(More events from last weekend still...)
After the fun day in Kansas City, we ventured out to Liberty and Independence Missouri. Our church has many historical sites in the area involving Joseph Smith, who was an amazing prophet that restored the gospel. He was such a man of strength considering all that he was dealt. He suffered horrible persecutions while trying to teach the people of the now restored gospel. People were HORRIBLE to him for no reason. If you want to be humbled, study more about this prophet and what he endured.
"The Prophet Joseph Smith and five others were held here on unsubstantiated charges for a little over four months during the bitter cold Missouri winter of 1838-39. The message of Liberty Jail is a simple one. Here, they endured many adversities and hardships with unwavering faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here, the Prophet prayed fervently to the Lord, and the Lord answered the prayer with revelation for the benefit of all mankind, because when the Lord speaks to one of His prophets, He gives revelation for the whole world, and the prophet has the responsibility of passing it on."
It was so emotional to see the jail where he was sent for 4 months. He, along with 5 other men (his body guard, brother...) languished in the cold (it was literally a freezer), miserable confines of a tiny one room jail dungeon. The ceilings were only 6 feet high and several of the men were taller than that, thus never able to stand erect. It was dark, it was a dungeon, their food was poisoned, they lived a nightmare...all the while knowing their families were being driven from their homes, also being persecuted, and they were helpless to do anything for them.
Joseph Smith was told from the Lord that "If thou art accused with all manner of false accusations; if thine enemies fall upon thee; if they tear thee from the society of thy father and mother and brethren and sisters; and if with a drawn sword thine enemies tear thee from the bosom of thy wife, and of thine offspring, and thine elder son, although but six years of age, shall cling to thy garments, and shall say, My father, my father, why can’t you stay with us? O, my father, what are the men going to do with you? and if then he shall be thrust from thee by the sword, and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb;
And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good."
He received many revelations from the Lord while in that jail as he poured out his heart and soul to the Lord. He has recorded these in our scriptures, D&C
sec 121,
122 and
123. These words are so encouraging and filled with hope. He was reminded that our Lord Jesus Christ descended below them all, and was He greater then Him?
Joseph Smith was a very respectful man...even as he entered the prison he greeted the guards courteously
"hello gentlemen."
This is the RLDS, or Community of Christ temple. We are not affiliated with this church.
Playing inside our church's visitors center.
I am so grateful that Joseph Smith never gave up. He knew he saw God and his son Jesus Christ and would not and could not deny it. He tried to lead the people and in return was hated and abused. Still to this day people persecute the Mormons. But those that have a true testimony will never deny the truthfulness of it. I know it is to be the most correct of any church on this earth because we have the fullness of the gospel.
Throughout the years, whether through malice or ignorance, people have given false reports of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Great numbers of honest people have believed and passed on these falsehoods because they have no better information. The Saints have a duty to defend its reputation, and to correct misrepresentations, so the pure in heart will have the information they need.
I am so grateful for my testimony. I'm grateful for Prophets and other great people who have been examples of how to persevere and endure. We all have our trials and heartache we suffer, and I do believe they are for our good...we can be refined and come to know the will of the Lord if we will trust in Him and unselfishly seek to understand.
having lunch with their friends
(LOVE this baby room, and the wall)
spending quality time with their family making shishkabobs while the cousins hang out 
spending time with even more family (in-laws)
(is that not the cutest baby with the most awesome hair!)
while the kids play hard and crash on the way home!!!
enjoying the simple things in life like jumping on the trampoline with the sprinklers on
spending time with family AGAIN because they are so dang cute
just chillin relaxing and enjoying the 
