June 26

We made it to church today – a real sacrament meeting. We pulled in the parking lot about 5 min early so we sent Taylor and Dallin in to get t seat while Rick got dressed. Then the rest of us walked in – we were maybe 2 minutes late. They were having the opening announcements and the first thing I heard while walking through the door was something like, “while we do have a sign that says Visitors welcome we need to be careful to be vigilant in watching who comes into our meetings and keeping and eye on them. Also keep your children close we don’t want to have any problems – if you see any suspicious activity make sure and report it. The timing was perfect – we walked through the door as they were counseling the ward to be wary of strangers . I felt like turning right around and leaving. I don’t think we look to scary, well maybe Rick- he is up to a 4 week beard now. I kind of felt like I should pull out my temple recommend to prove we were legit members and not there to steal their children. Anyway the meeting was ok. I wasn’t super impressed with their speakers – which was the seminary class – but it was ok. We left after sacrament meeting. We had debated staying for the whole meeting but we didn’t feel to welcomed and we were ready go see Kirtland. Turth is I am guessing we had more of a spiritual experience in Kirtland than we did at church.

“Historic Kirtland” was really an neat place. It is interesting to note the different feelings you, (or at least I) felt at the Kirtland visitors center, the Palmyra sites and other church sites versus the feelings at the Kirtland temple. The temple was neat, I really enjoyed seeing the building and learning a bit more of its history – but for the most part the spirit simply wasn’t there. Except I have to say at one point while we were sitting in the lower court listening to our temple interrupter talk he said something like, while the early saints didn’t get to enjoy their temple for long it remains a memorial of their sacrifice and faith.” I really did feel the significance and importance of that statement. The rest of it was more like a a history lesson than a spiritual experience. Their was just something different about the missionaires who gave us tours and the tour guides of the Community of Christ. It is hard to describe but I guess it just comes down to the spirit. The tour guides, or temple interrupters just seem like hired employees doing there job while the missionaries seem more invested in it. I don’t know who to describe it but for those who have been to both – my guess is you already know what I am talking about . It is interesting to- that there have been some presentations I have been to at National Parks (not a lot- but a couple) that have given me the same feelings I felt at say Palmyra or the Whitney Farm. I think because, like I was telling our children, our countries freedom and the sacrifices made to become a freedom are sacred and came through divine intervention. I hope my children could sense that and feel the importance and significance of those who have come before and sacrificed so much for the many blessing they enjoy today.

After leaving Kirtland we drove straight to Ann Arbor. We pulled in around 9:30. Jeff and Stacey had dinner for us. We tried to be quiet and get the kids to bed rather quickly but we succeeded in waking both Jacob and Rebecca up. After getting the kids to sleep and taking the rv over to park at their church we visited a bit and went to bed close to 1:00 am.