The Funnel

In attending church services I was impressed by the words of our speaker. He held up an ordinary funnel, one you might use for adding oil to a car, for instance. As expected this funnel had a wide end and a narrow end.



The world today insists that it is best to be allowed to do whatever you wish, that whatever is 'right' for you is what you should do. They advocate being able to choose from all the world offers, in effect to Enter in by the wide way. This philosophy seems to promise much freedom, but the end result is less and less freedom, and less and less happiness as people are squeezed into the narrow end of the funnel, the result of their choices earlier on.

Christ on the other hand asks us to Enter in by the narrow way. Satan wants us to think this is restrictive, that we are being limited in what we can do, that we are lacking freedom. Just as in the funnel, entering in by the narrow way leads to much more freedom in the future.

Obeying the commandments of God to love one another, to be chaste, to serve, opens up great vistas to us, great freedoms and great blessings. Choosing to be selfish, to violate the laws of chastity, to abuse body and mind wraps us in chains that will no longer give us many choices.

Nauvoo the Beautiful

This morning we were able to see Far West, Missouri, the final gathering place for the Saints before Gov. Boggs issued his infamous extermination order. "The Mormons must be driven out.. or exterminated."

Because of scheduling issues we were unable to attend church with the local ward, so we had our own sacrament service. We had priesthood holders qualified to perform this sacred ordinance and it was beautiful and inspiring.

We traveled to see the millstone from Haun's mill and also traveled the dusty roads to Haun's Mill. There is nothing remaining to identify where the settlement was, other than in that area.


Millstone from Haun's Mill


We have arrived at Nauvoo, on the banks of the Mississippi. There is much to see and do here and we will be here until Wednesday.


The Nauvoo Temple

The way I've been feeling, I don't want to finish this tour and go back to the humdrum of life without the feast of the spirit being present every day most all day.

Other pictures of the day.

Independence and Liberty

St. Louis Temple

We departed St. Louis in the morning and drove west to Independence, Missouri after a visit to the St. Louis Temple. This is one of the settling places for the Saints during the Missouri period. In revelation God revealed that this would be the Center place for the Church. Currently the acreage is owned by three different churches who claim Joseph Smith as their founder, the Community of Christ, the Church of Christ, Temple Lot, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each has one or more buildings here.

Our next stop was Liberty, the place where the Prophet Joseph Smith and several associates were held while the Saints that were in Clay County were driven out. They moved to Caldwell County and Far West. In Liberty Jail Joseph Smith received some of the most powerful revelations and the experience made him both stronger and more empathetic to the distresses of others.


Liberty Jail

Other pictures of the day.

Zion's Camp and St. Louis

To follow the life of Joseph Smith in a semi-chronological way, we traveled from the Kirtland area to Missouri today. Joseph Smith and several hundred men from the Kirtland area traveled to Missouri to help the saints there who were being driven from their homes by mob violence. While the 'Zion's Camp' didn't fight once they reached Missouri, the hardship of the march forged strong church leaders. Nine of the 12 Apostles, the Seven Presidents of the Seventy and all of the Seventy were called from those men who were willing to sacrifice their all if necessary.


Words to Remember

We are staying at the Drury Inn in St. Louis tonight. We had a prime rib dinner on the Becky Thatcher riverboat and watched the fireworks from the boat, with the St. Louis arch behind us.


Old and New St. Louis

This hotel has broadband via a data line so I'm finally able to get caught up on loading pictures. It's late so I probably won't be able to caption many of them but I'll be able to insert links to this and earlier posts soon - so you can see selected pictures.

Other pictures of the day.

Quarries, Temples, Farms, and the Amish

Day 6 of the tour. We visited the stone quarry where the rock was cut to make the rubble stone constructed Kirtland Temple. We saw the Kirtland Temple, and a nearby cemetery where several prominent early Latter-day Saints are buried.


Stone Quarry

We traveled past the home of Lorenzo and Eliza Snow. The brother and sister were both significant early members of the church, Lorenzo became a President of the Church and Eliza was an historian and poet.

On the John Johnson farm we were able to see where Joseph and Emma lived for year. The Johnsons gave them the best room for their bedroom. It is a beautiful house and a beautiful farm, and the Johnson's sold it when asked to do so by the prophet. They helped finance the building of the Kirtland Temple and were given charge of the Johnson Inn in Kirtland.


John Johnson Farm

Our hotel for the night is Der Dutchman, in Walnut Creek in Ohio. It's in the midst of Amish country and is very beautiful. I don't think I could find any place modified by man that is more peaceful and lovely.


Amish Country

Other pictures of this day.

Niagara Falls and Kirtland, Ohio

Our first stop of the day today was Niagara Falls. It is a very impressive sight. You drive over the river that feeds the falls, and drive over it and over it. Compared to most of our 'rivers' it's huge. We took the Maid of the Mist boat ride with our blue raingear and were up close and personal to the falls.


Niagara Falls

From Niagara, we traveled to Kirtland Ohio. The members of the early church were told to gather to the Ohio, and this was the gathering place. Many were converted in this area, and the community became a thriving town, with industry and fine homes and prosperity. Many of the revelations in the Doctrine & Covenants were received here and God and Christ also appeared here. There are many sacred spots in Kirtland.


The Ashery in Kirtland

Tomorrow we see the Kirtland Temple.

Other pictures of this day.

Palmyra and Surrounding Places

The days are running together, but I believe this is day 4. We had the opportunity to visit the Smith farm and see both original and reconstructed versions of the homes they lived in and the farm as it may have appeared during the time they lived there. The Smiths had moved to Palmyra because of three years of crop failures. In the Palmyra area was a great stir of religionists - working for converts to their denominations. In this environment Joseph Smith could not tell which was right.

He was reading in the Bible, the 1st chapter of James, vs. 5. The scripture stated that anyone could ask God and God would answer. Joseph went to a grove of trees near his home and prayed. In answer to his prayer he received the 1st Vision, where God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ appeared to him.


The Sacred Grove

In the Palmyra area are many places of interest - the Martin Harris farm - he was the man who mortgaged part of his farm to pay for the publishing of the 1st edition of the Book of Mormon. The Hill Cumorah - where the stone box with the gold plates was. The Grandin Press Building - the press where the 1st edition of the Book of Mormon was published.


The Martin Harris Farm

We attended the Hill Cumorah Pageant - America's Witness for Christ. It rained the whole time of the pageant, but was still very much worth the attending.

Other pictures of this day.

Boston, Concord, Lexington, MA and Sharon, VT

This is the morning of the 3rd day of the tour. I haven't been able yet to get all the photos uploaded - the wireless connection seems to be slow. I will enhance the photos and get more uploaded tonight I hope.



We visited the Boston Temple, attended church services at the Belmont 2nd Ward and visited Lexington and Concord. Our tour guide reminded us of the great sacrifices made by the citizens of this new country. One signer of the Declaration had two sons captured and brutalized by the British. He was told he could have his sons back if he would renounce this revolution, but he refused.

Our final stop of the day was Sharon, Vermont, the birthplace of Joseph Smith. In 2005 we celebrated the 200th anniversary of his birth. In 1905 a single granite shaft was erected on the site of his birth, formed of one block of smoothed and polished stone - which may still be the largest uncut block in the world. It's 38 1/2 feet high, one foot for each year of his life.


Other pictures of this day

Boston, MA - The Beginnings of a New Nation

It was an early start today. Up at 3:30 am. to be to the airport at 4:30. It's been a long day, but a good one. We saw lots of things pertaining to the Revolutionary History of our nation, but also how Boston is significant in the history of the Church. There are also some interesting 'other' sites there, like a bicycle built for four?



This is the place where the Boston Massacre occurred.


Other Pictures of this day

Preparing to tour

I have many lists in the works to help me take care of everything I need to do before I begin my Church History Tour. Instructions on caring for the pool, the mail, the cats, the plants. Emergency contacts. Permission slips, and on and on. I'll keep the lists when I'm done so I won't have to do the same thing the next time I travel.

Soon I will be beginning a record of my travels here. I'll put up selected pictures here as well as providing links to additional maps and photos. I don't know how interesting this will be to many people, but it will serve as an online journal of the event for me if nothing else.

Speaking ill of others

I was reading in the Book of Mormon and read the words of Jacob as he quoted the words of Isaiah Isaiah 51:7-8 and 2nd Nephi 8:7-8. It came at a good time as one of the Presidential candidates, a member of the LDS Church was accused not being a Christian. The prophets of God in ancient times have warned about those who revile against those who have God's law in their hearts.

It is better to respect the beliefs of others and not demean them.

Thought for the day: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.