Joseph Smith’s home, the LDS Visitor’s Center (where we saw a cool black snake crossing the path), Newell K. Whitney Store (where the School of the Prophets was held), the Newel Home, the Sawmill and the Ashery.

Dad says:


Mark has a favorite saying regarding traveling: “We travel by the grace of God and the goodness of strangers.” And it’s true enough that the people are good and cooperative in every way, facilitating our travel both because they are paid to do it and because they are just good folks. As a matter of fact, the people we meet along the way in Ohio and New York are just pleasant, average Americans. It makes us proud.

Newell K Whitney Store Where Joseph Smith Lived

A few blogs ago, I mentioned that the cab of our car is crowded with all sorts of people, the chauffer, the navigator, the philosopher, the care taker, etc. However, I should point out that there is another entity traveling with us who assumes importance above all these - - - the IPhone. Mark has a facility with the IPhone/Google/GPS programs that leaves me speechless. He punches in a command or two and we receive precise information on how far we will travel, how long it will take, and which turns will be required - - right, left, even 45 degrees, and specific lengths and measurements sometimes even in feet. In addition, he will punch in the name of a city or geographical area, and Google will list the motels, rank them by price and desirability, and then place the phone call to each without further action on our part. It’s incredible. We have renamed the IPhone the “Liahona.” This changes Mark’s travel mantra to read: “We travel by the grace of God, the goodness of strangers and the genius of Google."

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In the School of the Prophets

In Kirtland today, we have had wonderful associations with at least four of the eleven senior couples assigned to the LDS Visitors Center. They rotate in giving tours and personal attention to visitors. The enthusiasm and likeability of these couples are contagious. Of course, right now it’s wonderful weather and not an overload of tourists – winter might be something else. But it is really something to see their genuine excitement about their message and the sweet interaction not only between husbands and wives, but between the various couples. They’re well informed, clean looking, enthusiastic about the Gospel, and are almost having fun as they fulfill their callings. Looks like the missionary system works well for geezers as for enthusiastic youth.

Pondering in the School of the Prophets