Herb Family Church History Tour- Day 1

We left early yesterday morning and drove to Independence, MO to start our church history tour. 
I spent hours planning this trip and it was so fun to see it actually happening. It was totally worth all the hours of research. We had the best time learning and exploring together. 

Our first stop was the Independence Visitors Center.  The visitor's center interprets the 1830's latter-day saint community that formed in the city. In 1831 the Lord revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that Independence, in Jackson County, Missouri, would become a "city of Zion," a gathering place for Saints and a location for a future temple. 

 

We learned about the printing press and the printing of the book of Mormon and the news paper in Independence. 

 

We got to explore and see what life would have been like in 1831. The kids loved the little wagon.

I had to get a picture of Tanner here because I have one very similar of him in this same pose about 4 years earlier. 

Benson really loved the interactive videos too. 

And we had to get a picture in front of the Christus statue. 

Next we headed to Liberty Jail and took a tour from the sister missionaries that were serving there. 

I've always loved visiting liberty jail. It's such a story of refinement and faith. The kids were really good and listened to all the stories. 

And it typical Benson fashion, he fell asleep right before the group picture and so he had to be held for it. Just like when he was a baby and we did this trip. 

 

Next on our stop was Haun's Mill. We stopped first at the creek where the mill was and where the saints had settled. This is where the attack happened. It was a beautiful setting but such a tragic history. 

We were able to tell the kids some stories of the survivors and the miracles they witnessed. It was pretty neat. 

Then we visited the mill stone memorial. In the small town, about 20 minutes from the actual location of the attack was a memorial. It had listed the names of the survivors and those who died. 
The mill stone was recovered from the river and placed here as a memorial. 

Our last stop for the day was the Far West Temple site. Although there is no temple here, we did get to see the original four cornerstones and the monument about events that occurred there. 

In August 1836, the saints began to establish a stake of Zion at Far West. Two years later it was home to nearly 5000 saints. They were forced to abandon the place  about two years later and after they left, members of the quorum of the twelve apostles and a few others returned and dedicated a temple site here, in obedience to a commandment from the Lord. 

Now we anxiously await the time when Heavenly Father will command us to build that promised temple. 

The grounds were beautiful and the cornerstones were well kept and preserved with monuments nearby to explain the symbolism behind each one. 

Then we drove about 10 minutes down the road to check into our hotel and get some dinner. You can imagine how the 11 of us look when we walk in some where. We are a big group, full of kids. But this little diner was delicious and everyone was thrilled with their meals. 

We then settled in to our hotel rooms and got some rest. We had another big day ahead of us.