The Smith's were coopers---they made barrels, buckets, tubs, pots, etc.  At one time the Gold Plates were hidden under the floor of the Cooper Shop.  Joseph had a strong impression that he should move the Plates.  He took up the floor, removed the Plates from the box they were stored in..(they think it was the box the windows for the Frame Home were shipped in), wrapped them in some cloth and hid them in the rafters where some flax was stored.  That night the mob came, tore up the floor, smashed the box to pieces and basically tore up the place.  Little did they know that the Plates were two feet above their heads....they never bothered to look up.  

The family beehives.  Hollowed out logs.

This barn would have been typical during the Smith's time in Palmyra.  The barn originally belonged to John Young...Brigham Young's father.  It was located nearby and was moved piece by piece to the site of the Smith's barn.  

The Frame Home.  The oldest child of the Smith's, Alvin, started this home for his fiance' and planned to have his parents live there with them.  Alvin died before finishing the home.  The family did move into the home unfinished and worked on it for several years.  They eventually lost the deed to the property and moved back into the Log Home.  

The lattern hanging by the front door.  Each family had a certain pattern for their latterns...that way they could be identified walking down the road in the dark.  

Inside the Frame Home.  These walls would be just as the Smith's would have built them.  The home is restored to 85% original.  There in the left hand side just past the drawers...they think a piece of furniture was there and they just painted around it.  It must have been too heavy to move.  The box on top of the drawers would be similar to the box that the Gold Plates were kept in.  

The hearth in the Frame Home where the Prophet took up the bricks and hid the plates. 

Grandpa and Ellie walking down the path toward the Frame Home.  Here we are along the path with the Temple in the background.  

Ellie looking up the stairs in the Log Home.  The bedrooms upstairs were for the 5 boys and 2 girls in the Smith household at the time the Angel Moroni appeared to the Prophet.  

Announcement - Announcement!!!!

What does this t-shirt say??????

This is what Ellie was wearing when we picked them up at the airport.    

Yea!!!!!! we couldn't be more pleased.  New Baby Allred is coming the end of January, 2009..

An upstairs bedroom in the Whitmer home where some of the translation of the Book of Mormon took place. 

President Hinkley held a General Conference session here in this home in 1980 in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the organization of the Church.  

The Peter Whitmer Home..April 6 1830 The Church was formally organized here.  

The seven-story stage.  

The Angel Moroni.

A view of the seating from about half-way up the path to the top of the Hill Cumorah.

King Noah

The costuming is amazing....This sister is one of the dancers in the opening scene.  She and her husband and family are in the Pageant.  During the day they are in charge of 12 little boys...they have study groups, play time, and tour time.  They are also doing a huge service project with all the youth that are participating.  We saw Rayla Shumway at the Smith Farm and she said they are keeping them to about 6 hours of sleep at night...and that's if they go to sleep when they are supposed to.  

Cast members from the Hill Cumorah Pageant.  The fellow on the left is Brother Frost that works at the Bishop's Storehouse on Tuesdays.  He is one of the original missionaries in this area and was invited back to be in the pageant.  When the pageant originally started, it was the missionaries who put on the play.  

Flowers at the Johnson Farm...not too far from Kirtland.  The dark colored paints were an indication of the wealth of the Johnsons.  More pigment in the paint...darker colors....more costly.  Inside the home, each room is a different color.  

These are the original steps in front of the Johnson Farm Home where The Prophet delivered a "most powerful" sermon the morning after the tar and feathering incident.  The Prophet, Emma, the Johnsons and some of their farm hands had been up all night not only with sick babies, but scrapping off the tar, trying to sooth the acid burns, and being careful of the broken ribs he suffered.  The Prophet recognized several men in the group attending the meeting who had participated in the attack the night before.  At least 3 men came to him after the sermon that morning and requested baptism.  

At the Johnson Farm.  This is the bedroom where The Prophet and Emma would have been trying to sleep with two very ill babies the night that the mob came and took Joseph out in the freezing night and tarred and feathered him.  4 days later the little boy died.  

The front of the Temple..cracks in the stucco

The Kirtland Temple.

This is Emma's Kitchen at the Newell K. Whitney Store...They said this isn't the original china, but very close...She loved the red and white.  They had the little twins they adopted while living here.  The dark chairs are the babies high chairs.  

These are notes that were taken from the store log.  I think you'll recognize this name.  They mention the name of Artemas Millet (t) several times at the Kirtland Historical Site and also at the Temple Site.  When they found out that we are decendants of this great man they took us to a special office and printed out all the information they have about him.  It was very exciting....We'll make copies for everyone.  The records showed that he owned property in Kirtland, but the Sister couldn't get the map to print..(We did find a map at the Temple Visitor's Center)...but, she said she would get another Missionary to work on it and e-mail it to us...What a marvel technology is - sometimes... There is a plaque at the Temple visitor's center, but that site is owned by the Community of Christ (the reorganized) and they won't let any photos be taken inside the visitor's center or inside the Temple.  Artemas Millet (t) is mentioned several times at the Temple Site...In the film, on the plaque and also in the Temple.  

Look....I found the fabric store...and the shoe store....and the china store...the hat store....the lantern store, etc.  We are surprised at everything that could be purchased here.  The Missionaries said that there are so many stories about Newell K. Whitney's generous nature...In the next room is the trading room where the folks could bring whatever they had to trade for whatever the needed.  They said that the Whitney's were very well off and were more than eager to share.  They made their money from the ashes that they made into potash.  In one year they made enough to build this store and a beautiful home.  The Prophet and Emma lived in some of the rooms in this store for several months.  Many revelations were received at this location.  

Just inside the door...Checkers game...the playing pieces are made from corn cobs...Yellow for one player and red for the other.  

In Kirtland, Ohio 

Naia's 5 cookies for her birthday!

Pixie Hunt - They all got little bug collector kits and candy. Bug collecting began immediately!

Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles!

Taking a boat ride with Uncle Keith.

A replica of the room where the majority of the Gold Plates were translated- under the cloth on the table.  They said that Joseph would leave the plates like this and Emma said she never looked under the cloth.  This is part of the display at the Grandin Building.  

Jade's Turn. She only let go ONCE!

The printing press that the first issue of the Book of Mormon was printed on.  It is located in the Grandin Building in Palmyra..Fully restored.  

I'm falling!!!!

Tarrik flying through the air.

Tyanne flying through the air.

Tyanne splashing into the water.

Enjoying the view.

COLD water!!!

The Penrod girls doing a song.

Tyanne after she had done a gymnastic move.

Ella HAD to talk into the mic.