Church History in Kirtland, OH

It was a stake activity that was all planned out for us, so when better to go to Kirtland, Ohio to visit church history. It was a full day of listening and learning about a small portion of history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

These pictures were taken in front of the Newel K. Whitney store. He and his wife, Elizabeth Ann, donated a lot of time and money to the church to help it flourish and to print The Book of Mormon. Elizabeth Ann was baptized before Newel K and her experience was so spiritual (everyone could feel it) that he was baptized a couple days after her.

There is never a dull moment around when you have both Tula'i and Lavea'i or never a serious picture!

This picture of Kalena and I is at the saw mill where they carved and sawed all the lumber for the Kirtland Temple. The podiums in the background are replicas of the podiums that were placed in the temple.

Other pictures of the sawmill. I had just asked Cliff if he was taking pictures and he replied sarcastically, "What am I, your permanent photographer?" I told him that he was and that I would be doing it if i hadn't forgotten my phone in the car. Right after the joking around, he began the photoshoot.

This beauty is a courting candle. Apparently, the father would fill the oil to the desired amount according to his feelings towards the boy that his daughter was dating. The boy would come over and could only stay as long as the candle was burning. Much different in today's world...just sit outside with a shotgun or at least threaten to do it.

Leilani in all her glory at the schoolhouse. I think this was one of her favorites. They were able to hold a slate that the kids back in that day used as paper for the kids today. It was pretty heavy. There were no desks and the kids were separated, boys on one side and girls on the other.

After the visitors center, we went to the Kirtland Temple site. It is owned by the Community of Christ (Re-organized Church of Jesus Christ). The feeling was very different, not as peaceful. But, it was amazing to see the Temple where the Lord appeared to Joseph Smith. It is saddened that the Community of Christ Church lets it be used for community events and other things so they can keep up the work on this great historical site.