On our last evening together as sojourners we had a special treat. Karren Hammer contacted her niece, Camille Johnson, who came with her husband, Nate, and sang for us. The two just happen to have played Emma and Joseph in the new production, "This is Kirtland", which was begun a couple of years ago and plays for 3 weeks during July in the Kirland area. Both were trained in vocal performance at Boston College where they met. Nate has even composed some of the music for this production which is wonderful.
Gary said it best I think, when he made the comment that our trip had been like "getting spiritual knowledge through a firehose". The group presented a statue of Joseph Smith holding the Book of Mormon to Brent and Eddy to thank them for making it all possible. They truly were our tour guides "supreme".
The next morning with the help of Jeff's Iphone and google maps, were were able to find the charming home of Eliza R. Snow (for which we had no specific address). Did you know that the "R" stands for "Roxey"? That seems a little snappy for Eliza to me.
Lorenzo Snow was born in this home which is quite a ways from Kirtland but close to the John Johnson farm.
I was thrilled to travel through this rural farm area because as we rambled down the narrow roads often there were fields of ripening orange pumpkins on either side of us. They took my breath away and I felt like I should get out my James Whitcomb Riley book of poetry and read "When the Frost is on the Pumpkin" once again.
This is Jeff in front of the John Johnson farm. In keeping with the amazing nature of our trip, we found that the missionary guide who escorted us through the farmhouse just happened to be the great, great, great-granddaughter of John Johnson. Throughout she bore a sweet, humble and moving testimony of her family heritage in the restoration which I don't think was lost upon our bus driver, Harold, who came in with us at this stop when he usually had simply waited for us in the bus at other places. I think Harold got a real baptism of the faith of these missionaries and of those in our group as he heard the stories of events that took place here. This is the colorful former parlor of the Johnson's which they gave to Joseph and Emma to use as a bedroom when they moved here from the Morley Farm. It was here as they slept with the infant Murdock twins (who were sick with measles at the time) that a mob broke through the front door in the middle of the night and grabbed Joseph, dragged him into the dark and down the road where he was tarred and feathered. Joseph Murdock Smith, one of the twins, died as a result of this assault. When Emma saw Joseph after the mob was done with him, she fainted. The rest of the night those at the home spent trying to remove the tar and feathers. A battered but brilliant Joseph Smith stood on the front porch of this farm and preach forgiveness to a large group who had assembled there - some of whom had been amongst the mobsters the night before.
But the best of the story was yet to come. As we went upstairs we entered the translation room. This was the place that Joseph and Sidney were working on revisions to the New Testament when they inquired of the Lord about the concept of heaven and hell. The Father and the Son appeared to them and they received the vision on the 3 degrees of glory. Philo Dibble was present and recorded the experience. Jon arose and spoke to us of his ancestor's testimony and of revelations received. I glanced down the row and saw Harold's eyes get wide. There was a spirit in that room.
In keeping with our policy of not missing any meals, our "last supper" was at the Hong Kong - all you can eat - Buffet. You must determine if the pain on these faces is from our impending departure or from basic overindulgence. Rich Black and Jeff read us their fortunes from their fortune cookies - "A fond memory will soon lead to a renewed friendship & Investigate new possibilities with friends. Now is the time!" Apropos. We all signed a Book of Mormon and gave it to Harold.
Next year in Nauvoo!
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