This past weekend our family took a road trip that culminated at Kirtland, Ohio. I have been to Kirtland three times now - once with the Columbia Stake Youth about 15 years ago, once when our four children were still young and this time with my husband and our 18 year old daughter. While each visit has been a little different from the time before, one thing remains consistent - I always get emotional in Kirtland. My soul always fills with joy, awe and gratitude as I am reminded of the events that occurred in that area and the sacrifices joyfully given by those early Saints.
I call it "walking on sacred ground" because of the sacred events that occurred and the visions & revelations that were received during the time that Joseph Smith and the early Saints lived in Kirtland and the neighboring farms. (1830-1838) As I sat on a little bench in a room above the Whitney Store - a room used for the School of the Prophets - and listened to the sister missionary tell of the things that happened there and heard her bear testimony of our Savior, Jesus Christ - the Spirit spoke to me again and I knew again the truth of Joseph Smith as a prophet and I knew again the love our Savior has for His children. This sweet testimony repeated itself in each location we visited. Kirtland is indeed a place filled with sacred history.
Kirtland is roughly a six hour drive from here. We broke our visit up into 1 1/2 days and were able to visit most of the
Church History sites. Two full days would have been great to add in the extra sites we didn't get to. I found this
short video about the Kirtland sites featuring Elder M. Russell Ballard. He says, "Heaven was walking here with the people." (If the video doesn't load on your device, you can use the "short video" link to view it directly on lds.org.)
While the
Historic Kirtland Temple is not owned by the Church, (it is owned and operated by The Community of Christ), it is open for tours and the curators are doing a wonderful job of maintaining the building and preserving it's history.
If you have never visited Kirtland - you should!
You really should! It may be history, but it is sacred history. It is a marvelous thing to sit in a room and know that Jesus Christ has appeared there - has spoken to His servant Joseph Smith there. It is a wonderful thing to sit in the Historic Kirtland Temple with the sunlight streaming through the windows and hear the words from Doctrine & Covenants 110 read:
1 The veil was
taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were
opened.
2 We saw the Lord standing upon
the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of
pure gold, in color like amber.
3 His eyes were
as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone
above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of
the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:
4 I am the first and
the last; I am he who liveth, I am he who was slain; I am your advocate with
the Father.
5 Behold, your sins are forgiven you;
you are clean before me; therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice.
6 Let the hearts of your
brethren rejoice, and let the hearts of all my people rejoice, who have, with
their might, built this house to my name.
7 For behold, I have accepted this house,
and my name shall be here; and I will manifest myself to my people in
mercy in this house.
-Lorie Pierce
