We woke up this morning and packed, this was going to be the last day of our Church history leg and more spiritual leg of our USA holiday. The last two days have been quite stressful and distracting as I discovered that my current and former boss based here in the US have resigned from our company. I found myself on conference calls and scouring e-mails to ascertain how this would impact upon me, spending many hours on the phone whilst driving to try and keep the wheels of commerce turning back home. It was hard not to let these issues not distract me from the purpose of my trip with the family.
Jodie had put the coordinates into the GPS the night before to direct us to our first stop on our final leg, which is Tower Hill Missouri, otherwise known as Adam-ondi-ahman. The GPS is programmed to take us on the shortest possible route between the various points which lead to a somewhat enchanting ride through back-country highways and lush green farming communities. Unfortunately we came across a very recent car accident where a pick up truck had flipped on a broad bend, it was strewn across both lanes of this country highway, blocking traffic from both directions. We couldn’t drive around because there was a rather steep embankment on both sides. We were about 10 cars and 1 truck from the overturned vehicle. Some men had got out to render assistance but it soon became apparent that this accident was indeed a fatality as there was no sense of urgency amongst these few men to help or apply first aid.
We decided to U-turn and back pedaled a little bit to try and find a back road around the accident site. As we began to do this a police car and ambulance sped past us to the scene. We managed to locate a dirt road, which we followed, through the cornfield, making left turns until we had found a way around the accident. As we came back out on the highway, the crash site was not too far down the road to our left. We were all quiet and somber for the next little while.
As I have done a lot of driving on this trip I found myself getting a little bit annoyed at Jodie wanting to go off the main highway and visit Adam-ondi-ahman, as this was about 15 or 16miles off the main drag to Liberty, Independence & Kansas City. But this is very much Jodie’s holiday as well as mine and I wanted her to have a great experience also.
So after 30mins we came to Tower Hill, which was a spot of land allocated by the Prophet Joseph for the Saints to build a city. It was also named Adam-ondi-ahman because the prophet Joseph received a revelation that Adam would appear and speak to his posterity there. After driving down some dirt roads there is a lovely large plaque that the church has erected pointing out the two names of this area, Spring Hill or Tower Hill, as it is known to the locals, and Adam-ondi-ahman. Right now the majority of this land is lush farmland with crops growing, this is obviously part of the church’s worldwide welfare farming project.
You then drive for another 3 miles and get to a lovely, what they call, outlook, or overlook, here in the United States, which is our lookouts, in Australia. We parked our car under the shade of a nice tree and walked down a short path to a well laid out lookout that allowed you to peer through the trees, down the hill to the lovely lush green valley below. I can see why the prophet Joseph was inspired to source land here, as it truly was a lovely green fertile part of the earth.
Unfortunately the Saints never really got the chance to settle here, as persecution and opposition drove them from this beautiful place up to Far West and ultimately to Nauvoo. I found a lovely serine, calm spirit in this specially dedicated parcel of land and without knowing a great deal, I sense the importance of why the church felt the need to acquire this land. Jodie made us a lovely lunch; we took some nice photographs before jumping in the car to drive to Far West.
When you arrive at Far West there is not a great deal to see, once again smack bang in the middle of prime farming land the church has erected a small Visitor’s Center next to the site that was chosen for the Temple at Far West. The four corner stones are visible at the site and encased in protective glass to shield them from the elements, each remain in their original position from where they were laid by the early Saints.
Each corner stone was laid to represent significant offices in the Priesthood, for example, the first presidency is represented by one stone, the quorum of twelve apostles, the Aaronic priesthood and the Higher Priesthood are represented by the other three stones. A short distance from this site is Hahn’s Mill, the site of the first Mormon massacre in this dispensation. We spent a little time visiting here and reflecting upon the major events that took place here, the first international mission calls to the twelve apostles was given in Far West, they were instructed to gather here and leave on their missions overseas.
To accomplish this amongst all the persecution it is written that the apostles met here after dark unbeknowsed to the mobs and set out on their missions to Europe. The little corner plot of ground that we were on has been declared and recorded as sacred and hallowed and you could certainly feel that as you stood in the small amphitheater that was built there. Other significant things happened in Far West, the name of the church was announced and the revelation on the Law of tithing was declared. And although fairly non-descript and not a major tourist attraction, I am so grateful to Jodie for suggesting we visit these two significant historic sites. Both having a nice impact upon this spiritual journey that I’m on.
We then drove to Liberty Jail, I confess I was expecting a building in plain view to the public, much like Carthage, and was surprised when I arrived at the site to find a slick modern granite building with car parks, lawns built right in the middle of suburban Liberty City. We went into the Visitor’s Center and were once again warmly greeted by the Sister Missionaries who ushered us into a large meeting room, very similar to a chapel. But with the walls adorned with museum like pictures, items and artifacts all depicting various stages in the Liberty Jails life span. The sister missionary then spends time talking about the prophet Joseph and the events that lead to him being incarcerated here from December to April bitterly freezing and cold months of the year in Missouri. Some wonderful revelation was given to the prophet Joseph as he lamented the length of time he was incarcerated there. That now famous prayer of his that begins… “Oh Lord, where art thou and why hast thou forsaken me? …Where is thine pavilion that hidest thou from me?” revelation received in this cramped dark, almost inhospitable edifice includes revelation on the oath and covenant of the priesthood D&C 88, and the wonderful response that the lord gives Joseph where he says… “My son, thy prayers have been heard, thine suffering shall be but a small moment…know thou this that the son of man has descended below them all.”
Inside this modern slick granite building the church has constructed a replica of Liberty Jail on top of or extremely close to the original foundations. You need to see what it was like to understand how uncomfortable it would have been to be a prisoner here, please see the photos below. After spending some time here we drove the remaining 30mis to Independence Missouri, the final stop on our church history tour. Independence, it has been revealed, is the site where the New Jerusalem will be built when the savior comes again. The early Saints/church originally purchase 80achres of land, of which 60 acres is owned by the Community of Christ in which they have built a large modern edifice that they call their Temple and their global headquarters. The church owns 20acres immediately across the road and on the corner opposite the two Community of Christ buildings. Then on the opposite corner is the Temple Lot, and it is owned by another church now know as the Community of Christ Temple Lot church. I suppose some time in the distant future, the church will ultimately acquire this land and build and dedicate a Temple there to fulfill revelation. We went into the church Visitor’s Center and were accompanied by a lovely Sister Missionary who shared the history of the church in Missouri and Independence and engaged with all of the children asking lovely thought provoking questions that and asked us all to feel the spirit. We then left, walked across to the adjacent corner and I took a picture of the family on the Temple Lot site.
It was now getting quite late in the evening, approx. 8pm, the sun was starting to set, and we decided to make the final drive to the Kansas City airport where we had booked a hotel room. You see our flight for Salt Lake City leaves at 6am which means we will need to be up and at the airport by no later than 4:45am. On the way to the motel sitting on a large hill above the interstate highway, rising up towards the Heavens was the beautiful Kansas City Temple, we took the exit and drove up and visited this lovely building, the kids then started counting the number of Temples they had seen and or visited on this trip. They got up to over 10. We then carried on to the motel, which was a lovely modern and comfortable room very close to the airport.
I dropped Jodie and the kids off and we unloaded the bags and tried to get a little bit settled before I left to wash two weeks of dust off the hire car and get it into some sort of state that would be accepted by the hire car company, Tamzyn came with me, we washed the car, returned to the room, took the family to dinner in the restaurant next-door and upon returning to the room, packed up all the bags except the clothes that we were going to wear on the plane tomorrow and got ready for bed.
I find as I write this journal now, full knowing that this is the last day of the main reason why we came on this holiday, I find myself reflecting on the lovely experiences our little family has had this last 10 days or so and I think I have achieved what I set out to do which was to solidify in my children’s minds the truthfulness of these things, the reality that they did happen, as the kids have stood and walked and talked in the actual places where these events happened. I have found my own personal testimony strengthen as I too have made the connection between the reality of these places and the events that were recorded and happened here.
I guess I feel a little like Father Lehi in the vision of the tree of life, in that I have partaken of the fruit which is delicious and fills the soul with joy, four of my children have done the same and my mind is stretched out deep in thought for my three other babies, Alissa, Madison and Naomi, although not babies anymore and I really desire for them to come forward and partake of the spiritual feast that we have enjoyed as a family. And I hope one day in the future to make this same trip with my three other daughters, and who knows, maybe their spouses.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my testimony with you my family and close friends that this boofy bloke that you all know as Jimbo knows that God lives, that he has a son Jesus Christ who lived, taught, loved and atoned for us and our sins, that he does indeed speak to man through prophets, that these prophets are alive and on the earth today, and even though I have walked where these men have walked, I didn’t really need this trip to confirm he truth to me that he lives, that he is our savior and redeemer, that he knows me personally, that he loves me enough to have provided me with a lovely faithful, virtuous wife, six beautiful and precious daughters and a son who over the last month has become my best friend.
Grateful for my current job and company which in some small way allowed my to make this trip. I am grateful for those of you who have loved and supported, watched out for us and our home while we have been in the US, especially Ashley, Alissa and Kevin. God lives I know it of surety and I hope that in some small measure, by sharing this blog with me the spirit will touch your soul, that you may know the truth of these things. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Jodie had put the coordinates into the GPS the night before to direct us to our first stop on our final leg, which is Tower Hill Missouri, otherwise known as Adam-ondi-ahman. The GPS is programmed to take us on the shortest possible route between the various points which lead to a somewhat enchanting ride through back-country highways and lush green farming communities. Unfortunately we came across a very recent car accident where a pick up truck had flipped on a broad bend, it was strewn across both lanes of this country highway, blocking traffic from both directions. We couldn’t drive around because there was a rather steep embankment on both sides. We were about 10 cars and 1 truck from the overturned vehicle. Some men had got out to render assistance but it soon became apparent that this accident was indeed a fatality as there was no sense of urgency amongst these few men to help or apply first aid.
We decided to U-turn and back pedaled a little bit to try and find a back road around the accident site. As we began to do this a police car and ambulance sped past us to the scene. We managed to locate a dirt road, which we followed, through the cornfield, making left turns until we had found a way around the accident. As we came back out on the highway, the crash site was not too far down the road to our left. We were all quiet and somber for the next little while.
As I have done a lot of driving on this trip I found myself getting a little bit annoyed at Jodie wanting to go off the main highway and visit Adam-ondi-ahman, as this was about 15 or 16miles off the main drag to Liberty, Independence & Kansas City. But this is very much Jodie’s holiday as well as mine and I wanted her to have a great experience also.
So after 30mins we came to Tower Hill, which was a spot of land allocated by the Prophet Joseph for the Saints to build a city. It was also named Adam-ondi-ahman because the prophet Joseph received a revelation that Adam would appear and speak to his posterity there. After driving down some dirt roads there is a lovely large plaque that the church has erected pointing out the two names of this area, Spring Hill or Tower Hill, as it is known to the locals, and Adam-ondi-ahman. Right now the majority of this land is lush farmland with crops growing, this is obviously part of the church’s worldwide welfare farming project.
You then drive for another 3 miles and get to a lovely, what they call, outlook, or overlook, here in the United States, which is our lookouts, in Australia. We parked our car under the shade of a nice tree and walked down a short path to a well laid out lookout that allowed you to peer through the trees, down the hill to the lovely lush green valley below. I can see why the prophet Joseph was inspired to source land here, as it truly was a lovely green fertile part of the earth.
Unfortunately the Saints never really got the chance to settle here, as persecution and opposition drove them from this beautiful place up to Far West and ultimately to Nauvoo. I found a lovely serine, calm spirit in this specially dedicated parcel of land and without knowing a great deal, I sense the importance of why the church felt the need to acquire this land. Jodie made us a lovely lunch; we took some nice photographs before jumping in the car to drive to Far West.
When you arrive at Far West there is not a great deal to see, once again smack bang in the middle of prime farming land the church has erected a small Visitor’s Center next to the site that was chosen for the Temple at Far West. The four corner stones are visible at the site and encased in protective glass to shield them from the elements, each remain in their original position from where they were laid by the early Saints.
Each corner stone was laid to represent significant offices in the Priesthood, for example, the first presidency is represented by one stone, the quorum of twelve apostles, the Aaronic priesthood and the Higher Priesthood are represented by the other three stones. A short distance from this site is Hahn’s Mill, the site of the first Mormon massacre in this dispensation. We spent a little time visiting here and reflecting upon the major events that took place here, the first international mission calls to the twelve apostles was given in Far West, they were instructed to gather here and leave on their missions overseas.
To accomplish this amongst all the persecution it is written that the apostles met here after dark unbeknowsed to the mobs and set out on their missions to Europe. The little corner plot of ground that we were on has been declared and recorded as sacred and hallowed and you could certainly feel that as you stood in the small amphitheater that was built there. Other significant things happened in Far West, the name of the church was announced and the revelation on the Law of tithing was declared. And although fairly non-descript and not a major tourist attraction, I am so grateful to Jodie for suggesting we visit these two significant historic sites. Both having a nice impact upon this spiritual journey that I’m on.
We then drove to Liberty Jail, I confess I was expecting a building in plain view to the public, much like Carthage, and was surprised when I arrived at the site to find a slick modern granite building with car parks, lawns built right in the middle of suburban Liberty City. We went into the Visitor’s Center and were once again warmly greeted by the Sister Missionaries who ushered us into a large meeting room, very similar to a chapel. But with the walls adorned with museum like pictures, items and artifacts all depicting various stages in the Liberty Jails life span. The sister missionary then spends time talking about the prophet Joseph and the events that lead to him being incarcerated here from December to April bitterly freezing and cold months of the year in Missouri. Some wonderful revelation was given to the prophet Joseph as he lamented the length of time he was incarcerated there. That now famous prayer of his that begins… “Oh Lord, where art thou and why hast thou forsaken me? …Where is thine pavilion that hidest thou from me?” revelation received in this cramped dark, almost inhospitable edifice includes revelation on the oath and covenant of the priesthood D&C 88, and the wonderful response that the lord gives Joseph where he says… “My son, thy prayers have been heard, thine suffering shall be but a small moment…know thou this that the son of man has descended below them all.”
Inside this modern slick granite building the church has constructed a replica of Liberty Jail on top of or extremely close to the original foundations. You need to see what it was like to understand how uncomfortable it would have been to be a prisoner here, please see the photos below. After spending some time here we drove the remaining 30mis to Independence Missouri, the final stop on our church history tour. Independence, it has been revealed, is the site where the New Jerusalem will be built when the savior comes again. The early Saints/church originally purchase 80achres of land, of which 60 acres is owned by the Community of Christ in which they have built a large modern edifice that they call their Temple and their global headquarters. The church owns 20acres immediately across the road and on the corner opposite the two Community of Christ buildings. Then on the opposite corner is the Temple Lot, and it is owned by another church now know as the Community of Christ Temple Lot church. I suppose some time in the distant future, the church will ultimately acquire this land and build and dedicate a Temple there to fulfill revelation. We went into the church Visitor’s Center and were accompanied by a lovely Sister Missionary who shared the history of the church in Missouri and Independence and engaged with all of the children asking lovely thought provoking questions that and asked us all to feel the spirit. We then left, walked across to the adjacent corner and I took a picture of the family on the Temple Lot site.
It was now getting quite late in the evening, approx. 8pm, the sun was starting to set, and we decided to make the final drive to the Kansas City airport where we had booked a hotel room. You see our flight for Salt Lake City leaves at 6am which means we will need to be up and at the airport by no later than 4:45am. On the way to the motel sitting on a large hill above the interstate highway, rising up towards the Heavens was the beautiful Kansas City Temple, we took the exit and drove up and visited this lovely building, the kids then started counting the number of Temples they had seen and or visited on this trip. They got up to over 10. We then carried on to the motel, which was a lovely modern and comfortable room very close to the airport.
I dropped Jodie and the kids off and we unloaded the bags and tried to get a little bit settled before I left to wash two weeks of dust off the hire car and get it into some sort of state that would be accepted by the hire car company, Tamzyn came with me, we washed the car, returned to the room, took the family to dinner in the restaurant next-door and upon returning to the room, packed up all the bags except the clothes that we were going to wear on the plane tomorrow and got ready for bed.
I find as I write this journal now, full knowing that this is the last day of the main reason why we came on this holiday, I find myself reflecting on the lovely experiences our little family has had this last 10 days or so and I think I have achieved what I set out to do which was to solidify in my children’s minds the truthfulness of these things, the reality that they did happen, as the kids have stood and walked and talked in the actual places where these events happened. I have found my own personal testimony strengthen as I too have made the connection between the reality of these places and the events that were recorded and happened here.
I guess I feel a little like Father Lehi in the vision of the tree of life, in that I have partaken of the fruit which is delicious and fills the soul with joy, four of my children have done the same and my mind is stretched out deep in thought for my three other babies, Alissa, Madison and Naomi, although not babies anymore and I really desire for them to come forward and partake of the spiritual feast that we have enjoyed as a family. And I hope one day in the future to make this same trip with my three other daughters, and who knows, maybe their spouses.
I would like to take this opportunity to share my testimony with you my family and close friends that this boofy bloke that you all know as Jimbo knows that God lives, that he has a son Jesus Christ who lived, taught, loved and atoned for us and our sins, that he does indeed speak to man through prophets, that these prophets are alive and on the earth today, and even though I have walked where these men have walked, I didn’t really need this trip to confirm he truth to me that he lives, that he is our savior and redeemer, that he knows me personally, that he loves me enough to have provided me with a lovely faithful, virtuous wife, six beautiful and precious daughters and a son who over the last month has become my best friend.
Grateful for my current job and company which in some small way allowed my to make this trip. I am grateful for those of you who have loved and supported, watched out for us and our home while we have been in the US, especially Ashley, Alissa and Kevin. God lives I know it of surety and I hope that in some small measure, by sharing this blog with me the spirit will touch your soul, that you may know the truth of these things. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Adam-ondi-Ahman
Far West
Liberty Jail
Independence
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The Activity Centre in Independence Visitors Centre.
Kansas City Temple
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Family on the Independence Temple Lot site with the Visitors Centre in background.
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