Kirtland - the Scourge Has Been Lifted

Church members stayed longer in Kirtland (7yrs) than in any one place until the exodus to Salt Lake Valley. After events conspired that drove the Lord's prophet to leave, the Lord placed a scourge on Kirtland.  In 1979, President Ezra Taft Benson came to break ground for the first Stake Center here and at that time, he removed the scourge.  Now we see the ongoing fulfillment of D&C 124 where the Lord says, "I will build up Kirtland."  What we've seen here is a testimony to that building up.  I hardly recognize the place we visited in 1999.

When we walked into the new visitor's center we were warmly greeted by the Soderbergs, a missionary couple here.  Brother Soderberg just happened to have served as Rich Black's first counselor when he was a bishop in Parley's Ward.  They guided us through the Newell K. Whitney store where we all sat in the School of the Prophets and heard Sister Soderberg bear her testimony of the appearance of God the Father and Jesus Christ in this room.  Also in this room came the revelation of the Word of Wisdom.  Before the property was obtained by the church, the Newell K. Whitney store was a bar like the two buildings near it; the Johnson hotel and the Whitney home.  Now all are restored as they were in the 1830's and a palpable spirit is here.

Gary read to us the story of how Steve Young was wearing his tee shirt printed with the phrase, "Kirtland City of Faith and Love" on a visit here when he was quarterbacking for the 49ers.  A Sports Illustrated photographer got his picture and it ended up on the cover.  People of Kirtland were thrilled.  Steve visited here and spent some time reaching out to the community.  Subsequently, the next time the Kirtland City Council took a vote on allowing the Church to move a road and renovate all the Visitor Sites it passed!  They had been trying unsuccessfully for years.  

After lunch we took a side trip at the Dibble's request.  We drove through nearby Chardon, Ohio and found the charming old courthouse.  Jon and Colleen shared this story from their Dibble heritage.  In Kirtland, Joseph Smith was being tried and was brought to this courthouse to defend himself.  He did so very well and a jury acquitted him.  As he went to leave the courthouse a mob was gathering outside with the intention of giving Joseph a violent beating.  Philo Dibble watched this situation develop and was quick to take action.  He followed the mob leader into a nearby shop and there went "nose to nose" with him.  After Philo's intervention on the Prophet's behalf, the mob leader went to the doorway, dismissed the mob and the altercation was averted.  Hurray for Philo - I'm glad to know this story and to have seen this place!

Brent and Eddy had a spiritual feast lined up for us after lunch.  We arrived at the Isaac Morley farm and met Karl Anderson.  He is known by the people here as "Mr. Kirtland".  He is the author of the book, Joseph Smith's Kirtland.  He has lived here on & off since 1966 and been instrumental in the re-vitalization of this place as a mecca for LDS people.  He is a large, gentle and jolly man with an engaging laugh.  He was the Stake President when Benson came to lift the scourge and is now the stake patriarch.  He took some time to get to know us and then related a story about a visitor who told him that since they didn't have much time, they thought they would skip visiting the Morley Farm because nothing much happened there.  Our group was assembled in front of Brother Anderson in a covered area on the farm and he told us the history of the ground we sat upon.  Joseph and Emma had a small home here and lived here for 6 months (D&C 41).  Emma's twins were born and died here; the Murdock twins were adopted here.  Thirteen revelations in the D&C (encased between chapters 45 & 64) were received here.  The Law of Consecration was first practiced here (D&C 42:54), and the 4th General Conference of the Church was held here. In a small schoolhouse just uphill, the first high priests were ordained at that conference.  Philo Dibble and Levi Hancock record the event in their journals.  As Joseph begins the ordination, the adversary enters the room.  The bodies of several of those present are possessed with demons.  Leman Copley is levitated and his body floats out the window.  Joseph intervenes and casts the adversary out.  Subsequently he tells those present, "I now see the Father and the Son.  Let them kill me, I could not feel death as I am now."  His vision is confirmed by Harvey Whitlock and Lyman White who also saw diety there AND left a record.  

Brother Andersen then prepared us for our visit to the Kirtland Temple.  He speculated that the purpose of the Kirtland temple is yet to be fulfilled.  The Nauvoo Temple was utterly destroyed first by fire and then by tornado.  But Kirtland remains unscathed. Why? He told of rebels attempting to set fire to the Kirtland temple by tossing burning hay in its windows - only to watch the fire extinguish itself.  Four years ago, Brother Andersen escorted one of the General Authorities through the Kirtland temple.  He said he felt an especially nice spirit there.  After the tour the General Authority told him, "Brother Andersen, there are angels in the Kirtland Temple today."  Within this temple, the Savior appeared six times to Joseph Smith.  The Father and the Son appeared twice.  The prophet of every dispensation has appeared here - Adam (D&C 137:5), Abraham, Moses, Elijah, Elias, Peter, James & John all appeared as resurrected beings.  We then went to the temple with a renewed reverence and appreciation  in our hearts for what has been preserved for us here.  

Our pizza party that evening was held inside due to rain.  Karren Hammer arranged a special treat for us.  Her niece, Camille and her husband, Nate Johnson & their children joined us for dinner.  Both are graduates of Boston College where they were in a vocal performing group.  They now live in this area while Nate is finishing his doctorate at Case Western.  In their spare time, they have been instrumental in a new summer production called, "This is Kirtland".  It is presented 3 weeks in July and overlaps the Palmyra pageant.  Cammie and Nate have starred as Joseph and Emma.  They performed some of the songs from the production for us after dinner in the cozy parlor at the hotel.  It was inspirational - just like our whole day!