A Visit by the Prophet

This past weekend, President Monsen came to visit. We didn't find out until 8:30 the night before so that it would not get out to anybody visiting. Security was very strong and when we went to the center about the time that he was to come, there were a couple of women visiting who got an inkling of something going on so they decided to hang around. One was bound and determined to get a first picture (like "Just try and stop me from getting that picture"!)and so the Sr. Elders all stood on the bridge going up to the Whitney Store where he was in the School of the Prophets. Five "guards" kept the women from going up. It was kind of funny. He came into the theater where we were assembled and spoke to us for a short time, shook our hands and then he was gone. He was here with his daughter and granddaughter and they were on their way to Connecticut.


Also, this past week we started our volunteering in the Kindergarten Art class and had a great time! Like being surrounded with our grandkids again. =o)


We also had a dinner at an Amish family's home on Tuesday and it was so fun. They don't like to have their pictures taken but the grandma gave me permission to take pictures of the kids as I am the designated historian for the Kirtland Visitor's Site. They were so cute and so excited to see themselves on the camera after I snapped the picture. I became "attached" to Sarah who is 10 and she gave me her address so I told her I was going to give it to two granddaughters about her age so they could maybe write. Nickelle and Paige should have fun with a new pen pal !

Family Reunion

We had the privilege to take a group of family members through the sites that had gathered together for a family reunion. Six couples, including Mom and Dad and their five adult children and their spouses. They wanted everything we could show and tell them of the history of Kirtland. Talking to the dad, he said that he and his wife had planned and saved for thirty years to have this experience with their family. All of the grandchildren were at home and this was their time to be together. They were a very congenial group who asked lots of questions and Elder B could give them lots of answers.

Wouldn't that be a wonderful reunion? This summer we are going to have a Buckwalter reunion with the extended families. FAMILIES ARE WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT! We need to pull together so when the times get rough we have each other.

Newest Trick!

We went down to Warther's Carving Museum several days ago and while we were there we bought a carving knife and a block of wood. This became a new challenge and I just had to see if I could do it....after all, the DVD with the instructions on how to carve a pair of pliers said it was easy....."nothing to it." This particular pair of pliers is made in 10 cuts. Of course, just learning, it took me a few more cuts to get it but this is a picture of the first pair of pliers I got to really work! I am so excited!


The pliers really do only take 10 cuts.....my fingers took the rest. =o)

Sunset on Lake Erie

Last week we finished up at the Morley Farm and the Workmans picked us up and we went to Perry to see the sunset on Lake Erie. It was spectacular! The sky was clear and we just sat there and enjoyed the beauty that was before us. How can anyone deny that there is a God in Heaven when there are beauties like this that we can experience. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Mission Thought

We, as missionaries have the opportunity and privilege to stand and bear testimony to those who come to the sites, to help them build and strengthen their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to be an example to those not of our faith.

In Mosiah 18:9 we read...
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn, yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things and in all places that ye may be in , even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.

Romans 1:16
Paul said: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth "

A couple of illustrations that I have been thinking about lately are of two young men in separate towns of the mid-west. The first one is our teenage grandson who lives in Indiana. He is strong in the gospel, he has always tried to be obedient to what he has been taught and he is not afraid to let his friends and colleagues know what his standards and beliefs are. When he is with a group of his friends at school, they know his values and they are very protective of him. Many times they have fore warned him of certain situations. They will not let anyone offer him alcohol or tobacco or anything like that.

Another illustration looks at a young man who came through the sites a while back. He is in Jr. High and while I was talking to him about school, I asked him if there were many LDS kids in his school he said there was maybe one or two besides him. I asked, “how do your classmates treat you?” and he said he was treated alright but then he added that he has never let anybody know that he is a Mormon.

I have thought much about those two situations and then thought about our position as missionaries out here in Ohio. We wear our badges whenever and wherever we go. Many who see us know we are missionaries and are respectful. Some have even asked for blessings for us as we have parted. It is a privilege to be serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here at Kirtland and to be willing to stand as witnesses of God.

Chagrin River

The other day some senior couples got up early and went walking up the Chagrin River to where it had been dammed, mainly for a grist mill that was in operation at the time but where the Saints had done some baptisms. The river now, is so low that we only got wet half way up our legs. Lots of slate slabs made it fairly easy to walk but we did need a walking stick for balance.




We only had to go about a half mile to find where the dam had been. Not much left now because many years ago, a lady who owned the property where the grist mill had been, got tired of seeing people go skinny dipping in the water so she took some dynamite and blew the dam up.

One of the stories in history tells us that Willard Richards wanted to have his baptism be a memorable occasion. He wanted to be baptized on December 31st so that he could enter the new year clean and pure. December 31st came along and by then the river had frozen over. They had to take an ice saw and cut through the thick ice so that he could be baptized. (I'm sure it was memorable!)



We had fun finding very flat rocks of chips of slate to skip in the river. Not sure if you can see the bounces but Doyle won the prize hands down! Some of his throws just went on and on. This is such a beautiful place to be. History every where you look! We are blessed to be here

Up the Hill

Outside our home is a small hill that we finally got around to exploring. It is as though we are walking through an old wooded forest. It is so quiet and peaceful out there and as we were hiking up we had to grab onto small trees and carry a walking stick in order to keep our stability. About 50 yards up we came across some stones that were set out in a circle (sort of like a fire pit) but there were two other sets of circles all next to each other.



There is a very old tree stump close by that looks like there might be some writing on it but then again, it may be really old moss that has long since disappeared. Anyway, using our imaginations we are trying to figure out if this might be the burial place for four of Joel Hills Johnson's siblings who died while they were living in Kirtland. These siblings would be Nancy, Seth, David and Susan.

The historic fiction novel series "A Banner Is Unfurled" has really given us a bit insight to the background of a family here in Kirtland and also, as I wrote in a previous blog, we are living in Joel Hills Johnson's home. It is fun to explore our surroundings and let our imaginations run at full speed. =o)



At the top of the hill, all of the sudden we came to a wooded ledge that dropped off abruptly. At the bottom is a small creek with some old tree bridges going across.

This and That

This past week has been a wet one! For a couple of days we have been slushing through the puddles doing tours. Last night just as we were taking a couple out, the heavens opened and poured. We only got about 10 feet out the door when they wanted to go back in. We ended up giving a picture tour that is set up for just such times. Not quite like the real thing but the pictures are great and the spirit can be felt.


Outside our house the water puddles up and seeps into the basement so the sump pump has to keep working along with the dehumidifier. Some of the older houses on site had to be pumped out because the water came in too fast. Sister Bell said she was having to go through 3" of water to get to her washer.


Speaking of humidity......Here is a comparison picture of some Ice Breakers I carry around in my pocket. Two days in my pocket and they start to dissolve. I have to figure out a way to keep them more dry.....perhaps a plastic bag will help. =o)




Today we had some interesting ways of transportation. The site was very busy being the day before the 4th of July. We looked out in the parking lot and here was a really old blue bus that had been converted. They drove all the way out from Utah! Then this really neat racing limo drove up with some more visitors. Even the driver was decked out in his racing uniform!




A few times now we have looked out and have seen a deer in our yard! They are so pretty and fun to watch.

Busy Day!

What a surprise! Saturday, June 6 was a super busy time! Sister Harris got on the phone and called all of the Senior Missionaries scheduled to come in the afternoon (even those who had a scheduled P-day) to come in earlier as there were five buses in the parking lot three of which were unscheduled. With buses,that means lots of people. When we opened our door to head over, there were two of the three in the entry road parked right in front of our door!

Along with additional people coming in, it was a very hectic time for a few hours! By 3:30, we had 499 visitors.




Elder Butterfield took charge of organizing the visitors and assigned the missionaries to each group. All of the Seniors plus all of the Sister Missionaries were on hand waiting for their assignment.



A little later in the day two more buses that the Visitor's Center was expecting arrived and by then things had slowed down a little.



After about 5:30, things returned to somewhat normal. But at the end of the day a total of 723 visitors were logged in the books. What a beautiful place this is where people want to come to learn of the history Kirtland has to offer and to build their testimonies of the Church and the sacrifices that were made here by the early Saints.

More Home Tour

Thought we would send a couple of pictures of the upstairs slant.
Looking in the bedroom, note the tilt of the dresser against the wall and the boards lifting the foot of the bed. It has taken a bit of an adjustment in the mornings. When I get out of bed, I hang onto the bed post so that I don't gain too much speed getting to the door. It is really a "down hill" feeling. =o) It is interesting that in the other bedroom, the bed is facing the opposite direction and also has to be propped up with 4 boards to make it level.



This door takes the prize!! =o)

They had to stretch the bottom hinge as far out as they could to make the door level.




I made bread the other day and when I put it in the oven, the middle pan started to slide. I couldn't believe my eyes! It slid back and to the right corner in the oven! However, the bread turned out great!

The inside of our home is roomy and lots of space. We are enjoying it very much, no matter how much we make it a "conversation" piece.

Our New Home!

We have finally received official notice of our transfer to Kirtland. Our move will be on May 21. We will be living in the Joel Hills Johnson home right by the Visitor's Center. No more "commuting" for an hour to the site! We are excited to make the move but at the same time a little nostalgic realizing the calm, peaceful and beautiful surroundings that we will be leaving behind. Our stay the the Johnson farm has been a wonderful experience! Serving out here with Elder and Sister Leavitt and the sister missionaries, testifying of our Savior Jesus Christ, has been the best! We have met so many guests from all over the world while we have been out here.

I am sure our stay at Kirtland will be a growing experience for us also for the last half of our mission so we are looking forward to new horizons. The home where we will be living is very intersting. It is from the early 1800s and has settled a bit........(a noticeable "bit") =o)

When our daughter Kristen and her family visited with us last month, we showed them our new "quarters" and when she got home she wrote back and said that all she could think of was the poem.....

There was a crooked man, who walked a crooked mile
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked style
He bought a crooked cat who caught a crooked mouse
And they all lived together in a little crooked house!

We are enclosing some pictures to show what she was talking about. But nevertheless, it is very nice inside and big! We are excited!

Dr. Seuss's Magical Orchard

The orchards by the Johnson Farm are really unusual. They have been pruned to look like they could be right out of a Dr. Seuss story. These are apple trees that have been purposely pruned somewhat like a Christmas tree in shape. The central leader goes straight up and is narrow on top so that every apple on the tree has equal exposure to the sun. Every apple from the tree is pristine quality.

When we first saw these trees I thought they looked a little like a hob goblin (whatever that is!) They are so unusual looking that many visitors ask us about them and just what kind of trees they are. We finally stopped at the home of Roger Monroe and had him explain the whole system to us. They have 140 acres of apples and pears. There are 22 different varieties of apples on the farm and each row is a different variety so that cross polination can take place with every variety. Whatever they do and however they accomplish their goal, we had the opportunity to enjoy many of these varieties last Fall. They have a little store in back of their home on Pioneer Trail that is right by the Johnson Home so we pass it every day.

Unwanted Visitor

When we got to the farm a week or so ago, Elder and Sister Leavitt told us about something getting into the home and really destroying some of the old artifacts. They took pictures of the damage and then reported it to Elder Butterfield. The summer kitchen had a broken barrel, animal droppings, chewed carpet. John's office was all messed up with tipped chair, part of the artifacts on the floor, the East parlor had the Book of Mormon open and pages flapping,the pantry had things scattered on the floor......All in all, it was a sorry sight to see.

When the Leavitts left and we took over, we could hear a banging noise like an animal trying to break out. I had a tour at that time so told the two visitors that if they saw anything to let me know. It was at the end of the tour, coming back down the stairs to the main floor when our visitor saw the varmint in the East Parlor. It ran around behind the china cupboard. In the meantime, Doyle had called the Leavitts to come back to help us try to get it out of the house. Now there were six of us!

I found an old broom, closed the door to the West Parlor and to the kitchen, opened the front door and took some of the boards from the destroyed barrel to try to block the stairway. Doyle took the broom handle and tried to poke it to force it out from behind the china cupboard. It took a lot of prodding.. Bro Hensley (one of our visitors) cautioned us that it could perhaps be rabid, especially if it entered a house. Here were, the six of us...me behind the kitchen door, Leavitt behind the front door, Doyle and Hensleys in the East Parlor and Sister Leavitt shooting pictures as fast as she could with her new camera!

All of the sudden it ran out from behind the cupboard and under the couch. A little more prodding and it bounded out the front door and ran into the field. It was a big ball of gray fur, a fuzzy tail with a black tip. Pretty good sized ground hog! That was pretty much the excitement for our time on the site that day. After cleaning up the mess all over the first floor, we finally left the farm an hour and half late.

Alarm Clock!

Lately we have been visited by a beautiful bird sound outside our window at the same time every day. For the first few days we looked and looked to see what kind of bird was out there. We never could see it. Then one day Doyle was outside going to the car and he heard the sound. Up high on the TV antennae on top of our building was this most beautiful red bird. At last we found the source of our alarm clock. What a great way to wake up every morning!

Walking on Water!

Just had to show you frozen Lake Erie! We visited there yesterday with Elder and Sister Christensen...It is so amazing that the lake is so frozen. I have always seen ponds and lakes in Utah frozen with a smooth surface - here, Lake Erie looks like it is frozen in time with the waves frozen just as they were when they were breaking.

This was at Fairport Harbor where the early saints arrived from New York when they were called to "Go to the Ohio". From here they walked to Kirtland which is about 12 miles south.

Somewhere It's Spring?

What a difference a few days makes! A couple of weeks ago we were showing the deep snow cover that we have been under in our last posting and two weeks later this is what we are enjoying! The snow is gone! (at least for now)! The weather has been very tolerable and we can even get by with a short sleeve sweater under our winter coats!

The days are still very quiet out here at the farm--but we are reading many histories of the key players out here and are learning so much. We had a family come through the other day who has made it a tradition to bring their son/daughter who will be leaving for their own mission to the church historic sites to help build upon their testimony before they leave. To take them through the home here and tell of the history was a great experience for us. This particular young man was going to the MTC three days later. He is going to the Baltic States mission and will study Latvian language. When you think of everywhere the church has missionaries and see the enthusiasm in these new missionaries...we are so blessed to be a part of the work!






We were out driving the other day and noticed all of the buckets hanging on the trees...It's syrup time! What is amazing to me is to see these poor old dead looking trees that are still giving! Some of them are so old their trunks are split open..you wonder if they have anything left to give =o) but then you see the happy face on this tree and you know they take great pleasure on fulfilling their assignment! The maple syrup here is so delicious and very expensive but then I heard that it's a 10 to 1 ratio for final production.

Winter Wonderland

We sure have had a lot of snow lately! This past week has been super cold also, like a -6 but felt like -23. I thought we were going to freeze to death but fortunately, with dressing appropriately for the weather, i.e. hats, scarfs, wool coats, layered sweaters etc. we made it through! Our car has held up amazingly well too. One day the washer fluid froze on the window but now it has warmed up to 1 degree as I speak so we will make it!!!=o) Several times this winter we have gone out to warm up the car the the doors would be frozen shut. That's a fun experience to try to get them open.

Just thought I would post some pictures of our snow experience. They told us if Lake Erie would just freeze over, we would have some blue skies and days would try to look normal. (not so much gray all the time) Well, today is beginning to be one of those blue sky days and it is so beautiful! Every morning we wake up, no matter how cold it is, the birds are singing outside our window. This is a wonderful place to be right now. The Johnson Farm is quiet and peaceful with an occasional visitor.

The other day we had two young ladies come out. They were sisters and the elder sister suggested that the Johnson Home would be a good historical subject for a term paper. She had been out with a history class from Hiram College earlier in the spring and felt that her younger sister could learn a lot and get some good information for her AP history class. Elder Buckwalter bore strong testimony to them of the restoration and that the Lord has blessed us with all of the ordinances, principles and priesthool powers. It was fun to share the site with them. Even though they didn't know much about the LDS church, we feel they both went away feeling the spirit that is so prevalent in this home.