Missouri Missionary Moments

Tanner & Heather at IF Temple

The day after Labor Day, Tanner was excited about attending the temple as he was only able to twice in the past 2 years.  Our closest temple was closed for cleaning and maintenance so we drove 30 miles south to attend a session together in IF.  As I walked out of the dressing room, I was surprised to see my Aunt Kathy L. (Dad's sister) who happened to be working there that day.  She was able to visit briefly with Tanner in the chapel since she and Brent would be out of town when Tanner gave his report in church on Sunday, September 16.  Another tender mercy among the many we've recently experienced.  It was Tanner's first time attending this temple (renovations/rededication took place while he was gone) where my parents were married and G-pa Kerr served in the Temple Presidency for many years.

Tanner & Brinley hold Breanna's twin baby boys

Aaron and I worked through various travel scenarios hoping to spend some time away as a family before Tanner and Brinley were absorbed in their college studies and commitments.  In the end, we did cancel our CA family trip (rescheduled for December), but I was still able to take Tanner and Brinley to visit G-ma and G-pa P where they are serving as FM missionaries (facilities-management) in the Independence Missouri Misson.  Tanner, Brinley and I drove to SL directly after cheering on Anna at a cross-country invitational, stopped by Bonnie & Bryant's house to meet Breanna & Derek's twin boys (Ryker & Tyler) then spent the night at the Murray house in order to catch a Saturday morning flight (Sept. 8).

It was a happy reunion in the Kansas City airport!  It didn't take long for G-pa to have us all in stitches as we made our way out of the parking garage and headed for a quick bite.  Then we were on to visit the Truman Presidentail Library in Indepenence since it closed at 5pm.

Here we look at Bess and Harry's graves in the inner courtyard.  President Truman had to raise the money to build the library and he had a working office he used almost daily for many years.  He did not have a pension or income as the former president like they do now.  He built the library which houses all of his papers, letters and documents so that researchers can have access to them.  He very much wanted people to know how the government works and was unusually blunt and transparent.

Replica of the Oval Office

The attempted selfie in the sun didn't work out so well out front of the library so we tried again at the Best Little BBQ joint where we enjoyed a tasty dinner together.  I couldn't help but think of the many painful hours Aaron spent "in the saddle" pedalling through mountain passes, enduring wind and rain during his 200+mile bike ride while we enjoyed our travels, explorations and eating yummy BBQ!

selfie at the Best Little BBQ joint

It was a relief to hear his voice and know he finished safely later that evening when we returned to G-ma and G-pa's quaint little house.

Sunday morning we enjoyed attending the Riverview Branch and meeting people that have come to love and adore G-ma and G-pa P (and for good reason).  It was apparent that they have made a very big impact in the lives of many members of that struggling but growing branch.  There's a great spirit in the area and it's exciting to see the Lord's work moving forward.

It was a quiet Sunday afternoon at the Indepenence Visitor's Center so the sister missionaries were able to give us a personal tour which we very much enjoyed.  We could tell they were excellent missionaries and strongly felt the spirit as they shared their testimonies with us.  The Church does an excellent job with video production and I love "going back in time" while watching Church history movies.  

Afterwards, we explored the Independence area a bit more and took notice of all the splinter churches struggling to exist.  We also drove by the land where Governor Boggs' house once stood (Church owns the land) and learned about the remarkable conversion story of G-ma and G-pa P's current Stake President Cato.  Dinner with the Elders was next up.  I've seen so many pictures of them via G-ma's blog that they looked very familiar by the time we actually got to meet them in person - haha!  And yes, Elder Rowley is extremely TALL!

Sunday dinner with the missionaries

Sunday evening (after the missionaries left) we enjoyed watching the Face-to-Face live broadcast from Nauvoo, IL with Elder Cook and other Church historians.  They tackled some tough questions regarding Church history and reaffirmed the reality that Joseph Smith was/is the Prophet of the Restoration.  I especially enjoyed learning more as the Church recently released the first book in a four-volume narrative history of Saints: The Standard of Truth (1815-1846).  Tanner was given a hard copy by Uncle Steve K. and I'm looking forward to reading/studying it soon.  And it was fun to learn that Elder Cook had come through the Independence/Far West areas en route to Nauvoo just the day before we arrived!

Monday morning we joined G-ma and G-pa P for their 'rounds' to various historical sites for clean-up and maintenance duty.  Happily, the weather was PERFECT and the work-load was light on this day so we were able to make extra stops at various locations along the way.  We packed a lot into our brief time in Missouri and everything seemed to work out so well.  Extra blessings for faithful missionaries and those who visit them:).

Tanner helping with the lift

Changing bulbs is a constant and manueuvering this piece of equipment is the biggest challenge.  G-pa P has it down to a science now - getting it in and out of the utility closet with precision.

Liberty Jail - before hours

Brinley & Tanner help with low-level changes after G-ma writes the dates on bulbs.

From the Liberty Jail in Independence, we drove to the Richmond Cemetery where Oliver Cowdery, one of the Three Witnesses of the Book of Mormon, and several Whitmer family members are buried. A few blocks away is a parcel of ground whereon once stood a small jail that housed Joseph Smith, Parley P. Pratt and a few other Saints prior to being transported to the Liberty Jail.  It was in this obscure place where Joseph stood in great majesty and rebuked the vile speaking guards and is recorded to have said, "SILENCE, ye fiends of the infernal pit.  In the name of Jesus Christ I rebuke you, and command you to be still; I will not live another minute and bear such language.  Cease such talk, or you or I die THIS INSTANT!"

Though now a quiet field surrounded by trees/stream situated in the middle of farm land and traveled to by a dirt road, this Haun's Mill marker is all that shows where tragedy struck as early Church members where violently attacked on 30 October 1838 by some 200 men that orignated from the nearby Breckenridge community.  This occured just three days after Governor Boggs issued the "Extermination Order" which allowed members of the Church to be treated as enemies and driven from the state.

Brinley, Steve, Tanner, Heather

This community park/cemetery is the nicest feature that exists in the dilapidated town of Breckenridge.  One of the mill stones from Haun's Mill has been erected at this site along with headstones for those who lost their lives during the attack.  It has been reported that there was no time to dig conventional graves so the bodies were thrown into a dry well, forming a mass grave.

Tanner wasn't 'dabbing' - but deadheading the sunflowers  - haha!

We continued on to Far West which is replete with early Church history though little remains today besides the well maintained temple site with four corner stones, this monument and a restroom.  It is hard to believe Far West was once home to over 5,000 Saints with 150 houses, four dry goods stores, three family groceries, half a dozen blacksmith shops, a printing establishment and two hotels. There was a large school house that served as a church and courthouse but nothing stands today.  For a short time, Joseph Smith regulated the affairs of the growing Church from Far West until he was forced to leave the area.  G-pa P drove us by a small rise referred to as Eminence where Joseph was turned over to mob militia - betrayed by Colonel Hinkle who was in charge of the Mormon militia.  It's marked by a small sign.

In light of the recent correction President Russel M. Nelson issued for us to refer to the full name of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (rather than Mormons, LDS, etc.), it was in Far West that the Lord revealed the official name of the Church to Joseph Smith on April 26, 1838.  And it was exactly one year later that members of the Quorum of Twelve met at the temple site prior to their departing on missions - in fulfillment of a prophecy that mobsters were determined would not come to pass.  Indeed, nothing can stop the work from progressing!

Kristen working in her favorite flower beds.

Not far from the Far West temple site is an independently owned book store where we heard first hand the incredible conversion story of a former Baptist preacher, Jimmy Dale Wilson, a direct decendant of Joseph Smith's brother, Samuel.  Jimmy happened to be in the store when we stopped by and he also met Elder Quentin L. Cook who stopped in the book store two days earlier.  Jimmy's enthusiasm for the gospel was tangible as he shared his story and is looking forward to his one-year mark as a baptized member so he can attend the temple and be sealed to his family this October.

Jimmy, Steve, Tanner, Brinley
Kristen, Heather at bookstore

Wayne - book-store worker in coveralls

It was fascinating to stop in Hamilton and check out the quilt capitol of the world.  G-ma has become very fond of this place.  Who knew that coming on a mission would expose her to master quilters (senior missionaries) and that she'd be able to spend a bit of time developing talents and learning the art of quilting?

After sampling a few tasty cookies from the local bakery, we loaded up and drove on to Adam-ondi-Ahman.  I knew Aaron would love to have joined us (his favorite place) because as with everything else we visited, we got the expanded version of the experience.  G-ma and G-pa have learned a lot during their time in Missouri and are the best tour guides around.  Besides that, they have keys to everything, a truck and name tags:).

Adam-ondi-Ahman

The valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman is identified as the place where Father Adam met with his family three years before he died and gave them his last blessing.  This sacred place is also where our Savior will partake of the sacrament again on the earth with Adam and other prophets.  Each will deliver their stewardships and then Christ will reign personally upon the earth.  This grand council of the Priesthood will commence at some future day and will be a day of great significance in the lives of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and of all people.

We finished up the day with another BBQ meal in Excelsior Springs at a former train depot called the Wabash.  We wanted to compare menu items with the Best Little BBQ joint in Independence.  Mixed reviews but good food no matter.  Honestly, what I remember most about this meal is laughing at all the funny things G-pa P came up with.  He really had us rolling!

I copied and pasted this from G-ma's blog:  "It was directly around the corner from a very famous old hotel called the Elms.  Heather and I ran in to take a look since Harry Truman stayed there the night of his election.  When he went to bed, the press was calling the election for his opponent, Thomas Dewey.  They even printed the newspaper with the headline Dewey beats Truman.  However, when he woke up in the morning, he had been declared the winner.  The press has gotten this wrong before."

This Model A car is on display in the hotel and is from the Truman era.

Later that evening, we made a quick stop by Costco to pick up three little suitcases.  The design is so awesome that Tanner, Brinley and I repacked everything from our larger suitcases into the smaller ones then fit them inside the larger ones so we could get everything home.  Worked like a charm!

Our final day in Missouri (Tuesday, September 11) we hit downtown Kansas City where we visited the Hallmark Museum and Union Station Depot before touring the Community of Christ temple/sanctuary and museum back in Independence.  En route to the airport, we drove through the underground business sector referred to as Subtropolis and stopped by the Kansas City Temple before catching our late afternoon flight home.

Creative writer for Hallmark enjoys his dream job.

After learning more about the impressive impact Hallmark has made in this community over the years, we visited the magnificent architechtural building of the Union Station Depot which also houses a small train museum inside.  There were all types and sizes of trains from eras gone by worth big bucks.  The man in charge decided to give us a personal tour, another 'behind the scenes' experience and let us walk wherever we wanted to.  Quinn would have loved the LEGO set-ups.

All LEGOS in this one.

Standing on a bridge that crosses an actual train yard still in use.

Inside the beautiful Union Station Depot - a gem from old Kansas City

Though we didn't take any pictures during our tour of the Community of Christ Temple and community building,  it's worth mentioning quite simply for the stark contrast it provided from the wonderful spirit we felt while visiting the Independence Visitor's Center located directly across the street.  It's a wonder to me that people could commit their lives and energy to this off-shoot religion that keeps changing its belief structure (they no longer profess to believe in the Book of Mormon) and doesn't actually teach any doctrine other than promoting world peace.  Walking up the ramp inside their sanctuary (temple) and listening to the tour guide explain the engraving of the "Prodigal Person" (non-gender image) and other museum-like displays was interesting.  Not a single image of Jesus Christ except for a wood carving gifted to them that was hanging on the wall near the exit.  The experience gave me much to ponder upon and give thanks for.

Kansas City Temple

At the airport

The three of us enjoyed our time in Missouri so much!  It was wonderful to spend time visiting with G-ma and G-pa and getting a flavor of their service in this particular mission.  Service comes in all shapes and sizes and we're very grateful for the opportunity we had to visit them and learn more about many historical sites.  We arrived in SL then made the long late night drive home pulling in well after midnight (MST).  Thanks again for having us and showing us around!  Love you both.