Adoption & Kirtland, OH

November was National Adoption awareness month, and I should have done this post in November in honor of Adoption awareness.  So back in October, we had the opportunity to attend the US Northeast regional conference for Families Supporting Adoption (FSA) in historic Kirtland, OH.   Why?  Because we hope to be able to begin our family through adoption. AND we support adoption and hope to be parents through adopting a sweet baby.  We are praying to find a special birth mother.

You can help us and help support adoption as well.  Simply by being aware that adoption is about love and then encouraging unwed individuals with an unplanned pregnancy, whose path may cross yours, to learn and be open to the option.  If adoption is an option, then don't be afraid to mention that you know a some friends who would love to parent.

Back to Kirtland.

The Families Supporting Adoption conference was wonderful and we both increased our knowledge about different aspects of adoption.

But the most important of knowledge and testimony was gained at an early morning-side meeting held in the Kirtland temple just for the FSA conference attendees.

Prior to walking into the temple I had the misconception that it was not in use anymore and had been turned into a barn.  Oh how wrong I was.  Currently the Church of Christ owns the temple.   As soon as we entered the temple the holy ghost immediately bore witness to us both that it is still a holy edifice dedicated to the Lord, and is still accepted by Him.

Kirtland, Ohio Temple under renovation

Kirtland, Ohio Temple

The historic Newel K. Whitney grocery store.  Joseph and Emma Smith lived in the upstairs for some time after relocating to Kirtland.

Seth standing next to the door that the prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. used to enter the store for the first time.  I love the scene that took place here when Joseph Smith and Newel Knight met for the first time.

 In February 1831, when Joseph and Emma Smith arrived in Kirtland, Ohio, they went directly to the Newel K. Knight grocery store.  Joseph entered the store and shook Newel's hand over the counter and said: "Newel K. Whitney, Thou art the man".  Newel replied, "I could not call you by name as you have me." Joseph answered, "I am Joseph the Prophet; you have prayed me here, now what do you want of me?"

The pictures below and above are a room in the 2nd level of the Newel K. Whitney store where Emma Smith had to clean up all the tobacco spit off the floor after each of the School of the Prophet meetings had been held, where leaders in the newly restored gospel studied the scriptures, and were also given additional basic education.  Emma got tired of cleaning up the spit.  Joseph also felt the smoking and tobacco habits were not pleasing to the Lord and prayed about it.  In response, the Lord gave revelation now known as The Word of Wisdom found in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 89.

Joseph and Emma's bedroom

Emma's kitchen fireplace.

I absolutely loved the small little children chairs for the kitchen table. 

The road that divides the Newel K. Whitney store and Newel's home.  The temple is at the top of the hill (can't see it).

Seth at the log mill

Pulpit replica's like those in the temple, being constructed at the log mill.  The sun was setting and shining right on one of the pulpits.

The Ashery

community members could sell their ashes to the ashery for money.  (After using a wood stove to heat our home this winter, I can only imagine how many ashes a community would make back in the 19th century from burning wood in multiple fireplaces in a home to heat each room and to have to cook over.)  The ashes were mixed with water to create lye, which was then sold to make soap.

The wet ashes were then fired in a kiln to make pearl ash, which was also sold.  The profit from selling the pearl ash and the lye made at the Kirtland Ashery was donated to help build the Kirtland Temple.  Pearl ash was used to make gun powder and added to clay (Seth just loved this tidbit of info, and he also loved the structure of the pearl ash kiln).

We wish we could have had more time to tour the rest of the historic sites in Kirtland, but it was Saturday night, and we had to drive home for church on Sunday morning.  If you ever have the chance to visit Kirtland, OH, then do.  It's amazing to be able to walk where the prophet Joseph Smith walked.  Kirland, Ohio means more to us now rather than just a place where LDS church history took place.