Our Trip to the Mission Field
February 2013
The second part of our trip was to Kansas City Missouri where our dear friends, President and Sister Hardy, preside over the temple there. They were so kind to put us up and help us along our way. They admonished us to visit the church sites along the way. We are so glad we did.
We made our way to Columbus, Ohio where we spent the night. The next morning we arrived at Kirtland, Ohio and the Visitor's Center. The dear Sister Missionaries took us on tour of the N.K. Whitney Store where many relvelations were given to the Prophet Joseph Smith including the revelation that a temple was to be built there. This has great significance to our family for it was in this very room, pictured below, that our ancestor, Asahel Perry met the prophet for the first time.jo
After joining the church it was Asahel's deisre to meet the prophet. He journied to Kirtland which was the headquarters at that time. He and his neighbor, Aaron C. Lyon arrived in Kirtland where upon meeting the Prophet they were invited to a meeting with the Council. After opening the meeting, Joseph presented the buisness of building a temple to the people convened and then called upon those present for an expression of their feelings. Most of the brethren present seemed to feel that the Church was too poor to build a building of the magnitude required and that they had better build something smaller and less expensive, perhaps a nice log cabin.
The next evening we stayed at the Palmyra Inn and arose early to visit the sacred grove. Again we were taken on a tour of the Joseph Smith Sr. home, and then were left alone to visit the sacred grove. Pictured to the right is the view from the back door of the home. You can see the path leading from Joseph's home to the sacred grove. To the left the fence which divided the Smith proporty. As Elder Barlow and I entered that holy place where God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the boy Prophet, we had a desire to read the account written by Joseph. We then bore our testimony to each other. As we sat there pondering, we looked just across the way and saw three beautiful deer grazing near by. All was quiet, nothing disturbed our peace. I will never forget that experience.
After a brief visit to the Palmyra Temple and the Hill Cumorah we were eager to make our way to Whitesboro and our new home. We did stop and visit the Peter Whitmer Farm in Fayette which was right along the way. Inside the visitor's center we came upon this replica of a stained glass window. It took our breath away for it is the very window that is in the Santa Monica Ward building where Elder Barlow grew up. It is a one of a kind stain glass art and here was a repleca of it in New York.
So here we are in our new apartment. We are learning our way around the neighborhood and getting to know the faithful saints in the Oneida Branch we have been assigned to. Their were 16 in attendance today and four were missionaries. I guess I will be the organist in Sacrament Meeting and Relief Society. I am really rusty and will have to do a lot of practicing. Their are a great deal of needs and we are grateful to serve wherever we can.We love the gospel of Jesus Christ and are very grateful to be serving as missionaries. We love our family and friends and are grateful for their support.
