Kirkland and Hiram, Ohio

 On May 3rd, our first stop was the Kirkland Temple. The Kirkland Temple is owned by the Community of Christ Church and is not used for LDS Ordinances. You are able to tour the temple and learn a great deal about the history.

 Several revelations were obtained here. The temple dedication was in March 1836, it was 8 hours long, Sidney Rigdon gave a 2 1/2 hour talk and Joseph Smith gave the dedicatory prayer that is found in Section 109 of the Doctrine and Covenants, 

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/109?lang=eng.

Thousands of people were outside the temple in the cold during the dedication so a second dedication was held the next day and it lasted 10 hours. 

 Unfortunately the building is getting old, but the Community of Christ is doing what they can to maintain it. 

 While inside the temple we sang "The Spirit of God" as the saints did when the temple was dedicated. Then a guy, named Chris, in our group asked if he could play a hymn. He played "Nearer My God to Thee." This was the time I truly felt the spirit as we toured this temple. I am so thankful he shared his talent and that God smiled upon us!

 After the temple we went to the LDS Visitors Center nearby and toured the Newel K, Whitney Store and areas around it. Newel K. Whitney and his wife, Elizabeth, prayed to be shown the way and soon after Joseph Smith came to the store and told them they had prayed him here. 

 This was a checkers game made of dried corn in the Whitney store. The store is 80% original. There were other uses for the store prior to the LDS Church regaining ownership, including a bar.

 This is the first Bishop's Store House, located in the Whitney Store.

 Joseph also stayed with the Whitney's for a time in the store. It was here that the School of the Prophets was held and the Word of Wisdom was revealed.

 This was the Whitney Home. Yellow paint was a sign of wealth.

 The group also went to the saw mill and ashery. What I found most interesting, in both locations, was that nothing was ever wasted, including ashes. 

 In the Visitors Center we saw the transcript of the Word of Wisdom.

 This is a panoramic picture of the street with the Whitney Store in the background. The Red Building is a rebuilt Johnson's Inn that was originally located there.  

 Our next stop was the Issac Morley farm. None of the buildings remain, but in 1831 Isaac Morley invited the saints to live on his farm and built a home for Joseph and Emma. It was here that Joseph Smith stated, "...this Church will fill North and South America- it will fill the world."

 Our final stop in the Kirkland area was a river area known as the Stannard Quarry. This is where the stone for the Kirkland Temple was gathered. You can still see the chisel marks in the side of the stone. 

 Our last stop in Ohio was Hiram. This is where the John Johnson Farm is located. Joseph Smith stayed with the Johnsons during part of 1831-1832. In 1832 he was attacked by a mob where he and Sidney Rigdon were tarred and feathered. Joseph spoke the next day at the Bowery Site and three people were baptized. 

 The three degrees of glory, D&C 76, were revealed here. This door lead to the room where Joseph stayed and we were given the chance to open the same door Joseph did.

Elder Wheeler was the missionary who took us on a tour of the farm. The tour was 90 minutes, which is not the usual amount of time. I truly felt he was with us for a reason and I will not forget my experience while there.