Kirtland

First thing this morning we headed to the Newel K. Whitney store.  I remember driving by this store almost 20 years ago with Mike's family. We didn't get out, but we waved.  My dad couldn't believe we would pass up this opportunity!  He then told me everything that happened in this store. 

The street we drove by on was quite busy.  The N.K. Whitney store was on a corner of two busy street.  The streets have now been moved.  The church asked Karl Anderson (who we met later today) to see if he could get the city's approval to move the road about a mile.  The church would pay for all expenses, estimated at $15,000,000.  Karl Anderson asked the Mayor along with reasons of why this would be beneficial to the community.  Later the Mayor met with Karl Anderson (1993) and told him he was in favor, but some of the other council members weren't.  One of the people against this was a school teacher.  One of the students in this teachers class brought the May 31, 1993 Sports Illustrated magazine to school.  On the cover was Joe Montana and Steve Young.  Joe Montana was wearing his 49ers jersey.  Steve Young was wearing a t-shirt that said, "Kirtland Ohio, City of Faith and Beauty". The school teacher was so excited and brought it to show the other members of the city council.  They loved it and asked Karl Anderson if he could use his connections to get a nice blown up version of this picture for their new city hall.  Steve Young agreed.  He did more that just get them a picture.  By the fall of 1993 he was now the star of the 49ers.  When the 49ers came to Ohio to play the Cleveland Browns, Steve Young invited the city council, with their families, to a social the next day at a local park.  He posed with them for photos.  He played football with their kids and signed autographs.  He also gave them an enlarged autographed copy of the photo.  The next city council meeting the city council gave their unanimous approval to move the road.

How did Steve Young get this shirt?  Nine years before there was a 10K run in Kirtland.  Steve Young was there and was given the shirt he wore in the photo.  He was wearing that shirt under his uniform when Sports Illustrated came to do a store on "what-ifs".  Steve Young took off his uniform during a break because he was kind of hot.  That is how the church was given permission to move the road.

The new location of the busy street

 Looking out of the Newel K. Whitney store

This is the John Johnson Inn, now kind of a visitor center

 Inside the Newel K. Whitney store

 Original table Joseph Smith sat at while he received 16 revelations.

Unless he got up and paced the floor.

 The School of the Prophets met here.

The Word of Wisdom was read here.

 Several members broke their pipes and threw them in this fireplace.

 Joseph & Emma's 1st child that lived was born here (Joseph III)

My dad took some pictures but didn't realize that he had it on the black and white setting until later in the day.

Stephanie

 Newel K. Whitney's house

 School house.  Sometimes sacrament meetings were held here.

 The lighthouse at Fairport Harbor

Fairport Harbor was where a lot of Saints entered Kirtland.  Anytime missionaries left, they usually left through here.

Stephanie (Lake Erie)

 Ron

Our next stop was the Morley Farm.  Karl Anderson met us here and told us all about the events that happened here.  Joseph & Emma lived here for 6 months.  13 revelations were given here.  Their twins were born and died here.  They had a vision of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ at the schoolhouse.  Lots of cool stuff happened.  We walked on the road toward the school house as Karl Anderson told us about it. Dan, our bus driver, then sang How Great Thou Art.  It was the most beautiful version of that song I have ever heard.  Absolutely incredible.

 Dan & Karl Anderson's wife

 Dad, Karl Anderson, Stephanie

 Here is my dad's version.

This is when he realized his camera was on black & white.

Next we went to the Kirtland Temple.  There is a lady from Germany on this tour.  She is probably in her 80s.  This tour was a Christmas gift from her daughter who is also on the tour.  This lady is so excited to see the Kirtland Temple.  She has wanted to see it all her life.  We were able to go inside and take a short tour of the temple.  Before we left we were able to sing The Spirit of God.  That was quite cool.

Stephanie ~ Kirtland Temple

We walked across the street to a cemetery.  As we walked my dad pointed out a few sites.

Joseph & Emma lived here for 4 years.

 Joseph Smith's store

 Kirtland Temple

I talked to Stockton for a little while today.  I sure wish this photo Mike sent me wasn't blurry.  Mike snapped a picture of Stockton talking to me.  He's adorable.  And he looks happy to be talking to his mom!  It might be because he passed his driver's permit test!  I asked him if he had any ridiculous questions.  One of his questions was, "How many times can you take the test in a day."  Ha!  Seriously, why is that question on there?  If your curious, the answer is two.

Stockton