Week 9—October 19-26, 2019

We saw these huge Maple leaves on our morning walk. We don’t get leaves this big in Blackfoot.

Tom’s hand on the leave for a size comparison.

The senior coupes who serve at the historic sites gathered at the home of President and Sister Cannon to bid farewell to two of the couples, the Langfords and Johnsons.

Seated enjoying a delicious dinner of Hawaiian haystacks and salad are President Cannon, Elder Dunn, Elder Langford, Elder Josephson, Elder Harrington, Sister Langford, and Sister Cannon.
(Garnalee was taking the photo.)

Elder Johnson and Elder Dunn filling their plates.

Sister Josephson, Sister Daniels, and Elder Daniels.

 Sister Johnson, Sister Dunn, and Elder Johnson.

All the senior couples pose for a picture.
Front row: Elder Josephson, Sister Cannon, Sister Dunn, Sister Johnson, Sister Langford
Middle row: Sister Josephson, President Cannon, Elder Dunn, Elder Johnson, Elder Langford.
Back row: Elder Daniels, Sister Daniels, Elder Harrington, Sister Harrington.

Elder and Sister Langford with Sister and Elder Harrington.

In our weekly training meeting we have been learning how to effectively tell stories from the history of the Church in this area. Each sister was to prepare a story to share in our training meeting. We only heard from part of them on Friday. We are looking forward to next Friday when the rest of the sisters will share their stories.

Left to right: Sister Barajas, Sister Richins, Sister Smith, Sister Moritz, Sister Lynsky, Sister Flindt, Sister Durfee.

 On Friday evening we attended our Ward's Halloween Party. There was a chili contest, a pumpkin decorating contest, and a costume contest. One of the decorated pumpkins>

Elder Bailey and Elder Jameson with the missionary decorated pumpkin.

 Another decorated pumpkin. This pair was our favorite.

 This was my favorite costume. This little girl was the mouse caught in the mouse trap. The whole thing was mounted on a wagon.  Great idea!

Sister Lynsky and Sister Holdeman with some of the happy children dressed up ready for the party.

Ward members could sign up to bring chili or soup for the dinner. I made a Cheesy Broccoli soup. I didn;t intend for it to part of the contest. However all of the pots of chili and soups were entered in the contest. I WON! What a surprise. I received a golden ladle, a box or Reese's Pieces, and a certificate.

One of the decorated cars for the Trunk or Treat held after the dinner. We had a great evening with the Ward.












Independence does a Halloween Parade on the Saturday before Halloween. We decided to go see what a Halloween parade was like as we have never been to one. There were many decorated cars, trucks, people in costume, etc. Candy was passed out by many of the entrants to the children along the parade route. There were a total of 78 entries in the parade.

The antique tractor on the left reminded Garnalee of the tractor her dad drove on the farm. There was even a pink tractor for breast cancer awareness.

It wouldn't be a parade without a few a marching bands. Reminded us of  Easton and his many days in the marching band at Horizon High School.

 A fire-breathing dragon and a decorated antique car.

And the final entrant in the parade was, of course, Santa Claus. Let the Christmas season begin!

Week 8--October 13-18, 2019

On our preparation day (P-Day) on Monday, October 14, we went to Shoal Creek Living History Museum. Shoal Creek was established in 1975, and is a group of historic buildings of nineteenth century Missouri that is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of Missouri's early history and architecture. It was a beautiful sunny fall day.

Hughes Cabins were built in 1825. It was found inside a large farmhouse on the site of Happy Rock Park in Gladstone, Missouri. It's three cabins built together.

This open area between the cabins is called a dog-trot where they would store their farm tools and other items of value until a barn was constructed. This is a three dog-trot cabin because there are three cabins put together with an open areas between the cabins.

 The grist mill is the only structure built on site and is a replica of an 1824 mill built by Humphrey Smith along the Platte River near the town of Smithville, Missouri, in Clay County.

 City Hall and Jail was built in Missouri City, Missouri, in 1868 and was used until 1915. It was collapsed and ruins and was gifted to Shoal Creek in 1977 where it was reconstructed.

Mt. Ararat Baptist Church was built in 1884 near Fayette, Missouri, and used until 1985 when it was moved to Shoal Creek. It stands as a proud monument to those early settlers of Howard County. Next to the church was a pioneer cemetery. There were actual headstones of Clay and Platte County settlers. The headstones were moved by court order from land being developed for KCI, North Oak Traffic way, and the Hallmark plant near Liberty, Missouri. Actual remains were moved to nearby established cemeteries with new headstones erected.

As a side note, the Hallmark plant in Liberty is the U. S. distribution hub serving Hallmark Card, Inc. The facility fills and ships orders for Hallmark retail customers throughout all of the United States. The facility also serves about 100 countries internationally.

 The Arnold house was built in 1830 by Garrard Arnold and known as "The Cedars" because of the beautiful cedars that grew near the house. It was moved to Shoal Creek in 1976 from Claycomo, Missouri. It is log underneath clapboard siding. The original logs were visible near the outside chimney on the back of the house.

The doctor's office was originally the home of Isaac Neff and was constructed sometime prior to 1885 near the community of Roosterville in Clay County, Missouri. Also pictured is the medicinal and culinary herb garden which was located at the back of the doctor's office.

 The Thornton Mansion was the original home of one Clay County's early families. Colonel John Thornton built the home in 1829 with help of slaves. It was located near the site of the Ford Motor Company in Clay County, Missouri. 

Tom next to the Thornton Mansion. 

 A shot of the Grist Mill, City Hall and Jail, and the steeple of the church.

Garnalee poses on the covered wagon.














Besides the pictures of the buildings here there was also a mercantile which had living quarters for the storekeeper and family; an inn; a carpenter shop; a blacksmith barn; and a school which was built in 1880 and used until 1952 when small rural schools were closed. We were sad that buildings weren't opened for us to walk through. They are only open on days when they have an event.

The fall colors have popped up the last few days. 

On our daily walks we have often passed this headstone. The name appears to be for Genl. S D Lucas. We decided that it might be for General Samuel D Lucas who ordered the shooting of Joseph Smith, Hyrum and several other church leaders who were arrested in Far West, Missouri, before they were taken to Liberty Jail. Garnalee did some research on the web and there was a link to Find a Grave for General Samuel Davis Lucas. She clicked on the link and this very headstone appeared on her phone. So it has been verified for us that this is his headstone. The barely legible marker says Lucas was born on July 19, 1799 and died on Feb 23, 1865.  Joseph and the other prisoners were arrested on October 31, 1838. He ordered a subordinate, Genl. Alexander Doniphan, to march the prisoners into the town square the following morning and summarily execute them. Doniphan courageously refused and reportedly stated, "It is cold blooded murder.  I will not obey your order . . . and if you execute those men, I will hold you responsible before an earthly tribunal, so help me God." That refusal saved their lives.

Week 7--October 6-12, 2019

The Senior Couples and the Sisters gathered for brunch before watching General Conference on Sunday morning. The food and the company were wonderful.

Standing: Sister Olson
Seated: Sister Nabhan, Sister Moritz, Sister Hales, Sister Richins, Sister Salois, Elder Hochstettler, President Cannon.

At the conclusion of the meal the Sisters sang to all the Senior Couples as a thank you for the wonderful meal. 














 This week was Zone Conference and flu shots for all the missionaries. Elder Harrington was able to smile while getting poked.

Sister Richins and Sister Salois were all smiles and proudly showed off their bandages.

We had the opportunity to go to Adam-ondi-Ahman (Spring Hill) and Far West with President and Sister Cannon and some of the sisters on Thursday. Spring Hill was named Adam-ondi-Ahman by Joseph Smith in tribute to Adam, the patriarch of the human race. Adam blessed his posterity here three years before he died. This place is also where the Garden of Eden was located. We started off at Preacher's Rock where the sisters gathered for a picture. 

Front row: Sisters Henderson, Smith, Banner, Barajas, DeLeon, Harris, Pomeroy, and Ells.
Back row: Sisters Smith, Salois, Lynsky, Spencer, Durfee, Price, and Mickelson.

To demonstrate the acoustics of the area President Cannon had the sisters go down to the pecan grove while he stood on Preacher's Rock while sang the song Adam-ondi-Ahman which was written by William W. Phelps and was included in the first hymnbook.

1. This earth was once a garden place,
With all her glories common,
And men did live a holy race,
And worship Jesus face to face,
In Adam-ondi-Ahman.

2. We read that Enoch walked with God,
Above the pow'r of mammon,

1. While Zion spread herself abroad,
   And Saints and angels sang aloud,
   In Adam-ondi-Ahman.
2. 3. Her land was good and greatly blest,
   Beyond all Israel's Canaan;
   Her fame was known from east to west,
   Her peace was great, and pure the rest
   Of Adam-ondi-Ahman.
3. 4. Hosanna to such days to come,
   The Savior's second coming,
   When all the earth in glorious bloom
   Affords the Saints a holy home,
   Like Adam-ondi-Ahman.

 The sisters in the pecan grove.

 We were able to gather pecans off of the ground. It was interesting to see that some of the pecans were still in the pod while the pod had opened up on others.

 A squirrel would fill his cheeks with nuts. Tom filled his coat pockets with pecans.

Sister Lynsky was able to gather a good supply of pecans.

 After Preacher's Rock we went to Tower Hill where the Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman can be seen.

"The Hills Are Alive (la la la la)" even in Adam-ondi-Ahman

 Tom and Garnalee at Adam-ondi-Ahman.

The sisters gather with President and Sister Cannon at Tower Hill.

Front Row: Sisters Smith, Lynsky, Salois, Spencer, Durfee, Mickelson, Price, DeLeon
Back Row: Sister Cannon, Sisters Barajas, Henderson, Smith, Harris, Banner, Smith, Ells, President Cannon.

A final picture as we leave Adam-ondi-Ahman and head to Far West.

We gather at the Far West Temple Site. Here the four cornerstones were laid for a temple that was never built because the Saints were driven out of Missouri into Illinois where they built the beautiful city of Nauvoo.

Front row: Sisters Salois, Smith, Lynsky, Barajas, Smith
Back row: Sisters Ells, Banner, Henderson, DeLeon, Harris, Smith, Price, Spencer, Mickelson, Durfee, Elder Harrington, President Cannon, Sister Cannon.

Tom and Garnalee at Far West Temple Site. On the granite walls are revelations that Joseph Smith received while living in Far West. The wall on the left gives the name of the church and the law of tithing. The middle wall declares Far West to be a consecrated and holy land. The wall on the right is the revelation for the first great missionary call across the waters given to the twelve apostles in this day.

Prophecy was fulfilled at Far West as the Twelve Apostles gathered in Far West on April 26, 1839, to leave from this spot for their missions.

Tom was entranced by the counted cross-stitch of the Liberty Jail on the end table at the visitors' center. (It was created and copyrighted by Eleanor Heward.)  He decided he could make one too.  This one, just finished yesterday, will be a Christmas gift for President and Sister Cannon.