Nauvoo Reunion Part 2

Tuesday - June 26th

Where in the world is Leighton?!?

 First thing Tuesday morning, we headed out for Far West.  About 30 miles north of Liberty, Missouri, the church found a brief haven from persecution.  Shortly after purchasing 1600 acres, a meeting was held by locals of Missouri.  During that meeting the anti-Mormons gave five reasons why they disliked the Saints. The reasons were:

1. They are poor
2. Their religious differences stir up prejudice
3. Their Eastern customs and dialects are alien to the Missiourians
4. They oppose slavery
5. They believe that the Indians are God’s chosen people destined to inherit the land of Missouri with them.

 After stating their reasons, it was then decided that the Mormons must leave.  But because they had already purchased the land, a compromise was reached.  Ray County was divided into two counties: Caldwell and Davies with a 3 mile buffer between the two where no one could settle. Caldwell was the Mormon's county.
A site was chosen for a city, and it was named Far West. The area was quickly settled, starting in 1836. Joseph officially mover to Far West in 1838 from Kirtland, Ohio.  It was here that several more revelations were given - namely D&C 113-115, 117-120.  These revelations included the correct name which to call the church, a command to build a temple and the law of tithing.

 This reprieve was again short lived as tension started to increase during the summer of 1838.  Parley P. Pratt said of this time "War clouds began again to lower with dark and threatening aspect. Those who had combined against the laws in the adjoining counties had long watched our increasing power and prosperity with jealousy and with greedy and avaricious eyes. It was a common boast that, as soon as we had completed our extensive improvements, and made a plentiful crop, they would drive us from the State, and once more enrich themselves with the spoils."

 By October, the tension erupted. Governor Boggs signed the infamous Extermination Order solely on rumors that the Mormons were planning an insurrection.  Leaders of the Church agreed to talk with militia, but instead of talking, the militia leaders arrested them and held an illegal court-marshal that sentenced the men to death in the morning. The sentence was never carried out, but Joseph Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Parley P. Pratt, and George W. Robinson were held as prisoners for five months. After the leaders were taken as prisoners, the militia entered Far West and took arms, robbed, raped, and arrested others. The Saints were harassed so much that they eventually left Missouri and took refuge in Illinois, even though it was the middle of winter.

The group!

One of the 4 cornerstones dedicated for the Far West temple.  This one - representative of the First Presidency.

Far West was by far one of the most incredible places to me on our visit.  The Spirit there was so strong!  It is truly hallowed and sacred ground even if the temple is still waiting to be built!  Also one of the scriptures quoted on the monument is the YM/YW theme for 2012 - "Arise and shine forth that thy light may be a standard for the nations" D&C 115:5.  It was truly wonderful when both McKenna and Garrett saw it and recognized it because they are familiar with it already!

Countryside at Far West

I always feel like my dad when I take a flower picture!

 After Far West we traveled via dirt roads to Haun's Mill.  About 20-30 families lived at the mill while 100 more lived in the area.  Following a battle at Crooked River between Mormons and mobs in October 1838, Joseph Smith counseled all members to move into Far West for their protection.  Those at Haun's Mill decided to stay and use the blacksmith shop in case of attack. 

 October 30, 1838, 240 men approached Haun’s Mill. Around 4:00 that afternoon the mobs arrived at Haun’s Mill. The women and children ran to the woods to escape. One woman, Amanda Smith, stated, “Yet though we were women, with tender children, in flight for our lives, the demons poured volley after volley to kill us”.  Amanda Smith was able to save her two daughters, but her ten-year-old son, who was in the blacksmith shop when the mob attacked, was killed, and her seven-year-old son (who witnessed his brother’s murder as well as his father’s), was badly wounded.  David Evans, who was the military leader for Haun’s Mill, yelled for peace as the mob arrived and waved his hat in the air, but his cries were in vain.  Seventeen Saints were killed in the attack and 13 were wounded, including Jacob Haun. Much later, the prophet Joseph Smith said, “at Haun’s Mill the brethren went contrary to my counsel; if they had not, their lives would have been spared". I feel that maybe this is why this site hasn't been developed like other church sites - the Saints here did not heed the counsel of the prophet and the consequence was terrible. 

The drive into Haun's Mill

Jason - Jeff's brother - telling the story of Haun's Mill.

Grandma and the girls!

 A few miles later we ate lunch in Gallitin and then a few miles after that, we arrived at Adam-Ondi-Ahman (the presence of God).  Joseph Smith revealed that this was the place that Adam lived after he was cast out of the Garden of Eden.   Rather than a specific spot, Adam-Ondi-Ahman refers to an area. 

  We know that Adam offered sacrifices and President Joseph Fielding Smith said that "of necessity the first sanctified temples were the mountaintops and secluded places in the wilderness. If we are correctly informed, Adam built his altar on a hill above the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman. At that place the Lord revealed to him the purpose of the fall and the mission of the Savior."  Joseph Smith had found an altar and showed the remains to many people. Heber C. Kimball said this of the site "The brethren of Caldwell went directly to Adam-ondi-Ahman, which is on the west fork of the Grand River.... The Prophet Joseph called upon Brother Brigham, myself and others, saying, "Brethren, come, go along with me, and I will show you something." He led us a short distance to a place where were the ruins of three alters built of stone, one above the other, and one standing a little back of the other, like unto the pulpits in the Kirtland Temple, representing the three grades of Priesthood; "There," said Joseph, "is the place where Adam offered up sacrifice after he was cast out of the garden." The altar stood at the highest point of the bluff. I went and examined the place several times while I remained there".

 Adam-ondi-Ahman will also be an important site during the events surrounding the Second Coming.  In D&C 116:1 we learn that Adam-Ondi-Ahman is the place "where Adam shall come to visit his people".  The righteous - both living and those who have died will gather here to meet Christ before the Second Coming (D&C 27:5-14). 

 A settlement was started here in 1838 for a short time before the Saints left Missouri under the Extermination Order. 

Another dirt road short cut (the advantages of having a Nebraskan as a tour guide!) to Hamilton.  Never mind if the sign says road closed - we forged ahead anyway!

Jamesport - an Amish or Mennonite community

 The whole time we traveled, Leighton would call out for the choo-choo's.   After passing over Leeper Creek our next stop was Hamilton, Missouri, Leighton finally got a treat up close and personal! 

 After quickly putting out several pennies, the kids were treated with their first real squished penny!

 McKenna and her cousins down by the Mississippi - all they really wanted to do was touch it so they could say they had!

 Needless to say - Hamilton was a wash out.  We got there around 6 pm and everything was closed up tight!  All the Mark Twain tourist attractions were more quiet than a ghost town!  So on we moved to Keokuk, Iowa - across the Mississippi from Nauvoo.  It was here that we spent our next night. 

 Addison made her own bouquet!  We were so impressed with all the green and flowers and life growing all around us!  Jeff was envious of all the free time the farmers had without having to irrigate their land!

Our tour was one day closer to our destination - Nauvoo Illinois!

Nauvoo Reunion

Early Sunday morning - 4 am early! - we started out on our Finch Family Reunion.  Destination?  Nauvoo, Illinois!

Going through Capitol Reef on I-70.

Eisenhower/Johnson Tunnels

We stopped in Georgetown, Colorado for a bite of lunch and found this little town park.  After our PB and J's, the kids got some their wriggles out playing around for a while.

Leighton was really a great little traveler! 

 We passed one town in the Rocky's - No Name, Colorado.  Yep - loved it!  It started us looking for unusual towns along our way!  Next one was at the Colorado/Kansas border - Kanarado - a little combination of both states!  I think the only thing that kept me sane going across Kansas was texting with McKenna.  She had been to cheer camp the week before we left and had her team drop her off at Grandpa and Grandma Finch's to drive out with them.  While visiting with her we passed through Garfield County, Colorado, listened to Leighton keep asking if we were going to Aboo (Nauvoo), and asking for choo-choo's

 We stopped for the night in Salina, Kansas.  The kids were disappointed because the pool was under repairs, but I was a little relieved - we pulled in at 9:30 pm!  We headed straight to bed!

The next day we were off again, passing by Wanamaker Road, California Avenue (must be one in every state), and paying for a toll road on I-70.  We finally met up with family at the Kansas City Temple, just dedicated this year!  We were really excited for another reason too...Finally we got to see McKenna again!  So glad to have our family back together again!

  To say that it was hot is an understatement!  Hot is one thing - humidity?  Well that's another!  At the temple the girls cooled off for a moment while waiting for everyone to show up.

 After the temple we went to the Independence Visitor Center.

 It was in Independence Missouri that Joseph Smith received a command to buy land in Jackson County (D&C 57:3-5).  He also received the revelation that Jackson County would be the site of the New Jerusalem during the Second Coming.  August 3, 1831, Joseph Smith dedicated the temple site and Saints started pouring in.  The Church started publishing the Evening and Morning Star - the only newspaper in the area.

 By the end of 1832 there were over 800 Saints in Jackson County. Members however were struggling to live some of the church guidelines, one being the Law of Consecration.  Members were counseled to repent or suffer the consequences.  By 1833 the short lived peace was replaced with persecutions from locals.  By this time, there were nearly twelve hundred Saints in the area.

 On July 20, four to five hundred non-Mormon citizens met at the courthouse in Independence. They decreed that said that no more Mormons were going to be allowed into the area, and those that were already living there must leave. Church leaders asked for 3 months to to decide what to do, but this was turned down.  They then asked for 10 days to make their decision, but this was also turned down.  The leaders in the Church were given just 15 minutes to decide their fate.

It was also here that two teenaged sisters, Elizabeth and Caroline Rollins saved the Book of Commandments manuscripts when a mob looted and destroyed a printing press.  These sisters collected as many pages as they could then ran in a cornfield to hide.  They laid on top of the pages and prayed.  They heard voices all around them but remained unseen from the mobsters.  I admire these two brave young women who saw what needed to be done and did it without thought of consequence to their safety.

Just 3 days later the mob returned with guns and whips, burned fields and haystacks and destroyed homes.  Six Church leaders offered their lives in exchange for the safety of the rest of the members. Their offer was turned down and they were forced to sign an agreement that they would be out of the county by April 1, 1834.

 During the tour of the Visitor Center, Leighton got a little wriggly so she entertained herself with the camera!  Thank goodness for digital!  I consider it one of the best forms of cheap entertainment!

  Across the street from the Independence Visitor Center is the Community of Christ Temple.  They currently own the plot of land dedicated by Joseph Smith for the Independence Temple on August 3, 1831. 

 I was really surprised at how much church history sites they own still today.  However in recent years because of financial difficulty the Community of Christ Church (formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) has sold some of those sites to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  The missionary at the Independence Visitor Center said it didn't matter if they owned the temple site now, but that one day, when the Lord was ready to build the temple in Independence, it would happen, and until then, the Church will go ahead and prepare for that day. It also made me think about D&C 115:4 "For thus shall my church be called in the last days, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints."  Maybe they forgot this little revelation!

 After Independence we traveled to Liberty Jail where the Prophet Joseph received revelations now known as D&C 121-123.  From November 1838 to April 1839, the Prophet, Hyrum Smith, Sidney Rigdon, Lyman Wight, Alexander McRae, and Caleb Baldwin were imprisoned in this jail which was more like a dungeon.  With only a small hole in the floor, the men were kept in deplorable conditions, eating only when they were truly hungry for the food was spoiled and dirty, even poisoned at times.  Sidney Rigdon was released in February due to a severe illness, but the others continued on until the guards holding them, determined they were not guilty and that they were good men and unjustly confined. 

 At one point during his imprisonment, Joseph pleaded with the Lord: "O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place? How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries? ... Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever."  D&C 121:1-2, 6.  To this cry, the Lord responded:  My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; and then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.  Thy friends do stand by thee, and they shall hail thee again with warm hearts and friendly hands.   D&C 121:7.

From Liberty Jail, we traveled to the Fishing River.  It was here that Zion's Camp were blessed with a miracle.  June 19th, 1834, 5 men rode into Zion's Camp cursing "Joe Smith" and his army.  They vowed to attack the camp that night with 230 men.  40 of these men made it across the river to attack when a storm blew in so fierce that the river rose 40 feet that night preventing anymore mobsters across.  Those waiting to cross were tormented with lighting and hail so severe it bruised hands and tore holes through clothing.  The prophet said "Boys, there is meaning in this.  God is in this storm.  Stand still and see the salvation of God."

We only briefly stopped here, the actual site is unknown but believed to be about 500 feet from the road. 

Fishing River

After Fishing River we traveled to Cameron, Missouri to stay for the night.  The hotel had everything we wanted!  A pool, a water slide that went from the inside to the outside and back inside and of course - a free continental breakfast!

More to come later!

First Place Runner!

 Saturday June 30th, Garrett ran his first official race - a 5K.  It was the Panguitch Balloon Rally 5K and the cross country team puts in on.  Above Garrett is in the front row.

 Get ready, get set...

 and run!

 Garrett came in first not far behind the first place winner for the adults - a Heaton from Orderville.

Girl's Camp 2012

 June 12th we took the 4th year camp girls to the Manti temple for part of their "adventure" activity.  We showed up to do baptisms at 11:30.  The temple only had us down for 3 endowed sisters, not the 19 YW we brought with us!  Finally at 3:30 we left the temple famished and ready for our next stop!  After finding some excellent food at Fred's, we took the girls paddle boating at Palisades State Park and then headed to finish our night off in Circleville where we did pedicures and manicures on the girls.  I love this day with our 4th years.  It is always so much fun getting to know them and watching the 2 rivalry schools getting along!

 Girls camp was held June 14-16th at Tushar Lake on the Beaver Mountains.  WE LOVE THIS CAMPGROUND!  It is beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!  There's a lake with canoes, a big meadow, and a large pavilion!  It's my favorite spot to go for girls camp! 

The theme this year was Light Your Fire Within.  Several of our Stake YW picked the theme.  It was centered around the Church-wide theme of "Arise and Shine that thy light may be a standard for the nations" D&C 115:5 and also our Stake President's challenge of studying Preach My Gospel.  Each ward was a nation and we held our own version of the Olympics complete with synchronized swimming! 

Early the second morning we headed off on a sunrise hike to a higher lake about 2 miles away where 4 of our older YW talked about gaining and sharing testimonies.  We then read a letter from a missionary couple from our stake serving in Africa.  It was such a great letter I want to include it in this post.  I had asked the couple to share with the YW how they could light their fire within aside from the standard answers they always hear - read their scriptures, go to church, etc.  Here is their reply:

"Dear Rachel, Thank you for thinking of us. A quote from our Area Director of Temporal Affairs, "The Strength of the gospel lies in individual testimonies.". We are finding here in Africa the truth of those words. As the gospel moves forth here, we not only hear the depth of the testimonies of these humble people but see and feel of their love for the Savior as they testify. Small children do not say the common things we hear at home, but express their love of the scriptures, their gratitude for the restoration of the gospel and their joy of that knowledge. I am talking about 5, 6, 7 year olds. I know better now than ever that I have a responsibility to myself, my Father in Heaven and my brother, Jesus Christ, to live each day in service to others as the only way I can even begin to repay my debt.
"I think and have always been taught by my parents that service, with a grateful heart, is the best way to live my testimony. If I want to grow closer to Heavenly Father I have to look inside myself and answer tough questions. Am I striving to keep the commandments? Do I look outward to needs other than my own? How do others see me? Do I consecrate my time to the gospel?
"I "Light my Fire Within" as I see the extreme poverty that so prevalent here. Do I need so many clothes? Why do I waste so much that others scrape for? Why don't I study the scriptures more? As I think of these things I am prompted to do more, be more, and to share more.
"The Young Women of our Stake have so many advantages that we all take for granted......a car to take them to church, a nice set of scriptures to ponder and study (the youth here have the paperback set the missionaries give out. They are very worn on the outside but much more so on the inside. They cherish the words and seek to understand how it applies to them).
"What do I wish I had known before I came here? More of, I wish I had studied the scriptures more; I wish Preach my Gospel was my daily bread, I wish I had been more like the pioneers- more trusting, more obedient, more accepting of and grateful for trials.
"The fire within should be a cleansing fire to move us past our sins and imperfections and toward the light of eternal life.
"Wow, I don't think you expected a novel! Tell the girls if I could change one thing in my life it would be to use the plan of repentance more often and then to study the plan of salvation more. I have learned that the strait and narrow way does not funnel you toward the Lord but perfects you because the strait way means there are challenges and difficulties along the way and it is narrow because we must keep an eye single to the glory of God. I hope I have answered your request a little. Use what you may, I have been strengthened just thinking about these things as they pertain to me. Love to you all, give Addie a special hug from me."

Wow - what an incredible response!  I loved it!  We had given all the girls the same shirt - we were going for unity - and after the letter was read we gave them a necklace and asked them to write their testimony on a paper.  We also gave each willing YW a Book of Mormon to place that testimony in and encouraged them to share their testimony with someone. 

I think girls camp is my favorite part of my calling in the stake.  Yes it's a lot of work and planning, but I am so uplifted and strengthened by these YW and the sisters I serve with!  I know Heavenly Father listens as we ask for His help in planning activities for our youth.  I love watching how things come together and how at the end we hear the growth from these incredible YW in their testimonies.  It is an amazing 3 days and I look forward to it each and every year!