Back to Church Roots… Palmyra
After we visited Kirtland (see previous post), we drove to Palmyra where we stayed at the new and beautiful Palmyra Inn (two thumbs up if you go there and need a place to stay). Today we saw the sites around Kirtland (the Hill Cumorah, the Grandin Building, the Sacred Grove, the first log cabin, the frame house, etc.) and then drove to Fayette to the Whitmer farm where the Church was re-organized. What an experience for us and for the kids. Being there in early spring gave us a feel of what it would have been like for Joseph.
There have been a LOT of updates done to the sites since we were there last, especially around the sacred grove site. The old log cabin has been rebuilt, there is a new visitor center, the road has been moved to eliminate traffic between sites, and the frame home has been restored to period time.
The last time we were there the Palmyra Temple was being built. Now it is completed and we had a chance as a family to walk the grounds together. The kids enjoyed the picture taken by the sign to add to our collection of all the temples we’ve been to.
Church sites in Kirtland, OH and Palmyra, NY! Yesterday we drove the 6 1/2 hours to Kirtland, visited the John Johnson Farm (in Hiram, OH), and today enjoyed the sites in Kirtland. 
My newly designed web site is now up and running and available for you to take a look at! All you have to do is use the same old URL and you will be redirected: 
Like other faiths, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sometimes finds itself on the receiving end of attention from Hollywood or Broadway, television series or books, and the news media. Sometimes depictions of the Church and its people are quite accurate. Sometimes the images are false or play to stereotypes. Occasionally, they are in appallingly bad taste. We as a family are saddened by the lack of sensitivity and bad taste HBO is showing in their series “Big Love” and how they depict sacred temple ceremonies. What can we say to this? “It’s HBO friends, look no further.” Visit the Church’s web site to read the official statement: 
