Hill Cumorah

Top of Hill Cumorah
Looking down...this is where they hold the Hill Cumorah Pageant.
I found myself looking at each spot saying to myself "The plates could have been buried right here!"

Palmyra New York

Joseph Smith's log cabin. Very humble.
Upstairs ... this is the place that the angel Moroni appeared to Joseph Smith.
Finally...the Sacred Grove. I have been waiting all my life to get here. It was beautiful - the spirit overwhelming. As I looked up at the trees I found myself wishing they could talk. I would love to have seen what they have witnessed.
I spent about 45 minutes in the grove...walking, sitting on a bench, basking in the spirit. As I left I turned around and took this picture. It was hard to leave.

Niagra Falls

Standing right at the falls...spectacular! The sound and strength of the water put things in perspective of how magnificent - how blessed we are to have such beauty.

Kirkland Ohio

Here is the Knewell K Whitney Store. The store is set up the same way as it was in the 1800's. Upstairs at this table is where some of the revelations in the D&C were received.

Here is the Kirkland Temple. We went to this cemetary that is just across the street. We saw several tombstones of Joseph Smith's family and many other names that we recognized from D&C.

Akron Ohio

I have always wanted to go and take my kids to the places of the restoration of the Gospel. In June Welcome, Eric, Michael and I had the opportunity to go to Kirkland and Palmyra.

Our trip began in Akron Ohio ... our first stop - the NFL Hall of Fame (yes, I know this is not a historical spot of the restoration).

Football is not a huge past time of mine and I wasn't sure if I wanted to spend the money to dutifully smile and act as if I was having fun. However I found it very interesting ... the old videos, special shoes of football players that have played and not had an entire foot, super bowl rings from each year (BLING!), jerseys, helmets from each team, bronze busts of great players, and yes - even an old cheerleader's outfit.

Leaving Akron we were off to Erie Pennsylvania. We spent the night at a Sheraton right on Lake Erie. It was beautiful to wake up in the morning and see the boats just outside our window and on the water.

Our next stop - Kirkland.

Time

I have been pondering something that Rhonda Webb mentioned in her lesson yesterday at church. She mentioned that she keeps telling herself a lie. That lie is: "I don't have time". When in fact we control how we use all our time. If we are alive - we have time.

This life is measured by time - if we have a mortal body - we have time. It is only our premortal life and our life hereafter that is not measured by "time."

Rhonda told us that when her son Christopher was at the end of his life she was paralyzed with grief and fear. After so long she said it was as if an angel put their hands on her shoulders and shook her and said something like: "Christopher is still alive - snap out of it and use this time instead of squandering it."

I really liked her comparing our body with the element of time...so if I'm alive - I have time.

Prince

We will always love you...

My first blog

Today Paige is helping set up my blog. I have been wanting to learn how to do this for some time now. Paige is have a TON of patience as I am asking questions about everything.